My last couple of sessions from Orkney

[BigBadCol]

The last couple of days fishing on Orkney

With the weather set to be settled for the last few days of our stay it was time to go out ans dig a few worms for my last couple of sessions. I headed to Scapa bay and did as I had done at the start of our holiday, Dug and fished at the same time. After an hour I had a bucket full of worms and a few cuts. I had decided to give the pier ago this time so headed there. On arrival there was a couple of lad tinsel chucking who said that they’d been here a few hours for nothing. I threw my 3 hook flapper in and had a fish on before it hit the bottom. As I was reeling in another fish joined in the party and I could see at about 100yards to go I had 2 nice mackerel hooked. As they neared the pier there was a big swirl and a bloody great seal attempted to steal them lol however he missed and I had 2 fresh mackerel for bait and breakfast. I fished for another hour or so and was into micro cod from the off. I tried a big fish bait as a local lad had said there had been a few rays about. However not to night there wasn’t so me n the LHG packed up and went home for tea.

Last day part 1 Disaster after Hoy

Today was now Monday and our 2nd to last day. We visited The Old Man of Hoy today which was a really nice walk in some nice weather for a change.

Once we got back to our accommodation I checked the worms and found out my experiment of leaving a bit of sand in the bucket had failed and 75% of them were dead. I was a little peed off as you can imagine cos the next low tide was 0520hrs. So alarm set I went to bed a grumpy git (grumpier than normal before you start lol) I had the worst night sleep ever and was clock watching from 0253hrs. so in the end I got up and took the 20min drive to Scapa. After about an hour of digging these beauties I had 60-70 worms and 10 white snakes.



Well you know what happened next don’t you? Yip you guessed it I hit Barrier No.1 again for a few hours. It was a cracking morning and this was to be a filler until low water later on. Straight away I was into the cod again on the bottom fishing rod and I was kept busy with some cracking ballans on the float rod. The biggest of the day being this beauty of 2lb9oz a new PB (I think). It gave a great scrap and I had to do some block dancing to get him out.



Hears another one of 2lb6oz



I was hit by another big fish that I just couldn’t get out of its hole it was my own fault I was taking a picture and not paying attention to the float at all. This was the picture of my mark.



My float this time shot up out of the water and went under and this little guy came up another new species off the barrier in the form of a Corkwing wrasse.


My time was up and I was feeling peckish so it was back to the digs to take the LHG out for brunch at the Fossel & heritage centre. We had soup and a cheese platter of Orkney cheeses, it was grand.

Last day part 2 My final assault on Hoxa head.

The wind was right the sea was right but it was a big tide so I planned to get there about 2 hours before low water and fish the tide down and until I couldn’t fish any more. First out was the good old 3 hook flapper to see if I could find the cuckoos again. This time I counted how long it took for a 6oz plain lead to hit the bottom with 3 worms on 17 seconds was the count and that was straight down with no run from the tide. Within 2 mins the rod was bouncing and as I struck it was a very nice fish It had my 8oz uptide rod bent double and was taking line. As I gained on the fish it took a dive for the kelp from which I just couldn’t move it. Eventually I got my gear back but the fish was gone. So undeterred I rebaited and was back out again within 2 mins I had a fish on, not so big this time but I was winding like a mad man to get it up. Eventually this little beauty came out.



One of my wrasse didn’t go back alive last time so I had filled a bucket up with sea water this time to give the fish time to recover, after about 5 mins it was splashing about so I let him go alive thankfully.
By this time I had managed to set the 2nd rod up with a nice sized fish bait. Meanwhile I was pulling in wrasse with the 3 hook flapper.



I had a few small runs with the fish baits but no takers. But the other rod was bringing in the ballans more or less every cast. At about 1 hr after low water it was becoming hard to fish with the raging tide now and the swarms of midges as the wind had gone. The first we’d had all holiday. So at about 1900hrs I called it time on my fantastic 10 days in the Orkneys. Here’s the Hoxa Mark.



And to top off a fantastic holiday I was greeted with this as I walked back to the LHG waiting with the car.



Overall we’ve had 10 fantastic days in the Orkneys and my love of fishing the Orkneys is back. There aren’t many people you’ll see doing any shore or rock fish over there and local information is not so easy to come by. Bait is easily dug and I assume in the warmer months easy to catch. The Orkneys might not offer much in the way of you conventional holiday, however if all you want to do is chill and relax and not interact with many people, although the one you do speak to are the friendliest people you’ll meet. The beaches are clean with beautiful white sands and crystal clear waters, the streets are clean and the 2 whiskey distillery’s produce 2 of the finest single malts of Scotland IMO of course. Oh and one more thing the fishing is as always frustrating, good when its good and bad when its bad.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tales as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. If you’re thinking of going sometime let me know and I’ll try help where I can.

Thank you

BigBadCol

[sharpey]

Great report, great location, great results for you Col..?? Enjoyed the read, your pics were great as was your fish care. Well done mate, a holiday to remember..?? Planning the next one already I'll bet...!! Well fished!!

[grumpyppops1]

Great reports ,and I thought you'd learned making me hungry in other reports .the you used the grumpy name ,copyright infringement then to crown it all starting to talk about malts .you win I'm a broken man

[grandadruss]

Class report as ever Col
Your report should be printed as brochures for the Orkney tourist board mate.
Soon have it like Blackpool reading it.
Looking forward to your next adventures already.

[pros]

Great report and pictures Col. well fished. Don't suppose you are planning to bother going again?

[BigBadCol]

Great report and pictures Col. well fished. Don't suppose you are planning to bother going again?

Oh yes I'll be there again sometime but not sure when. It's a long way for just 1 session lol
I wouldn't mind giving the winter ago sometime.

[sea spray 57]

Totally sensational pics and as always a cracking report I'm so happy you had a (going by your reports) a fish filled and a excellent 10 day holiday theres no better feeling be it a good fish day or bad fish day than knowing you can sit down chill with malt in hand and reminisce the day you've had ....thanks for posting pal

[BigBadCol]

Thank you all very much for your kind replies guys

[Shane ousby]

Top report one of the best I've read yet mate.....thanks for taking the time to put it together and post