Loch na Beinne Reidhe

Suspect I was a little early in the year (4th May) but we'd had some good warm, sunny days albeit with a cold wind. Cathel was spot on with the time to the Loch, even for someone over 60 though it is a testing walk. The day was sunny with blue sky and very strong cool wind from north-east.

First fished un-named lochan to the north and did better than on main Loch. I suspect that as it was smaller than the main Loch it had warmed up quicker. There were some olives hatching and I saw several rises, lost one good one but landed another 2 just over the pound, both returned.

On the main Loch there were no rises, and no fly life hatching. The strong wind restricted where a "leftie" could fish so concentrated on South-west shore. Touched nothing until I spoke out and said that I would have one last cast. At literally that moment a fish was hooked. Was over 1lb but not 2lb.

My most successful method was with a small nymph dressed with a tiny tungsten bead on point and let the flies swing round on their own in the waves. Wide range of patterns tried. A bit disappointing re fish seen but that's fishing and I will be back once things warm up a bit and my legs have recovered. With good views of hinds, golden plover, grouse, a lizard and wheatears it was still another great day in Assynt.

Having visited this loch in hot less than ideal weather last september I wanted to give another shot.I camped at the loch for 2 nights. Sat 9th may was sunny with light winds and this proved to be the best day. Caught 5 fish for around 6.5 lbs over a 4 hr period.Nothing rising so fished wets close to edges. The sunny conditions let me use polarised glasses and i seen 2 of my fish follow and take the fly. Best was 2 fish of 17.5 inches. Wind was straight down the loch from the top end which meant I could fish both sides. I also tried the unnamed loch nearby with no success. I think the fish here are fewer in number or wiser than in previous years. I will definitely be back to this area which gives a real wilderness experience without being too far from the road.

lost/missed 3 fish and caught 1 in bright sunlight with little wind on 10th of september. All takes were in the north corner where it was sheltered from the sun. Nothing rising so I fished with wets. The fish I caught was 16 inches and in good condition so around 1.5 lbs. James Dunlop

'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