Fraser on Fishing: Little joy at Lake of Menteith

Duncan McCallum from Renton with a magnificent 13lb 8oz brown trout (C&R) taken at Woodburn Fishery.

A three-man team event which is well patronized throughout Scotland was a full house on this occasion.

On arrival, the water had been hammered over the previous two days with numerous competitions and torrential rain all day. As the fish were on the surface – according to the anglers who were just coming in – I went with the floating line. Various tactics were reported from pulling boobies and diawl Bachs to dries fished static. I went with booby on the point and two black daiwl Bachs and made for the cages. I was pointed to Sam’s point and the rookery but, as the majority of boats motored through it, decided to carry on up to the cages.

Taking a drift down past the rope, several fish were showing but took no notice of my flies. A quick change over to the dries brought an immediate response with several fish coming up and nosing my point fly. A few casts later, I connected but it could not have been well enough hooked as it came free. Next time a 2lb+ took my point fly off the surface but took an eternity to come to the net. Several minutes later, a very big fish took the fly but could not hold it as it straightened the hook and was off. For an hour or so more I turned as many fish but no lock on. Then the heavy rain descended and that was to be it for the night. Unfortunately on this occasion we did not qualify on a very difficult and long night.

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