Tel/Fax 01877 385664

www.menteith-fisheries.co.uk

Lake of Menteith 27th March

6ft Water Temperature 2.0C , Clarity (Secchi disc) 1.9.m.

Opening Day catches at the Lake were not surprisingly drastically

reduced by the cold weather and water temperatures. In all the 35
boats landed a respectable 85 fish for 219lbs and returned 65.
Compare this to last year when 487 fish were caught. What a
difference a year makes – last year it was bizarrely warm, this year the
reverse, with water temperatures 5C down on the previous year. The
only improvement on last year was the mean weight of the catches and
this was down to the large number of larger overwintered specimens
in the baskets. The weight of this year’s stockies is actually down
relative to last – another function of the cold weather. Catches, cold
fingers and feet aside, we were lucky to be able to open at all –
considering the high winds, which were gusting from the east.

The fishing season and new building extension was opened in great
fashion by renowned local singer and dog rescuer Fra Wood (left)
from Kinlochard who indulged us with a song about Rowing along on
the Lake of Menteith, to the tune of “Riding along on the Crest of a
Wave”. Husband Councillor Fergus Wood then gave some details
about the world angling competition that the council is planning for
next summer.

Thanks to Stewart the Piper who played the boats out superbly
(pictured below left) and to National Park Police Officer Paul Barr
who is responsible for most of the photographs. Not to mention all the
anglers who braved the cold weather before enjoying the hog roast.

I think there were bigger
fish caught, but the one
pictured right at 5lb
caught by Bill Proven
from paisley on a wee