NEWTON STEWART
Return to an old haunt
My association with the Galloway town of Newton Stewart in the southwest of Scotland goes back around thirty years when I wrestled there against a Scottish 'hero' called Dale Storm - and got a good thumping for a small 'wage'. In 1984 I was back in the town to take part in the Galloway Marathon with my wife, a gruelling 26.2 miles circuit in the hills above the town. Then, to celebrate my 65th birthday this year, I spent five days at the Cree Bridge House Hotel, Newton Stewart's best hotel. No longer able to wrestle or even jog, I can still fish and there's nowhere better for game and sea fishing than this beautiful corner of Scotland which luxuriates in the Gulf Stream.
I returned yet again in May (such is the charm of the place) and I found a gem of a trout water. It fulfilled most of the criteria that you could think of when measuring the quality of trout fishing. It is very quiet and peaceful and lies well into the Galloway Forest Park. It is set in amazingly beautiful surroundings. The air is like sparkling champagne and it is reasonably well sheltered from strong winds. The drive from the hotel took all of five minutes and when I arrived I found the loch was full of prime rainbows.
Bruntis Loch
Bruntis Loch, the biggest one of a little group of woodland lochs, lies just off the main Stranraer to Dumfries road (A75) and is accessed by the road sign for Blackcraig. After a couple of hundred yards there is a turn off to the left that runs uphill for about a mile. On the right hand side at the top of the hill is a large car park for walkers and anglers and, just across the road, facing you is the forestry track that leads to the loch. It's a fifteen minute, easy walk, by-passing the first small loch on the left, to get access to the main loch.
The loch is surrounded by the forest but there are gaps between the trees and the forestry workers keep the paths and the casting areas from getting overgrown; there was evidence of recent strimming and trimming on the day of my visit. The over-all impression is of tranquillity and natural beauty. Bruntis Loch is as pretty a fishery as you could ever hope to visit.
I was lucky enough to fish the loch in a quiet spell of weather during a very unsettled week. The rain had ceased, the wind had dropped to a mild breeze and the sun kept showing amongst the clouds. The air temperature was around 15 centigrade; ideal for rainbow trout fishing.
I could not see any signs of activity in the water but I decided on a floating line, a long leader and a small black spider (on advice from the helpful guy in Galloway Guns & Tackle where I purchased my day ticket). The only thing I caught in the first half hour was the branch of an unwelcome silver birch ten yards behind me.
Fighting Rainbows
Suddenly, I saw a trout gently break the surface fifty yards away at the entrance to a wide bay into which the breeze was pushing the current. This was the first fish I had seen and everything went quiet again but at least it gave me a clue as to where the fish might be. I made my way around the trees and shrubs and found a little peninsula that allowed a decent back cast. I decided to change flies and put up a moderately weighted GRHE nymph, a fly with which I like to explore on new waters.
I let the fly sink under the surface for ten seconds than began a slow retrieve punctuated by random tweaks. Everything went tight for a moment and then the water seemed to explode as a chunky rainbow trout went first to the right and then to left in two strong runs accompanied by several high leaps from the water. A really good fighting fish of about two pounds when he came to the net, I carried him, still in the net, and let him back into the water about twenty yards away from what looked to be a hot spot. I didn't want to spook any other fish that might be there.
A Hot Spot
Hot spot it turned out to be, too. I had five more rainbows up to three pounds on the GRHE and they all fought as well if not better than the first fish. They made long surging runs, taking lots of line off the reel and they all leapt like prima ballerinas in their efforts to shake the hook.
On several casts I thought I was catching bottom on my retrieve but I suddenly realised that it was a very cautious nibble. I cast to this fish at least six times and twice was confident enough to tighten but to no avail; the fish just would not commit to the fly. I tried to ignore it but eventually I went back and cast to it again. I slowly retrieved and felt the twitchy little plucks and this time I lifted my rod tip quite suddenly in mid-retrieve and he was tempted too strongly and took the hook.
I felt so pleased with this fish and, of course, with all the others, for they were in mint condition; perfect fins and tails, excellent colours and with very muscular shoulders like rugby forwards. Then the rain clouds rushed in and the wind picked up. Enough for the day! Back to the hotel for a shower and a malt, though not necessarily in that order.
Contacts for Day Tickets for Bruntis Loch (and other waters)
Newton Stewart Angling Association: Mr Billy Brown, 5 Glebe Crescent, Newton Stewart, DG98 6CP. 01671 401127
Galloway Guns & Tackle: 36a Arthur Street, Newton Stewart. 01671 403404
Newton Stewart Angling Association
The Association has many miles of river fishing, mainly for salmon and sea trout on the rivers Cree, Bladnoch, Penkiln Burn and the Black Water of Dee.
They have eight or nine lochs, large and small, remote and very accessible. Wee Glenamour Loch (just off the A712 outside the town) has platforms and disabled access and is open all year round. Day tickets for the lochs are £15 and all other prices should be discussed with the secretary. Mr Brown.
Accommodation
There are several caravan and campsites around the town plus plenty of B&Bs. There are a couple of small hotels offering good rates and my favourite, across the river from the town, the Cree Bridge House Hotel, a very good quality three star establishment that offers 'proper' beer, fine whiskey and first class food all served by cheerful, friendly staff. Telephone: 01671 402121
