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Club Championship finale - Lake of Menteith - 20 August 2009
The final competitive outing of the season saw Adam Park win the Club Championship in a dramatic last half hour on the Lake of Menteith. Congratulations on a fine season, Adam.
The day began in pouring rain as anglers jostled for position - in the lodge while trying to get waterproofs on! The day saw a right good mixture of weather conditions, with a mainly blustery wind dropping off to nothing at times, finishing off with a good blow and with often leaden skies giving anglers a good drenching every so often.
Gateside Bay was popular early on (but we saw Adam settling in to Reedy Bay on the way!) with Paul then David taking early fish. John moved a fish with his second cast, but that was to prove fateful, as it was his sole interest all day. These fish can be fickle. A move to Plantation/Mallin area about 11 was the trigger for the wind to rise, and a quick chat with Keith found him with a couple of fish, but Sam struggling. Noon, and a change to the Di3 brought David a couple more fish, and Keith took another off the small island. The more cooperative fish seemed to be in open water, but didn't seem too fussed about what fly they took, given the variety of killing flies mentioned later in the day. Meanwhile Adam and Eric were spied fishing the rookery shore and Tom and Billy were searching out pike in the Heronry and taking trout from a number of locations. Gilbert and Sidney were having a 'relaxed' day in the Butts area.
Keith and David completed their contributions to the later drama in mid afternoon and, in a rising wind, David and John joined Alex on the shore. Alex decided to enforce a 4pm finish on himself, but didn't seem too worried when John broke the news that he could have stayed out for another hour! As the boats came there were many tales of dram(a) and anguish, lost fish, and in one case catching a tree as the boat came in. The name of the pike poacher will only be revealed at the annual dinner.
Paul was notable by his absence at about 4.50, Adam was calculating the options and, what was known, was that Keith and David had 5 fish each, Adam had 3, including a good blue taken in the last 20 minutes in Hotel Bay, Eric had 3, Tom has 3, Alex had 3 and there were some 1s and 2s. Paul arrived and the weigh in started, with Adam setting the mark for 3 fish at 6lb 12oz. Keith won with 10lb 1oz, David took 3 points with 9lb 4 oz, and Paul finally weighed in 4 fish for 7lb and 4oz. The other 3 fish weights (Tom, Eric and Alex) could not deny Adam the point he needed to claim the Club Championship by half a point, and by just 5 oz on the final day, and in the last half hour at that! Well done indeed!
The result was:
Keith - 5 fish for 10lb and 1oz
David - 5 fish for 9lb 5oz
Paul - 4 fish for 7lb 4oz
Adam - 3 fish for 6lb 12oz
Final Club Championship Positions:
Adam 16.5 points
Paul 16 points
Ian 16 points
Keith 16 points
David 12 points
Tom 7 points
Carron Lives up to Expectations!
Anyway, to the fishing. Ian was into a fish early, but the fish didn't hang on long enough to get to the net, Paul and Tom were struggling when spied around 11am, David picked up a fish on a GH damsel around 11.30, but no rods were spied bending until we saw Adam and Alistair near the Carron Dam around 3pm. Adam quickly bagged his 4th and 5th fish on his secret line and the ubiquitous Yellow Dancer. This led to frantic changes of line to get something similar on, but to no avail. Keith even sneaked, sorry drifted, into Adam's area to eke out a trout, but it was not to be and he was to remain fishless. There were a fair number of wee brownies caught during the day with all being returned bar 3. Eric was to record 3 fish for 1lb 5 oz, all brownies. I wasn't going to mention this, but seeing as Gilbert got his name in lights earlier this season for a 7 oz brown, I thought it only fair to mention Eric. 1lb 5 oz divided by 3 fish = 7oz per fish. Eric was in the boat with Gilbert. Coincidence? You decide (fade out with X files music in the background....)
The club caught 15 fish with the result as follows:
1st - Adam 5 fish for 10lb 3oz
2nd - Tom 2 fish for 4 lb 5oz
3rd - Billy 2 fish for 3lb 10oz
4th - David 1 fish for 2lb 9oz
Sun and Fish a-plenty at the Lake
The day started with Sidney admiring his new seat (picture - left), courtesy of Gilbert and upholstered in Airborne colours. (My spies tell me that Sidney was nearly airborne himself during the day when the back of the seat met with an 'all-up-weight' technical hitch!) However, with some cloud cover it looked like there would be a great chance of claiming some fish in the morning session. So it proved - for some! Willie was right in early on near Shear Point and his guest Greg broke his LoM duck in the morning. Sam was seen taking a fish in Reedy Bay and Paul, Ian and Tom all found fish early on in Hotel Bay. Keith and Richard went for a tour of the lake, finding fish wherever they went, on DB, muddler and Kate McLaren, but seemed to do best near Katies Brae. Adam and Sam were seen heading out of International Bay around midday, only to return to the beach before 5pm with 5 fish each. An unkind reporter suggested they had been at Swanswater! Meanwhile, the cat booby, buzzers and cormorants continued to do some damage in Hotel Bay, with Paul's rod bending regularly, Ian following suit and Tom bagging up in good time. Sidney, Eric and David struggled in the same area, but a change to the jamaican cormorant helped David sort out a few fish around 2pm. As the boats came in it was obvious that we had a bumper crop and the total ended up at 51 fish for 106lb 10 oz, with 9 limit bags and a goodly number of fish returned, or being subject to long range C&R. Full result on the competitions page, but well done the top 4, Ian, Adam, Willie and Keith. Greg would have been 3rd, if he had been a club member!
Carron Valley Reservoir - 13 Jun 09
Keith - 5 fish for 9lb 14 oz
Paul - 4 fish for 7lb 13oz
Richard - 3 fish for 6lb 7oz
Ian - 3 fish for 6lb 0oz
Tom also caught 3 fish, but missed a point. Good angling, all you guys.
Frandy Reservoir - 30 May 2009
Many different tactics were adopted at the off, with Ian and Gilbert fishing wee dries at the west end of the reservoir, some uncouth lout fishing a DI 7 and blobs at the dam end, and lots of others using many methods in between. The balletic fly was in evidence early on and Adam started early with a couple of fish to the slow fast sink line of his. (If it is combined with the use of the dancing fly would it be slow, slow, quick quick, slow?) Tom and David both lost fish on the first drift and Richard managed an early fish on a bibio, although the writer does observe that it was landed at some length, with the ghillie doing a bit of judicious work on the engine to keep the boat afloat during the procedure. The Richard/Paul/David/Tom/Sidney/Sam lunch party on the jetty could only muster 1 fish between the six anglers, and, having decided to take the west end of the reservoir by overwhelming naval power, (3 boats) and talking to Keith and Ian on the way, it became obvious that we were well behind the catching drag curve.
Things looked up for some in the afternoon, with the UV cruncher doing the business, the YD continuing to catch fish and a variety of other flies catching. In the end, 16 rods caught 36 fish for 75 lb and the result was as follows:
Ian - 6 fish for 12 lb 10 oz
Keith - 6 fish for 12 lb 2 oz
Gilbert - 4 fish for 7lb
Adam - 3 fish for 7lb
Council Outing - 26 May 2009
Delaying tactics were the order of the day, with a late decision to have coffee before we ventured out into the elements for a couple of driftes before lunch. Well, I say drifts, if you can call being wheeched accross the surface of the water at a great rate of knots 'a drift'. Keith found a fish in the morning, as did Gilbert, but David, Tom, Duncan and Sidney were blank. Luch was supplemented with some Monkey Shoulder and some of Mr Lamond's excellent home made wine. Another couple of drifts in the teeth of the afternoon gale saw Keith pick up another couple of fish to win the competition handsomely, Sidney and David also saved a blank with one each, and Gilbert's fish from the morning hit the scale at precisely 7 oz, after a re-weigh!
Despite the unkind weather a good time was had by all and the Swan at Eaglesham did us proud with a lovely evening meal, even though Duncan did not get any soup. Our thanks are due to our hosts at Dunwhan.
Sidney wins at the Lake
Sidney won a close competition at the Lake of Menteith today, 12 May 2009. 12 anglers practised conservation in catching 11 fish in difficult conditions. Bright sun and a strong South Easterly wind were unwelcome companions, but the B &B anglers really just didn't nail it on a day where there were some decent returns, particularly from the reedy point area. Sidney took his fish late in that area, was coy about the patterns involved, but word was the soldier palmer was not far from the action. A couple of club members found success with the cat or cat booby, another with the secret 2 tone blob and there was even a fish on a size 12 green DB. Full result on the results page.
Competition Results and Reports
Lake of Menteith - 4 Apr 09
It was not an easy day for most on the Lake. Keith found the fish in Lochend, doing well on a green nymph and Paul bagged up just after lunch on buzzers in the Hotel bay area. Robert found fish on the north shore and the Club returned 34 fish (63lb and 1oz) for 16 rods. It was a cold day, with a blustery westerly wind which did not encourage the fish or the anglers. Result:
Keith - 5 fish for 9lb 13 oz
Paul - 5 fish for 8lb 4 oz
Robert - 4 fish for 8lb 2 oz
David - 4 fish for 7lb 2 oz
Frandy Reservoir - 18 Apr 09
It was very cold indeed as the 14 anglers (and one boatman) prepared for a day on the water. The easterly wind did not bode too well, but club members found fish from the off. The bay to the left of the lodge on the south shore produced fish for many, to a variety of flies, from nomads, to boobies, and a variety of more traditional offerings. The weather warmed up consideably in the afternoon, with the Club Sec taking fish on a size 14 CDC. Robert took 4 fish, matched by his apprentice (for a better weight)! The total catch was 48 fish for 107lb and 4 oz. Result:
David - 6 fish for 13lb and 8oz
Ian - 6 fish for 12lb and 8oz
Paul - 6 fish for 12lb
Sam - 6 fish for 11lb and 13oz
Butterstone - 2 May 09
Conditions were perfect as the very quiet electric motors powered the boats from the harbour, taling the BBAC 11 rods in search of trout. The boats were spread around the water and those who went to the top of the water found fish early. Paul did well on buzzers, again, and Alex and Tom found fish to the left of the gap, as you look from the lodge. Other boats struggled to find fish as the Clun returned 33 fish for 73lb and 6oz, at a rod average of exactly 3. The 4 blanks were matched by 4 limits, and, again, avariety of flies did the damage, from the aforementioned buzzers, to dancers, snatchers and DBs. Adam and David report 1 treble hookup and 2 double hookups, with only the the treble eventually returning 2 fish. Result:
Adam - 6 fish for 14lb 12 oz
Paul - 6 fish for 13lb 4 oz
Tom - 6 fish for 13lb 3 oz
Alex - 6 fish for 12lb 4 oz
Lake of Menteith - 12 May 09
Sidney won a close competition at the Lake of Menteith on 12 May 2009. 12 anglers practiced conservation in catching 11 fish in difficult conditions. Bright sun and a strong South Easterly wind were unwelcome companions, but the B &B anglers really just didn't nail it on a day where there were some decent returns, particularly from the reedy point area. Sidney took his fish late in the day in that area, was coy about the patterns involved, but word was the soldier palmer was not far from the action. A couple of club members found success with the cat or cat booby, another with the secret 2 tone blob and there was even a fish on a size 12 green DB. 12 rods captured 11 fish for 20lb and 15 oz. Result:
Sidney - 2 fish for 3lb 14 oz
David - 2 fish for 3 lb 11 oz
Tom - 2 fish for 3 lb 9 oz
Adam - 1 fish for 2lb 3 oz
Frandy Reservoir - 30 May 09
Our 2nd visit to Frandy for the season resulted in a rod average of 2.25 and an excellent turnout of 16 anglers. Hopes were high as we approached the reservoir that the cloud cover would las an hour or two, but it was not to be and our 8 boats left the dock with a huge yellow orb spoiling an otherwise blue sky. It was desined to remain so all day.
Many different tactics were adopted at the off, with Ian and Gilbert fishing wee dries at the west end of the reservoir, some uncouth lout fishing a DI 7 and blobs at the dam end, and lots of others using many methods in between. The balletic fly was in evidence early on and Adam started early with a couple of fish to the slow fast sink line of his. (If it is combined with the use of the dancing fly would it be slow, slow, quick quick, slow?) Tom and David both lost fish on the first drift and Richard managed an early fish on a bibio, although the writer does observe that it was landed at some length, with the ghillie doing a bit of judicious work on the engine to keep the boat afloat during the procedure. The Richard/Paul/David/Tom/Sidney/Sam lunch party on the jetty could only muster 1 fish between the six anglers, and, having decided to take the west end of the reservoir by overwhelming naval power, (3 boats) and talking to Keith and Ian on the way, it became obvious that we were well behind the catching drag curve.
Things looked up for some in the afternoon, with the UV cruncher doing the business, the YD continuing to catch fish and a variety of other flies catching. In the end, 16 rods caught 36 fish for 75 lb and the result was as follows:
Ian - 6 fish for 12 lb 10 oz
Keith - 6 fish for 12 lb 2 oz
Gilbert - 4 fish for 7lb
Adam - 3 fish for 7lb
Carron Valley Reservoir - 13 Jun 09
The 6th competition of the season was fished at Carron on 13 June. The weather looked fine, some light winds, not too much sun and pleasantly warm. Dries were suggested by Frazer at the fishery, but I think Ian was the only angler brave enough to try them from the outset. A variety of floaters and intermediates were in evidence as we set out and fish were moving in the area of the boat dock and along the dam. Predictably, a goodly number of boats tried to entice these fish but I did not see a single rod bend in the 40 minutes I spent there, in the excellent company of Richard for the day. We moved up the north shore and, having seen a fish or two move, stopped at the first bay after the line of buoys. We both moved fish and I lost one on a green tailed Kate but could not get anything into the boat. This is now embarrasing, because I can't remember where Richard took his first fish, but take one he did - I think it was east of Gull Island (why is it called Gull Island?) It was on a Kate McLaren, but with a regular tail. We both moved the odd fish, but nothing more to the boat until about 12 o'clock when I took a fish on the same green taled Kate. Richard was worrying the population of resident browns, and returned a couple of them, lost a rainbow when it broke his (6lb!) cast (that fish was on a butcher) and he subsequently took 2 more in the afternoon, one on the YD and another on the Kate. We saw only Keith and Tom during the day, talking to them around 2pm, when they had 6 fish in the boat. Where were the rest of you? I know Ian was heading for Carron Bay and assume he got there! In the end, the 12 anglers from the B&B weighed in 24 trout for a rod average of exactly 2. The result was:
Keith - 5 fish for 9lb 14 oz
Paul - 4 fish for 7lb 13oz
Richard - 3 fish for 6lb 7oz
Ian - 3 fish for 6lb 0oz
Tom also caught 3 fish, but missed a point. Good angling, all you guys.
Lake of Menteith - 25 Jun 09
Bothwell and Blantyre anglers excelled themselves at the Lake of Menteith on 25 June 2009. 12 anglers took 9 limit bags in an unprecedented display of skill, cunning, perseverance and fly selection.
There was some early cloud cover and it looked like there would be a great chance of claiming some fish in the morning session. So it proved - for some! Willie was right in early on near Shear Point and his guest Greg broke his LoM duck in the morning. Sam was seen taking a fish in Reedy Bay and Paul, Ian and Tom all found fish early on in Hotel Bay. Keith and Richard went for a tour of the lake, finding fish wherever they went, on DB, muddler and Kate McLaren, but seemed to do best near Katies Brae. Adam and Sam were seen heading out of International Bay around midday, only to return to the beach before 5pm with 5 fish each. An unkind reporter suggested they had been at Swanswater! Meanwhile, the cat booby, buzzers and cormorants continued to do some damage in Hotel Bay, with Paul's rod bending regularly, Ian following suit and Tom bagging up in good time. Sidney, Eric and David struggled in the same area, but a change to the jamaican cormorant helped David sort out a few fish around 2pm. As the boats came in it was obvious that we had a bumper crop and the total ended up at 51 fish for 106lb 10 oz, with 9 limit bags and a goodly number of fish returned, or being subject to long range C&R. The result was:
Ian - 5 Fish for 11lb and 9 oz
Adam - 5 Fish for 11lb and 0 oz
Willie - 5 Fish for 10lb and 8 oz
Keith - 5 Fish for 10lb and 6 oz
Paul, Tom, Richard, Greg and David also caught (at least!) 5 fish
Butterstone – 11 July 09
The club arrived to a flat calm, good high cloud cover with plenty of fish to be seen rising out from the harbour to the deeps and down towards cottage bay. Our 6 and half boats spread out around the loch with most starting off from the shelf to three trees and down into cottage bay. Ian picked up fish early on the washing line on the YD booby and various cormorants. Paul also fished the midge tip picking up a couple off the shelf to a booby buzzer combination. The nice southerly breeze appeared and most boats drifted for the morning which was a welcome change for Butterstone. By the time Paul arrived down at cottage bay Ian had 4 and Adam was also doing well to YD, again plus Bibio and Kate getting a mention. Paul changed to his favourite fly of the moment the black UV cruncher and steadily picked up fish. Ian, Adam and Paul all bagged up by lunch time. Other boats struggled to find fish especially after lunch when the sun really came out and the wind strengthened. The Club returned 33 fish for 69lb and 2oz. There were no blanks and 3 limits. Result:
Ian - 6 fish for 12lb 9 oz
Paul - 6 fish for 12lb 6 oz
Adam - 6 fish for 12lb 3 oz
Billy - 3 fish for 6lb 11 oz
Carron Valley Reservoir - 25 Jul 09
The 9th Club outing of the season was held at Carron Valley Reservoir on Saturday 25 Jul 09. The day seemed ideal for angling, perhaps a wee bright if you are being picky, but not bad none the less. The boats disappeared off at the apponted time to the numerous bays, dams and burnmouths that make up carron. Well, most of the boats did. David, Wille and guest Jock left a bit later - Jock and Willie having been 'held up on the road'. What actually happened was that they went for a fat boy breakfast at Stirling Services, only to find that the promised 'fast food' was no such thing. What is really worrying is that a Catering Professional (Jock is a chef) thought they could get an acceptable meal at a Little Chef! Wille did note that it made a change for David to be late in getting OUT! (Good memory)
Anyway, to the fishing. Ian was into a fish early, but the fish didn't hang on long enough to get to the net, Paul and Tom were struggling when spied around 11am, David picked up a fish on a GH damsel around 11.30, but no rods were spied bending until we saw Adam and Alistair near the Carron Dam around 3pm. Adam quickly bagged his 4th and 5th fish on his secret line and the ubiquitous Yellow Dancer. This led to frantic changes of line to get something similar on, but to no avail. Keith even sneaked, sorry drifted, into Adam's area to eke out a trout, but it was not to be and he was to remain fishless. There were a fair number of wee brownies caught during the day with all being returned bar 3. Eric was to record 3 fish for 1lb 5 oz, all brownies. I wasn't going to mention this, but seeing as Gilbert got his name in lights earlier this season for a 7 oz brown, I thought it only fair to mention Eric. 1lb 5 oz divided by 3 fish = 7oz per fish. Eric was in the boat with Gilbert. Coincidence? You decide (fade out with X files music in the background....)
The club caught 15 fish with the result as follows:
1st - Adam 5 fish for 10lb 3oz
2nd - Tom 2 fish for 4 lb 5oz
3rd - Billy 2 fish for 3lb 10oz
4th - David 1 fish for 2lb 9oz
Lake of Menteith - 20 Aug 09
The final competitive outing of the season saw Adam Park win the Club Championship in a dramatic last half hour on the Lake of Menteith. Congratulations on a fine season, Adam.
The day began in pouring rain as anglers jostled for position - in the lodge while trying to get waterproofs on! The day saw a right good mixture of weather conditions, with a mainly blustery wind dropping off to nothing at times, finishing off with a good blow and with often leaden skies giving anglers a good drenching every so often.
Gateside Bay was popular early on (but we saw Adam settling in to Reedy Bay on the way!) with Paul then David taking early fish. John moved a fish with his second cast, but that was to prove fateful, as it was his sole interest all day. These fish can be fickle. A move to Plantation/Mallin area about 11 was the trigger for the wind to rise, and a quick chat with Keith found him with a couple of fish, but Sam struggling. Noon, and a change to the Di3 brought David a couple more fish, and Keith took another off the small island. The more cooperative fish seemed to be in open water, but didn't seem too fussed about what fly they took, given the variety of killing flies mentioned later in the day. Meanwhile Adam and Eric were spied fishing the rookery shore and Tom and Billy were searching out pike in the Heronry and taking trout from a number of locations. Gilbert and Sidney were having a 'relaxed' day in the Butts area.
Keith and David completed their contributions to the later drama in mid afternoon and, in a rising wind, David and John joined Alex on the shore. Alex decided to enforce a 4pm finish on himself, but didn't seem too worried when John broke the news that he could have stayed out for another hour! As the boats came there were many tales of dram(a) and anguish, lost fish, and in one case catching a tree as the boat came in. The name of the pike poacher will only be revealed at the annual dinner.
Paul was notable by his absence at about 4.50, Adam was calculating the options and, what was known, was that Keith and David had 5 fish each, Adam had 3, including a good blue taken in the last 20 minutes in Hotel Bay, Eric had 3, Tom has 3, Alex had 3 and there were some 1s and 2s. Paul arrived and the weigh in started, with Adam setting the mark for 3 fish at 6lb 12oz. Keith won with 10lb 1oz, David took 3 points with 9lb 4 oz, and Paul finally weighed in 4 fish for 7lb and 4oz. The other 3 fish weights (Tom, Eric and Alex) could not deny Adam the point he needed to claim the Club Championship by half a point, and by just 5 oz on the final day, and in the last half hour at that! Well done indeed!
The result was:
Keith - 5 fish for 10lb and 1oz
David - 5 fish for 9lb 5oz
Paul - 4 fish for 7lb 4oz
Adam - 3 fish for 6lb 12oz
Final Club Championship Positions:
Adam 16.5 points
Paul 16 points
Ian 16 points
Keith 16 points
David 12 points
Tom 7 points