Fraser on fishing: Battling in tough waters

I do like a challenge and that was exactly what I got on the Lake of Menteith in a national qualifier, writes STUART FRASER.

Wet, wild and woolly conditions met anglers for this rearranged match. A high north-easterly wind churned up the water leaving it dirty brown in places, but still fishable.

Nearly every boat headed down the road shore towards Lochend, but I opted with my boat partner to make for the Rookery. We were fortunate to be allowed to use a drogue to slow the drift down or it would have been near impossible to fish.

I went out with two Cormorants and a Booby on the point and I thought I had made the right decision after getting two in half an hour. A big rolling wave made it uncomfortable, but the fish were there. I cast a full line out and my line went solid as it felt a really good fish.

Within a second it was under the boat and making for the drogue. Despite anxious attempts to get the drogue out of the water it was too late as it broke me and escaped.

We made for International Bay, which is on the road shore, and we found some surface feeding fish. My partner was on dries while I changed to a floater and nymphs. We went tit-for-tat after that and by the close of play we both managed to get six so it was honours even.