It doesn’t seem like five months since New Year and more unbelievable is the fact that it’s almost five years since my last post…..how time flies…. I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy an annual pilgrimage to the top of Ben Lomond, preferably before the season starts. The last time I was up there it was a warm day in July and the clegs were out looking for blood. On 2nd February, good friend and fellow boatman Gerd Elsweiler and I set out from the car park at Rowardennan.
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It was a fairly clear day with hard packed snow and ice near the summit, conditions for a good winter’s day out.
We didn’t linger too long at the top as the wind chill was well below freezing.
On the descent we had some good views of the Loch. Looks a bit different in winter. The round trip by the tourist path took just over five hours…not bad for a couple of old codgers!
I don’t venture down the bottom end of the Loch very often, but last Thursday in bright, warm, flat calm conditions I decided to take a sail down through Auchentullich Bay and from there across to the Boturich shoreline. Both of these area have produced spring fish so I thought them worthy of attention.
The very mention of the Boturich rocks….many Balmaha anglers just don’t go there…….ever. What you see above the surface is nothing compared to what lies beneath, rocks…hundreds of them…… some of them the size of houses. It wasn’t until my recent voyage that I could see just how dangerous an area it really is. I can only imagine that whatever glacier carved out Loch Lomond, it had a right good dump at Boturich before it moved on.
It can be a first stop for salmon recently arrived in the Loch and every year it produces fish. The ‘Boathouse’ has already given up two this season. It’s normally the experienced Balloch angler, heading out or returning, who pays the Rocks special attention. Why would anyone build a boathouse in the middle of this pile…no wonder it seems abandoned.
I noticed while browsing the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat website that they had a callout in March to assist a 28 foot cruiser grounded at Boturich. Seems to have been a mechanical problem, before or after striking the rocks? Fortunately there were no casualties. I’d say that unless you really know your way about…..give the Rocks a wide berth.
Since my last post I’ve treated myself to a new boat. After much debate, I decided to go Irish, for several reasons, cost, finish, design and weight all being taken into account.
I didn’t realise just how many boatbuilders there are in Ireland. It was only after reading an article in ‘Trout and Salmon’ that I settled on an Anglers Fancy 19ft built by Burke Boats, Co Mayo…..yes sometimes advertising works.
The Burke family have been boat building for over 130 years and the GRP version of the Angler’s Fancy is based on the original wooden boats built for the big Loughs. I’ve found that it performs very well on the drift. A very seaworthy boat in a big wave, slicing through rather than plowing into them….no, I’m not getting paid for this…….
Some of you may recognise the scenery above….nowhere more exotic than the famous Luskentyre beach on Harris, which in the recent hot spell, where would you rather be…….
Two of our members, Alan Raeburn (above) and Kenny McDonald (below) set of last weekend on a cycling tour of the Outer Hebrides.
I think it started off as a ‘must do’ or on the ‘bucket list’…….things to do before you shed your mortal coil……. They left Oban on Saturday 27th May aboard a delayed ferry, arriving in Barra at 1.30 in the morning. Still party time there! The next morning saw them cross over to Vatersay and then back to Barra. From there the tour took them northwards through the Uists, Benbecula, Harris and into Lewis.
I heard tonight that they had reached the finishing line at the Butt of Lewis, no doubt with slightly tender butts…. about 140 miles from setting off. Well done lads! As well as loosing a few pounds they have raised a four figure sum for charities, the Erskine Hospital and Hazelwood Vision. Next time I’ll join you, leave the bikes at home and take the fishing gear instead!!
If you’ve got any news, views or anything you’d like to share, please contact me at: web@lochlomondangling.com.
Regards,
Jim Raeburn