Went down yesterday to find that a few more boats have appeared back on their moorings and some familiar faces are about. The weather is also showing some change and even the surface temperature has risen by a degree - 8oC -still cold though.

Only saw about half a dozen or so Balloch boats on my journey down to Boturich and there were only a handfull of boats out from Balmaha. So things are still fairly quiet. However.......

Mid afternoon I passed Terry Martin in Milarrochy Bay and he proudly held up his first fish of the season - a springer of 14lbs taken in Net Bay on a blue and silver rapala. Terry tells me that for a while he thought he had lost his touch but last season had nine fish. He`s certainly off to good start this year!

Kenny McDonald, Dennis McLaughlin and Alan Raeburn reported several small sea trout caught mainly on the north side of Inchlonaig, all carefully returned.

Today I made the annual trip up Ben Lomond to `pay homage to the mountain.` It has become almost a pagan ritual at the start of the season. Gerd Elsweiler accompanied me this year. He drew a blank last season so I hope his day out will bring him some luck. If it doesn`t perhaps he should sacrifice a rapala at the top next year. It was a perfect day with some tremendous views.

I hear that some good detective work and quick thinking prevented the theft of an outboard, boat and trailer from the Balmaha area. The prompt action allowed Central Scotland`s finest to arrest the thieves at Buchanan Smithy. To protect the innocent I won`t mention names - but well done guys!

Attached is a photo of Terry Martin with his fish.

Regards J.R.