Simon Bolivar's Fishy Hols 2013

[Simon Bolivar]

So tomorrow I am catching the 0515 bus to get the red eye train from Antwerp to Brussels, to get the Eurostar to London. Then getting the train to Glasgow & on to Wymess Bay, ferry to Rothesay, arriving 1720. Dragging an 85cm suitcase, rucksac & 2 rods Hopefully I'll have a rod in my hand, a bait in the water by 1900.
I am taking over a dozen short/ small smokes as I'll have to smoke them during the brief lulls in showers (they had hail showers on Monday).
Things have been slow on the Ilse of Bute but hoping things will improve ae the weekend progresses, there have been a couple of twenty pounds caught in the last 5 days. Last time I caught 27 Pike, hoping at least to match that. Let you all know how I got on once I am back on the rig Friday week.

[littlepea]

Good stuff! My father, brother, and I are going camping/fishing at the end of the month for a few days. Canny wait. Here's hoping for plenty of tight lines and wet nets for the both of us!

[Puff Scotty]

Anybody want some Semtex...

[Simon Bolivar]

Cheers Littlepea, indeed good luck to you too. Difficult to put them back after the semtex approach Puff!

[grub]

Semtex - typical fenman approach

[Simon Bolivar]

Well I am back! Got back on the rig on Fri but was too shagged to post & have taken this long to sort myself out.SAM_0520.jpg The week started slowly, as it had done last year but luckily, like last yr it picked up after the w/end as the weather improved & Tues-Thurs the SAM_0521.jpgfish were climbing up the rod!SAM_0471.jpg
Enjoyed some amazing scenery,SAM_0519.jpg met some very interesting like minded people. Was gifted free mackeral & smelt for bait, some pike fliesSAM_0524.jpg & given a lot of tips on where to look for the wee beasties,SAM_0527.jpg in this cold spring.
Managed to smoke a H. Upmann Major Coronas from BigBarneyHotDog,SAM_0465.jpg Trini Colonies 2004SAM_0488.jpg, Belinda Princess '97 & Party Short 07. Should have managed more but it was either too windy, looking like rain, actually raining or I was getting too many runs to light up.SAM_0464.jpgSAM_0472.jpg
Final total 51 pike for 282lb.SAM_0536.jpg
Here's a few pics to give you a flavour of the wonderful Ilse of Bute; would highly recommend it if your ever heading up that way.

[grub]

Simon, there's some nice looking ladies there

[spirit_of_will]

Love reading your picture posts SB! Looks like you've had a good week...