Review of 2012

January 

 I started 2011 full of enthusiasm at the start of my first full year sea angling. The previous six months since I picked up a rod in anger for the fist time since I was a child, though mixed in results, had given me a thirst for more exploring of marks, bait, tactics and species. Through sites like Shoreangler I had also met several like minded souls to explore with and learn from. 


With a new rod to christen I went for my first trip in the first week of the new year to a mark on the South Shore of Loch Etive. The day was very bright and I did not hold out a lot of hope as I could not stay and fish through the night as I wanted but it was a great day to be out in the beautiful scenery. I'd started fishing around 1 o'clock and had been getting my baits stripped my crabs all day. Just after darkness had fallen I gave my self two extra casts on each rod before packing up.First new bait was in the water with the ratchet set I turned to cast the other rod when I hear bzzz, bzzz, bzzzzzzzzzzzz. Yes, lifted into it and fish on! Soon I caught the tell tale glint of eyes in my head torch beam and landed a lovely spurrie, weighted (new PB at 4lb 1 oz) and back in the water to swim off.

And though a slow start the first trip of the New Year ended well with my new rod christened with a PB in the bag.

February 

February  was the month of the poor
decision leading to the 'Long Way Round'. A long planned trip to Lochaline dawned and though all forecasts were for wind and rain, they were incredibly varied in strength and direction. So we all (Sharpie, Silver Fox, Conger11, Jammy John and me) decided in for a penny and got on the road. I got to Lochaline after an uneventful and slow drive to find Jamie and John just setting up.  With the promise of a huge variety of species baits were in the water quick smart. The depth here shocked me as I'd never experienced it before. The wind was strong but at this point not to bad, or so I thought. Frankie and Sharpie arrived shortly after and along with them the wind built and built. My tripod took a tumble losing me a couple of eye inserts, followed by a few near misses for almost everybody bar Jamie who had bungied his tripod to the pier pilings! With the high winds were snags and tangles a plenty so when Frankies rod spectacularly failed we decided to beat a retreat to the Sheep Shed to get some shelter and see out the worst of the weather.


Everyone quickly broke the collective blank with a few small doggies. After a short period of time the wind changed direction and as the last ferry had gone at Corran we had the choice between a long night in the sheep shed or a 40 odd mile detour round Lochs Linnhe and Elie to get back onto the A82 and on to Etive and with fishing now impossible with the wind direction that was the decision made. Least said about that drive the better other than Sharpie had Frankie and me trailing in his wake and we all pulled up to the Priory far quicker than expected. But unfortunately it wasn't to be, no bites no fish and with forecasts coming in of heavy snow I decided to break for home and get past the higher ground before the snow came, eventually calling it a day at around 3 a.m. 


A long long way for a couple of doggies. That had me waiting for better weather and march was spent in tying rigs and sorting out the gear generally.

April

After a spell of several weeks without a trip I was determined to get out a lot in April both locally and further afield. First trip was to be my first Skate trip on the Creagallan from Oban organised by Sultzer. The weather was glorious and we were soon out in the Firth of Lorne with big baits out all round. In short order Frankie's ratchet was first to go and soon it was evident that he had a decent skate on. This was my fist experience of skate fishing and watching Frankie battle had me wondering if I really wanted to hook up myself :) It was almost an hour before we all got a glimpse of the beauty Frankie had on.

And once to the surface it was not long before a New PB (208lbs) was landed for Frankie. I never managed my own but it was a fabulous trip and the look of relief/achievement/joy on Frankie's face has me determined to land my own in 2012.






















Next trip I was fishing for much smaller flatties in the Tay, some size difference! Still it was an enjoyable trip with my old man.

Easter weekend was a trip back to Loch Sunart aboard Sharpies boat get Shorty. I had a shore session on the Friday then met Sharpie and Ian in the evening for some beers and a day afloat on the Saturday. Lovely view and good craic but a double blankety blank for me and the only catch for anyone all weekend was a solitary languistine for Sharpie.

April and the first quarter of the year ended with the Royal nuptials and another bank holiday. A wee flattie bash on my todd was the order of the day and back to Wormit bay for a few flounders.

May

Early May was another planned trip west with some of the North East lads Manny, Rauri, Tony Master et el. Staying just south of Fort William for a couple of nights. I'd been looking forward to it for ages but this was another trip plagued by bad weather. First night was fishing at Loch Linnhe near Corran followed by a a session near the mouth of Loch Etive. Nothing for me but some nice spurs and thornies were landed. Next day was Lochaline and the Sheep shed and again blanksville everyone blanked at Lochaline and a horrible thunder and lightening storm drove us back to our digs. And I decided to call it and went home.

June

After a couple more flattie bashes at Wormit and Arbroath it was time for the arrival of the chief teat puller Mr Malky Udderman for a tour of the East and North East with me and Sharpie, now that trip epic in nature cannot really be edited down so I've added the links to the original posts. (Operation Udderman: A beach too far!; Part-1; Part-2; Part-3) Suffice to say excellent trip great fun and a highlight of the year.

July

A trip to my favourite spot on Loch Linnhe and then a visit to Malky was the plan for July. As usual Loch Linnhe produced for me with some nice thornies (target for the day) and a Grey Gurnard.

Down at Malky's later in the month he introduced us the the 'over the hill' mark which had produced a wide range of fish for him over the past few weeks but alas nowt for us.

That followed by a flattie bash on a local beach that had the fastest tide I had experienced. Virtually jogging up the beach with gear and bait to keep ahead of the tide going in. Once again Malky and his udderling Paul showed the way with a few nice flounders. Next day a trip to Mull of Galloway never really produced we got our marks mixed up and went left instead of right and only had a few doggies to show for it. Still lesson learn, when on new ground make sure you know where to go in advance!

August

August was to be the month of the mini, inspired by catch reports and chats with some other mini species aficionados I decided to see what was about locally. First of was Arbroath cliffs, thought being put out the mini rod and do a bit of spinning/float fishing as well. Nothing on the float and a single large mackie to a jellyworm/leadhead combo left the mini rod to be the redeemer of the session. After playing about with rigs and hook size I finally caught my first mini a wee Shanny. Common enough but it was fun winkling them out of the nooks and crannies with the wee rod and light line.


Next it was Cellardyke harbour for a lot more shannies and another first for me of an LSSS. God ugly was invented for them!

Growing up in Boarhills I love my trips to Fife and hope for many more visits in 2012.

September

A wrasse trip to Fife turned into a very short session with only a single LSSS to show for it. Wrasse are really my bugbear species. Several planned trips for them this year and last have all gone tits up. Getting into some decent wrasse fishing is a big wish for 2012.

September was also another road trip with Mr Sharpe blighted for the first couple of days at least with pretty hellish weather. Rain and wind, I seem to talk about them as much as fishing! Still over a couple of days we managed two sessions at the Priory one at the Windsock , with Big Al, one on Loch Linnhe and one on Loch Leven. Lots of lead, bait and hooks flying but not a lot on the fish front, though Sharpie managed 4 or 5 species and only doggy for me :(

October

Then it was the day of the Help for Heroes meet at St Cyrus. A great turn out from the members of Shoreangler and a great days fishing was had by all. Nobody blanked and there were several folk with large catches, over 200 fish to 23 anglers. Flounders and dabs making the majority but not forgetting Arthur's grand turbot. All that and £259.50 raised.

At the end of the month a trip to Fife to meet Sandy to see if there were any early coddies about. not to be unfortunately but a coalie saved the blank and I have a new mark I can fish with my dodgy knee if we ever get any Easterlies.

November

Early in the month was another couple of trips with Sandy, one shore and one on his boat. The shore trip was a blank unfortunately but I did get a free shower courtesy of a pop up sprinkler head on the golf course we crossed to one mark :) The boat trip a couple of days later spoke volumes to the weather and temperature as among catches of coalies and a couple of cod to Sandy there were still mackies about as well. It was a beautiful day to be out and many thanks to Sandy to having me along.

December

No fishing at all for me in December. It's never easy to find time with the festivities looming, compounded by a dodgy knee. Oh well still lots of time to build rigs and plan for the New Year.

All round it's been a great year and a lot of fun. I've blanked a lot more often than I'd like but I've been out and about trying different things and marks and learned a lot to hopefully make 2012 more productive. I'm looking forward to meeting new faces and getting in among the fishes with the usual suspects.

Tight Lines all have a good Hogmany when it comes.