The last time I went trout fishing was probably over 12 years ago on Watenlath Tarn near Keswick. So after investing in a new rod, a Guideline Elevation 9 foot 6 weight and Reach reel I took up my son Kierans invitation to try a days boat fishing at Sweethope Lough in Northumberland. After a fitful nights sleep laying awake thinking of rainbow and brown trout slipping into the landing net, I set off for the water at 0630hrs on the two hour long car journey. Things have changed massively regarding fishing knowledge, 12 years ago there was not the abundance of digital information out there on-line. The week before I had been absorbed everyday in YouTube videos watching how to set up different flys for different fish, waters, conditions and a plethora of other watercraft tips. At times overloaded with information I finally decided my plan of attack was to opt for a washing line set up with buoyant booby fly on point and two buzzers hanging on the droppers.

On arrival at the water Kieran had the boat set up, so I quickly stowed my gear and social distancing in the boat we set off from the jetty towards the northern bank of the lough. The weather and water conditions looked great, a good ripple on the water and a grey overcast sky. We decided to drift from the northern shore line towards the southern bank of the lough. Really impressed with the new drogue we had bought it slowed our drift down nicely with the fresh north easterly wing pushing us along. Encouraged by seeing other boat anglers hooking into fish we eagerly awaited our first take. We had nothing until we got nearer the end of the drift in the south western end of the lough when I missed a fish, then shortly after hooked into this fantastic fighting fit rainbow. It went off on several runs and I finally netted it after a great fight. The fish was in great condition about 2.5lbs and had taken the booby fly on point. The fish safely returned and I was quickly into another fish, this time a shorter but really good fight a slightly smaller rainbow came to the net of about 2lbs, again on the booby.

We then motored up the lough towards the eastern end and drifted down the southern shoreline where we could see trout rising to flys on the calmer water close into the tree line. We then had a hectic 3 fish spell with Kieran landing a nice rainbow of about 2lbs on a blob fly on point and practically the next cast he had a take from a smaller fish, which turned out to be a beautiful wild brown trout caught on a diawl bach nymph, a first brownie for Kieran!

Shortly after the brownie I had a good take from a fish and after a short fight a nice fish of about 2lbs came to the net and it turned out to be the my first ever blue trout and again on the booby.

The breeze had dropped off by now and the sun kept breaking through the clouds making it harder to find the fish. We then drifted along the northern wood line using the very light swirling easterly wind to take us into the shallow west end of the lough and after what seemed an eternity and many fly changes I managed to hook another rainbow of about 2.5lbs this time on a nymph. The wind had disappeared and with the sun out it had put the fish down so we had a hard time finding any feeding fish. We motored back up the lough to the eastern end and managed a few more rainbows around the 2lbs mark to end the day.

A thoroughly great days fishing having to work hard to find the fish but an enjoyable day on the water. The new rod and reel were a joy to fish with, casting great once I got my rusty casting skills going again. When docking at the jetty another two anglers pulled in and they had over 30 fish! Kieran chatted to them for a few minutes and found they had drifted in the deeper water down the centre of the lough using intermediate lines fishing a bit deeper than we had. Well something to bear in mind for our next visit. Confirming that fishing is a continual learning game, whatever age or level your at.

I would thoroughly recommend a days fishing at Sweethope Lough a 140 acre water, a beautiful peaceful setting and I got the bonus of hearing a Cuckoo for the first time in years!