Casa del Udderman

After our trip up to Sharpies it was time for the next leg and for Sharpie and me to go down to Malky's.

Sharpie picked me up around 6 a.m. and after a pitstop for rolls and coffee we quickly headed off on the road. The plan was to arrive around 10 and have lines in the water for 11.

And so it was after bacon rolls and more coffee we headed off over the hill at Malky's. Cracking spot and Malky is a lucky man having a fishing spot like that on his doorstep. Over the dyke and down the slope out to the rocks, Comfortable fishing for three folk.

 Recently Malky has had some great catches there, but unfortunately it was not to be. For the 4 hours we spent there we only had 2 bites on the 5 bait rods we had out, and I had one small bass (I think) rise at my spinner. So sunbathing and banter it was before we climbed the hill again to be fed and watered (lovely stew courtesy of Mrs Udderman).

Then off for the evenings flattie bash, the stroll down to the beach was not as long as anticipated and nice and flat. The coolness of the evening making for a pleasant walk and mare banter.

The speed of the incoming tide was far quicker than I have experienced before. I was just dropping my rigs at the waters edge and walking back. Quite quickly having let out 200 yards of line before rebaiting.

Still as far as fish were concerned Malky's son, with a flounder, followed by Malky's couple of flounders were the only to be had for the evening. Still nice walk, good company and a few fish for Malky and his laddie.


There was a lot of discussion as to where to go the day after. A few rock marks locally were discussed, but we eventually decided to head down to the Mull of Galloway.

So after a hearty breakfast courtesy of Malky it was off on a quest for fash, and being on a blank any fash at all! We quickly found the rock mark we had decided upon and got the baits out. The weather continued to be glorious and was possibly partially responsible for the fish being shy. Malky pulled in a steady stream for doggies whilst Sharpie and I just sunbathed and rebaited occasionally!

Sharpie was the first of the visiting team to catch bringing in a small LSD. I've seen them curl up regularly, but this was the first I had seen already curled up on the way in lol.

I didn't have too long to wait to get my own blank off. Again a small LSD. Followed on my last cast with another.

It was soon time for a change of mark after a pitstop for some scran.

Unfortunately it was the same story no fish and plenty of crabs as we fished the tide in at the new mark. Still I got in some good casting practice. We were all planning another days fishing but after some broken sleep it we all decided to call it a day and head off home.

Despite the poor fishing as ever it was great to get out and about and have a couple of banter filled days. Big thanks to Malky and his clan for the food and board, great hospitality.

Looking forward to the next round...

Loch Linnhe - 04-07-2011

Bait - Squid and Mackie
Rigs - hook flappers - 3/0 circles
Tide - High >>>Low
Place - Loch Linnhe


After importunately having to miss the WSF meet yesterday I was determined to get out and have a day's fishing in the great weather. I was swithering between a local mini species hunt and a trip over west to try for thornies. When I got up the weather convinced me that west it was to be.


Up the A9 to Dalwinnie and across to Spean bridge and beyond was the route. The A9 was a nightmare now the schools are off, caravans everywhere so it was a bit after high tide when I arrived at my spot.


I quickly set up and had the baits out. 


I decided to use circle hooks for the full session as know people that have very different opinions on them and I wanted to test them properly myself. From the outset I was getting a lot of bites and they seemed to be classic doggie bites. but (even with not striking and letting the bites develop) no fish landed from the first half dozen casts.


Then came my first thornie bite and I was hoping the circle hooks would come into their own. I've learnt the hard way to leave thornie bites till you are sure they are hooked up. So I was patient and waited for the hook to set, lifted the rod and fish on! 


It didn't give much of a fight till it was about five feet from shore and it was landed in quick time. A lovely fat thornie a tad over 3lbs I'd guess.   It was well hooked in the middle of the mouth making it easy to unhook and release after a couple of pics.

Happy with that as it is my first of the year and my target for the day :)


I switched one of the rods to 2/0 j hooks  to try to get my 2nd target a Grey Gurnard. 


The large amount of missed bites continued on both rods so I don't know if it was the circles or particularly small fish ripping bites off the bait. There were (a lot) of small sea trout leaping all the time I was there, roughly half a pound and under, some only 3-4 feet from the waters edge. Just wish I'd taken a spinner, ho hum.


Still there was not much longer to wait for the next fish. After another string of what I thought were all missed bites I reeled in to change baits and was chuffed to find my 2nd target species a Grey Gurnard :) 

Funnily enough it had taken the large circle hook, but was nicely hooked in the corner of the mouth and again was quickly unhooked and released.


At this point I had a bit of a disaster when my tripod fell over and cracked on of my tip rings. I don't know if it is me or my tripod, but this happens way to often to me, boo :(


So now down to fishing one rod and the bites tailing off I decided two more casts and I'd be off and I was glad I had the extra casts as I landed another thornie. Much smaller than the first, 1.5lbs, but with very pronounced thorns. Very photogenic it was too. 

I have to say that thornies are quickly becoming my favourite fish just due to the real variety in patterning etc. 

With that I packed up and was off homeward bound, with another two species for the year under my belt.