Angling: Turning blue with a big haul

IF ever a reminder was needed that winter was well and truly on the way, then the message was hammered home when I was at Allandale Tarn.

It was a fairly busy day with several rods out and about and all on different lines. The wind was blowing up the water and I decided to try at the top end where nobody was fishing.

Floating line, long leader and a single Damsel . . . if that did not work then I was going home blanking. Fish were moving on the surface and despite several attempts at putting the fly in front of them nothing would take.

Slowing the retrieve right down to almost a crawl, I locked onto a good fish which took very softly. It was not until I tried to slip the net under the 5lb+ fish that it suddenly came to life. It went ballistic and I had to drop the net to play it out before it eventually tired and it came in tamely head up.

Two casts later and I was in again and it was now that the wind chill was kicking in. Just as well it was not a big fish, as my hands were turning blue and I virtually tail walked it in to the net.

After a warming cuppa I went on to get another two fish before retiring early, cold but extremely happy. I feel the reason I got as many fish was that I kept on the move and covered more fish and area.