A fly fishing session isn’t defined by the number of fish that make it to the net. My latest visit to Millhall Reservoir was one of those days where the trout kept me interested from the first cast to the last, even if the final catch tally didn’t quite reflect the amount of action on the water.
| Quick Facts |
| Venue: Millhall Reservoir, Polmont, Scotland Session time: 9:30am–12:30pm Conditions: Overcast, moderate wind and occasional light showers Method: Floating line with a three fly cast Best patterns: Tan Daddy and Orange Daddy Result: 2 rainbow trout, estimated between 2lb and 3½lb Key takeaway: Plenty of interest from fish, but many takes were tentative |
Conditions
I arrived at Millhall around 9:30am and fished through until 12:30pm. The weather was typically changeable, with overcast skies, a moderate wind and the occasional light shower passing through. Water conditions looked good, and while reports on recent days had been mixed, there were signs of fish moving from the outset.
The Setup
I opted for a floating line and fished a three fly cast consisting of:
- Tan Daddy on the point (size 10)
- Nothing Fly on the middle dropper (size 16)
- Orange Daddy on the top dropper (size 10)
The plan was simple: cover plenty of water and see how the fish responded.
Daddy long legs Pattern: Tying Materials, Seasons and Tactics
Fish Showing Everywhere
What followed was one of the most encouraging sessions I’ve had in a while.
The trout were clearly interested in the Daddy patterns. Fish were regularly rolling at the flies, following them and making tentative offers. At times it seemed like almost every cast attracted some form of attention. The issue wasn’t locating fish, it was persuading them to fully commit.
Despite the constant activity, many of the takes were half hearted, with fish turning away at the last moment or simply nudging the fly without properly taking it.
Millhall Reservoir Catch Result
In the end I landed two rainbow trout, both estimated between 2lb and 3½lb.
While the final count wasn’t spectacular, it certainly didn’t tell the full story. The amount of interest shown by the fish suggested there were plenty of trout actively feeding, but they were doing so with a degree of caution.
Looking Back
Looking back, the Daddy patterns were the clear winners on the day. Both the Tan Daddy and Orange Daddy repeatedly brought fish up, while the Nothing Fly didn’t seem to be of interest. That tells me the trout were willing to look up and chase something with a bit of profile, but they still wanted plenty of persuasion before committing properly.
If there was one lesson I thought of after this session, it was probably retrieve speed. With so many follows, swirls and half hearted takes, I came away thinking I may have been fishing just a touch too slow. Next time, I’d be tempted to mix in a slightly quicker retrieve, or add the odd sharper pull, to see if that turns curiosity into more confident takes. Another possibility is that the flies were a little too large. I don’t fish a small Daddy, but it’s definitely something that could make a difference next time.
Final Thoughts
Although only two fish found their way into my net, this was still an enjoyable and encouraging few hours on the water. When trout are showing interest on almost every cast, you’re never far away from a memorable session.
The Daddy was unquestionably the fly of the day, and with a few tweaks to the retrieve next time, those follows and swirls could easily be converted into more positive takes.
If you have you experienced similar days at Millhall, where the fish showed lots of interest but struggled to commit? Let me know in the comments below.