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Monthly Reports

July 2008
Brian and Ronnie Foreman fishing a good wave on Harray

Depressed as I write this report, after a very poor evening on Boardhouse, it’s hard to sing the loch’s praises. However Boardhouse fished very well indeed for most of the month and some very good baskets, and fine specimens were recorded. Most of the sport was “top of the water”. It was a bit like the Boardhouse of old. Recent times have seen sinking lines and mini lures as the first line of attack on Orkney’s top two lochs, Boardhouse and Harray, but not so in 2008. Anglers were digging out their old favourite floaters and intermediates and delving into the dark recesses of their fly boxes for Coch Zulus, Blue Zulus, Peterson’s Pennells, Norm’s Cow Dung, Doobry and the like, all to occupy mid dropper positions behind Hedgehogs and Muddlers. Baskets included 23 for 16 lb 14 oz to Ian Hutcheon; 18 for 13 lb 7 oz to Shane Stanger; 17 for 12 lb 11 oz for Jimmy Grant and 18 for 12 lb 5 oz for Norman Irvine. Fish were well distributed over the loch and long drifts across the middle of both ends were often productive. I’m sure the reason for the resurgence of more traditional methods came down to the return of Daphnia. The fish were certainly “podding” and multiple hook ups were commonplace.

On Harray, Caenis hatches got the fish going at the start of the month. Late evening and early morning flat calms saw fish boiling all over the big loch however some areas were still more productive than others. Nistaben, Biggings, Joesy’s, Bockan and Bankhead were all popular locations and the lines of choice seemed to be in the fast intermediate range – fast glass, slime lines and so on. Baskets included 28 for 16 lb 1 oz for Norman Irvine; 21 for 12 lb 10 oz for James Bews and 21 for 12 lb 4 oz and 17 for 13 lb 2 oz for Stuart Leslie. A wide variety of fly patterns were mentioned in despatches, including Peach Muddler, Norski Lad, Emu, Erlend’s Cat, Loch Ordie Muddler, White Cat, Suspenders and Emergers.

Swannay was well patronised by visiting anglers and by all accounts fished well when conditions permitted. Alan Shearer and visitor, Hugh Jamison from County Antrim enjoyed a red letter day with 28 fish up to 2 lb, all returned. Hugh’s best fly pattern was a very nice Connemara Black variant.

Specimen loch, Skaill, continued to receive attention, with anglers present most evenings. Visiting anglers Ian Webster and Doug Gollan enjoyed sport with 3 over 2 lb. A few sea trout were being caught by shore anglers fishing for flounders including a near 5 lb beauty from Deerness, and fine 2 lb 14 oz specimen from a South Ronaldsay location by Brian Foreman. Brian told me he also lost a canny 7 poonda from the same area.

MAR