Block was applied - [...]]]> A family barbeque was scheduled however I had other plans arranged – awesome man shit was required. And why the man shit? – because fishing in the Sea is all about big rods and smelly bait (and also checking your nuts for ticks but that comes later).

Block was applied - of the sun variety.

Also I have never been sea fishing before which usually brings people out in incredulous wonder how I have managed to get this far into my life without casting with anger into the salty stuff – sure I have fished the estuary for Sea Trout and caught Mackerel too but not the chuck it and chance it affair that is proper sea fishing – you know casting out with baits and drinking beer, not knowing what strange beast may take hold of your smelly worm – probably what 80% of the anglers do on the Kelvin actually – being beside a river that is a few meters wide does not stop people using beachcasters on the Kelvin.

Alex with "Big Bertha"

Anyway – it was a 0700 start so of course Alex and I stopped in to pick up Allan last (he had slept in) – we were then off to the Mull of Galloway. It was a baking hot day although there was a fresh wind at the first mark with a very short smattering of rain.

We stopped off to buy bait – good grief – £6 for a bunch of worms – plus they caught us bugger all which was annoying – in the end it was the sand eels that done the job bait wise – yes, sand eels with their guts hanging out – yummy!

We fished at two “marks” (that is what Sea Anglers call fishing spots – what we might call beats) the first was merely treacherous to try and get to with sheer drops into the water below and the 2^nd involved a walk along what I can only describe as a mountain goats path with a sheer drop on one side and tick infested plants on the other – in one hand I carried my rod and in my other a cool bag with some sausages and some smelly bait – I pretended not to be terrified and did not look down.

Certain Death - half a foot left!

Alex and Allan both and two spinning rods and I had one with my fly rod. I cast out my spinning rod with a ledgered  sand eel and watched Alex cast “Big Bertha”  – his huge beachcaster.

Big Bertha in Action...

It was Alex that caught the first fish – a Pollack while spinning – by this point I had my BROMANoDELL’s Esox Lucius 9ft #9/10 Fly Rod – a Pike fly rod that I cunningly modified for the sea by giving it a wash afterwards – casting was a piece of pee – the wind helped  a fair bit and I was damn near putting out the full fly line (I was using a sinker) and out of the blue caught a wee Pollack – listen – it was small right but the significance was pretty big – my first proper sea fishy (other than mackerel) caught on the fly – a quick photo and then the beast was sent back to the depths.

May be small however it was an honest to goodness sea beast caught on the fly!

Of course Alex and Allan then caught two beasts on their spinners…

Bloody Show Off!

….and of course Allan…

Not caught on powerbait!

– at that point I should have changed to the spinner however I just persevered with the fly until eventually the action stopped – we wandered off our rock and drove to our second mark – the one at the bottom of a sheer cliff – lovely – however by mimicking a mountain goat I got there.

Plenty of action!

2^nd mark was all about doggy style – after all we were having a day of Man Shit so doggy style was inevitable – at this mark all we caught was dog fish – Allan appeared to be attracting the hounds with their funny blinking eyes and weird noises – when I finally caught one I felt an appropriate ridiculous photo was called for – so I stuck out my tongue – I regret it now as it does not show the gravitas of the moment.

Serious Stuff!

I am also sporting some rather nifty polaroids from….well – Polaroid which I have been told make me look like a gimp – however they were very comfy and the lenses I was using got a very firm thumbs up.

Constant doggy action...

We had a very manly barbeque involving burnt sausages and wanted to stick a mackerel on it however none showed up – we also drank beer – all was right with life.

Rod Bending Things!

Would I do it again?

Damn right I would actually  - it was great fun – even though the dog fish were a bit pesky it was still something totally different – I have still to catch a bigger pollock an also a multitude of other strange beasts – I mean when you cast at a rising fish you know it either going to be a trout or a grayling – when sea fishing it could be any number of strange creatures.

Casting into the abyss!

Looking forward to next time already.

We had a crazy plan to try and catch 4 species – Pike, Trout, Sea Trout and Mackerel. It turned out we enjoyed fishing for the trout just a little too much and so missed [...]]]> It has been pretty much non stop fishing from early Saturday morning until now – Sunday late afternoon.

Saturday

We had a crazy plan to try and catch 4 species – Pike, Trout, Sea Trout and Mackerel. It turned out we enjoyed fishing for the trout just a little too much and so missed out the Pike totally and blanked on the Mackerel.

Trout were intermittently rising to flies so I stuck with using a nymph under an dry indicator – it proves most effective. I was using my Orvis “Trout Bum” 4 weight – with this little rod these trout went bannanas!

In fact I am actually starting to get the hang of it now – I can see why people use it so much..

Like I say – we enjoyed our trout fishing a little too much…

The Evening

Later, we left Glasgow behind to try and catch a Sea Trout in the salt. I used my 8/9 weight rod however I reckon I quite fancy getting myself a true 8 weight as it would have been ideal – possibly even a 7 weight. In fact I would have used my 7 weight if I could have found my reel which I think I have lost somewhere – this does not bode well…..It makes it all the harder when I browse aroundthe net and come across nice Orvis Outfits such as this which would do the job just nice…

We took the spinning gear as well however they were shunned by the fish as they were pretty keen on our flies. I thought back to when we were getting organised – I think we all secretly thought the action would be on the spinners..

- I got a Sea Trout and so did my fishing buddy. No pictures unfortunately as at the moment it is sizzling away on my BBQ.

As soon as I find my reel I will be going back to this place…..we got home at 0230 and I had to get up for 0600……After my Sunday chores I decided to hit the Clyde again for trout……well, I will tell you about that later.