The season continues.....May already! I was contacted recently by Colin McCrory who is off to Ireland shortly with some other fishers on their annual outing for the Mayfly. I hope you have a good trip. Small hatches of Mayfly appear on the Loch usually about July. However none of our resident species appear to pay them much attention. A different story with the Irish Lough trout I suspect.

Have been out a couple of times recently and caught several sea trout on the troll. Most fish were in the 1lb class but a well mended kelt caught on the Bank was over the 4lb. Today sees the start of sea trout season on the system.

It was quiet on the Loch for a bank holiday no doubt due to the continuing cold, changeable weather. I did see one or two regular faces though.........

In the afternoon I passed Frank Donnelly on the Bank. In response to my clockwise, wrist action signal Frank held up his first fish of the season.... a spring salmon weighing in at 9lb 12oz. caught at the mouth of the Endrick on a black and gold rapala. Frank seems to get an early fish every year and plenty during the season. I`m sure he scares them into submission with that Pictish warpaint he applies to his face before he sets sail (zinc oxide cream to help protect against the elements he says) - Well done Frank!

Met Kenny McDonald who tells me he caught a good sized powan in Manse Bay on a rapala - keep off that malt whisky Kenny. Haven`t heard many reports of powan being caught recently though did catch one myself on the fly a few seasonds ago.

Back at Balmaha Robbie Brown was trying to get himself warmed up again, complaining about the climate. `Nae fish just cold fingers`. I did notice from my fish finder display that the surface temperature is now 10oC. I can`t understand how the water temperature can be warmer than the air temperature. This fish finder, which certainly doesn`t do what it says on the tin, also incorporates a speedometer which reckons my regular trolling speed to be 20 mph! modern technology - which brings me to another subject.

The LLAIA home page has details of the meeting to held on Satrurday 13th May between 11am and 1pm at Balloch Public Car Park regarding speed restrictions on the Loch. The committee have campaigned for some time to help end the current free for all on the Loch. If you are available please attend and show your support.

Attached is a photo of Frank Donnelly with his fish.