Fishing in the Scottish Highlands
Our friend from Holland, Theo Bakelaar, normally spends a couple of weeks each year fishing with friends for Atlantic Salmon on the northeast coast of Scotland. It’s a vast country of high moors and tumbling river valleys, ancient castle ruins, and incessant winds. This is the first of several reports that Theo has agreed to share on the fishing in that area.
Theo in the Scottish Highlands.
The Highlands are a vast land of steep mountains , sharp valleys, and fishing for a variety of species.
Castle ruins remind us of a former age when the Highlands were defended with the shield and broadsword.
The anglers situate at the Inverpolly Lodge in the Inverpolly Natural Area. The lodge is situated very near the mouth of the Polly River, a very nice, Atlantic Salmon stream that can easily be fished with a single-handed rod.
The Inverpolly Lodge is perfectly situated for both stream and estuary fishing.
The highlands rise sharply above the sea, and the lodge sits with it back to rugged hills.
The Polly River is easily fished with a single-handed rod. The Atlantics run from 4 to 14 pounds with an occasional one in the 20 pound class.
A nice salmon from the Polly River that Theo took on his cane rod built for striper fishing--just the right weight for Atlantics.
In addition to fishing for Atlantics, the anglers have the opportunity to fish the estuary for species such as Pollock. They make a very tasty dinner, which is often served with lobster, trapped while the anglers work the waters for finny table species. Theo likes to fish on the incoming tide, using an 11 weight rod with a superfast sinking line to sling out flies such as sand eel and herring imitations of Sili-skin, eel skin, and other materials. The anglers fish around rocky drop-offs, islands, and deep cuts. The fish fight deep and strong, and unless the angler works then very hard, they can cut the leader or line on the sharp stones.
Pollock for dinner.
Dinner is often a mix of fish and lobster .
Both fish and lobster are taken directly from the estuary area. One can trap the lobsters while fishing for pollock and other table species.