European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Fisherman is silhouetted by the setting Sun As he works his line across the Clyde. Firth of Clyde where the common Man and Trout Are Kings by Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer staff writer Norm Zeigler second from left and three fishing partners head for the River. A amps photos by Gus Schuettler its Pristine Waters and wild unspoiled Countryside make Scotland a Fisherman s Paradise. Many an Angler has dreamed of battling Salmon Trout or sea Trout on its spectacular Rivers and Lochs. Names like the Tweed the spey and the Tay invoke images of Broad pools and trophy fish of pipe smoking fishermen in tweeds and devoted Gillies standing by to net the big ones. For some they also Call up Nightmare visions of hotel Bills and permit fees that would make a member of the Royal family break out in a cold sweat. It is True that there Are very expensive places to fish in Scotland. This is especially so at some castles and country Manor hotels with private beats for Salmon. But there Are also Many excellent areas where permits and accommodations can be had for a song. In the Southern lowlands one of the loveliest and least expensive Waters is the Clyde River. Quot a lot of people Call the Clyde the Workingman s River because it s affordable a says River Bailiff Clive Shotton. A Day permit on the Clyde costs 3 pounds about $5.10 and a yearly License is Only 15 pounds about $25.50. Anyone who buys five Day permits during the season is issued a yearly License Shotton a Burly Bear of a Man with a gentle Mien spends much of his free time from May to september wading the riffles and pools of the Clyde. In late Spring and summer the scottish Days stretch late into the evening. The Sun seems to linger forever on the horizon setting the River ablaze in Brilliant Orange before it sinks out of sight. Even at 10 . The sky gleams Silvery and Luminescent Bac lighting Hills and Stream Side Trees. The Clyde begins As an insouciant trickle on the slopes of 2,300-foot Queensberry Mountain. Within three or four Miles it becomes a burbling Freestone Stream and by the time it reaches Biggar it has swelled to a smooth flowing mature River meandering through pasture and cropland on its Way to Glasgow and the Firth of Clyde. Along its route it winds through some of the most Beautiful Countryside in Southern Scotland. In new Lanark its Channel Narrows As it roars into a Mist filled Gorge to Tumble Down a series of Sandstone Steps at the Falls of Clyde. The Clyde is a super Trout water Ritsman tributaries and the Region s aquifer Rich substrata assure consistent temperature and water Levels even in times of below Normal rainfall. And the Richness of insect life in the River rivals the world s Best Trout Waters. On a warm afternoon mayflies midges stoneflies and caddis swarm Over the Clyde by the untold thousands. The Clyde inspires tremendous affection and loyalty. This is mainly because of its Beauty and the top notch fishing. But it is also because of the water s accessibility. This is especially important in Britain where economic reality tends to restrict the Best fishing to those of a certain class and income level. But anyone with 3 pounds in his pocket can fish More than 37 Miles of the Clyde. Quot you find blokes that have fished the Clyde for years 12 stripes Magazine August 15, 1991 Psi i the Clyde is considered a Workingman s River because the fees to fish it Are relatively Low. In Europe a id they give it a break for a year two. But they always come Back to it a Shotton says. One of the most devoted Clyde anglers is Shotton s Friend Bill Manson who has fished the River for More than 53 years. Fishermen on the Clyde Are permitted to use s winners bait and flies. But like most local anglers Manson grew up with a Fly Rod and has Little use for the o her methods. Quot it s mechanical fishing fishing with scrap n Etal As far As i m concerned a he says. Shotton who moved into the Region eight years ago g ves Manson much of the credit for his own Angling is Access. Quot when i first came up i fished for two years and i Oulen t do a Damn thing. And then i met  Manson y ought Shotton the water As Well As the right flies to use. Fee also taught him the history. Quot a Hundred and fifty years ago the Clyde was one of lamp a most prolific Salmon Rivers in Scotland Quot Manson says. B i the coming of the Industrial revolution brought p a Elution and dams that destroyed the Salmon run. B cause nearly All of the pollution was on the lower River a found Glasgow the Trout in the upper reaches were ared. A today one key to the Clyde s accessibility is that it is it a Salmon River. If it were Shotton and Manson say healthy outsiders would Long ago have tried to get it Netrol of the fishing rights. But thanks to cleanup efforts id the installation of fish ladders the Salmon have begun return. It is a fact that evokes mixed feelings among ical fishermen. On one hand is the Glamour and it Cit ement of another game fish. On the other is the threat of big Money moving in. In recent years fishing rights on some of Scotland s top alters have been sold on a Quot time share  under Tifis arrangement similar to certain vacation condominium plans in the United states the purchaser gets to use the water for a certain time period each year. Rait and tackle shops provide a wide Range of gear and plenty of free advice. Sand to gravel and in a few places Grapefruit size rocks Slippery with algae. It is easily Wade Able with hip Bools but can Only be forded at a few gravel bars. At dusk the River was a Limpid Blue ribbon winding through pastures wet with Dew. Despite a Good insect Hatch the rising fish refused to take our flies. When we left at 10 30, Shotton had landed one Small Trout and i had nothing. The next afternoon we met Shotton s fellow Bailiff Ian Miller on the upper Clyde near Crawford. Here the River is a Beautiful Freestone Stream with riffles and rapids and a few Long smooth pools. Mostly it is knee deep to hip deep but in a few spots the Bottom drops out to 20 feet or More. Instead of the wide cattle pastures farther Down it is bordered by sleep Rocky Hills dotted with sheep. A Quot Miller said he had already taken More than 100 Trout from this stretch this year. But it was still full of fish. This Day at least six major insect hatches were  place and fish were rising virtually everywhere. But the fish gods were not to be generous on this trip to the Clyde. I caught a Beautiful 12-Inch Brown Early on and then did not land another fish. I had three others on and missed strikes by at least a dozen More. Fishing next to me Miller hooked a thrashing 2-Pounder that exploded from the water car wheeled and threw the Hook. Too soon it was time to go. The Sun dipped behind a line of purple Clouds flashing out Golden Orange rays that transformed the surface of the River to burnished Copper. Walking Back to the car it was easy to understand Shotton s feelings about the Clyde. Al love this Damn River a he said. Quot it s a Bonnie  i the Clyde River is Only one of Scotland s numberless Waters. In addition to the Salmon and Trout Rivers there Are myriad Lochs with excellent fishing for Trout and Pike. There is no National License in Scotland. Permits Are purchased locally from the holders of the fishing rights. Detailed information on Waters licenses and regulations is Given in a Booklet titled scat land tar game sea and coarse fishing. It is available in Britain for 2.50 pounds about $4.25. The British tourist authority distributes a free Booklet titled came fishing holidays 1991. It lists hotels guest houses and fishing c amps that specialize in Angling vacations. Useful addresses and Telephone numbers for anglers include the department of agriculture amp fisheries for Scotland Penland House 47 Robb s loan Edinburgh he 14 1sq, Scotland Telephone 031-550-8400 within Britain scottish anglers National association a a. Jamieson Secretary 5 Cramond Glebe Road Edinburgh eh4 6nd, Scotland Telephone 031-229-0292, ext. 2559. For general information about Scotland Contact scottish tourist Board 23 Ravelson Terrace Edinburgh eh4 3eu, Scotland Telephone 031-332-2433. In effect it creates private reserves for the wealthy. Manson Speaks disparagingly of Salmon fishing in Scotland calling it Quot a Case of time shares and lord so-and-so.�?�. But for now the Clyde remains a wonderful Trout River. This Spring a 10-Pound, 11-ounce fish was caught near Crawford. Shotton is sure there Are bigger fish there. Quot of there s some whoppers some beasts Quot he says. One evening he and i fished near Carnwath on the Middle reaches. Here the River is about 75 feet wide deep and smooth. The Bottom varies from a Fine White Fisherman along the shores of the Clyde. August 15, 1991 stripes Magazine 13