Lochy

[peter]

Fished hard for 3 days no fish

[betanut]

Bad luck - perhaps you'll be fortunate enought to get another crack at it in 'prime time'?

[storlaks]

Some good fish coming off the Lochy now. 42lber landed this week as well as a few others in the 20lbs class.

Let's hope the big fish continue into June!

[peter]

you are a lucky man to fish the lochy in june hope the water is right !!!

[storlaks]

Peter, privileged..yes, lucky..I'll wait and see. We've not done so well over last few years, but things are definately improving on the Lochy and last weeks catches only go to prove how proper management can turn things around on a river which was on it's knees only 10 years ago. One angler landed fish of 42, 29, 27 21 and 15 lbs. This catch rivals the Alta.....quite awesome!

[Bogyoch]

Blimey, I'd be quite happy with the 15lber, let alone one nearly three times that weight!!

[betanut]

I must have missed something in my east coast exile, I don't doubt that the Lochy had a 'spell' of problems but it was fishing very well in the early to mid-'90s so what went wrong after that?
How come the river was on it's knees? The late Roger Barnes (with a wee bit of help from a bright eyed fisheries student....) had a hatchery up and running and things were on the up. So what happened?

[storlaks]

Fish farms, netting and other factors to name a few. In 1998 they caught a grand total of 50 salmon for the season. Poorest year ever! Since then things have improved and since Jon Gibb took over, things have improved big time. The hatchery is now a lot bigger than before and more fish of all sizes are released each year. The river is now stocked as well as the head waters and many new spawning areas have been opened up. Agreements with the fish farmers allow lice free migration of smolts to sea...and so on.

A combination of all these factors has brought the river back to a reasonable and hopefully sustainable level. Let's hope it continues to improve.

[jock]

Well just returned from a week of low water and high sun on the Lochy. Still a most enjoyable week in good company. One "Farmer" 6lbs, 2 sea trout to 2 1/2 lbs and some lovely brown trout to over a 1lb was the tally.

The picture below shows a "Springer" ;D at the top of the pool.



Congrats to Macsalmo (fishing the bottom of pool)on catching the "Farmer" and all without the help of the ex Lochy Ghillie and forum member Betanut.

Saturday was line and rod testing day. The modern Spey cast as done by guess who? Guideline LPX with Monteith line. One day that man will fish



I'm sure a fuller report will be posted by others. Just to remind them I've got some interesting photos too ;D ;D

Cheers,
Jock

[salmonking]

Can we see some more please?

[jock]

salmonking said:

Can we see some more please?

Hi Salmonking,

I don't want to crowd the forum out with too many pics, but here are a selection. I assume you want a feel for the river, I didn't carry my camera all the time as it is a bit bulky. If you want pretty pics of fish then I or others can post them.

Beat 1 Croy Pool.....the pool in the original post. Macsalmo with brown trout over 1lb



Beat 2 View from car park fishing above Island



Beat 3 Standing in tail of the Falls Pool looking down the rush into Gorge



Beat 4 Overlooking the Rock Pool on another sunny day. Betanut is on the left


Testing Rods and Lines at the bottom of Bulls Run on Beat 2



A view from the "digs" over looking beat 1.....interesting?

[/URl

Finally another resident at the "digs"



It isn't just about catching salmon

Cheers. Jock

[elwyman]

Thanks for the photos Jock.

Betanut must have been warm in his neoprene waders!

Two guys on the Tummel were wearing neoprenes and pvc waders - they fished Greenbank all day because it was too hot to walk! ;D

[jock]

elwyman said:

Betanut must have been warm in his neoprene waders!

;D

Yes, but he is hoping to market them as the latest slimming technique Sorry Hamish ;D

[salmonking]

Cheers Jock looks a cracking river to fish.

[betanut]

[/quote]
Yes, but he is hoping to market them as the latest slimming technique Sorry Hamish ;D[/quote]

damn it all my cunning plan for weight loss is unfurled - back to the drawing board.

It was lovely being back (I got quite sentimental) and glad to see Fri/Sat produced the goods ;D

[storlaks]

Nice pics guys. I have heard that the winter floods have changed some of the pools. Some good and some bad.

What's yer thoughts?

Beat 2 almost seems to change every year, especially the Bulls run.

Let's hope the year is not dogged by continual low water.

July is a long way off but seeing those photos has got me thinking about it already!

[jock]

storlaks said:

Nice pics guys. I have heard that the winter floods have changed some of the pools. Some good and some bad.

What's yer thoughts?

Beat 2 almost seems to change every year, especially the Bulls run.

Let's hope the year is not dogged by continual low water.

July is a long way off but seeing those photos has got me thinking about it already!

Only time will tell. Big changes again to beat 2. Possible good news for your July visit, Ian Mackie believes this will be a good grilse year.

[elwyman]

Just spotted this:

www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=106214#post106214

[jock]

Well they were not there this April, maybe I'll catch them when I return this September ;D

Now who will I invite this time?

[peter]

I will be available,lol