Leaving aside local and Clyde steamer history for a moment I have been adding to my film archive library collections with a recent focus upon archive fishing films unsurprisingly perhaps.
This is a small excerpt from a film “Fishing in Scotland” from the 1970’s featuring Scottish fishing champion Peter Anderson as he tours some of Scotland’s most renowned rivers and lochs.
This particular excerpt showcases Loch Lomond with the well-known Balmaha Boatman Jimmy Pearman. We follow Peter Anderson and a very youthful looking Paul Young take on Bill McEwan and “Wee Jamie” dapping for sea trout on The “Big Loch” finishing with a “Drum Up” on the shore to compare catches….. enjoy.
I would for one say that for many an anglers like myself the ultimate idea of heaven and pure enjoyment is to escape and immerse themselves in our beautiful wild and unspoilt landscapes doing what they enjoy most……
With the forecast for the Loch not looking too great I decided to explore the River Fruin a small spate river flowing into Loch Lomond. My angling friend Michael and I considered that the Fruin may be in good shape after recent heavy rainstorms. Arriving before 9.00am the river was still high but running very coloured. Undeterred we spent three or four hours working our way down the various pools and runs trying to cover the areas beneath the overhanging trees and shrubs. Some tricky casting required and yes some of the new “tree ornaments” are mine!
The Beautiful wee River Fruin
Around lunch time and struggling in the very hot conditions which were not helped by being clad in waders and fishing jackets we decided to call it a day. A great few hours on this lovely little river and whilst fish were not forthcoming one area certainly worth another visit. My gratitude to my friend Michael for introducing me to this lovely stretch of water. Thanks also must go to Bob and Donald for so freely sharing their local knowledge and tips on the river bank.
Saturday at last and heading out up the river I am brimming with the normal anticipation and excitement that has been growing during the preceding week further fuelled by reports of Grilse now being landed on the Loch.
See video highlights below! (Best played with Volume UP)
The day already warm with plenty of cloud and a good wee breeze things looked promising as I headed out of the river. I had hardly set the fourth rod when the inside ‘poker’ let rip with at least one other rod also joining in! I had connected with at least one fish and plenty of weed in the shallow water off Balloch Park. Sadly after a few minutes grunting and groaning I realised it was a lively pike of 10-12lb which was duly landed and safely released.
Continuing north along Boturich things had barely settled down when the inside rod buckled with the reel singing as I gathered in the other rods. A good bend in the rod signalled a good fish………alas another pike and not silver! Following some ariel acrobatics a healthy beautifully marked pike again of around 12lb was netted and released returning to the deep once more.
I had barely reset the rods just off the Hydro Station and thoughts of a coffee were dashed when once more the inside ‘poker’ let go. Thinking surely this time I tightened into what proved to be ….yes another pike would you believe it! Fortunately no need to bring it on board as it slipped the hook just beside the boat.
Rods out and reset once more I headed on past Ross Priory with thoughts returning to that cup of coffee. Not a chance as the inside ‘poker’ once again announced a take and I thought ‘fourth time lucky surely!’ . With the boat pitching in the rollers as can be seen I struggled to stand and almost joined the fish at one point before deciding being seated was better option. After a short fight with the fish and the rolling boat another beautifully marked healthy pike of around 12lbs which had fallen once more for the orange Tomic was safely landed and released.
Heading across the Endrick Bank towards Balmaha I finally got that coffee thinking what a busy morning but please please make the next take silver!
The cloud lifted and the sun appeared as I made my way past Balmaha and Milarrochy Bay before turning west toward the secret lost Isle of Buccinch for lunch and a stretch of the legs. Sitting on Buccinch in the now baking heat I reflected upon the events of the morning and admiring the shear beauty and solitude around me.
A change of lure here and there and I was off again heading south towards Inchfad in glorious sunshine and blue skies. After skirting the south shore of Inchmurrin I headed back across to Boturich shore and home past Balloch Park once more. No further contact but all in all another great day on Lomond and another week to plan and eagerly look forward to my next outing.
The forecast had said light rain with a ‘moderate’ wind as I headed out onto the Loch buoyed by the recent heavy rains and several salmon being taken from the River Leven earlier in the week. The heavy leaden skies and relative calm conditions provided dramatic scenes as I headed up along Boturich shores fishing as ‘tight’ to shore as I dared. So tight in fact that I lost a lure to the bottom in one of the bays as well as ‘whacking’ the bottom hard several times which certainly got the nerves jangling as I checked that the outboard was still securely attached!
Fished across the (Endrick) Bank and onwards past Balmaha Milarrochy Bay before heading West towards Buccinch. Foregoing stopping for lunch I decided to fish around the Islands of Inchmurrin, Torrinch, Inchcailloch in the hope of shelter and at picking up a sea trout which had been prevalent for the past few weeks. No success unfortunately aside from a brave wee perch which fell for a 13cm rapala.
With the North Easterly wind increasing I decided to call it a day and crossed or rolled across the Bank where now the wind was creating a bit of a wave.
A good day without anything to show despite some hard fishing and distance covered but enjoyable nevertheless. Next time!
A cold windy day in May heading out once more in pursuit of that, so far elusive, first Lomond Salmon. Despite the low water conditions news of several fish being landed on the River Leven in recent days this only added to the tingle of anticipation that just maybe today I would get off the mark. Buffeted by the wind as I entered the I headed upon the eastern shore past Boturich carefully trying to fish as ‘tight’ to the shoreline as possible. Identifying the usual landmarks and troll lanes proved challenging given the extremely low water levels with huge rock formations now exposed along the shoreline and ‘normal’ depths and distances from shore now changed and unfamiliar.
Crossing Endrick Bank the reel on the inside poker announced a take as the rod bent over and I struggled to stow the other rods quickly. No small feat given the ‘roll’ of the waves that had gradually increased. Turned out to be a beautiful small sea trout of approximately just over a pound. Impressed by just how much of a tusssle these wee fish put up for their size and after several acrobatic leaps it was safely in the net.
Onwards and past Balmaha and Milarrochy Bay before turning westwards to Buccinch for lunch, a stretch of the legs and a change of lures. Leaving Buccinch the wind was now blowing as I headed to over and along the north side of Inchfad before heading around and running between Inchcailloch and Creinch a couple of times.
From there I headed back across Endrick Bank with wind and swell now blowing hard and glad to get a little shelter on the far shoreline. With rain now starting in earnest I headed back down past Ross Priory and Boturich with no further offers. Despite the conditions and the lack of fish a very enjoyable day made all the better for the appearance of a single beautiful wee silver sea trout.
A beautiful Saturday morning and with only a few hours of available fishing time I headed to meet my fishing pal at Levengrove to try for some sport with the Clyde sea trout. Upon arrival we realised that the tide was still relatively high and decided to move down to Cardross by which time the tide should be at a better height.
A cold north westerly wind deceived the bright sunshine and it was decidedly chilly as we waded out to join several other anglers with the same idea. Whilst my preferred method is fly we were spinning with small lures which had proven successful in the past. Despite the difficult cold bright conditions a couple of anglers above and below us hooked into a couple of nice fish, one landed and one decent looking fish lost.
For ourselves then despite our best efforts and various lure combinations then there were no takers other than mussels which I noticed seemed to be actively taking my lure rather than being simply snagged! My first cast produced a sharp tug which I initially mistook for a fish only to find a small bunch of mussels where one had the hook firmly between its shells.
A great wee enjoyable spell despite the absence of any offers and it was just great to get out for some fishing in an otherwise non-fishing weekend. The only downside being that in my case my wading depth destroyed yet another IPhone despite it being in my top pocket of my wading jacket….. judging by the depth I seemed to be in a “hollow” which proved costly in the end. Looking for a waterproof IPhone lol
A beautiful bright sunny morning in early May found me heading out of the river into the Loch, once again in pursuit of that first Lomond salmon. The sunshine disguised the fact that there was a bitterly cold north wind blowing and a good sized wave. My initial plan was to fish up the eastern shore of Boturich and from there across Endrick Bank. However about half way along the Boturich shoreline I decided to abandon this idea and seek some shelter on the southern side of Inchmurrin and from there fish along the islands of Torrinch and Inchcailloch as a start.
A warm misty Easter Saturday morning with weather forecasting 24 degrees finds me heading up the river full of my normal anticipation and excitement at what awaits. Just add Salmon and mix!
A light hearted account of my Angling exploits, successes, failures and learnings amidst Scotland's beautiful Rivers and Lochs
The Dogged Angler 