Saturday, 11th October

Lake of Menteith, Day Session

Not the best of days, conditions-wise.  It was calm at the start, but that lasted until we stepped into the boats.  Thereafter, a westerly breeze developed, which gathered strength until it was fairly stiff.  The temperature was fine for mid October, and the sky was a mix of cloud and sun, with the latter predominating as the day wore on.  The water clarity was much better than the last couple of outings, and really we should have expected a half-decent total.  However, we did not get it.

Colin Jaap and Eric Grey, off Sam's Point

There was some early action.  John Miller had a fish after 5 minutes at Sam's Point to a black and green tadpole on an intermediate.  However, one more at the butts later in the day to a dry claret hopper was John's only other fish.  More early success came to Stewart Barnes and John Levy.  They took 2 or 3 fish in Hotel Bay, John on blobs on a midge tip, and Stewart on yellow dancer, Diawl Bach and cormorant on an intermediate.

A sunny p.m. at Stable Point

However, after the initial flurry, it got tough... very tough, and successes were few and far between.  Len Newby took a couple to cormorant and green fritz, slow-fished on an intermediate.  I managed but a brace as well: to a fritz-headed Dunkeld and a hare's ear palmer, on slow glass at Lochend.

Da-daaah!

Second best boat with 6, were Dougie Skedd and Trevor Gibson.  Dougie fished a cat-minkie booby on a fast glass with constant retrieve (f-of-8 & roly-poly), picking up most of his fish in the heronry.  Trevor took his to midge tip and booby and blob!

Sorry - still at Stable Point, but couldn't resist the light

We passed by Stable Point, early afternoon, and there was a substantial assembly of boats fishing Gateside Bay.  We saw one pick up a fish, so guessed there was a bit of action going on in the thick of it all.  Late in the day, Stewart and John picked up fish in International bay, to finish top boat with 7 - not bad for a pair of OAPs!

The Club's 19 rods landed 23 fish

Photos:  Canon 40D and (images 2 and 6) 24-105 mm IS and (the rest) 55-250 mm IS lenses