Loch Leven Possibilities?

Gander · #1 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 12:36 PM

Pictured, are a couple of flies I tied about 15 years ago, just for the fun of it. They have sat in a box unmolested since then. I am planning to fish Loch Leven as much as possible this season, so I am wondering if this type of fly has ever had any success there or indeed if anyone knows if this approach has been seriously tried there? The loch does have Perch, so I am assuming that these flies are a viable option for big Browns. Any thoughts?

Am I barking up the wrong tree here or am I just barking?

maharg · #2 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 12:39 PM

You wont know unless you try. Give them a swim at the back end, you might get a surprise!

Scratch · #3 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 01:50 PM

Why not Paul? Be aware though, that the Perchy coloured one in particular is designed to be fished 'dry'.... hence the horizontal aspect - the eye, and profile of the 'fry' will be viewed from underneath by the fry-bashing trout. But you probably knew that when you tied it

hobble · #4 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 01:51 PM

Great looking fry imitations, top drawer mate,

Wee Jimmy · #5 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 03:08 PM

They might be worth a try but there are better modern fry patterns nowadays such as the suspender minky for example. The thing is, these patterns are at their most effective when you can actually see fry feeding activity going on...apologies for stating the obvious.

Some of the more regular Loch Leven guys on here might call it differently (fire away guys) but I can think of only one season on Loch Leven when there was enough consistent 'surface' fry feeding activity going on to make it a viable tactic. That was back in '96 when salmon sized rainbows could be seen head and tailing, dying 6-8oz perch from off the surface.....and what a sight it was.....

I remember having no success at all with deer hair fry on those fish, though my friends and I caught several of them in the 5lb to 9lb class on big dries....however illogical that may sound. These were all rainbows though,no browns.

One thing in your favour is that there are far more weed-beds prevalent on the loch these days. These might just improve your chances of seeing some fry feeding, sticklebackers rather than perch though.Up till now most of the important features on Leven were of the unseen variety such as,drop offs,ledges and sunken shallows etc.

Gander · #6 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Be aware though, that the Perchy coloured one in particular is designed to be fished 'dry'.... hence the horizontal aspect - the eye, and profile of the 'fry' will be viewed from underneath by the fry-bashing trout.

Yep, that was the plan for both of them. If I remember correctly, I tied them up after reading an article by a guy who was a ranger at Rutland at the time of writing. He was having a good deal of success fishing these imitations dry, especially in the early morning.