Fishing Bonnie Scotland

My fellow Jackson UK Fishing Team member David Blair emailed me last week explaining how a chap in Scotland that owned a few lochs in the Lomond Hills and would we be interested in kayak fishing them, wasn’t going to say no! It was a chance for me to finally meet David plus a good excuse to visit Scotland again (beautiful part of the world!).

Saturday came and it was a 3am start (yawn) as I had a 220 mile trip, van loaded and I was away. Some 4.5hrs later I arrive at the loch, flat calm and looking fishy! David and a fellow kayak angler Dan were already there and waiting to hit the water so I didn’t hang around, kayak off loaded and ready to go.

The target was Pike with the hope of the odd Perch & Trout, we covered the lake margins thinking the Pike would be laid up on the shelf to the deeper water. The three of us were all on lures, tried all types but just couldn’t find the Pike. Dan was into the first fish though, a nice little rainbow trout taken on a small Rapala.

The Pike still weren’t playing ball so a change to a small Rapala crankbait was the order of the day, see if I could also tempt a trout! Well it didn’t take to long, whilst trolling the Rapala over a 20ft shallowing to 12ft dropoff the rod bent round! After a spirited fight a nice rainbow trout graced the net, in lovely condition and pleased to catch something I was a very happy angler. Quick photo and back she went to fight another day.

I’d seen a few fish topping over the deeper water so paddled out with the Rapala in tow again, 200m later and the rod is round again! This time a lovely little wild brown trout, not a big fish but doesn’t matter. She was perfectly formed and in excellent condition. I was well chuffed to of caught a wild Scottish brownie!

David who was fishing from his new Jackson Big Rig couldn’t tempt a fish, unfortunately ended the day without a single bite! Obviously we all made fun of him for that!

The fishing had gone dead so we loaded the kayaks on the cars then drove up the muddy track to the top loch which holds some nice brown trout, they just weren’t interested though! didn’t matter, beautiful place to be fishing so a fish would of just been a bonus.

A few hours later we moved back to the original lower loch for a last gasp go at the Pike, this time I anchored up and fished some deadbaits on the side of a drop off but agina they were just not interested.

A few hours passed without a bite but now it was time to pack up and start the 4.5hr drive home. It was a very long day but I really enjoyed fishing in Scotland again and will be back soon!