European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bait and tackle shops provide a wide Range of gear and plenty of free advice. The Clyde is considered a Workingman s River because the fees to fish it Are relatively Low. A id they give it a break for a year two. But they always come Back to it Quot 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 Cyde Are permitted to uses winners bait and flies. But like most local anglers n Lanson grew up with a Fly Rod and has Little use for the 0 her method s. Quot it s mechanical fishing fishing with scrap n Metal As far As i m concerned Quot he says. Shotton who moved into the Region eight years ago g ves Manson much of the credit for his own Angling Success. Quot when i first came up i fished for two years and 1 Roulon t do a Damn thing. And then i met  Manson taught Shotton the water As Well As the right flies to use. Be also taught him the history. Quot a Hundred and fifty years ago the Clyde was one of i e most prolific Salmon Rivers in Scotland Quot Manson says. B of the coming of the Industrial revolution brought a if Lution and dams that destroyed the Salmon run. B cause nearly All of the pollution was on the lower River amp found Glasgow the Trout in the upper reaches were s it ared. A 1 today one key to the Clyde s accessibility is that it is riot a Salmon River. If it were Shotton and Manson say wealthy outsiders would Long ago have tried to get control of the fishing rights. But thanks to cleanup efforts and the installation of fish ladders the Salmon have begun to it return. It is a fact that evokes mixed feelings among i4>cal fishermen. On one hand is the Glamour and incitement of another game fish. On the other is the tji Reat of big Money moving in. In recent years fishing rights on some of Scotland s top Waters have been sold on a Quot time share  under this arrangement similar to certain vacation condominium plans in the United states the purchaser Gus to use the water for a certain time period each year. 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 i  a. 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 Sand to gravel and in a few places Grapefruit size rocks Slippery with algae. It is easily Wade Able with hip boots 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 Steep Rocky Hills dotted with sheep. A 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 taking 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-Pountler 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. Quot i love this Damn River Quot he said. Quot it s a Bonnie  a 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 Scotland for came 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 Camps that specialize in Angling vacations. Useful addresses and Telephone numbers for anglers include the department of agriculture amp fisheries for Scotland Pentland House 47 Robb s loan Edinburgh he 14 1sq, Scotland Telephone 031-556-8400 within Britain scottish anglers National association a a. Jamieson Secretary 5 Cramond Glebe Road Edinburgh eh4 6nd, Scotland Telephone 031-229-9292, ext. 2559. For general information about Scotland Contact scottish tourist Board 23 Ravenston Terrace Edinburgh eh4 3eu, Scotland Telephone 031-332-2433. August 15, 1991 stripes Magazine 13