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Here are some tips to help you in your fishing, some I have discovered and some have been passed to me by other anglers, they are in no particular order its just whatever comes to mind next. If you have any tips  of your own  that you want to add just email them to me and I will stick them on the list.

Boat launching and retrieving: This can be a major pain in the butt if things go wrong, I use an Orkney Longliner which can be a bit of a handful  to get back on the trailer when fishing alone. I have added a modification to the trailer that  makes bring the boat in a pleasure, it is simply some 3/4" ply wood bolted to the trailer to form a "Gutter" the the keel of the boat  fits in to and is guided back on the trailer. The depth of the keel at its lowest part is 5" so the  guide is cut to approx 4" deep. When you bring the boat in  you simply submerge the back end of the trailer and  pull the front of the boats keel into the guide formed by the ply wood and as you wind the boat on to the trailer the guide keeps the boat running true and straight so its just a simple job getting the boat back in. Here are a few pics to give an idea on how to make a guide  for your boat. I know its a bit scabby looking  but its 4 years old and is due for replacement this year.

Sheep ticks: At  certain times of the year some of the lochs are plagued by these  blood sucking parasites. it can be a job to get them out when they get their heads burrowed deep into your skin, they can carry Lymes disease so you want to get them out quick if you find one on you. There is a device that is quick and very effective , its a plastic hook that goes round the head of the tick and with a twist it makes it release its grip on you. Its far better than tweezers, cigarettes lighter or hot matches, well worth getting. Click here for a link on where to buy the tick hook.

Midgies: Another blood sucking pest that can and does drive you mad at times, on a calm summer day they arrive in their millions and and bite you leaving you in a mass of itchy lumps. The  best commercial  repellant I have found is Avon Skin so Soft Woodland Fragrance it is also used by forestry workers so it does work. Another thing we found that works is the leaves of Bog Myrtle just rubbed over your skin it gives off a pleasant smell and keep the midgies away fortunately  it grows along the shores of many lochs so there is a ready supply of it. You can also get a commercial midge repellant made from  Bog Myrtle here is a link to  it they also brew beer from it, so if you drink enough of the beer and  spray yourself with the repellant you wont even know if there are any Midgies there!!!.