Crossed the Drymen Bridge on Friday morning to see that the Endrick was very high after the tropical thunderstorm the previous evening. By the amount of water still lying in the fields it must have burst it’s banks overnight. Not good for any fry trying to get established. Arrived at Balmaha to find that the level of the Loch was well up and the water was like chocolate soup or something…..

My intention had been to concentrate on the Bank but seeing that this was not such a good idea headed over to the west side of the loch where the water was still fairly clear. In Auchentullich Bay a small sea trout took the poker and was carefully returned. Approaching Scott’s jetty the outside striker weight was suddenly almost launched over the side by a violent take. Fish on!! After a very spirited fight a spring salmon of 8lbs was netted. My recent trip to pay homage to ‘The Ben’ had not been in vain. An orange and gold rapala had done the deed. I lunched on Inchmoan with Gerd Elsweiler who was so pleased to see what a salmon looked like again he insisted in having his photo taken with it. Gerd has recently joined the ranks of the Loch’s retired crimefighters and hopes to spend more time in pursuit of other quarry.

Saturday saw the Bank still very dirty so the same plan was adopted to no effect though I did see fish head and tailing out towards the McDougall Bank. On returning to Balmaha I learned that Ewan McGrandle had taken a fish of around the 10lb mark off Inchfad and there was an unconfirmed report that another boat had a fish in the same vicinity. Inchfad always seems to hold early fish particularly on the north shore.

A fisher (who shall remain anonymous) approached me with a mysterious tale. Apparently that morning, over at the golf course shore, he had hooked and played a sea trout of some 3-4lbs. The fish had been out of the water a few times but as he brought it to the net found that it had changed into a discarded rucksack which he duly unhooked and returned. Does he not realise that our sea trout are masters of disguise! I have been reading up on the history of the Loch and note that in the early nineteenth century Inchcruin was used for confining the insane. Perhaps such a sanctuary should be re-introduced for weary anglers.

I received an E-Mail that last weekend Gareth Bourhill had netted and returned a brown trout of 4lb+ at the west shore of Inchtavannach. We don’t hear much of big brownies being caught on the Loch so perhaps that’s something to concentrate on during slack periods. I know that some Loch fishers deploy downriggers and have a degree of success with salmon and sea trout but big ferox must surely be there too.

If you have any news, photos or other bizarre stories that you would like included please E –Mail them to me. Remember it can be in confidence!!!.

I was unable to get a photo of Ewan McGrandle’s fish so I have attached one of the first fish mentioned and captor.

Regards J.R.