Ferox

[fergie68]

It's just a matter of finding a few lures that work then putting the hrs in.

[LancsPiker]

Looks like we are heading back up in September. Hopefully we can get one then. One of the locals told us that 14 miles of trolling equates to one Ferox, absolutely mad if true. We've definitely got some knowledge that should help us out next time around now.

[fergie68]

Looks like we are heading back up in September. Hopefully we can get one then. One of the locals told us that 14 miles of trolling equates to one Ferox, absolutely mad if true. We've definitely got some knowledge that should help us out next time around now.

Best advice I can give is eyes on the prize.
Keep trolling for the ferox dont get bored and have a bash for the pike or the perch . Just keep at them.
Some people have went years up there trying to catch one. I'm always surprised at that. They are few and far between and elusive but they aren't that difficult to catch if you put the hrs in. Just find a feeding fish .

Ps and don't listen too much to those boat yard experts
That place is hoaching with them.

[LancsPiker]

Looks like we are heading back up in September. Hopefully we can get one then. One of the locals told us that 14 miles of trolling equates to one Ferox, absolutely mad if true. We've definitely got some knowledge that should help us out next time around now.

Best advice I can give is eyes on the prize.
Keep trolling for the ferox dont get bored and have a bash for the pike or the perch . Just keep at them.
Some people have went years up there trying to catch one. I'm always surprised at that. They are few and far between and elusive but they aren't that difficult to catch if you put the hrs in. Just find a feeding fish .

Ps and don't listen too much to those boat yard experts
That place is hoaching with them.

Everyone seemed really friendly and happy to pass on knowledge but there definitely seemed some conflicting info at times. Many said go deep while others swore by staying quite shallow. Some said the Eredine way was the best bet, while others said up to the Pass of Brander near the trout pens was better. Many seemed to agree on orange lures being the go to though, as the ferox are mostly feeding on char I believe

[fergie68]

Thats the problem some guys like certain areas some are passing on info they have heard from someone else. Lots of advice good and bad and some totally ridiculous.
Plenty instant experts in the ferox world these days the Ardbrecknish is full of them.
The pass has been poor the past few seasons .
It used to be the place to be early season.
Honestly you can pic them up anywhere on the Loch
We have had them right off the boat yard. Where ever there is food you'll be in with a chance .
Most of the most successful guys up there don't fish the pass anymore. But it always worth a few trolls. It will still produce I just find it quite a noisy depressing place and one or two trolls is enough for me.
As far as the charr thing goes I'd say they haven't been the ferox primary food source for a long time.
Roach were introduced into the Loch and as they do they have very quickly colonised the whole Loch.
So there's your bait sorted. .

By all means use orange belly lures it's a killer colour put it past a feeding ferox and they will probably have it. Just get lures or baits you have confidence in and troll the he'll out them.

[Will Smith]

Looks like we are heading back up in September. Hopefully we can get one then. One of the locals told us that 14 miles of trolling equates to one Ferox, absolutely mad if true. We've definitely got some knowledge that should help us out next time around now.

I wish.
You could of course hit really lucky and get one every 14 miles or so, however I think that people may possibly be referring to other waters when they said that, it is certainly no the case on Awe, Awe is so different to other waters, it is by far the hardest water I have ever fished especially if you are actually targeting Ferox.
To try to put it into context 14 miles is equivalent to roughly 6 -10 hrs or a short days trolling, I only wish I could catch one every day I went out, a some guys who fish there regularly can go all season without getting a fish, if you were to add a zero to that number you might be getting somewhere close but, I would still not hold my breath.
My last trip we did six consecutive days for one baby 2 1/2 lb Trout, 2 pike and a couple of perch .
It is not for the faint hearted thats of sure, but good luck, we might even bump into you in September .

Will.

[fergie68]

Looks like we are heading back up in September. Hopefully we can get one then. One of the locals told us that 14 miles of trolling equates to one Ferox, absolutely mad if true. We've definitely got some knowledge that should help us out next time around now.

I wish.
You could of course hit really lucky and get one every 14 miles or so, however I think that people may possibly be referring to other waters when they said that, it is certainly no the case on Awe, Awe is so different to other waters, it is by far the hardest water I have ever fished especially if you are actually targeting Ferox.
To try to put it into context 14 miles is equivalent to roughly 6 -10 hrs or a short days trolling, I only wish I could catch one every day I went out, a some guys who fish there regularly can go all season without getting a fish, if you were to add a zero to that number you might be getting somewhere close but, I would still not hold my breath.
My last trip we did six consecutive days for one baby 2 1/2 lb Trout, 2 pike and a couple of perch .
It is not for the faint hearted thats of sure, but good luck, we might even bump into you in September .

Will.

It sorts out the men from the boys Will.

I do wonder if it wasn't for the excellent facilities it wouldn't get anywhere near the amount of anglers fishing it.
There is far better ferox fishing to be had but mostly s***e or no facilities at all. Even slips are few and far between.
My trips to Ireland were a real eye opener to how bad access is here

[LancsPiker]

[/quote]


It sorts out the men from the boys Will.

I do wonder if it wasn't for the excellent facilities it wouldn't get anywhere near the amount of anglers fishing it.
There is far better ferox fishing to be had but mostly s***e or no facilities at all. Even slips are few and far between.
My trips to Ireland were a real eye opener to how bad access is here
[/quote]

I was surprised at how affordable the launch and trailer parking was. We mostly go to Windermere and a day launching at Ferry Nab runs about £30 in total, at Loch Awe it was £50 for the week.

I think some of the jettys are in need of repair and you have to be really careful coming back in as the water get shallow really quick, but yeah they definitely have way better access than a lot of other places.

[fergie68]

A few ferox from yesterday. We were forecast for a heave SW wind and rain but luckily just went for it . We had calm conditions most of the morning . It did get a bit choppy at one point which made it interesting when George had his fish on the planer board .
We also lost count of the pike we had all small Jack's.

8lb 10 oz
8 lb 2oz
4lb

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[Will Smith]

A good day by any standards Alan, .

Will.

[fergie68]

Lesson learned Will . Don't listen to the forecast just go and see for yourself and make the decision.
A few times lately I've not went due to the weather forecast and ended up regretting it.

I had 2 lovely baits working yesterday and they were completely ignored . All fish including the Jack's were on lures. Very odd.

[Will Smith]

Just Got back in from another day out of Amble, hard work again, and again the wind got up and fu cked the drift just like it did on Thursday.
Even using a drogue was not enough to slow us to a sensible speed to keep in contact with the bottom using 8oz weights, after our last drift on the way in I forgot to retrieve the drogue and it snapped its rope and wrapped itself around the prop. .

Ain't fishing brill .

Will.

[fergie68]

Just Got back in from another day out of Amble, hard work again, and again the wind got up and fu cked the drift just like it did on Thursday.
Even using a drogue was not enough to slow us to a sensible speed to keep in contact with the bottom using 8oz weights, after our last drift on the way in I forgot to retrieve the drogue and it snapped its rope and wrapped itself around the prop. .

Ain't fishing brill .

Will.

These things are sent to try us.
You'll get a monster next time.
It was blowing a hoolie here yesterday. Maybe they had the forecast 24 hr early.

I just need to get out more.

[piker al]

A few ferox from yesterday. We were forecast for a heave SW wind and rain but luckily just went for it . We had calm conditions most of the morning . It did get a bit choppy at one point which made it interesting when George had his fish on the planer board .
We also lost count of the pike we had all small Jack's.

8lb 10 oz
8 lb 2oz
4lb

20240621_104534.jpg

20240621_180305.jpg

IMG-20240621-WA0010.jpg

Cracking day out Fergie, that 8lbr u caught has a right big gob on it! Brilliant stuff

[fergie68]

A few ferox from yesterday. We were forecast for a heave SW wind and rain but luckily just went for it . We had calm conditions most of the morning . It did get a bit choppy at one point which made it interesting when George had his fish on the planer board .
We also lost count of the pike we had all small Jack's.

8lb 10 oz
8 lb 2oz
4lb

20240621_104534.jpg

20240621_180305.jpg

IMG-20240621-WA0010.jpg

Cracking day out Fergie, that 8lbr u caught has a right big gob on it! Brilliant stuff

I was holding in the net while George was filling the tank as I lifted it out the water it scooped a good mug full of water right into my face. It was then I realised it had quite a big tail too.

[piker al]

A few ferox from yesterday. We were forecast for a heave SW wind and rain but luckily just went for it . We had calm conditions most of the morning . It did get a bit choppy at one point which made it interesting when George had his fish on the planer board .
We also lost count of the pike we had all small Jack's.

8lb 10 oz
8 lb 2oz
4lb

20240621_104534.jpg

20240621_180305.jpg

IMG-20240621-WA0010.jpg

Cracking day out Fergie, that 8lbr u caught has a right big gob on it! Brilliant stuff

I was holding in the net while George was filling the tank as I lifted it out the water it scooped a good mug full of water right into my face. It was then I realised it had quite a big tail too.

Hello Fergie, did u manage any ferox missions before the end of season?

[fergie68]

Aye I had a 3 day trip up to Awe with some mates in September with 3 boats . The weather was good one of the days and absolutely pish the other 2 . I couldn't get away from the pike ( story of my season) but George had one on one of my brownie painted lures which was nice and my pal boab had another ferox he's had a good season.
My back was bad before this trip but the rough weather and sleeping in a tent made it much worse so I simply couldn't face another day in the boat .
It's just got better this week.
Definitely going down to the 4 days next year and not taking on anymore big jobs so hopefully I will get out once a week weather permitting.

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[Stewlaws]

Stunning marked Fish Al' ... do these go back ok as a rule, or do they exhaust themselves and require resting ?

[fergie68]

We fish heavy rods and 18lb mono Stew so we can normally get them in fairly quickly. The tank is really handy for unhooking and resting while getting the weigh sling and camera ready most of the time I will hold them over the side until they are ready to go . That will either be instantly giving you a soaking or a minute or so (especially if they have been jumping all over the place)
90% of the time they go straight back no problem even coming from the depths .
The other 10% where they take a while is if they have been badly hooked. I carry 2 sets of cutters in the boat so any problems the hooks just get cut out .

[Fentiger01]

Great thread this, if I could find even a bit of the time required, I'd be up the road after these Ferox like a flash!

[Stewlaws]

We fish heavy rods and 18lb mono Stew so we can normally get them in fairly quickly. The tank is really handy for unhooking and resting while getting the weigh sling and camera ready most of the time I will hold them over the side until they are ready to go . That will either be instantly giving you a soaking or a minute or so (especially if they have been jumping all over the place)
90% of the time they go straight back no problem even coming from the depths .
The other 10% where they take a while is if they have been badly hooked. I carry 2 sets of cutters in the boat so any problems the hooks just get cut out .

..... Nothing more satisfying than respecting a quarry and watching it away strongly.

[fergie68]

Great thread this, if I could find even a bit of the time required, I'd be up the road after these Ferox like a flash!

If your ever up visiting let me know . It might take less time than you think mate.
Seriously.

[Fentiger01]

Great thread this, if I could find even a bit of the time required, I'd be up the road after these Ferox like a flash!

If your ever up visiting let me know . It might take less time than you think mate.
Seriously.

Thank you Fergie mate, will do.