At last the season has started. The work parties beavered away throughout
February to get the loch ready for fishing. The boats have been fettled
and members will notice that each boat now has two 'Twaddle Pads' on
the stern seat, these are to protect the boat from the batteries, now
that electric outboards are permitted. They are called 'Twaddle Pads'
because they have been made from lino off Jim Twaddles kitchen floor.
( Well that's my version of the truth). The work party also went mad
in the carpentry business, constructing loads of duck-board paving for
the muddy bits round the loch - these were due to be floated across
in the boats, but they are so big we will need either a dead-calm or
a floating dry-dock to get them over. The Sunday before season opening
we had our annual Pie-Ceremony, courtesy of Iain and Grace Black, when
we gorged ourselves on soup, pies and brown sauce - next year we will
change from HP to Daddies because Heinz have moved the HP factory abroad
-sacrilege! - these were washed down with sparkly wine. I must admit
that I'm getting worried about Iain, this year in addition to the food
and drink, he brought a chain of fairy lights!!
Wednesday 14 March, the day before the season opened, was absolutely
hectic, at 7am we were at the loch to witness the demolition
of the derelict Pump-House, it was a brute - part of the roof had
steel reinforcing rods about 3cm thick. Jim McSkimming and Jim Mandel
did a sterling job, playing at site-foremen - waving their arms and
shouting instructions to the plant operator, who of course sensibly
ignored them. .
At lunch time in the middle of the demolition, 1500 trout arrived from
Humberside Fishery, which were taken out in boats to be released all
over the loch, thankfully the usual volunteers turned up to help. .
Finally, in the evening we had our Annual Prize
Night at Lenzie Rugby Club, where the competent anglers were presented
with the silverware and Robert Malcolm's DVD of the demolition and Jim
Twaddle's fishing in Iceland DVD's were shown. Iain and Grace laid on
a hot buffet and Iain had his raffle with a lot of superb prizes and
which, as usual, was fixed - I didn't win anything. Iain and myself
ran quizzes with varying degrees of dispute. Unfortunately my quiz demanded
good general knowledge, wide knowledge of fishing and preferably a sober
group. As it eventually took place two and a half hours after the bar
opened, I was on a hiding to nothing, particularly when it came to the
name of Tam O'Shanters horse. It was a great night and our thanks must
go to Iain, who is recovering from an operation and has been running
these events for about 15 years. Wednesday night was his swansong and
he went out with a stormer. Next year a new team will be running the
Annual Prize-Night.
For the Club, recent years seem to reflect the old Chinese curse - 'May
you live in interesting times'. Hopefully the Club's future will be
interesting in positive ways, with the stability of our new lease, permitting
us to develop the fishery at Antermony for the benefit of us all. We
have made a start with the demolition of the Pump-House and each year
we hope to continue with improvements. .
.
Roger Hughes
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