The problem arose when deciding who was going to retrieve the lure from the mouth of this fish with all those snapping teeth. Go out and try your luck with those impressive predators. A spinning rod of 10ft or so is all you need but don’t forget the wire trace. Most tackle shops will have lures and baits and will advise you on what’s best locally. Dress up appropriately with warm and waterproof clothing. There are many species of coarse fish to be caught. Perch is one of the main species targeted. The lochs in Argyllshire and from Perthshire south all contain perch. In the Trossachs and Galloway some really big specimens can be found. Worm and maggot often produce great sport with fish up to three or four pounds. There are commercial coarse fishing venues too. Orchil Fishing near Braco in Perthshire, Magiscroft near Cumbernauld, Broom at Annan, and Springwater in Ayrshire all have Carp, Roach, Rudd, and many other species. The lower reaches of the Clyde and the Forth & Clyde Canal systems also have many species including Tench and Bream. Finally, what about sea fishing? Scotland has over 1,000 miles of shoreline to explore. You can fish from sandy beaches to rocky shorelines and even in harbours. No licence is required either. It is always exciting as you can never be sure what you’re going to catch. Boat fishing, either with friends or on a charter boat, can be great fun. At most ports you will find a charter boat to take you out. Wreck fishing, or from recognised marks, you can be sure of some great sport. With fish like sharks, flatfish, congers, cod or skate, Scotland has a wealth of fish waiting for you to enjoy. You may also take the odd fish to eat, freshly caught by you, what could be better? Whatever type of fishing you decide to try in the winter in Scotland, you can be assured of stunning scenery, wildlife aplenty and a great day out. You could see otters, kingfishers, and eagles. A pod of dolphins or even killer whales will make for a memorable day. Enjoy. What will I be doing? Well, if I’m not out fishing, I will be in my cosy workshop making a fishing rod – could it be yours?” Visit: www.simbarods.com 56 Scotland in Four Seasons Winter
Photo Focus Alan Scott’s obsession with photography started in the autumn of 2015, the Strathaven based photographer said, “I have always taken photos with phones and, years ago, instamatic cameras. I had an Olympus OM 40 Camera at one point prior to the kids coming along and got some decent results despite not having a clue about what I was doing. Then two amazing bundles of energy came into my life, competitive swimming followed and a busy working life. I was lucky to get an afternoon’s fishing, nevermind thinking about photography. Then, suddenly, they were all away to Uni to study and swim. I had a void to fill. It was time to focus on photography and fishing.” Support helps, Alan told us, “I have had lots of encouragement from friends on Facebook and other photographers on Flickr which has given me more confidence to experiment and keep at it. It’s a great way of capturing and creating memories.” Alan’s photography talents were noticed, he continued, “I’ve been lucky enough to have photos published in fishing magazines, local newspapers, online publications, and corporate websites and magazines. I’m also proud to say our Financial Director at work seems to like my photos and two poster sized Glasgow city scenes hang in our office. I appreciate my good lady has let me spend more cash and time on this hobby than I should.” We asked Alan about his favourite location in winter, he told us, “there are some many places I love in Scotland in the winter. But the one that tops it for me is Perthshire, in particular, the area round Dunkeld. Even though it attracts lots of tourists it seems unscarred by tourism. There is so much to appreciate, from the architecture in Dunkeld, the walks along the river and the history. The landscape along the river is nothing short of spectacular.” Alan Scott’s photo of a wintry Ben Nevis taken from the end of the Caledonian Canal.
