Hi
I'm visiting Orkney for a week end of May with fishing buddy and our wives. We should get 2 or 3 days afloat and I'd really appreciate advice on which loch(s) to visit, how to go about booking a boat on them and of course what flies for the lochs at that time of year.
All help most welcome either on forum or PM'd.

Hopefully this may will be better weather than last may, which was a disaster with abnormally strong winds for most of the month.
In may the best of the fishing is never too far away from the shore, and wading can be deadly. Boats are not essential, but are handy for covering alot of ground and fishing the edges.
If you want loads of fish, then Harray and hundland are the top choices, ive never really fished boardhouse that early on but it might be worth a go. In swanney you always have the chance of a good basket and maybe a 3lber in the net too, but you could just as easily blank, so its a flip of the coin!

Midge is the main food on the menu in may, so black flies are generally hard to beat.
Coch zulu, kate mclaren, bibio's etc etc. Funny enough peach can sometimes be deadly when there on midge, muddlers or hedgehogs, i usually have one of the two on my cast. Small flies fished unusually well last year, 12's and very often 14's takeing the best baskets and the biggest fish!

If the weathers good, dont forget to have a wade on Skail or clumly, there both trophy waters and may's the time to fish them, probably with bigger flies though, atleast on skail, ie soldier palmer in clumly, peach tailed wickhams muddler, petersons pennel, shuggies in skail.

Mind and have a look hereOrkney Trout Fishing Association Home Page Its packed with all the info any visitor should ever need, and from may onwards is updated regularly.

One last bit of info that might be of help, is to buy Stan Headley's new trout fishing guide to orkney, between that and the otfa website, then you'll have more knowladge than most of the locals Pick a copy up from w.s sinclairs in stromness. I believe its right up to date with flies etc and especially boat hire info. Give them a bell if you want one posted before you come up, to book ahead, no 01856851523.

God knows how long it took me to write all of the above, im a bit of a one finger wonder, when it comes to typing
So if i see you in may, you defo owe me a pint

Hope you have a good trip

Cheers Thorfinn

Got you beat Thorfinn, I can use 2 fingers!

Thanks for your reply, do we need any permission to fish or can we jst turn up anywhere and start. Also if fishing from the shore is it thigh or chest waders?
You mention boat booking from Stromness, any idea of costs?

Thanks again.

John

Zugbug, you can get a copy of 'The Trout Fishing Guide to Orkney' straight from me. Send a s.a.e A5 envelope + £5 to:
Stan Headley
No4 Newton Farm Cottages
Wormit
Fife, DD6 8RL.

Remember to stick a 1st class (Large) stamp on your addressed envelope, and I'll sign your copy for you, for free.;-)

__________________
Stan Headley

"I started this life with nothing......and I've still got most of it left!"

Stan

If I send a cheque do you want me to sign that for free as well?

Seriously, thanks, I'll be in touch.

John

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:39 PM ----------

Oh, Stan, I meant to ask how big an envelope?

it would be common decency to join the otfa which costs £20 for a visitor permit
for this you will get a key which lets you into all the club sites , info , and enables the otfa to keep up there good work.

Orkney Trout Fishing Association Home Page

although this is not compulsary.
but you will catch fish...................

__________________
it`s nice to catch fish , but not essential !

An A5 envelope is what you need.

__________________
Stan Headley

"I started this life with nothing......and I've still got most of it left!"

Thanks All for your advice.

I've bought Stan's book in preparation of my first trip this year. It looks to be exactly the sort of thing someone new to an area would need to give them an informed starting point.

The other thing that I have found really valuable is Google Maps. I've now driven around Orkney several times, without being there, using the photos and have identified all the turn offs to the OTFA sites etc. It is a really useful tool.

__________________

But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

Stan
The book arrived thanks, that Fife post is quick. If I follow the book I guess the catching is guaranteed!

Nice signature by the way.

John