Fishing: Getting hooked by the challenge in the Highlands

Published on Saturday 11 October 2008 12:54

IT was the weekend that beat all records for our club on our getaway fishing break, writes STUART FRASER.

First port of call was Lochter fishery in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, and what a great set up its has. Several ponds with lots of big fish and very active, as our club were about to find out. It was cold, wet and windy but more than 100 trout were caught by seven anglers, myself included. As there were more than 200 double-figure fish in the ponds, we were asked to fish barbless hooks and return our catch.

The fish were in the top two feet of water and were taking mini lures of any description. I managed to bag more than 20 on a mini yellow dancer with the best coming in at around 6lbs.

Mayfield angler Ross McKenzie managed to land a nice 'bow of just on 13lbs. Just when we thought things could not get any better we went on to Insch the following day and the sport was just fantastic.

It did not matter what you threw at them they would have anything pulled across them. Alex Rowley of Mayfield bagged up early with four for 16lbs. However, his next catch after bagging up was bitter-sweet – he had a huge fish on which would have weighed more than his other four put together. Still that's fishing for you and so it should be, after all it's the sport that's all important – and the crack with the locals.

It's along way to travel but it is well worth it. Every member of the club caught fish. The trout in Loch Insch were outstanding, from 2lbs up to double figures, and every one scrapped really strongly.