I first came across the Garvault Hotel In 1989, attracted by the remote label in their advert and the write up in Bruce Sandison's 'Trout lochs of Scotland'. I fished the bank that first year and was sufficiently impressed to bring a friend the following year. His comment after that week's boat fishing will always remain in my memory -"You don't get many week's fishing like that in a lifetime".
First of all the Hotel - IĄ¯ve stayed at many over the years but this is the best fishing one. The food is good solid fisherĄ¯s fare, well cooked and you wonĄ¯t be hungry during your stay. A reasonable choice of wines is available with the meals but it is nothing to the selection of malts available from the bar. The lounge has a peat fire, if you want to light it, but since the introduction of double glazing (and central heating) a couple of years back, we donĄ¯t often bother.
The lochs are beautiful, full of fish, with few anglers about. In June you might have two or three boats on the loch. In September probably just your own. DonĄ¯t be afraid to take the 6oz fish out as they are fully grown and make wonderful eating.
The people who fish from the Hotel come back year after year. I can relate to this as I have joined their ranks. If, like me you have wandered from hotel to hotel over the years, fishing different waters and forever seeking something better, be prepared to put down roots. You may find the company of the other guests so agreeable you will arrange to see them again the following year, same week, same place. ThatĄ¯s how itĄ¯s been with several of the parties who come to the hotal every year, from various parts of the country, to renew valued friendships and it has certainly been like that with me."
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We have fished in June and September each year since and if anything, the fishing has improved each visit as we came to know the water better - in 1992 we had two salmon in the boat from the dap and in 1993 a brown trout of over 9lb was taken, again on the dap. As a matter of interest trout of 9lb plus were also caught in the loch. In 1991 (from a boat) and 1992 (from the bank), so big fish are there to be caught.
'The Trout Lochs of Scotland' mentions that bags of 20 fish are common yet we have found that our daily average catches in June to be between 50 and 100 with about half being retained. September returns are lower but the size of the fish Increases substantially with the added bonus of catching char as well as the chance of a salmon.
Flies
I tie my own flies and I expect them to catch fifty fish before they fall to bits. This is a single days catch in June so you can imagine that I carry sufficient supply of the favourite patterns. These include in a rough order of preference - Daddy-long-legs, Mayfly, Loch Ordie, Hatching Sedge, Zulu, Bibio, Kate Mclaren.
The hotel carries a good stock of local favourites
and it is worthwhile investing in a few even if
you tie your own - take them back and copy
them.