What I have got to say in this diary issue must be kept a secret, or everyone will be flocking to Loch Lomond and reaping the benefit of some good runs of fish, so you’ve been warned.

For a week now the barrage gates have been open and the height of water in the Loch is gradually dropping. The bonus of the gates being open is the fact that it’s allowing the fish a clean run through into the loch, as can be proven by the fact of the number of Sea Liced fish being caught.

I don’t have all the names to hand but on the score sheet this week are Peter Lyons, yet again, with a 12lb Salmon caught up at Inversnaid, Davie King who has been notching up quite a tally, a couple of Grilse and a Salmon to date. There was one angler who’s name I have forgotten got three fish last Monday (5th July) and then there was my old work mate Gerd Eilsweiler who took his lovely wife Helen out for a days fishing, and with her instruction and tuition he caught a sea liced beauty of 6lbs up at Eagle beach. Ernie East was out with Kate his partner in crime and lost one at the Tarbet view point but through womanly instinct Kate instructed Ernie where to go and her persistance paid off catching a fresh run 10lb Salmon. Not to be outdone, Geordie Malloch, his camping buddy was seen out in the middle of the Loch at 10.30pm. On closer inspection by Ernie who was concerned that something awful had happened, was pleased to see that he was playing a fish, which weighed in at 11lbs. Maybe there’s something in women out in boats angling, aye, angling for something. Continuing with the list of anglers who have opened their account is John Costello who on Saturday past (10th) landed a nice fish at Ptarmigan Point. On that same day John Brice caught a fresh run 8lb fish at Taylor’s Rock.

Speaking about John’s fish, when I saw him at Rowhoich, I was ashore having a drum up with another couple of anglers when John came sailing along, not so much as the slightest of smirks on his face and certainly not indicating he had anything on the floorboards other than a couple of empty bottles of juice and scraps of used nylon. In he came and joined the rest of us ashore. It was only when asked if he had seen anything did he nonchalantly point in the direction of his boat and say “There’s one in there” as if it’s an every day occurrence. Not only that, but he and his boat partner, Scott, produced a couple of T boned steaks the size Desperate Dan would be proud of, in fact they were far too big for their frying pan and indeed were hanging over the sides. To add insult to all of this was the fact they never had plates or even cutlery to eat them with and had to borrow some from the group, who were by now watering at the mouth, both with the smell of the steaks and with the sight of his magnificent fish. So you have been warned John Brice, give us more facial indication of having caught something to be proud of.

Whilst on the subject of drum up’s Willie Caldwell, who’s well known for being miserable and basic when it comes to stopping for lunch. Willie would turn up with 4 slices of brown bread and 2 bananas and that would do him unless he managed to scrounge some scraps from others who felt sorry for him. Well, Willie was one of the group who had been drumming up that day, only on this occasion he was accompanied with his ‘burd,’ Cath, a lovely lass, who has obviously felt sorry for Willie and is desperately trying to educate him in the art of opening out fully his purse and taking paper money from it to make life a bit more enjoyable and pleasurable. Anyway, for someone who only ate yellow steaks(banana’s) he was wanting to know where the onions and tomato’s were for his meat filled sandwiches that Cath was preparing. What a change in a person.

Back to the ever increasing list of anglers who have something to shout about. Jimmy Raeburn, yet again got a 5lb Grilse plastered with sea lice yesterday (Monday 12th) as did Duncan Ferguson both were caught at Ptarmigan.

So with all the runs of fish coming in with each tide I’m heading back up the Loch before the crowds arrive. Tight Lines and Bent rods.

In the picture below is yours truly with a July caught 14lb Salmon which was covered in sea lice.