Fishing with the Icross in Sutherland

 

Great Fishing with the Icross

With fifty years of fishing the Sutherland lochs we have had some very memorable days out, nights out and wet weekends to tell the tales of such great experiences. Most of our articles in this blog have been about passing on these experiences and sharing some wisdom if possible. Even to the extent that don’t try this unless you are mad, crazy or just need some extreme relief from the desk job.

Our backdrop has been campsites near Lochinver, crofts in Stoer, the Scourie Hotel and now cottages in Forsinard. So, I have been thinking of some new memorable days out to pass on these experiences. The Scourie Hotel 25-year story is still to be told but that might be a marathon so I wanted to bring up the new experience of the Icross over the last five years.

There are days walking the hill lochs, or a boat day in a magical loch such as Hope or Caladail or even a day fishing for mackerel and pollock off the rocks as trout & salmon fishing was not allowed on a Sunday. But what comes to mind is a day when we used very different styles of fishing on one loch. The provided boat, the shoreline and the Icross comes to mind and well worth a story to be told.

So firstly what is an Icross?   It is an inflatable board that is shaped so that you can sit in a deckchair of sorts on top of the board with a paddle to move you around the loch. It is a step up from a float tube as you are not in the water, no flippers and able to move around the loch at both speed and stealth like. It does take a while to get used to the on and off procedure and confidence in your balance is required.

It was at the Game fair at Ragley Hall while visiting with Peter and his family that we came across the Icross stand with its different models on display. I was fascinated by the concept of walking from one loch to another and crossing each loch fishing away but gaining the benefits of being afloat and dry.

It was early on in the holiday, day two I believe, and we were on one of the Forsinard top beats one of the selected six that you are allowed to nominate on your two weeks fishing trip. It is not a bad walk in, with about 20 minutes across the heather, no hills to climb and the car can get you close to a suitable drop off point. Flat tyres are a risk if you decide to carry on up the last of the old woodland track and yes, I’ve been there but managed to inflate with sealant

The rest of the party pulls their kit together and heads off to the loch while you pull out the enormous rucksack and start attaching the pump for some serious inflation of the board. It is done in less than five and you can attach the chair with clips, click in the paddle and put your day pack within the empty chair. I attach my net and rod tube before pulling the Icroos up off the floor and onto my back with the help of the rucksack straps.

It was heavy on this particular day as I had a few cans stowed on board in case of dehydration or a long lunch. Without the pack though it is light enough not to worry you on such a short walk.

Peter and Michel were still bailing out the boat and setting up the rods on the lochside. I joined them and we were ready in no time to start the days serious business. I guess the target was fish over 2lb and hopefully a yellow belly which are 4lb+ but any fish on the line would be a good start.

We had seen movement already with some nice rises in boat bay and Michel was soon on the boat with a muddler to bring them up to the surface. Peter head along the southern shoreline with a dry fly, probably a sedgehog of some sort but it would be tweaked through the water surface to attract a take. I opted for two wet flies with a bushy bibio on the dropper and a dabbler on the point.

It was not long before MC declared he had a fish on and it was a runner. We enjoyed watching his fight with the fish and he played him towards the net and back in the boat for a weigh in at 2 3/4lb which was a great start. It was time for me to get on board the Icross and join MC on the loch and start covering some water from different angles to the shoreline fisherman. I placed my rod at the exit to the inlet that I was launching from and slid on board with good balance technique. Once comfortable I paddled out and picked the rod up as I passed the exit. 

Open waters were in front of me and I followed MC’s boat drift which took us north across the loch. It was easy to cast from left to right and cover vast amounts of water as I drifted along. The boat drifted in a different way to the Icross and I was soon well apart but covering margin water near the eastern shore one of the many hotspots on this loch.

It wasn’t long before I called out “fish on” as I was taken quite deep on the point fly and the fish was off staying deep and pulling me gently with it. I took control eventually and unhooked the net which was very handy right next to my seat. The fish was surprisingly easy to net but had to come on board to unhook the fly and while between my legs a photo was able to be taken. It looks quite thin but was healthy and typical for this loch and would grow on through the summer months.

The next target was a yellow belly trout that reside in here, I have seen a few in the past and they are beauties when turning in the water. But we have yet to catch one, I rose one during this trip and saw a huge tail when paddling up the loch with my lunch later in the day.

Peter meanwhile had found himself a hotspot on the shoreline where he could see fish rising in the still water near the promontories. He had already netted one by the time I was in ear shot and was then playing his second. I found an inlet and parked the Icross and gave him a helping hand in netting the second which he had expected to be larger than the fight had felt. The area was difficult to fish from as the shoreline was so wet and treacherous but worthwhile to get two beauties in succession.

Here is Pete with the 1 3/4lb trout I netted and as a location check he is wearing my flat cap as forgot to bring a hat that day.

The memorable day was broken up with a lunch time get together on the north side of the loch. Pete could walk to it easily and we paddled and rowed our way up for the rendezvous and a mix of ciders were enjoyed by all. Chicken wraps made by myself that morning was the healthy option these days. What was so positive was that we all had fish in the morning and the weather looked like holding for a warmer afternoon with the possibilities of a hatch on.

I won’t bash on about the success of the pm fishing but it was pleasant but tough even though we had more trout. Far less fish were seen on the surface and the warmth we had expected actually turned into the odd shower. So, Peter got a steady lift back to boat bay from MC and we all agreed to pack up early and head for the cottage and some liquid refreshment. But the day was a great success with three styles of fishing on one loch and all being successful in their own way. I guess it will be repeated here and elsewhere in the future as the benefits are so good for all three of us.

 

Further thoughts on the Icross

It has had limited time out on the waters of Sutherland. Why?

·       In the Forsinard area we tend to fish the beats that are a long way from the road and can take well over an hour to reach. The size and weight of the Icross limits its range at 60+ years of age. (float tube option sometimes better)

·       If the loch is too small you are disturbing the loch too much if sharing the beat with your party, which is most of the time with three of us.

The positives when it is used.
·       Gives your fellow anglers the opportunity to use the boat between them
·       Allows you to cover a much greater part of the loch with a more stealth like approach
·       You feel much closer to the action when drifting at water level
·       You can traverse from one loch to another so that you can cover a Scourie Hotel beat or even tackle three beats in one day!! (In my dreams)
·       Comfortable option which is totally different from a boat or fishing from the bank. (Great relief for the change of approach)

I have used it consistently on one beat that is a short drive from the road and only a twenty minute walk to the loch. The Icross is assembled by the car while we are all getting our act together for the day. It is packed away behind my seat in a giant rucksac that holds it tightly and once unfolded the pump is attached and within a few minutes it inflates to the correct pressure. The instructions tell you not to be stupid and over inflate but after a heavy night that is unlikely and soon you are attaching the chair, clipping on the 2 paddles which clip together later and securing the backpack and net. I carry the days selected rod but you can also attach a rod tube easily enough.

You attach some carrying straps to the bottom of the board, leave off the keel which would be painful and catch up with the party as they prepare and bail out their boat. Depending on the wind you could leave your pack at the base camp where the boat returns but it all depends on the lunch venue. It looks heavier than it is but the pack needs less cameras, cans of cider and spare reels etc to lighten the overall load.

Once you are set up and ready to fish it is just a simple matter of getting afloat and securing the net on the clip on straps provided. I usually leave the rod by the loch to get on board and then pick it up as I pass by. The paddle system works smoothly and is a quiet way of moving into position and letting the breeze do the work across the loch.

The shocks are when the big fish cruise past you and you see the massive spade like tails as they dive deeper into the loch. The rises and takes are also a bit of a shock as they can be very close to you and the run can get the Icross moving in whichever way the fish wants to go. My weight slows them down but to be honest you just get dragged and concentrate on the fight, less on where you are heading.

Oh yes you then deflate and use all your weight to squeeze it back in its pack.

Comments

·       Not mentioned the need to go to shore for pee stops!!

·       Cost per outing? Long term investment, left in my will to a Nephew

·       Is it allowed elsewhere e.g. Assynt? not telling anyone see you on Fionn or loch Awe!

·       Excellent for stalking mullet? but not tried yet.