Saturday, 8th April
Lake of Menteith, Day Session
Ben Lomond -- just one of the neighbouring peaks that provided a wintry backdrop
After a mild spell at the end of March, it was back to winter in Scotland at the start of April. Overnight rain fell on high ground as snow, so peaks such as Bens Lomond and Ledi were quite alpine. All very picture-skew! The weather during the week had been wild, wet and windy, so we were really quite lucky to get what we did. As we arrived, so did the rain, although that had the effect of flattening the breeze, so we started off fishing in a near flat clam. As soon as the rain cleared, buzzers started hatching and the resident fish started rising -- a good, decent rise too. They were in the area of the pink buoy (that isn't there), with a second group just off the shoulder of International Bay! We were caught out, having tackled up only with pulling rods and lurey stuff (which the residents were not having). John and I got a second rod set up with dries as quick as we could, and we managed to take 3, with another couple of fresh-air shots. John had 2 to a black Klinkhammer, with my one taking a black raider.
John Wastle, with an early buzzer-feeding resident
However, just as we were thinking, "Here we go!", a glaring, brassy sun came out, a cool breeze got up... and the fish went down -- to stay down for the day! Ah well, it was nice to get an early one to dries!
Apart from that wee cameo, we found it hard going. We tried a variety of lines, a variety of flies, and we fished all round the water. We finished with 3-apiece, the others having come 2 to a black tad (one each on DI-5 and slime line) and a damsel on a DI 3.
The road shore, with the Gargunnock Hills keeping up the wintry background
What fish we found were in Hotel Bay, at Dog Isle and at Lochend. While at Lochend, John landed a nice wee pike of about 5 lb (not John's fault he looks constipated -- I only had the big telephoto lens, and I had to get him to lean back to get everything in the frame!) As the day wore on, the signs were that the other boats were also finding it difficult -- as many on the move as drifting, and not many repeating a drift. When we came in, our boys confirmed our thoughts. What success they had was with DI-3 and DI-7, and notably mostly with various damsels. Hare's ear snatcher, orange tadpole and booby also got their names on the scoresheet. Tommy Steven and Dougie Goddard had a brace each from the Butts to Lochend area, and there were a couple taken in Gateside.
A disappointing total -- 15 fish for 15 rods.
No sign of spring yet, but there was still some colour to be had in the April sun
Photos: Canon 10D with 70-300mm IS lens and polarising filter
