Now we dont usualy get such big beasties up her in Scotland so i was gob smacked when i seen this beast flying around the lochs today.
The scary thing was that it was smart, when i disturbed the fly, it would fly off in a big circle over the trees and then come back to the same area repeatedly.
I was amazed how big it was, when flying through the rushes you could hear its wings hitting the rushes.
I would say it must have been 6 inches long.
Now i tried to get a picture but it was difficult, this thing had brains and it would not allow me a good pics so heres what i got.
In one of them it is moving so it is a little blurred.
Are these common else where?

Munro

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www.anglersholidaycottages.co.uk

I'd say they were very common - especially in Scotland

Maybe not so common round your way I suppose... Came across loads of the same type on a Perthshire Loch last week and even one on the river Earn yesterday. I like them

Norm

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0rWxCCHSCM

This is our normal dragon fly that we have loads of but not the big ones.

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www.tintotroutfishery.co.uk
www.anglersholidaycottages.co.uk

Thats a damsel Munro, a little bit more delicate.
Those big dragon flies are something else though
Was fishing on the Invernesshire Garry one day, getting eaten alive with midges. One of those big fellows was eating the midges!
They are my new best pals

Can you imagime the size of the nymph, might even eat one of your big broonies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

Gold-ringed Dragon Fly ( Cordulegaster boltoni )




They look even better close-up

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Don't worry, be happy.
Sandy
Carried it in full, then carry it out empty.

I seem to remember hearing one of those nature presenters describing them as,
Being a nuclear sub underwater, transforming into an Apache attack helicopter in the air.

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

That sounds about right.
That would give a nasty nip.

I dont think i will bother tying any up they will scare the fish

Munro

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www.tintotroutfishery.co.uk
www.anglersholidaycottages.co.uk

I've seen plenty of those in Shropshire and Oxfordshire, big too.

I was fishing for carp some years ago on an Oxfordshire gravel pit. The sun was high and sport was slow. So I decided to go stalking. After a while I came across a big mirror carp, 20lb +. In a clearing in the weeds she lay basking, not 6 feet out. The area was very overgrown, the vegatation taller than me. Got myself into position and gently lowered my free-lined single sweetcorn...plop. Of course she turned to leave, I'm used to that. But like the big 'O s pretty woman she turned back to me, yeah. My heart was pounding as she nonchantly driffted ever closer to my offering. Then it happened...a dragon fly appeared not 18" from my nose and hovered full of menace. Well mates I ain't afraid of much but those mothers scare the hell out of me

Everytime I took my eye off it to look quickly at the carp it moved another couple of inches closer. Yep, they have brains alright. That happened twice and third time I bolted. I could have passed Boltie that day. Hells bells I bricked it. My only chance of a big carp dashed because I'm frit of draggies.

Nothing has changed in the 26 yrs since. I'm still frit .

I saw one on the Welsh Dee a couple of weeks ago, it didn't half make me jump.

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[I]"The fish and I were both stunned and disbelieving to find ourselves connected by a line." William Humphrey in "The Armchair Angler"[/I]

[QUOTE=Fishtales;780106]Gold-ringed Dragon Fly ( Cordulegaster boltoni )


They look even better close-up

Cracking macro's those Sandy.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.