Fishing: Brown trout were biting but rainbows were elusive

Overcast weather with only a slight breeze met us at Carron Valley when we had a recent club outing.

Looking out before the off, fish were rising all over the main basin and around the dam wall and expectations were high as we cut the engine just off the pier for short drifts along the shore.

Starting out with midge tip with a Blob, Cormorant, and White Cat Booby I felt sure something would have a go. After an hour or so I had only a couple of small, but takeable brown trout which were returned. We decided to try elsewhere in search of rainbows and ended up taking a long drift down the far bank where my boat partner connected into a fine rainbow of just under 3lb on a Yellow Dancer, of all things. Still I felt sure that if I persevered they would come to the flies I had on.

Just as we were nearing the end of the drift I felt one almighty pull and the water exploded in front of us. It felt like a good fish but I will never know as it took my whole cast and disappeared out of sight. It was encouraging but I still did not know what it took so I tied on the same cast in an attempt to coax another one to take.

Alas, that was to be the last of the rainbows but I did manage to pick up several brown trout all over the reservoir. The wind picked up as the session neared its end and I thought I would end up blanking. Just as we neared the jetty with half an hour to go I was in again and the fish took the Blob on the top dropper, but to my dismay it slipped the hook at the net.