With the fishing season over for the majority of Hebridean Fisheries (North & South Uist, Borve Lodge Estate, Finsbay and the Creed open till Oct 31st), anglers can reflect on what generally, was a very poor season for migratory fish. There were a few Fisheries which ‘bucked’ the trend, especially North Uist where they are having an exceptional season for sea trout in the sea pools and loch systems.

Some of the October catches from the prolific sea pools and lochs around North Uist were:

Laurance Wells enjoyed several days sport on the sea pools, landing several sea trout, including fish of  3lb, 4lb, 5lb & 7lb which he hooked on Shrimp fly, Stoats Tail and Muddler. Jeremy Noble had an estuary trout of 3lb from a North Uist Sea Pool plus two 3lb sea trout, one of 4lb and also one of 5lb from North Uist Estate (NUE) lochs. Neville Logue had a bright 3lb sea trout from a NUE loch and Iain Muir landed sea trout of 4lb and 4lb-8oz, from a NUE Loch, one on a Stoats Tail and the other on a Zulu. Ken Anson, fishing the Sea Pools did well with a nice 2lb sea trout and also a double hook up which were hooked on Shrimp patterns. The NUE lochs produced a 7lb salmon (Claret Bumble Muddler) and a 4lb-8oz sea trout (Dabbler) for Sam McLinton. David Orr landed two 3lb sea trout and one of 4lb-8oz during his visit to the NUE lochs. Hugh King fishing a Stoats Tail had a 4lb sea trout from a NUE loch. Doug Barratt had several good days on the Sea Pools, landing sea trout of 3lb, two at 3lb-8oz plus a double hook up of smaller sea trout. Cameron Ross had a 4lb sea trout on a Muddler from a NUE loch. These NUE lochs also produced sea trout of 3lb (Claret Bumble), 3lb-8oz (Silver Stoat) and 5lb for Paul Pracey and John Clapham also had two 3lb sea trout, one of 4lb and one of 4lb-8oz, all of which were hooked on Muddlers. The heaviest sea trout, so far from the Sea Pools of North Uist, was a 9lb fish that was caught by Myles Archibald on a Sand Eel fly.

The weather conditions around mid October hampered catches on the South Uist Estate lochs. However, several quality sea trout were landed by anglers that persisted, despite the flat calm and bright weather. Alexander Campbell had several sea trout for his week from Lochs Roag and Fada, the best being a 5lb-4oz fresh-run fish from Loch fada on October 14th which he hooked on an Octopus Bumble. Paul Clydesdale also managed to catch several sea trout during the poor weather conditions which included fish of 2lb and 3lb from Loch Fada, both on a Goats Toe.

Grimersta’s season ended on Oct 15th with a total of 218 salmon/grilse, 77 sea trout and 459 brown trout being caught throughout their catchment. The catches for September were 50 salmon/grilse and 35 in October. The heaviest salmon was 18lb which was caught by A. Nicoll on a Collie Dog from Loch Faoghail Chiorabhal (Loch 3) on September 15th. Highlights of the final month and a half where 85 fish were recorded over that period, were: 7 grilse landed on Sept 8th, three of which were caught by P. Riley, fishing a Collie Dog in the Long, Kelt and Tot Hole pools on the main river. He also landed two the following day from Loch Airigh na h-Airde, both on a Blue Elver. R. Nicoll had two 8lb salmon and one at 7lb over two days . D. Sleight and his boat partner, D. Neilans managed to catch a brace of 10lb salmon on a Posh Tosh from Loch Airigh na h-Airde during Sept 20th. Local rod, I. Roxburgh landed two 6lb salmon over two days fishing, one on a Blue Elver and the other on a Cascade. Another local rod, J.H. Maciver, landed three 6lb salmon on Oct 8th. The same day, J. Whitley had three grilse, two from the Long and Fraser Bird’s pools and the other from the First Stream. The heaviest salmon for October was T. Biggart’s 12lb salmon from Fraser Bird’s pool on Oct 9th which he hooked on a Cascade.

Stornoway Angling Associations boat on Loch Langabhat was lightly used this season, however, J. Thomsen, ghillied by J.H. Maciver, had a brace of 4lb grilse on Sept 23rd, both on an Abu Toby lure.

Regular visitors, D. Spray and S. Loomes, to the Isle of Lewis, had a productive week of fishing despite Storm Amy! They arrived on Friday, Oct 3rd, ahead of the storm and managed to land 7 salmon/grilse and decent numbers of sea trout and Finnock. They also hooked and lost several other grilse during their week.