Alderneuk Fishery Dumfries

Looking back to the hut

This was day 1 of our fishing groups annual road trip. We had opted to fish not that far away from our home patch but still far enough away that most of the guys had not fished any of the 3 locations before so excitement and anticipation amongst us all.
Our first location was the troutmasters fishery called Alderneuk. Despite having a postcode from their website my sat nav took us onto a very minor farm road, turning and twisting through beautiful farming countryside, but where was the fishery? No signs and no turning spots if we met any traffic. The sat nav said we had passed it, where are you Alderneuk? A stop at a farm gave us directions, yes we were close so a few more sharp bends then we stumbled across it. According to the fishery owner our sat nav had taken us off the A75 one turn off too early and we would get back to the main road easier at the end of the day and yes we did.
Having parked up we took the short walk to the water and I was initially surprised by how small it looked. The fishery has a reputation for large trophy fish which brings in the anglers hoping for a fish of a lifetime. I did get the impression that it would not take a lot of anglers to make it busy. At the narrowest point anglers have to be careful as lines could easily tangle, I can imagine some issues when people from either side cast to a rising fish particularly if a competition is taking place.

Flat calm across the narrow water.

After breakfast Scottish style, black coffee and a fried egg and slice sausage roll, it was time to tackle up and get fishing. As we were on an away trip with hotel stays we had decided no fish would be killed today, that's if we were to be lucky and catch any at all. We agreed two sweepstakes for the day, big stakes a fiver a head. The 1st fish caught by each guy would be weighed and heaviest fish wins a tenner plus the main prize for the largest number of fish caught today. However re our no kill policy the owner told us that he wanted us to kill our first fish caught each so long as it was a rainbow under 6lb. He wanted to freshen up his stock and assured us the killed fish would not be wasted, fair enough it's his water.
The day was already warm and it would get much hotter. Sun cream and insect repellent sprayed on equally. Some of the water had a slight chop but at least 2/3rds was flat calm however the occasional fish was rising to take food just sub surface. 

I started with my wet fly combo, bibio on dropper Kate up top. The water looked murky and even with the polaroids I wasn't seeing much though the surface. When I made my first cast it took me a few seconds too realise that the flies were not sinking. There must have been a slight surface film keeping them up. Off with Kate and on with a beaded hares ear to add some weight which did break the film. A walk around the water casting away and changing with traditional wet flies brought nothing at all and after an hour nobody in our party had caught a fish. No tugs no nothing.
I had already stripped a layer of clothing and the water was like glass but still random fish were clearly taking nymphs at the surface. They were not cruising along but rising to take the nymph then down again.

So on went a pair of dries, an olive CDC buzzer up top and a small black spider on dropper to give them a choice. I decided to let them sit for a minute before retrieving and on the third cast as the flies sat in the clear water a pair of jaws rose and took the buzzer. First fish for the group, a nice rainbow of 3 and a half pounds. About 10 minutes later another splash at the buzzer but this time no tug, no tight line. Maybe I struck too soon or it just got suspicious but no take. The other guys were now interested, albeit pretending not to be, cursing at me for being first off the mark. They had had no offers at all so a couple of them followed my example and changed to dries.
Ally put on a CDC buzzer and caught the best fish of the day a brown trout of 8 and a half pounds. I am sure that was the one I just missed!! He was nominated for a Troutcatcher badge for that one I hope he succeeds but it did not count for heaviest fish as it was returned. Soon Rabbie was into a rainbow, again on a dry but that was it for the morning.
After lunch it was now really hot, after the summer we have had very surprising, but I was sticking to the dries particularly versions of the CDC buzzer. Soon after another gaping jaw to a static buzzer and a large brown trout around 4lb plus was netted, this time a black/red buzzer body. It had a huge head as can be seen from the pictures.

Five minutes later another splash to another static fly but no take. I was now getting looks from the rest as nobody else had scored or even had a tug in the afternoon. After one cast I realised that my leader had got tangled and both flies were together so I reeled in quickly to sort the mess out, creating a surface wake. As I was reeling in right at the end as I rose the line, a fish rose and took both flies, so much for only static takes. Down it went, line tightened and a leap out of the water with a few twists and turns, confirmed itself as a rainbow and when it landed the line went slack and it was free.
Olive CDC buzzers were the success fly so I had now doubled up still fishing statics. Very few fish were moving but when one did it gave you encouragement. Out of the darkness another silver rose and a 3rd fish was landed, another good rainbow. Just before we finished Colin caught a rainbow on another static but we let this one go.
All over and four of us had caught, Rabbie got the money for heaviest 1st fish and I got the money for the most fish. Disappointing day overall for the group as only 4 of us caught and 3 blanked. However including my misses I had a good day and would return again. The owners were very friendly and chatty. Clearly proud of their fishery and its reputation.
Now time for a few cold beers and prepare for tomorrows salmon trip on the river Annan.