Fishing for the truth about angling in Scotland
Between The Lines is on an extended sabbatical in order to write a book or two. Fiction – and quite different from Not Exactly Fishing. Why change from here, the cynics among you may ask? The answer is simple: I like a challenge and the process of writing publishable fiction is certainly that, as I…
Continue ReadingIT IS heartening today to see two organisations calling for our politicians to stand up and be counted – at least as far as supporting the future of our wild fish are concerned. As I suggested here at the beginning of the year, that action to put our politicians on the spot on the future…
Continue ReadingAPOLOGIES for misleading readers over my last post regarding the proposed introduction of boating charges on Loch Lomond this year. Only the £30 boat registration charge is voluntary; the launching charges at the Duncan Mills and Milarrochy slipways are compulsory and take effect from April 1. Loch Lomond game anglers now face daily fees of…
Continue ReadingFEARS of compulsory launching and boat registration charges on Loch Lomond next year appear to have receded, if not quite vanished entirely beneath the waves, following the recent board meeting of the national park’s governing body. A swift change of tactics by the board of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs national park authority (NPA) brought…
Continue ReadingLOCH LOMOND, scene of a long-running acrimonious feud over administration of angling, is set for a further storm this week about plans by Scotland’s first national park authority to introduce charges for boat launching and registration of water-borne craft. A board meeting of the park authority, which receives a £7 million annual subsidy from the…
Continue ReadingIT started out as a simple cycle run from Glasgow to Kirkintilloch along the towpath of the Forth and Clyde canal. A glorious day we thought, and a chance for an easy pedal with the occasional opportunity to find out how the regular small groups of anglers were faring in the bright sunshine. For the…
Continue ReadingMY STORY earlier this week commenting on shark tagging in the drive to increase our knowledge and understanding of endangered fish species, has prompted an interesting response from one of the founders of the new River Clyde website. John Blair says that Clyde pike are soon to be the target of a tagging programme. He…
Continue ReadingTHE River Clyde, one of the most famous rivers in the world, is a magnet for anglers, particularly its mid and upper reaches. Its reputation as a salmon fishery is also recovering. So a single website catering for the diverse needs of thousands of fishermen who take to its banks each year, is long overdue.
Continue ReadingRUBBISH anywhere is a sorry sight. And sadly is a reflection on our society today, one where even a little respect for the places where we live and play, seems to have evaporated. The carefree “chuck it” brigade are no strangers to angling unfortunately, as anyone who has visited the banks of some of our…
Continue ReadingMOTHERWELL angler David McAuley narrowly missed lifting Scotland’s richest fishing prize for the second time in two years today, when he was narrowly beaten into second place in the final of Ayrstrike 2009 by 0.9kg. The top spot, and a prize of £3000 went to Ian Fewtrell from Wigan with a bag of carp, rudd,…
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