Troots.

Today there were a distinct lack of them. By that i dont just mean that i caught nothing (which i didnt), i mean that the whole day i saw no trout. At all.

Usually i at least spook some fish and see them scatter off, get the odd take or at very least see a rise or two, but nothing.

The apparent troot free status of the burn worried me a bit to be honest, i noticed a lot of algae in it aswell, for a hill burn at this time of year this is very rare. I just hope theres been no fish kill and that today was just one of those nightmare sessions. Conditions were not ideal, blowing a gale from the east and it was bloody cold, the burn was also bare bones today, hardly any water at all. pretty grim it has to be said.

The only thing that made the day was a dipper giving me a heart attack. Just as i was lifting to cast again there was a massive thud on the rod, HUGE TROOT i thought, but no, i noticed a dipper staggering about on the bankside lookin g a wee bit dazed. Daft bugger had flew into my rod! He flew away pretty quickly after the indignity, made the cold hands worthwhile i guess.

scott.