Anglesey angling adventure.

I decided earlier this year to try and get away more often on short fishing trips. I was planning a weekend in Plymouth at the end of May, but with some uncertainty about a competition I was looking forward to taking part in occurring, I spotted a thread on The Lure Forum about a North Wales Bumble taking place on the island of Anglesey and thought it would be a good alternative destination for a short trip. In addition, I'm heading to Cornwall for a week in July so with the competition perhaps off it seemed a bit silly to visit the south coast twice.

I spoke to fellow The Lure Forum member Lee Goddard, who lives in Wales, about coming down and he was keen to meet up and do some ultra light fishing and also maybe some bassing. Neither of us drive though which was a bit of a problem but luckily another The Lure Forum member and keen angler, Ross Johnson, said he would like to join us and could drive us to various marks around Anglesey. Lee sorted out some cheap accommodation for the two of us in Amlwch and I booked my train ticket to Bangor. Arrangements made, I started discussing the possibilities mark and species wise and started looking forward to meeting Lee and Ross and getting quite excited by the trips potential!

The night before I travelled down I packed my gear. I decided to take four rods. My two ultra light rods, a Shimano Diaflash 237L-S 0.8-8g for vertical jigging and rockpooling due to its ultra sensitive solid tip and my Nories Rockfish Bottom Ultra Light 1.8-7g for working small lures close in and around structure. For bassing I packed my Daiwa Powermesh 902MS 10-40g. Finally the Shimano Speedmaster Drop Shot 240 3.5-28g went in the rod sleeve for targeting bigger wrasse with soft plastics and also for drop shotting smaller species should the conditions make fishing ultra light difficult. Two reels would make the journey. My Daiwa Steez 2500 spooled with 6lb Sunline Rockfish for use with the two ultra light rods and my Daiwa Exceller X-3000 spooled with 20lb Power Pro for use with the other two rods. I'll restrict details on lures till later in the report as I packed way too many!

The morning of the trip arrived and my alarm went at 6:00, I got up, got ready and headed up to Waverley train station. Boarded the train and began writing this! After changing trains at Crewe and another hour on the train I arrived in Bangor and was met by Lee and Ross. Bags in the car off we went to start fishing. We headed off to fish a few marks on the South West coast, hoping to stay sheltered from the North Easterly winds.

After a short walk and an easy climb we were soon setup and fishing but it quickly became apparent that the current flowing past the mark was a bit too strong to get lures anywhere near the bottom using most of the light gear we had with us so we opted to fish a bit higher up in the water to see if there were any mackerel around. I was first into a fish. This small pollock taking a pink Isome.

A small but rather plump pollock!

Ross then landed a small pollock that also fell for Isome.

A tiny pollock! Lovely golden honeycomb markings on it.

Ross hooked the next fish, a mackerel, which came off as he was reeling it in. Almost immediately I had a take close in and after a short scrap on the Nories and with Lee carefully climbing down and lipping the fish I had my first mackerel of the year.

Perhaps the one Ross lost?

Lee and Ross went off to explore another ledge whilst I opted to do a spot of vertical jigging in a very deep gully. As they climbed over to it a sea gull who had been sitting there tried to fly off but it quickly became apparent that he was going nowhere except straight down due to the fact he had a discarded fishing trace including a lead tangled around his legs. We couldn't leave it like that so Ross and Lee managed to guide it over to me, I grabbed it and we began to remove the trace starting with the hook the poor thing had in its beak. No doubt the bird had tried to eat a baited trace left behind by the same idiots who had left a load of other rubbish and discarded tackle lying around on the mark. We carefully managed to cut off all the line and cut the hook with some pliers.

The ungrateful gull had a good peck at me and squawked in my face before he was set free again! I squawked back.

Bird rescue complete we went back to fishing and Lee got off the mark with a small pollock caught from the ledge he and Ross were fishing from.

Lee opens his account. Dropping a lure straight down the side produced a fish.

As the fishing was relatively slow we decided to move to another mark. After a short drive and a walk along the cliffs, Ross showed us one of his favourite marks but as it involved a dangerous climb that neither Lee nor I were up for we headed a bit further along the coast to a mark that was slightly easier to access. A long jagged section of rock in the middle of a deep gorge that is only accessible at low water.

Fishing to the right of the rock in the middle would prove productive.

Upon arrival though Ross realised he had left his camera at the first mark so went back to get it. After a pretty steep climb down Lee and I started fishing and pretty soon we began catching pollock and then Lee caught a nice ballan wrasse.

Power Isome doing what it does best!

The pollock kept coming and by the time Ross returned, climbed down the gorge, got onto the rock and started fishing Lee and I had caught a few each. None of any size but good fun on ultra light gear.

Most of my pollock took the lure on the drop.

Next it was my turn to get a ballan wrasse. It shot out and grabbed my lure right at my feet and was quickly bullied up the whole two or three feet to the surface!

Nice brown and orange ballan wrasse bolted out of the kelp and nailed a Lake Fork Live Baby Shad before trying to bolt back into it again.

Ross went and had a look at the tide and said we would have to leave soon as the tide would cut us off so we had a few more casts. Ross hooked his first ballan wrasse of the day with his last cast.

Last fish for Ross from this mark before we tried to leave.

We packed up and started to make our way back off the rock but it soon became clear that we had left it too late and were trapped. After a bit of climbing and getting wet feet we all made it off though.

Oops! Lee and I struggled a bit with the escape but Ross made sure we made it in one piece!

To finish the first day off we headed to Wylfa Power Station to target mini species in a big side pool next to the main hot water outflow. Lots of big mullet were swimming around but the tide was out and most of the side pool was empty so no one caught anything. We did try to tempt the mullet with some lures but being mullet they just weren't interested! Ross took Lee and I back to the caravan where we would be staying and we were warmly welcomed by some other lads who were here for the bumble and who we were sharing the caravan with. Great lads who visit Anglesey on a regular basis.

Next morning we headed up to the meeting point for the bumble. It was nice to meet everyone and we all had a chat and a spot of breakfast with hot drinks and some very nice sausage and bacon rolls warming everyone up on what was a pretty cold and windy morning. Lee and I bought a couple of the small hard lures that were on sale and then we got chatting to Terry, who despite his lack of enthusiasm for our preferred style of fishing, took it upon himself to offer advice to us on potential marks to go species hunting with our ultra light gear. We had a great chat and he offered to take us to a few of the places he had mentioned as they were near his house. We happily accepted his generous offer, jumped in his van and off we went. We tried a few of the marks but the wind and also the currents made controlling our lures difficult something that Terry hadn't anticipated as he favours traditional methods of fishing and this was his first real look at fishing so light. We then headed to a mark where Terry thought we could catch big wrasse, a deep water rock mark that was easy to access. After showing us the mark Terry gave us his number and told us he would pick us up later to take us bass fishing on the Menai Straights in the evening then left us to fish. We tackled up with the heaviest end gear we had but the current was too strong again and we started losing quite a bit of gear as the tide swept it into snags and when another angler arrived with traditional tackle we decided to let him have our spot and headed along the cliffs to look for a more sheltered mark similar to the gorge Ross had taken us to the day before.  After a pleasant walk along the cliff we spotted a likely looking spot and figured out how to get down. The climb down was very easy and the mark was well sheltered. With fairly deep water and lots of kelp around the edges we started targeting wrasse down the sides. I decided to fish my Speedmaster Drop Shot just in case there were any bigger fish down there. We started exploring the edges and it wasn't too long before Lee had caught one followed shortly afterwards by a second. I asked him what lure he was using and he gave me one of them, a small IMA Trilobite in Pro Blue. First drop with it and I had hooked a wrasse too. I was hoping it was one of the smaller species but it was just a tiny ballan. Lee seemed to have found a bit of a hot spot and it looked like there was a large shelf in the rock beneath him from which he caught another two ballan wrasse.

This ballan wrasse found Lee's IMA Trilobite lure irresistible!

Lee's second ballan wrasse of the day.

Lee was on a roll.

Lee's last ballan out of this mark was also the best.

High hopes that this would be one of the smaller wrasse species were soon dashed when this tiny wrasse was properly inspected.

I did hook a second ballan wrasse but just after I got it up clear of the kelp my braid snapped at the rod tip. A quick inspection revealed that my tip ring was chipped. I must have damaged it during our escape from the cut off rock mark the previous day. I packed it up and setup my Nories rod. As the tide turned the wrasse stopped biting and I started casting out a bit further and managed to catch two tiny pollock that must have been part of a passing shoal but after that things went quiet again. I decided to explore a bit and rock hopping around a corner I found a huge rockpool. A chunk of Gulp! Sandworm was soon bouncing around the bottom and a few blennies shot out to fight over it. I managed to catch two of them.

Despite being caught this blenny put on a rather defiant display!

I remembered that Lee had never caught a blenny and called him over. Pretty soon he had caught his first  and was quite pleased.

A new species for Lee. A small specimen but it still managed to bite him a few times much to our amusement!

We went back and had another go for some more wrasse as the tide began to flood but with no sign of any around and time getting on we packed up and started heading back. After a few texts from Ross to say that Terry was looking for us and realising that we had went to a different car park to the one we were dropped off at, a rather relieved Terry soon picked us up and we went to the  pub where we met up with Ross and his mates whom he had been fishing with. They had been to the mark Lee and I didn't fancy the climb down to and had caught a few pollock and some bigger ballan wrasse. May have to attempt the climb next time I visit! We had a quick pint, grabbed some fish and chips then headed to the Menai Straights with Terry to target bass. With the wind dropping off, the tide just right as the light was due to fade, Terry thought that the conditions were perfect and after a stroll along the shingle we all started fishing, wading out a few yards and casting out past the weed into the currents. Ross and his mates headed a bit further along the beach to fish. As the tide flooded and light began to fade the action started. My Nories was the first rod to bend in our group as I hooked into my first Welsh bass.

Ultra light bass. Great fun!

It took a Sidewinder Brill Bait fished behind an 8g sinking bombarda. Shortly afterwards Terry landed a fish and his mate Darren lost one before catching another. After this brief spell of activity the action stopped just as quickly as it had begun. Ross and his mates rejoined us and they too had caught a couple of bass. Probably from the same shoal that had passed in front of us. As it got dark we decided to call an end to a very enjoyable, very long and very tiring day. Ross drove us back to the caravan again and on the way we discussed our plans for the following days fishing. With the wind due to almost disappear along with the clouds we were looking forward to a better opportunity to do some more ultra light fishing and a spot of mini species hunting.

Sunday morning and Ross picked us up at 9:00. It was a lovely sunny day and with little wind we made the short drive to Amlwch Breakwater.

With over 20 species having being caught from the breakwater we had high hopes.

We started fishing down the inside wall of the breakwater but surprisingly had no bites at all so we began exploring the southern side of the harbour. No sign of any fish there either though so we decided to head back to Wylfa Power Station outflow as the tide was in and hopefully so would be the mini species. Ross caught a small thick lipped mullet on a bit of bread. Shocking I know! He then managed to catch one on a small section of Isome.

Even the fussiest fish in existance can't resist Isome!

Tricky, hard to catch fish out of the way, blenny bashing soon commenced! I took an early lead and it soon got quite competitive and we were all catching them. Even Lee admitted that it was strangely addictive! I decided to climb down to see if there were any tompot blennies or gobies amongst the boulders at the bottom. After catching a few more common blennies I hooked what I first thought was simply a slightly plumper one but as I hoisted it up I was overjoyed to discover it was in fact my first ever tompot blenny.

Blenny #171. Tompot flavour!

I was well chuffed. I headed around to the other side of the pool to continue hunting mini species and then Ross caught a couple of corkwing wrasse in quick succession followed by a couple of tompot blennies.

Lovely little corkwing wrasse for Ross. I'd loved to have caught one too.

Ross gets a another tompot blenny.

There may be a few more tompots soon!

I made my way around and rejoined them on the ledge but by the time I got there the tide had dropped and the mini species action had dried up. I decided to go and have a chuck with my Yo-Zuri Crystal minnow in the outflow to see if I could tempt a bass but had no luck. I climbed up and had a quick seat to regain my breath. I watched Ross and Lee fishing for a bit. Ross really is a bit of a mountain goat.

I relax for a moment or two whilst Lee and Ross prepare to climb up from the ledge.

Ross is quite a keen climber. Lee and I are not!

As Ross and Lee climb up so we can head to the next mark, I look down to discover that hard lures can be used to target insects as well as fish!

This ladybird found my Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow more attractive than the resident bass.

Leaving the mark and discussing our options, we spotted a nice looking cove on the opposite side of the bay, so we walked along the cliffs to have a quick look. It looked great so after working out the easiest route we climbed down. At the bottom we discovered another lovely looking deep gully with plenty of boulders and weed. We started exploring with our lures and after a few taps I hooked a nice ballan wrasse.

Reins Rockvibe in chartreuse pepper takes my third ballan wrasse of the trip. Note the beautiful turquoise markings on its fins.

This turned out to be the only fish we could find in the gully so we decided to head back to the mark Lee and I had found the day before. No sign of the wrasse today though, so whilst Lee persevered with the wrasse hunting I showed Ross the huge rockpool and we bashed the blennies in it for a short while. I caught two and Ross caught one. We went back to join Lee and try for wrasse again. The tide was now rising quickly and three big seals appeared, swimming around in the massive currents that were passing through the rocks in front of us. With no sign of any wrasse we decided to try Holyhead breakwater for a few hours and we headed to the very end. Known as corkwing corner I had high hopes of catching a new wrasse species or a few other mini species but the only fish caught were a few pollock as light faded. Another great days fishing concluded we headed back to the caravan.

Monday morning and this would be our final session. The weather was stunning and Ross arrived just before 9:00. After a quick chat about possible destinations Ross suggested a potential wrasse spot at Porth Wen. After parking the car and enjoying a gentle walk down we were confronted with the beautiful ruins of an old brick works. Lots of old walls and rocks to fish from, it looked great.

Where do we start?

Whilst Lee and I got set up, the young and fearless Ross climbed up onto a large rock, doing a great impression of a mountain goat again.

Ross does a spot of climbing and takes a few photos.

I thought the rock in front of me might hold a few fish underneath.

Liking the look of a weedy area at the foot of the rock Ross was on, I threaded a small section of Gulp! Sandworm onto a jighead and cast onto a big flat rock. I gently pulled it off the front edge and let it drop down. Out came a large fish. Ross called down to tell me it was a wrasse. I couldn't believe my luck. I paused for a moment or two to let it grab the lure, and struck. Fish on but it was stripping line way too quickly! Eager to start fishing I had not set my drag after loosening it to setup my gear. The wrasse bolted back under the rock and out the other side into deeper water, snapping me off in the process. I was gutted! After tightening my drag and tying on a new leader I had a few casts over the sandy bottom to see if there were any flat fish around. No joy there so I climbed onto a wall and started working along it, jigging my lure down the sides and through the weeds. Meanwhile Ross was away climbing again and Lee was fishing from a rock at the end of another old wall.

Ross gets another great shot from another lofty position.

I had a few small fish come out from the weed and have a few taps at my lure a couple of times but no hook ups. I looked over to see Lee land a small wrasse. First fish of the day, a nice little ballan.

Lee locates the wrasse once again.

Shortly afterwards Lee hooked into a bigger fish. It stripped line a couple of times and was putting up a good fight as it tried to get back down into it the kelp. Lee tightened up slightly and soon brought it up away from the weeds. A nice dark brown and lime green fish. The super small IMA Trilobite in watermelon doing the damage this time.

Lee's best ballan wrasse of the trip.

Ross and I joined him out on the rock and Ross soon landed a ballan wrasse too. After that though the action dried up so we explored a bit in search of mini species but surprisingly couldn't locate any despite the area we searched looking like it should hold a few.

Ross finally starts fishing and gets a reward.

We then walked back up to the car and after stopping for a bite to eat we headed to Holyhead breakwater again, but when we arrived a very strong tide was running so we headed to a small pier that went out into the Menai Straights near Bangor, unfortunately apart from seeing lots of tiny fry, me catching a shore crab and Ross a sea anemone, none of us had any luck so we decided to relax for a bit and enjoyed a pint in the sun before Ross dropped Lee and I off at Bangor train station. We all said farewell and to be honest it felt like I was saying goodbye to two very good friends whom I'd known for years instead of just a few days. We'd had a fantastic time and caught a lot of fish together and we're already planning meeting up again. I'm not sure if that will be on the island of Anglesey with it's stunning coastline and warm friendly people or perhaps up here in Scotland but I'm certainly looking forward to fishing with Lee and Ross again in the not to distant future!

Tight Lines, Scott.

Forced to fish.

Lillian wanted me to take her fishing today and after a bit of begging and grovelling I reluctantly agreed to take her. I quickly checked the weather and decided to head inland to escape the wet and windy east coast. We jumped in the car and headed to the Forth & Clyde canal to the section next to the Falkirk Wheel.

Lillian was excited at the prospect of catching a pike or perch so to get her ready I began explaining the basics of targeting predators with soft plastics and started of with a Lake Fork Live Baby Shad in Golden Shiner on a 3.5g #6 AGM Finesse jighead. I was just explaining the idea of bottom bouncing when I felt a little jolt. Fish on! Lillian readied the net and the first jack of the day was soon landed, photographed and returned.

First fish of the day. A small jack.

A close up. Just in case you can't see it!

We moved along a bit and I started explaining to Lillian about the way predators like to use shade and structure to lie in to charge out of to ambush their prey. With this in mind I cast between a couple of boats on the far bank and started retrieving the lure. Wallop! A better fish this one and didn't feel like a pike. My suspicions were quickly confirmed when the fish came into view. A lovely big canal perch. Again Lillian was ready with the net and after a few spirited runs from the fish it was over the net and landed. A bit of an old war horse it had some deep scarring around its tail, a lucky escape from a pike the likely cause no doubt which I wish I had photographed in hindsight. Weighed at 1lb 1oz and put back to fight another day.

In the net after a few final runs.

A nice big canal perch.

As we walked along the bank Lillian was asking me lots of questions and just as she was asking me about what other fish were in the canal I felt a few little knocks and then the rod tip arced over ever so slightly. I reeled in and this greedy little micro jack was responsible.

How cute is he. Greedy too!

Definitely the smallest I've ever caught. So cute. Lillian wanted to take it home but I put my foot down and said no. I then decided to switch to a larger Lake Fork Live Magic Shad in Talapia, again trying to imitate a minnow, on a heavier 7g #2/0 AGM Ultra Ball jighead. We moved along to a pontoon with quite a few canal barges moored up and I worked the lure using a faster retrieve with the odd jerk. Working the lure from the reed beds opposite back past the boats a bigger jack shot out and had a go but when I struck the lure came out of his mouth and he bolted. A perfect opportunity to educate Lillian on the use of a stinger.

I switched over to a Savage Gear Soft 4Play in Dirty Roach and rigged up the stinger. A couple of casts later another jack shot out from underneath a large floating dry dock and grabbed the lure. Couldn't have planned this demonstration any better as it was hooked on the stinger!

Stingers will be employed more often in the future!

By now Lillian's head was ready to explode with all the info I had bombarded her with so we called it a day. Next time she might actually have a go!

Tight lines, Scott.

Two short sessions whilst up North.

Whilst up visiting Lillian's parent's who live in the tiny village of Forgue near Huntly in Aberdeenshire I managed to squeeze in an hour on Tues evening fishing the Burn of Forgue, a tributary of the River Deveron.

Fishing small soft lures on a 1.5g #12 Grazyg Wave HD jighead up through the current on my Nories Rockfish Bottom Ultra Light/Daiwa Steez ultra light setup I had a few small trout have a go in the first pool I fished but no hook ups.

Working downstream I changed from a Gulp 1" Fish Fry in red to a Gulp 1" Minnow in Watermelon/Pearl and cast over to the far bank and let it swing round in the current across a nice deep channel and a small brown trout took the lure and was quickly landed.

First brown trout of the session.

First cast with the Gulp! 1" Minnow gets a fish.

Next pool down a second even smaller brown trout fell for the same tactic.

Trying to sneak about when you're my size isn't easy!

Isn't it cute!

I moved a bit further down the burn to a bend and saw a nice deep pool on the outside of the bend with an overhanging tree providing some shade. I cast over to it and the moment the lure hit the water a fish nailed it. Another small brown trout landed.

This one took the lure on the drop.

At this point I decided to change lures and opted for a pink Cultiva Pin Worm. Most anglers would stick with a lure that's working but I like to mix it up! A couple of casts later I had a tentative bite that removed the long thin tail from the lure so I replaced it. Casting back over the same spot and working it back the culprit struck again but this time a quick strike hooked it and my forth small brown trout was quickly landed.

A tight squeeze perched quite high above this nice pool.

This little trout couldn't resist the Cultiva Pin Worm.

With all the fish being caught within the space of 35 min it was a most enjoyable little session although this highland cow didn't seem to appreciate me walking along the edge of his field on the way back.

Moo.

On Wed afternoon, Lillian and I headed north into Moray and to Portknockie Harbour, one of many small fishing harbours that can be found along the coast there.

The weather was lovely with just a slight onshore wind but the water inside the harbour was crystal clear and I could see a lot of small fry swimming around at the edges.

The harbour mouth.

I swapped my Daiwa Steez 2500 onto my Shimano Diafash 237L-S as I felt the extra sensitivity of its solid tip would be useful and rigged up a 2.2g #10 Crazyg Wave HD jighead with a 1" section of large red Power Isome and began exploring the harbour walls. After missing a few bites I hooked my first fish of the session.

Hoping to catch something unusual like a rockling, or maybe even a butterfish I had to settle for a common blenny!

Having caught a few of these already this year I decided to cast a little bit further out, just beyond the weed at the foot of the walls. It was not long before something had a nibble but try as might I couldn't hook whatever it was. Maybe it was a sand goby or two as they have tiny mouths but don't half thrash about when they bite.

After a little while the bites dried up so I began casting out into the harbour and working the lure back along the bottom to see if there were any flounders or dabs there as I know they've been caught there before. A couple if retrieves later i had a couple of gentle taps and paused the retrieve, waited about ten seconds and then lifted the rod tip and felt the weight of a fish. Small jerk to set the hook and I began reeling it in. Just a dead weight initially which had me wondering if it was a flat fish but then I saw it coming up towards the surface and it was and it decided to go motoring off. Great fun and put up a spirited fight, managing to dive down twice before I got it up, seeing the bright orange spots that told me it might be a plaice and lifted it up the harbour wall. I did a quick check to make sure it had a row of bony nodules on its head to confirm the species, a few photos and back it went powering back down to the bottom. This is a new species for me so I was very pleased!

My first ever plaice.

Some flounders have plaice like spots but not these bony nodules running from the eyes to the gill cover.

A then decided to change to a smaller Power Isome and I switched to a whole small pink one that I felt the jighead would work nicely as I retrieved it close to the bottom, a few casts later it worked a treat and I caught another, smaller plaice.

Another plaice.

Shortly after this a big shoal of sandeels came into the harbour. A good sign that fishing in the sea will soon be picking up and the mackerel will be arriving for the summer. There were also a few jellyfish floating in the harbour too and that's usually another good indicator that the stripey missiles will soon be here! I can't wait to catch some on my ultra light tackle.

I also ventured around the back of the harbour and the ground screamed pollock but unfortunately it was time to call an end to another short but very productive session. 

Pollocktastic.

Very satisfying to tackle two new marks and get a few fish from them both. With some great trout fishing and many small harbours and rock marks in the area I think I'll be back up here during the summer!

Tight lines, Scott.

A "camping" trip.

My long suffering girlfriend Lillian had two consecutive days off this week so I promised her we would head off for a spot of camping and asked her to check the weather forecast and find somewhere to go that would be nice. When I came home from the football on Wed night and she told me we were going to Loch Ken Holiday Camp I was over the moon as I knew that meant a few hours each day predator hunting in both Loch Ken and also in Carlingwark Loch in nearby Castle Douglas.

We drove down on Thurs morning and arrived at Castle Douglas around noon where we stopped for lunch on the shore of Carlingwark Loch. It was a beautiful day, the surface of the loch was like a mirror and the water crystal clear, so whilst Lillian sunned herself I stuck my waders on and started working my way round the edges of the reeds and lily pads with my baitcasting gear to try and tempt any lurking toothy critters with a Savage Gear Soft 4Play on a 7g 2/0 jighead bouncing it along the bottom. 

Hmmm. Left or right?

Before long I had a small pike on but he threw the hook. A quick move around the loch to a secluded bay produced two follows and two hookups although both managed to escape after thrashing about on the surface with one feisty jack leaping about a foot out of the water as soon as he was hooked. Action dried up so we made another move. Whilst wading through the reeds I disturbed a big pike who splashed the surface as he bolted off down into the depths. I went a bit further along to the end of this reed bed and cast along the front of it a few times. Wallop! Another small jack on. As I was fishing from the bank Lillian was ready with the net and the first fish of the day was soon landed.

Small and feisty.

Couple of casts along the front of the same reed bed and I was hit again and this time I knew it was a much better fish. Didn't put up as good a fight as the small jacks had and as it came nearer the net I was expecting it to go berserk but it just glided in no problems.

Long and Lean.

Quickly weighed at 6lb 3oz and put back I had a few more casts but by this point it was time to head to the campsite and pitch our tent.

On the way up to the holiday park we saw a bird of prey circling overhead and pulled over to have a look. Turns out it was a red kite and that the area is part of The Galloway Kite Trail. 

Bird of prey.

We would see a few more during our stay.

Tent up, we went for a quick stroll along the shore of Loch Ken and I had a cast or two of a Lake Fork Baby Live Shad on my ultra light gear hoping to tempt a perch. 

An old metal bridge over Loch Ken.

Searching for perch at the edge of Loch Ken.

I quickly spoke to another angler who was catching roach with single maggots under a waggler float . He told me some other lads who had been out on the loch in a boat targeting pike had been complaining about all the big perch taking their baits. Pleasant problem to have I thought. I continued fishing for a bit and saw my first perch of the trip, a tiny one, followed my lure, bit the end and worked it's way up it but wasn't able to get the hook in its little greedy mouth. As soon as I started pulling on the lure he spat it out and bolted. Encouraging to see one though.

Time for a break from fishing so we headed north to the small village of Dalry and had a lovely meal in a nice little pub called the Clachan Inn which I would recommend if you're in the area. Looking at the various trophy fish around the pub made it hard for me to relax and when I commented that the perch would become active at dusk Lillian said I could try again so we headed back to the campsite!

Upon our return, Lillian went back to the tent to read a book and I fished for 30 minutes into dusk. As the light faded another two small perch followed my lure in tandem but like the first one I saw earlier in the evening they were tiny. Too small to take the hook. Then out of the corner of my eye I spotted something slowly moving across the surface towards the shore. As it got closer I realised it was a toad. I wondered if it would make it or would a huge pike emerge from the depths and devour it? The warty little fellow made it safely accross. Not sure how I felt about it to be honest. 

Pike fodder? Not tonight.

By now it was almost dark and I headed back to our tent to dream of all the huge perch I'd be catching the following day. 

Dusk over Loch Ken. Awe inspiring.

When we woke in the morning it was raining and overcast so we had a bit more sleep. At about 9:30 the rain stopped. Ideal conditions for catching perch I thought! We got up and took the tent down, went to reception and hired a boat for 4hrs. I figured this would be enough time to catch a few perch and not long enough to bore Lillian to death! I rowed us out to a likely looking spot and cast out a Lake Fork Live Baby Shad using my ultra light gear. No action for the first 30 minutes had me worrying about blanking but then as I was retrieving I felt a few tiny plucks followed by a few head shakes. Having struggled to catch a perch so far this year despite several attempts I was taking no chances and Lillian readied the net. As soon as the fish went over it I felt a massive wave of relief!

A small perch and a very happy man!

We continued fishing, rowing around trying different spots. As we drifted back down the loch towards the old metal bridge another red kite appeared circling above some trees on the shore.

Flying high.

By this point I had swapped over to my baitcasting setup and was casting towards the bank, working a Savage Gear Soft 4Play back to the boat in an effort to tempt a pike or even better a big perch when I saw a dark shape come up from behind. At first I thought it was a small jack but as it got closer and was only a few feet below the surface I realised it was a nice big perch. I paused the retrieve and it lurched forward taking the lure into its mouth sideways. I struck but just pulled the lure out, the hook hadn't been in it's mouth obviously. He was still there though so I quickly dropped the lure down near him but he wasn't interested. He swam back down into the peaty depths. Disappointed I fished on to see if there were any more of a similar size around but after a while I switched back to my ultra light gear and managed to land a further two small perch on Lake Fork Live Baby Shad.

Another greedy perch.

Lake Fork Live Baby Shad does it again.

Gutted not to land the big one but happy to finally end my perch hoodoo! Pretty soon afterwards our time was up so I rowed back to shore and we headed back up the road to Edinburgh.

A most enjoyable little "camping" trip. A very scenic area with some stunning wildlife, the red kites were a pleasant surprise and whilst we weren't there to see them we did see plenty of them. A return to Loch Ken is definitely on the cards in the summer to target big perch and Carlingwark Loch is a fantastic pike venue that will no doubt be revisited on the way.

Finally I owe a big thank you to my lovely girlfriend Lillian, who is very understanding of my obsessive behaviour and just happens to be an excellent ghillie. I'm a very lucky man.

Tight lines, Scott.