Fraser on Fishing: Temple earns high praise

One of the best things I have ever done is take a share in a syndicate boat on Gladhouse near Temple.
Neill Barrett of Edinburgh - main sponsor for team Scotland - with a 2lb rainbow taken on a CDC buzzer on Lake of MenteithNeill Barrett of Edinburgh - main sponsor for team Scotland - with a 2lb rainbow taken on a CDC buzzer on Lake of Menteith
Neill Barrett of Edinburgh - main sponsor for team Scotland - with a 2lb rainbow taken on a CDC buzzer on Lake of Menteith

A natural wild brown trout water with some stunning scenery and quality fishing. Heading out mid-week it was very quiet and my expectations were high. The water is big with many prominent features and unless you happen to know the water well or have some good information, it’s a case of searching and finding. Such was my case and I fished for 20 minutes in each area until I found feeding fish or saw a rise.

When fishing for brownies I never use anything else but a floating line and a team of wet flies. I went with a Bibio, Kate McLaren and a Black Pennel on a 20 leader. It took a good hour to find a pocket of fish but when I did it was manic with double hook ups being the norm. However, they were just under size or just over the mark and were safely returned. I usually return all my brown trout unless I want one for the pot but on this occasion all were being returned.

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Taking short to mid drifts in to shore with longish casts it was great to see the fish coming up blind or chasing the tail fly. By lunch time I had 12 to the boat plus countless offers and chases. Pound for pound these wild fish are better scrappers than any rainbows and that is why I prefer them to any stock fish. What variations are in these beautiful fish: some are dark, some are almost silver in colour and others are a beautiful buttercup yellow. But they all have superb fighting qualities from the smallest to my best on the day at just under a pound.

• Fraser on Fishing is sponsored by 7 Plus 7 Construction Ltd. For more info, go to www.7plus7.co.uk