KELTIC LADY

NEWSLETTER

The season got off to a cracking start with Mark Hemming from Glasgow taking the first specimen wrasse of 2003. Mark’s 3lb 8oz ballan wrasse fell to a leadhead baited with ragworm and the fact that this was his first attempt at leadheading made it all the more special for him. Mark set the trend for the year with no fewer than six specimen wrasse and LSDs recorded and returned.

Loch Fyne is never short of surprises as one young lad on a family day out discovered when he landed a ‘Scottish Record’ catch. Andrew Broadfoot, 15, couldn’t believe his eyes when he pulled in an 18in long Red Band Fish. Tipping the scales at 57.9g it earned him a place in the SFSA record book and publicity in various angling publications.

Another youngster who attracted the attention of the media was Andrew Pollock from Pollok who landed a 6lb 2oz pollack to win his boat competition. Andrew’s quirky tongue twisting catch caught the attention of the angling magazines, national press and featured on the BBC Scottish news.

We also had a few champions aboard this year with Scott Gibson of Inverclyde SAC winning the Clyde and West Region Champion of Champions competition in October. This prestigious event saw nine species and a total of 102 fish landed and returned. One of the fish released was a 3lb 4oz specimen ballan wrasse taken by club member John Crowther. In addition to his SFSA specimen award, John also won a boat rod courtesy of The Sea Angler Magazine’s Shimano Catch and Release monthly award scheme.

The ‘Argyll Cup’ is an annual competition fished by Strathclyde Police and it was held on Loch Fyne for the first time. Jim Smith took the honours with the heaviest fish going to Andy Blaine.

The trophy winners for Larkfield SAC were Ronnie McMillan and Jim Wilson. Seven species and 41 LSds were taken and returned during this event.

In the Silver Lure Junior Boat Championship, no less than five junior club records were smashed. The title at the end of the day went to Greg Hutchison who secured the trophy with five cod, an LSD and three mackerel. He also scooped the heaviest fish award with a 2lb 5oz codling. Andrew Pollock broke the LSD and pollack records and Ashley Phillips broke the junior club record with a cracking 2lb 2oz mackerel.

Our season ended as it began with an angler on a winning streak. Tony McCue from Birmingham was delighted to land his first ever LSD and was even more delighted to learn that his 2lb 11oz catch won him loads of Fladen fishing gear in the Boat Fishing Monthly ‘Big Fish Competition’. Tony’s lucky catch takes him through to fish a charter boat out of Newhaven in the new year with the editor Jim Whippy and three other finalists where more prizes will be up for grabs.

All in all it has been an interesting year, and with ling, conger and cuckoo ray putting in an appearance earlier in the year it is encouraging to see such a vast number of species (21) in Loch Fyne.

Winter fishing is still available aboard ‘Keltic Lady’ until the end of February.  Bookings are now being taken for 2004  with a number of dates already secured by clubs and return groups. Tight Lines Kenny.

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