Trout fishing in Scottish rivers

Many Scottish rivers offer excellent brown trout fishing, Tay, Tweed, Clyde, Tummel, Don and Glass are particularly good, but some of the smaller waters offer intimate experiences and great opportunities too. Tackling river trout stealth and the skill to outwit a natural creature accustomed and attuned to its environment. Clumsy presentation and thoughtless disturbance will produce little reward. However there are plentiful rewards for the angler who studies to be quiet and approaches the river with care. During the early part of the trout season wet fly and nymph fishing are the most reliable methods. Once the flies start hatching the fish respond by surface feeding, then dry fly fishing becomes the epitome of sport for most anglers. Rods up to ten feet are useful for wet fly and nymph fishing on the wider rivers, elsewhere and as a general-purpose river rod a nine foot five weight is perfect. Dry fly anglers often use shorter and lighter rods to achieve better presentation and enhance their chances of success. A selection of different diameter leaders is useful. A quick to way to choose a suitable leader diameter is to multiply the "X" size by 3. For instance a 4X leader is suitable for a size 12 hook.

Ally fishing dry fly R Dean

Most river fly patterns are imitative and fortunately many of them represent a number of species of insects and so the angler does not require knowledge of the finer details of entomology. Hares ear, pheasant tail, prince nymph, Czech nymphs, peeping caddis, killer bug and woven nymphs are very successful. Gold head and tungsten-weighted versions are particularly effective for getting deep quickly. These patterns are usually fished with a short line "high stick" style or in conjunction with indicators. Traditional wet flies are normally fished in teams of two or three flies, chosen to represent the variety of insects that may be available to the trout. This method is best early in the season and Greenwell (winged), March Brown, Silver March Brown, Black and Blae, Snipe and Purple, Blue Dun, Malloch's Favourite, Wickham´s Fancy and Greenwell spider are form the basis of most casts. Wet flies are most often fished "on the swing" but upstream wet fly fishing is a more skill and deadly presentation. In recent years Cul-de-Canard dry flies have proven their effectiveness, especially as emerger and dry patterns. A selection of these representing upwing and caddis insects is very useful throughout the season. Recommended conventional winged or hackled dry flies include Greenwells, Dark, Medium and Light Olives, March Brown, Yellow May Dun, Tups Indispensable, Red Quill, Ginger Quill, Adams, Elk or Deer Hair Caddis and Blue Winged Olive. For those occasions when nothing is rising, terrestrial patterns such as ants and small hoppers are useful for prospecting.

Trout fishing in lochs

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