Mack Attack

Got an invite from some friends of mine Gordon, Dale, Stuart and Steve to join them on their charter today onboard with Capt Aaron Lowman on  Anna Maria.
We headed out to the Palm Sola area and targeted the areas tight under the docks for Redfish for a while, one undersize fish landed by Stuart and he then lost a couple of nice fish tight to the sea wall, yours truly had one big pull which I lost just as we were about to leave and try another spot.
Nice to see dolphins cruising around.
We headed out of Longboat Pass into the gulf and cruised just off shore to pick up some more bait, Arron soon had enough after 2 throws and we were off again, this time heading farther out into the gulf, spotted a big sea turtle just before we anchored up in about 25 foot of water and started feeding our baits down wind, a few free offerings thrown out and we started to see fish busting out behind the boat, all lines were in the water and I had a big hit straight away that I can only presume may have been a King due to the fact that the wire trace had been bitten clean through.
Eventually fish started to come to the boat and all rods were well bent at some point with quite a few double hook ups, there was some really good sized Spanish Mackerel but now and again we we're still finding we were been bitten clean off.

On two occasions as I was reeling in the mack right at the side of the boat a Barracuda of about 4 foot long came right out of the water and smashed into the fish taking it whole as well as my leader and in the process soaking Dale and myself who where at that end
Great excitement and good fishing with good company.

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Bait Fish Are Back

Now the Red tide seems to have moved away from the beach the bait fish are back in numbers, which in turn have brought the predators in, great fun this evening fishing the edge of the bait balls with clouser patterns and getting hammered by ladyfish, some decent size ones as well, lets hope that the Spanish macs, reds and snook are not far behind them.

Lets hope we all have 'Tight Lines and Screaming Reels'

Last Course Of 2016 & A Bit Of Fishing

Run the final Fly Fishing course of 2016 at Friars Carse Country House Hotel on the banks of the River Nith in Dumfries. A loan angler this time as a couple of people had to drop out at the last minute but still it was a great course even if I say so myself.

Ian Gregson who does a lot of salmon fishing was on the course to get to grips with Spey Casts using his double handed & Switch rods from either bank. After the obligatory prelims of H & S issues we got down to looking at his basic casts and making some minor adjustments. Overhead cast was Ians go to method as where he fishes he had plenty of room behind so it was going to be a challenge for him to use other casts.

Left hand up on the double hander was the first challenge with a 'I cant do that' cry, just do one of your right and then switch hands & go off left - Worked OK, better than he thought so a bit more practice and it was really good. Now it was time to get on the water and try some more.

Next we checked out his Roll Cast (both sides) and then we went into reasons why we would use Spey Casts then finally to the actual cast. Given the wind conditions and the bank we were on it was decided that we would use the Circle C, left hand up as we would eventually be fishing down the beat that way.
As you can see it wasn't long before he had perfected it.

We had a great couple of days together fishing through different pools and varying the casts to include Doule Speys and Snake Rolls which did give a bit of issues and do still need some more work but all in all Ian did brilliantly, the only thing missing was a fish & that wasn't for trying, we did see quite a few fish but he left them for me I'm sure

Time for me to have a fish alongside my good pal & Instructor Chris Hague who had come up onto the beat for the first time, he soon showed me the way by catching a few nice trout and a sea trout all on the salmon fly but I just had that feeling and with my favourite fly of the year a Gold Willie Gunn tied for me by Custom Tied Flies I was about 20 yards behind Chris who had just shouted to me 'get the camera ready I'm going to catch one ' - but he didn't, he just warmed it up for me.
I let the flies fish close over the top of the Sleeping Stones lie and as it dropped over the back there was a strong solid take and the fight was on. I shouted to Chris that I was in and I'm not quite sure what his reply was but he kindly waded out just in case the fish bolted downstream.

A few minutes of serious head shaking and the fish was ready for net which was just as well when we lifted the net the hook fell out.  It was a hen fish of about 10lb and just starting to show the signs of colour change but still nice, quickly measured and photographed then safely returned to the water to continue her journey to produce the next generation of salmon. Thanks also must go to Peter Behan who managed to get me some nice photos.



Next stop the River Dee in Llangollen.

For more photos and details of fishing course visit us on our Facebook page - Cheshire Fly Fish or www.cheshireflyfishing.co.uk

Friars Carse Fly Fishing Course

What a great week I've had up on the River Nith staying at Friars Carse Country House Hotel and delivering a Fly Fishing Course to Richard, Karl & Paul, 2 complete beginners and one experienced who just needed some work on his spey casts. I had a great time coaching them the company was great.

Fish were caught by all, they might not have been big but they were still fish especially when you're new to this sport. Sea trout were mainly caught during the day or early evening as none of us fished much after 10.30pm, it was enough.

I even managed to get some time fishing myself  pulling in sea trout between 1.5lb - 5lb along with a cracking 17lb summer salmon and loosing 2 others this time whilst fishing the evening with a single handed rod #6 and a couple of small sea trout patterns, 10 minutes of frantic action and the down to the backing a few times, a great fight though.

Tight Lines for this weekend

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What Sharp Teeth They Have

Had an hour walking the beach yesterday at first light spotted a few snook cruising the shallows but none seemed in the feeding mood. Had to settle for a few of these chaps and numerous chases from the garfish/needlefish, all good fun before breakfast.

Afternoon and I'd spotted some nice snook under the and around the dock on the property where we are staying so time to try for them. I had a few follows but nothing got hold so spotted this little chap and decided to give him a try, a few inquisitive follows but still nothing and he eventually moved off to the deeper water. After a few changes of fly the line tighten and a fish was on, not sure what it was but it turned out to be a small about 2ft long Barracuda, result small but the first one I've had on the fly and even this small you have to be wary of those teeth - now I wonder if there are any bigger ones back here.

Tight Lines to all those fishing.

Don't forget for more photos and fishing course information (limited spaces still available for July) visit us on our Facebook page Cheshire Fly Fish or web site www.cheshireflyfishing.co.uk or follow us on Twitter.

A Trip On A Skiff

Had an invite yesterday from Steve Traves of AMI Outfitters on Pine Avenue to go and fish with him and Alistair from Scotland on his new boat so naturally I went. We first had a look up towards Bean Point but decided no to get in the way of the tarpon boats and headed out towards Passage Key were Steve had had some good fun on the fly with Hound fish the week before, we really wanted the sand bar to be shallow as this is where these fish seem to lie in wait. Tide was still a little bit high so we motored back down to Key Royale and fished a couple of drifts down there picked up some ladyfish, jacks, trout and greedy pin fish.

Time to head back up to the sandbar and fish the inside edge first some nice snook, barracudas and a few harks were cruising along, manage to get a few shots at the and had a few follows - more from the shark who only turned off from the fly at the last minute, that would have been fun. Hound fish were still not showing but suddenly in the shallows up popped about 4 schools of Tarpon so it was a quick change up to a 11# Sage Salt rod and we gave it a shot managed to get the fly in place a few times but these fish were running hard for deep water still it was great to see them close up in such clear water.

Then as the tide ran out even more we spotted the ones we were after a few quick casts and Alistairs reel was screaming off and the fish went airborne. A few more shots at them and it was then time to go, a great few hours on the water with great company, thanks again Steve.

 

 

 

 

Spent the late afternoon and evening on the water with Capt Chad Gamble of Hook & Ladder Charters. Cruised over to Rachels spot and layed some flowers on the water, played some music, ate Orios and chatted a while before heading off to Bean Point at the tip of the island in search of the silver kings - tarpon.

After a bit of motoing round we were soon anchored up with the tide running out hard and it wasn't long before we had fish behind the boat. Second cast and I had a hit that turned out to be a big Spanish Mackeral, not what we wanted but a fish.

We fished for the best part of 5 hours and had 2 tarpon hits, but it was there day and sadly none were landed.

Still another great day out on the water with Hook & Ladder Charter

 

Strong winds and high surf put paid to the fly fishing this morning, things started to look OK after lunch until the onset of a big downpour and even stronger winds.
Grabbed the last hour into dark this evening and it was worth it, hit by 2 snook - lost both one a good fish but at least managed 1 small lady fish, thanks to Steve Traves of AMI Outfitters for the fly to try, it works. Lightening on the horizon so time to go and grab another cold beer.

 



Quality of the photos isn't so good due to it being virtually dark and not using flash.

Out on the water with Capt Chad Gamble of Hook & Ladder Charters tomorrow afternoon, lets see what that brings

Tight lines if you're out fishing this weekend.

AMI May 2016

Back on Anna Maria Island for 3 weeks vacation lets hope the weather stays fine and the fishing is good.

Its good to be back on the island that holds so many memories for us, this time of year they are generally sadder ones but its the memories that keep us going.

Fishing these last couple of days has been hard with the exception of a few jacks showing up, sadly not to the fly.

This morning at Bean Point I watched the armada of boats all trying to get the best spot to have a shot at the tarpon that were crashing out, at one point there were 5 boats with anglers into fish. I chap had his fish on for getting on for 40 minutes only to loose it, another had just hooked up when his rod broke, gutted for both of them.

Stormy weather has blown in this afternoon  so here's hoping it blows through by morning to give me a chance with the fly rod.


Tight lines to all out fishing.

 

 

 



A Long Time No Post & Back on the Upper Tay

Time to catch up on the Blog after a time of no posts.

Been busy fishing at the end of the salmon season in 2015 and had a coloured fish of around 4lb to end the season on the River Nith, not what I was hoping for but that's fishing.

Kicked off 2016 running a residential course on the River Nith at Friars Carse Hotel, we had a great time very few fish due to the height and colour of the river but they all enjoyed it and hopefully some of them may take up the sport.

Back a couple of weeks later and had some fabulous sport with grayling, lots of fish in then 1.5 to 2lb mark then finished with an absolute cracker of over 3lb

Trips to local club waters and to Danebridge Fishery have produced some nice fish.



This last week I've been up on the mighty River Tay staying at Kenmore, fished for trout on the castle beat for a few hours on Sunday night and had a nice brownie, Tuesday I was off to fish Bolfracks Upper Beat with my son Mat, it turned out to be a fantastic day.

Met up with Tomas from Custom Tied Flies, good guy if you need any flies give him a call.
Bob McIntyre called to the beat to see us, I've known Bob for many years and could spend hours talking to him about the various beats.

Mat had the first fish of he day - a trout, then it was my turn after a couple of changes of fly I found one that worked, a super bar of silver in the shape of a 15lb spring salmon still with sea lice on it.

We saw quite a few fish coming into the pool most of which were silver. Mid way down the pool I had another arm wrenching take, the fight this time was to take a little longer but eventually Mat slid the net under my personal best salmon to date, a cracking 23.5lb beauty

And the day still wasn't done, I'd seen a fish boil a couple of times so I made a few casts in the general area then every thing went solid, all I could hear from up the bank was Mat yelling 'are you in again'. He did another fine job of netting the fish this time a smaller fish of about 11.5lbs but bright silver.

Mat was now getting fed up with netting fish for me so I suppose it was only fair that he had the last fish o the day, another fish of around the 11.5lb mark, this time to a Rapala.

So that brought then end to a perfect day, my next outing was on Thursday on the Taymouth Castle beat fishing the Chinese Pool, that again showed me the stamp of fish from this lovely piece of water.

Here's hoping the river will be as kind when I'm next back here.

Next stop the Anna Maria Island in the USA

Don't forget for more photos and fishing course information (limited spaces still available for July) visit us on our Facebook page Cheshire Fly Fish or web site www.cheshireflyfishing.co.uk or follow us on Twitter.