Fished two short sessions on the above in late August 2010. Caught 16 in total to about 8oz - all returned. Kate McLaren on the droppper most effective fly.

Bundles of mackerel seemed to be about on the more choppy sea - it had been flat calm for a week. Caught 3 on first cast, 2 on second, 15 in total in about 20 mintues on feathers and lure (the ever trusty Dexters wedge). Lost a set of feathers and spinner. Then it seemed to die off.

Had a brief hour in the evening fishing the two Donnaigs but was very dour in bright sun - a few rises, just one small trout in Donnaig. Then tried the lochan just beyond, to the east of Glac Fearna. Gave it a good couple of hours and went all the way around. I honestly think there's nothing in this loch.

It looks like it should be good, but this was my second visit to it (first I was just walking nearby) and there is no sign of any fish! Cathel told me subsequently he shares my view, which was reassurance of sorts!

Took advantage of the improving weather yesterday afternoon to have a few casts here. The walk in and back was punishing on the legs, which were suffering after Liathaic in Torridon at the weekend. However, once again this is a truly stunning part of the Assynt landscape and well worth the toil. Fishing the loch itself you have the iconic dome of Suilven as a back drop, which is about as good as it gets. This is a cracking wee loch too. The sun was out and the wind was not so favourable, but after faffing about with the wets for a while, I switched to the ever-reliable size 12 olive sedgehog, which induced a rise after just a few casts. Unfortunately I missed the fish and could not guess it's size, as it was one of those subtle takes that leaves you none the wiser. I moved to the only corner of the loch left with a ripple in the dying wind and shortly had another take. This turned out to be a cracking trout of just under one and a half pounds that jumped clear of the water on four or five occasions, was beautifully marked and in fine condition. A few casts later saw a very good fish surge on the sedgehog in the shallower water. As I tightened into him he went ballistic, but then it all went slack. The leader had snapped just above the hook. I suspect it had suffered from the previous fight or had got nicked on the tooth of the larger fish. I had a good look at him when he took and would say he was well into the 2 to 3 pound range. Dismayed at having lost the fish, I was more so at having left him with the fly. Hopefully, it will come loose soon.
I saw a couple of trout rise after that, but the long walk back and the emerging midges meant it was time to head back. A quality wee lochan this, all the more surprising given it's size and in a wonderful setting.

Just got back after two weeks in Strathan and decided to go out for the day with the two lads on this stunning loch.
We took advice from Peter at Culag Cottage which was gratefully received and headed over the two islands to seek shelter from the rain and strong breeze.
We fished black gnat and Kingfisher Palmer on a size 12. We took about 6 fish all about 3/4 of a pound. (all returned).
Then We headed over to the South side to even more shelter where a big isolated patch of lilies were growing. We continued to fish the same flies and took another couple of trout about the same size but must say the midges were biting more than the fish.

The water over there was dead calm but a very large Salmon or Sea Trout (around 8lb at least) kept leaping out of the water within yards of the boat but very close to the lilies.

I rowed close to the lilies and made three casts right to the edge with a very slow retrieve of the Kingfisher Palmer. 10 feet from the boat I hooked a monster which when 2 feet from the boat leapt out and shook the fly free.

This was the aforementioned fish and was a heather coloured purple and silver. I made five or six more casts without any luck and had to move as the midges were intollerable.

I have no idea whether this was a Salmon or sea trout but it continued to leap clear of the water as we rowed away.

Two fish of a similar size also spotted down by the outflowing river.

I have only just finished shaking.........

I was also astonished to see the signs for this fishery from the roadside. It stands in complete contrast to what fishing here is all about, and it's existence is mind-boggling given the wealth of good wild trout fishing that is available. Following up on the comment about SNH; expectations from this governmental body should be tempered by the fact that they were heavily complicit in the introduction of rainbow trout to Loch Leven - part of one of the great horror stories in Scottish fishing.

Matt

Another fairly big walk in to another cracking loch. Had two or three hours here on a lovely dramatic day where the thunder clouds that were creating a deluge over the Cromalt Hills thankfully were only forming overhead. That said, the westerly wind was swirling around the loch creating casting havoc! However, with the warm sunny breaks large olives were hatching, which was bringing up as steady rise across large areas of the loch. Most of the trout looked pretty decent, although many were beyond casting range. I managed five fish between 10 ounces and just over a pound, probably averaging about 3/4lb. These fish are fit, round shouldered and healthy specimens. I returned most of the catch as it's only a wee loch. I am tempted to drag the float tube up there after watching some pretty decent looking fish throwing themselves at the olives out near the middle. First fish fell to an oliver buzzer fished static. The others all fell to a size 12 Adam's. Beautiful light and scenery. Red throated diver chicks on one of the wee lochans near by. Ring ouzel on the rocky slopes, and eagles being mobbed by raven on the mountains behind. Another cracking day out.

Tight lines

Matt

'Slog' is the appropriate word to describe the journey to and from this loch. More false summits than you can shake a ten foot graphite stick at and myriad cnocs, rocks, bogs and holes to impede your way. However, this loch is worth every step. Not only does the journey give you some rare perspectives on Assynt and beyond, the fish are very nice indeed. I arrived about 2 pm to olives and small sedges hatching around the margins. Shortly afterwards the trout followed, and I could see some real beauties topping and tailing. I stalked individual risers and fished a size 14 Greenwell's with a more ginger hackle (that was also short but quite bushy) than the traditional dressing, which fitted the 'generalist' role for the circumstances nicely. Almost very trout that I cast to on the rise responded. This gave me a fish of a pound and a half and one of three quarters, with two more missed and one good fish hooked but lost. Eventually the midges drove me out of the East corner (which was in the lee of the wind) and the rising trout, whereupon I moved toward the 'neck' of the loch and fished the north bank of the western bay, which was catching the wind nicely. I had another fish of one and a half pound on a goat's toe and lost another good fish. My final basket was three fish for just over three and a half pounds. Very respectable, and a thoroughly enjoyable (if tiring) day's fishing. An added bonus was the company of three eagles soaring within 100 m of me for about ten minutes as I came to the ridge on the way up, and golden plover and a couple of herds of hinds with calves for company on the way back down.

This is a loch for stalking individual risers with the dry fly, or prospecting around the drop off with your favourite wets. However, the water is very clear and taking care with your profile and noise can pay dividends in getting you VERY close (one fish rose 4 m from me as I was positioning on a riser further up the bank, I flicked a fly over him and he shot straight up for it, completely clearing the water and somehow the hook took securely in the scissors)to good fish.
Great stuff, I will be back!

Tight lines

Matt

Had a few hours here late afternoon early evening yesterday (5th August) after a few essentials had dragged me down to Ullapool.Fished from the bank which was not ideal as most of the better fish were rising outwith casting range. Missed three rises to the dry fly from wee fellas - tired various tactics, but no fish caught. Other angler on the boat also failed to do anything. Midges were hellish!

Tight lines

Matt

see: http://assynt.anglingresearch.org.uk/?q=ptf_top30_8#comment-505

Fished this loch for a few hours late yesterday afternoon. Weather was overcast and up there the wind was blowing stiffly from the SW. As such casting was tricky down the N and S sides and impossible in the E windward end. However, I managed a good few trout mainly from the leeward W end and the W end of the N and S banks. These trout were fairly small. I had two of about half a pound and a dozen or so at closer to a 1/4 lb. I hooked, but lost what felt like a much better trout around the inflowing burn mouth. When fishing wets trout were mainly coming to the bob, which was either an olive sedgehog (size 12), black crow (size 10) or olive French partridge (size 10). However, I had most of the fish by fishing the sedgehog on it's own as a dry. The fish here were freely rising although smaller on average than I had anticipated, then again midsummer does not generally produce average bags of the same size as the spring or autumn. The scenery on walk in and bag is fantastic. I would advise anyone making the trip there to fish from the bank to take waders, both for crossing the burns, which are currently quite high, but also to facilitate fishing the shallower west end. I didn't and regretted it! Tight lines, Matt

Fished the east end of the South bank from a couple of hundred meters along the to the River Loanan intersect in my float tube for an hour or two mid afternoon yesterday (2nd August 2010). Had seven trout, between 1/4 and 3/4 lb. Mainly fairly dark fellas, but good fighters. Mainly coming to the bob, which was a bushy black and brown, or an olive French-partridge-ish (tried to make up for the lack of partridge in my tying kit by using a combo of bronze mallard and Brahma hen March brown hackle) affair. Wind couldn't quite make up it's mind, but was mainly a gentle WSW, cloud cover was good, midges were terrible! Hatch of some form of fairly large darkish olives.
Waders are delaminating around the crotch and seat so are a bit leaky and chillsome. A couple of hours was definitely the most I could manage n the tube.

Will be out and about over the coming weeks and will make an effort to provide regular updates.

Tight lines
Matt