Fishing: Gartmorn Dam's savage trout put up a real fight

The place has everything: scenery, plenty of fish and value for money.

Taking the boat out - as is always my preference - I cut the engine just out from the pier for a long drift.

My tactic was to fish a midge tip line with a Kate McLaren, Bibio, and big nymph on the point.

On my second cast I had a double hook up which took me completely by surprise.

They were not big fish but, pound for pound, fought better than rainbows.

I changed the point fly to a Damsel as my nymph had been completely destroyed by the savagery of the fish.

Still I wasn't complaining as long as the fish kept coming - which they did.

My boat partner and I managed to get a total of ten fish in one drift of 200 yards.

Most of them were around the half-pound mark but there were one or two bigger ones.

However, I don't like killing these lovely fish unless I have to and much prefer to see them returned alive to fight another day.