Coffeeless, soaked but productive!

 My mate Andrew came for some fishing the other weekend. We hadn't seen eachother in a while so I really wanted to show him somewhere different this time. The weather was crap as usual but we tried an area in N. Skye that I thought would be fishable. I let him know that we were still with a chance of fat prespawn fish even though the numbers might not break any records...

After trying in vain to find an open cafe for some coffee we decided to launch... As soon as we reached the rocky point we knew we were in for an uncomfortable day! We were marking fish though so we dropped the Haswing and started fishing. It quickly became apparent that fish were particular in what they wanted that day. It would seem that black or white paddletails were all they wanted along with a couple metals.

We started getting some fish and they seemed up for it as long as we gave them what they wanted but the weather kept pushing us away from the marks.

We moved behind another point and there found some shelter. Now this is one of my favourite tidal marks that can be very tricky to access from the shore . Even in the boat it can be easily overlooked but it holds plenty and good fish at the right time of year. Right now though is a bit early but it was worth a try.

We casted the area for a bit and soon enough Andrew was in. A slightly better fish so we persisted in the area. I placed a cast very close to the rocks and let it settle, I got hit as soon as I started the retrieve, and the fish felt good! After a limited fight I got a big girl up that looked like it had gone through the wars! She was quickly released.

War wounds 

One for Andrew.

A few casts later and another nice fish took the lure, landed and released.They must've spooked after that and we had to move yet again. As it's not an area I go to very often, I decided and Andrew agreed to do some exploring. The area is similar to many steep lochs in Skye and we cruised, keeping to a certain depth until we found shoaled fish. It didn't take long and the 'bananas' appeared on the sounder... We had a few more fish until unfortunately the weather picked up and we made the crossing back to the slip.

Plenty of fish at that mark considering the weather.

We eventually managed to get a much needed coffee before driving back home!

Coffee at last!

The weather has been unseasonably unsettled and I'm waiting for some improvement towards the end of the month. By then, it will be time for some post-work sessions as the long days will be with us!

Tight lines 

Only one!

 On Saturday I met up with my Greek friend Achileas, who I hadn't fished with since 2015! We kept in touch and he always wanted to come fish with me up in Skye. He mainly fishes for sea trout and mackerel thus I thought it would be good if I'd take him out on the boat and show him something different. 

Conditions prevented us from visiting any Northern marks so we launched from a Southern slip and headed out. The fish are well into spawning now and this makes them tricky to find and tempt but I had high hopes for a few but quality fish...

We reached my preferred spot and started casting slim home poured Sluggo imitation soft plastics. After a few casts I got a bite and solid resistance...

The fish didn't seem to realise what happened and it was sluggish but I could feel it's weight as I was bringing it in. A couple short runs and I got her up. A fat mama was in the net moments later and we were delighted! I was expecting quality but not a double in the first few casts! I urged Achileas to cast to where I got her while I unhooked the fish. He got no bite and we then took a couple photos before releasing her and continuing fishing. 

Fat mama!

Same fish...

It was unfortunately one of those days that they didn't want to show up and even though we could see them on the fish finder, they weren't responding to our lures. We persisted for a couple hours but my friend needed to head down to Edinburgh so we decided to call it and head in. 

I was glad Achileas witnessed the quality of fish up here but disappointed I couldn't get him connected to another one. There's always next time I suppose...

Tight lines!

A Spring like last year?

 I've had a single session so far this month but I have to say I was surprised with the results and the fish behaviour considering the time of year and weather conditions! 

I set off with an ok forecast that, as is so often the case up here, got worse by the time I reached the mark... The northerly swell had persisted throughout the night and I decided on a quick change of mark to a more sheltered one.  This mark is very sheltered but in close proximity to deep water and strong currents. It mainly holds good numbers of average pollock and usually big shoals of coalies.

As soon as I arrived I found the fish holding deep and close to the bottom. I started with the usual soft plastics and it wasn't long for the bites to develop. Once I got a couple fish up, I started switching up the presentations using some lipless/vibration hardbaits and A-rigs thinking they would fire the fish up as it usually happens this time of year. Surprisingly the fish didn't show much interest in these... It was near high water and I saw some bait fish passing higher in the water column, this possibly raised the pollock up and called in a big shoal of coalfish. I had a couple shallow attacks of them on the A-rig and I thought to try a topwater since they seemed fired up. The coalies didn't disappoint and had hit after hit for the best part of an hour! When casting closer to the ledge I noticed a couple pollock coming up for the Autowalker and it wasn't long until they got fired up too. I had a couple hit and misses from good fish until one of the bigger ones stuck! Cracking action for the beginning of March! 

A cracking fish and a cracking take!

Big and small wanted the Autowalker!

Plenty of Coalies.

Rugged fish.

Standard size.

I kept some fish for a feed and all of the pollock were very close to spawning with enlarged gonads. I don't think it's my imagination but in the past couple years Spring fishing has definitely improved...

Water temperature is slightly colder than what it was at this time last year but still close to 9C which may have something to do with the perkier fish. I really hope I can get out soon before all the fish spawn and get myself a couple of fat mamas!

Tight Lines

Belated report...

 Somehow we're in February now and I've realised I haven't made a report of last couple months  fishing. To be fair we've had storm after storm hitting us and any fishing sessions were few and far between weeks of bad weather. 

I kicked off my first session of the year at the beginning of January and the fishing was hectic! Plenty of topwater fish with the coalies being especially ravenous...

First of 2024.

First topwater fish of 2024!

Loved this strike!

Ravenous...

That session was pretty much all my fishing for January as I couldn't go near the sea because of the storms!

Then once February came the storms let up a bit and I managed to get a guiding session last weekend. Still not perfect weather but doable with some hardy souls...

Then yesterday I managed another solo session with adequate conditions and got a few fish for a feed. The coalfish loved a bit of A-rig action although soft plastics and vibration hard baits gave fish equally.

A-rig action...

Average size 

It does now feel more like prespawn and winter fishing with fish responding better to bright colours, slightly smaller sized lures, closer to bottom presentations and some 'annoying' lures like vibs and A-rigs.

Hopefully the Spring fishing will be as good as it was last year although some settled weather would be good enough for me.

Tight lines.

Ding a ling...

 November has been unusually busy for me but the few times I managed to get out, I did some scouting but also visited areas that I've not been in a while...

I've been on the lookout for a mark that would give me good shelter from northerly winds as Staffin can be too exposed at times but also productive enough to worth the effort. Thus I towed the boat and launched at a pretty decent slipway. I had only a couple hours to spare and quite some area to cover. Thus I runned and gunned my way past saved fishy spots on my Navionics app. Most proved very quiet but typically on the last 40 mins of the day I struck into a hotspot with good numbers of solid pollock! I hooked a number of hard fighting fish with a few spitting the hook so I will definitely be returning to this mark... The weather was pretty good on the day but I'm hoping for similar results on a less than ideal day.

Hard fighter

The next session took place in one of my favourite marks that I tend not to fish very often as access with the trailer can be a bit tricky. The wee Honwave and the Tohatsu were needing a good run though so I decided on a tech free day just wanting to get the rod bend. 

Well, there was plenty of that as good pollock and ravenous coalfish were on my lures cast after cast. It was a good day on the topwaters with a couple pollock on the autowalker 115s but also the good old whopper ploper, that drove the coalies in a frenzy! I had two of them hooked up on the same lure a couple times! 

I had to move out of the way as a creel fisherman put the fleet out but waited around as this can be a good trigger for bringing in fish since the fresh bait attracts them... I focused on soft plastics and moved in as soon as the creels were down. Plenty more pollock but the cherry on the cake came as I slowed right down the retrieve and a nice ling hit my shad! Always a pleasure seeing them on my lures...

Nice ling!

Only took one pic as they're a bugger unhooking in the inflatable!

They love that thing!

Excellent condition 

I got some more pollock after that and it wasn't long before I called it a day. It's really refreshing sometimes to fish with minimal gear and just enjoy the tug!

Hoping to get some more outings this month before the holidays. As long as the weather doesn't get too bad it should be pretty good right now.

Tight lines!

The red rods are back...

 Last week I had the pleasure of hosting Alan and Paul yet again at my place and got some fishing done. Conditions throughout the week were pretty difficult but as I've said before, this time of year even a short window of opportunity can easily provide some good fishing. 

We managed one short session after work and then a longer one on Saturday. The short session took place in one of my usual Staffin marks and the bigger fish were more prominent there, with Paul getting a screeching run and instant snag-up! Thankfully more fish obliged and we got some solid action for an hour before it was time to head in.

Back again.

Paul with a good lump.

Alan didn't stay behind...

That bend.

And another one.

Decent sizes.

On Saturday the forecast was for brisk Northeasterlies so that excluded my usual launching areas, instead we launched from Stein and fished Loch Bay. This is an area better for numbers although I have taken the occasional good fish from there. Also it can be a good area for topwater fishing as well as ballan wrasse though unfortunately we didn't encounter any on the day. Paul did manage his first pollock on topwater though with the fish hitting mere meters from the boat and giving us all a good surprise! 

Despite being more sheltered than staffin, it was still not perfect conditions yet we got good numbers of fish.

A wee chunk from the numbers mark 

Double hook-up!

Throughout the week, the lads baitfished various parts of the island with good results, getting some good rays especially. 

They were the last guests in my caravan as it's time for it to go. It's done very well for us but it has started to need more maintenance than I can provide. 

Unfortunately the boys complained to me about parking and access becoming more difficult the past couple years and on this visit especially. I remember when I first came to the island, it was always easy enough to ask politely and you could guarantee a parking spot for a few hours. This seems to have definitely changed though and it's a pity. There's limited shore access as it is for most marks on the Island, I suppose it's another point towards boat fishing being the mainstay of my fishing. 

Hopefully weather improves a bit and I can do a couple solo outings. 

Tight lines.