Hardy & Greys - Alnwick, England

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1. Flyfishing
   1. Flyfishing
   2. Coarse

When it comes to wild Trout lochs, Scotland is blessed with more quality destinations than can be given justice in a lifetime of fishing. Having spent the best part of 25 years exploring and discovering numerous waters, from the underrated South West, through the length and breadth of the country to the incomparable highlands and the fertile Machair Lochs of the Hebridean islands, and on up to Orkney, nearly every trip I've made has led to fresh new waters worthy of further investigation; invariably, each time a loch is ticked off, several more a little further off the beaten track are added to an ever-growing wish list of places to fish. This has been the case particularly in Sutherland, Wester Ross and Caithness, while the southerly inner Hebridean islands of Islay and Jura have also provided rich pickings.

A cursory glance at any Ordnance Survey map will quickly reveal the sheer number of lochs available to any visiting angler. The quality of fishing available in more famous Caithness lochs like Watten, St John's and Heilen are well documented, but for any angler prepared to investigate further afield or trek into the hills, the possibilities are endless.

It is true many hill lochs in Scotland have relatively poor feeding and subsequently hold large numbers of smaller brownies, two or three to the pound, but they are stunning fish, as wild as the hills surrounding their watery homes and unchanged over thousands of years. Equally, there is no shortage of lochs which provide incredibly fertile habitat where wild fish can grow surprisingly large.

The fight from a wild Brown Trout can be remarkable. Fishing recently on Loch Damph in Torridon, a good few Trout caught in the 3/4-1lb bracket fought like fish more than double their size, while a considerably bigger fish of 5lb plus smashed my 7.5lb bs tippet as if it was thread when it cleared the water after being hooked. The tactics used for wild Trout are ever evolving - the success of buzzer techniques on Loch Leven these days is testament enough to that, as is plumbing the depths for daphnia-feeding trout on lochs like Harray in Orkney, both lochs which historically have offered classic, top of the water fishing. Fantastic sport can still be had on Harray and countless other lochs though with floating line and pulling a team of three or four flies through the waves. From a boat, or from the bank, there are fewer forms of fly-fishing more enjoyable than seeing the boil of water and feeling the aggressive pull of a decent brownie when it hits the fly. On rarely fished waters where good trout prevail, well-presented flies can do a lot of damage. With so many lochs over such huge areas and varying habitats, local knowledge will prove invaluable as to what flies will work best, but traditional wet flies will still hold their own. Alongside, snatchers, hoppers, dabblers, sedgehogs, shipmans buzzers and all manner of imitative dries there is really no limit to the array of tactics which can be deployed. My first port of call, especially on lesser fished waters, is always more traditional tactics. If wild trout are in the mood, they'll come quickly to a fly.

Often a more garish and lurid point fly, with proven killers and more imitative patterns on the droppers, will do the trick. Orange, red and green are all colours which have served well on point flies for bigger, more aggressive trout when more subtle hues have failed to produce a response. Of course if the going is particularly tough due to cold or bright conditions, lack of wind etc, then there's sometimes no alternative but to get the flies down deeper with intermediate or sinking lines and employing a slower retrieve.

Fishing from the bank can be just as effective as from the boat as long as basic rules are applied. Never wade into water that hasn't first been carefully covered from a discreet distance. I've taken a good percentage of my better trout just feet from the bank in very shallow water. Many lochs shelve invitingly into deeper water quickly and it is here that Trout will often lie. Covering as much water as possible is also sound practise. Just as the boat fisherman constantly covers fresh water in a good drift, so too the bank angler can benefit from moving methodically round the shoreline to find potential hot spots.

I invariably use a 10ft 6# and haven't been able to see past the Greys G-Tec rod. However the Hardy Marksman Drifter is pretty hard to beat for boat work, particularly the 5# when the wind is on the lighter side - a perfectly balanced rod which is incredibly light and ideal for long sessions when fishing hard. If you're looking for a more up to date model than the G-Tec then The Hardy Uniqua is fast becoming a favourite tool of mine, while the Hardy Angel is an absolute joy to fish with. I fish a longish leader, with 5-6ft between each fly when fishing a traditional stripping method.

Faced with literally thousands of lochs to choose from, a perfect aide to help decide where you might want to start is Bruce Sandison's latest edition of Rivers & Lochs of Scotland (The Anglers Complete Guide), Black and White Publishing, 2009. As a point of reference it is second to none, listing a huge number of lochs, the general size of trout to expect and how to access them, all listed according to the Ordnance Survey maps they fall under. Needless to say, walking any distance into the hills should only be done if well prepared, with compass, OS map, suitable clothing, food and drink, and leaving a note or telling anyone back at base when you expect to return.

Finlay Wilson is a member of the Hardy & Greys Game Academy and coaches in the East of Scotland.

Tel: 01721 760 241
Email: finwilson@fishwild.co.uk
Web: www.fishwild.co.uk