Last Friday I headed to The Lake of Menteith with Bob Taylor. The conditions were reasonable throughout the day with lots of cloud but the wind was a bit of a pest. It would not settle in speed or direction and at times our boat was spinning like a top.

Initially we headed down past The Heronry where I was told fish were lying. On the first drift my line tightened and a fish was on. Almost right away I knew it was a pike and after a spirited fight I netted 12lbs of fury.

It would be fair to say that we found lots of fish here and we did not have a single drift without catching or contacting fish. By this time I had a DI5 line on and Bob had a fast intermediate to get down to the fish. They were not choosey and they came to black rabbits, snakes, mosaic hotheads and damsels. The key on that visit was to find the fish and then to stay with them. Right down the wire in the bay and across the front of the burn to the corner and the start of The Rookery was stuffed with fish. From a quiet morning with very little happening to an action packed afternoon it was a great day in great company. Many thanks to Quint Glen and Douglas Fraser for their assistance and information on the day.

Please remember to email me your photographs of you and your fish catches to john.milne53@gmail.com

Fishery Tales.

Lawfield Trout Fishery near Kilmacolm. Up to the weekend 112 fish had been recorded. Notable catches include Joe Currie 14, C. Docherty 10, Alan Jones 9, S. McQueen 6, D. Mair 3, S. Hamilton 3, J. McGee 4 for 9lbs 2oz, G. Murdoch 4 for 8lbs 1oz, J. McGee 4 for 8lbs 10oz and under tuition from John Milne Calvin Wilson had 3 on hoppers. The best flies were CDC`s, yellow owls, buzzers, hoppers, diawl bach, GRHE, damsel, yellow dancer and rabbits. Contact Billy on 01505 874182.

New Howwood near Paisley. The fishery was in good form in the fresh conditions. Notable catches include Bill Prova 9, Paul Gallagher junior 5, James Cunningham 7, Colin Provan 7, Mr. Wood 8, Martin Daly 6, R. Watson junior 3, R. Watson senior 3, Mr. McIvor 4 and Cameron Provan 3 and Thomas McNaughton 3. The best flies were suspender buzzers, hoppers and sedges. Contact Colin on 0777 1690 585

Arran View near Waterside. Another good week at the fishery. Notable catches include B. Dewar 42, C. Cree 18, M. Morrison 14, H. Munro 12, A. McClaine and Matthew 10, Jerry 7, K. Vallance and J. Clark 4, B. Buchan 20, John Milne 9, Jim Telford 4, Dunkie 20 and S. Murphy 15. The best flies were diawl bachs, CDC`s, beetles and hoppers. Contact Anne 01560 700551