The final leg of our road trip had no fishing booked or even agreed so that left plenty of time for debate and argument over breakfast. Friction resulting over the fry-up! After much internet searching we agreed to go to Drum Loch; it looked a reasonable size, 6 acres, we should get on to the water without a booking and it was on the road home, just. We also wanted a fishery where we would all have a chance of catching fish.
The main issue we had was finding the fishery. We got to Auldgirth okay then we were up and down country lanes, there was nobody around this sleepy hamlet to ask for directions so early on a Sunday morning. We had called the mobile number on the internet and the guy said just to go and start fishing and he would come down and get the money. We had 3 different cars all taking the postcode from the internet and we could not pin it down. How can Sat-navs differ so much as well as the 3 could not agree!! We finally drove down a country estate driveway and ended up at a rather large country mansion with a run down looking bit of water in front of us, surely this was not it? Where were the fishing platforms described on the site.
We heard barking and a male was coming down from the big house with 3 dogs in tow. Turned out it was the lord of the manor down to collect duck eggs for his breakfast. He was a very nice bloke and yes we were close by but we had missed the fishery entrance at the village. He did allow us to take an alternative route through his estate and within a couple of minutes we were there.
The small car park was fine, we tackled up and went for a look at the water. It turned out that the Dumfries and District Angling club had only taken the fishery over a few weeks ago but they had done a fine job tackling the bank vegetation, reducing the weeds in the water and putting up a decent hut with a proper loo, well done guys.
There was no sign of fish rising so I started with my usual wets, Kate & Bibio but with no success. After half an hour or so the temperature was rising and there were the encouraging ripples of rising fish taking food from the sub surface layer. I immediately changed to my suspender buzzers, these were successful at Alderneuk just 2 days ago so try again. I decided to fish these static and within 5 minutes there was a good take, a rainbow of about 2lb but with the fight it put up I thought it was a much larger fish. A good start for me in our sweepstake.
A short while later I saw Ally into a fish and turned out he was using the same tactic. Nothing else was caught by anyone that morning. I had a few rises to look at the flies but none were keen enough to take them.
After lunch I stubbornly stayed on the dries, it is my favourite method of fishing. I had stuck with various suspender buzzers as fish were still rising and giving me hope, albeit occasionally and mainly out-with my casting distance.
It was now getting windier and therefore choppier water so I put a yellow/grey dry buzzer on the dropper mainly as a sight indicator. Lo & behold it was hit hard and another fighting rainbow on board. Circumstances meant I was eating alone tonight so rather than go shopping after this long day I chapped this rainbow, it was a nice size for one person.
Rabbie had caught 1 on the dry as well and then Colin got in on the act with a different tactic a wet Black Pennell.
With half an hour to go I was still leading for the money with my two fish but 3 of the guys had to leave early, the car driver had a wedding to get to, so I was happy, less competition.
Colin came to fish the stance beside mine. It was now getting cooler, the fish were down, rarely showing and some drops of rain arrived.
And guess what happened, Colin caught 2 fish in 2 casts to take the lead, not that I was calling him a jammy git.
Thats how it ended, 3 to Colin; 2 to me and 1 each to Ally & Rabbie. Sadly the other 3 blanked.
We called it a day and within minutes the temperature rose, a sedge hatch came on and the fish were rising again, sods law.
It was our first trip here but it will not be our last, we all agreed to have one of our full days next year. it's a lovely tranquil location, very well kept and a bargain at £10.
For my dinner I had rainbow trout fish and chips with garden peas and used half of the fish to make a trout pate, delicious and a fine end to the road trip. I had to open a bottle of wine as well.
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