I was drawn with Derek Sibson a Scottish international and competitor in many of the team competitions around the UK. I was looking forward to a few fish.
As we set off from the boat dock it is always mayhem. The boats need to be pushed off the shore backwards wrestling with strange and temperamental motors. Simon and Ralph skillfully avoid a collision.
It was cloudy and flat calm. At least we were half way to some decent weather and hopefully they would be wanting the naturals. I started on a slow glass so that i didn't disturb the surface but still kept in the top two foot. I had a black hopper booby on the point, a black cruncher on the middle and a fiery brown hopper on the top dropper.
We started just off the dead tree in international bay and I took a fish really early on my black cruncher and then took another but lost it at the net, that was going to make it a harder day than I had planned. Derek was fishing the same line but was on lures including blobs, boobies and cormorants. Two different styles but as the day was to go on his would be more productive. He put a cat booby on the point and never looked back. As we slowly drifted into the corner the fish started to chase the booby or cormorants across the top, it was great fishing - even for me watching. I held on to his shirt tails and we even had a double hook up - good job we took two nets! Just before lunch we were in the corner of the bay and two fish in 3 or 4 casts and Derek had his 5 fish limit - Good Angling!
We headed back to the lodge for lunch and a catch up with the others who had also managed to find a few fish. The most fish seemed to have been caught between hotel bay and the cages. Our catches were not better but perhaps more consistent than the Scots so it was all in the balance. Phil had a great morning with 4 fish as had Paul Williams but Mike had only one, plenty of time yet!
The afternoon was altogether different as by now the sun had burnt off the cloud and it was clear and flat calm, a grueller! I persevered for the afternoon around the dead tree. I managed one fish fairly quick and just waiting for the last. After takes and lost fish it was one of those days.
Derek on the other hand showed his class and every now and again got motivated to fish rather that taking phone calls and every time caught fish on whatever he set up, very impressive,
We decided to move to loch end and as the ripple got up a little the fish were moving. RIGHT THAT's IT! On went three cormorants and within a few minutes my last fish was in the net, Phew!
As the boats started to arrive back at the lodge it was closer than I had thought and all the boats were within one fish of each other but Derek Purves and John Tulloch had bagged up and I guessed this might make the difference. I don't think even BOB THE BUILDER could fix it for Barclays to win today!!
We did indeed get pipped by 40 fish to 46 or 94lb to 103lb. Derek and John did make a difference but also ably supported with limits from Kenny, Mikey and Derek. The Jammy git Mike himself managed to take the best boat trophy with Kenny after bagging up in the afternoon. Derek purves presents the trophy.
We finished off the trip with a visit to Balmaha on the banks of Loch Lomond and to sus out maybe another days fishing in the future.
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