Boat bookings: Tel.01877 385 664

Menteith Report

2nd May

6ft Water Temp: 12C Secchi Disk Gateside: 1.2m
Our swallows returned this week. With dazzling brightness and strong easterly/south-east winds prevailing, best catches now appear to be downwind on the western and northern shores. Cold (near frost) night time temperatures are exacerbating the poor clarity conditions as this mixes the water column (usual for the time of year). Clarity is good to excellent in the sheltered eastern drifts but poorer where the wind action is churning the mud and has driven the surface layers from the rest of the Loch.

The competition season is now well underway. On Friday 27th the first of the Civil Service Sports Council Heats took place. The top pairing was Jamie Walker (left) and Jason Whiteford (on right) from Defence Munitions in Beith. They took their fish in International Bay using intermediate lines and tadpole/fritz type lures. The 18 boats taking part landed 97 fish for 231lbs.

In the first of our heats for the SANA National Championships on the 1st May, 29 boats landed 153 fish for 315lbs. The top 3 rods were John Kettles (10 fish), David Chalmers (9 fish) and Derek Pozzi (8 fish). Top tactics on the day were two white boobies on a Di3 line fished in west Gateside and the Malling shore.

Regular Hugh “the Bun” of Bishopbriggs (right) points out that Hotel Bay has also been fishing well (photo courtesy of David Mitchel). Flies that have been working during the week are the cormorant, white cat, booby, Kate McLaren and Blob. In the poorer clarity conditions I am told that the trick is a few quick pulls to start the retrieve followed by slow figure of eighting.

Other Results: Lothian and Borders Police (11 boats) 63 fish for 154lbs, Stanley AC (8 boats) 52 fish for 109lbs, Newmarket AC (6 boats) 21 fish for 50lbs, West of Scotland (5 boats) 15 fish for 35lbs. Thack AC (6 boats) 48 fish for 105lbs and 28 returned. Denny and District (9 boats) 33 fish for 58lbs.

For boat bookings Tel 01877 385664 or email bookingenquires@menteith-fisheries.co.uk. Further information at www.menteith-fisheries.co.uk