Finty

Great day fishing on the River Tay. The sun shone most of the day, but at one point when I was standing in the middle of the river, the sky darkened and an almighty hail storm battered down. It was great being in the river at the time, with the hail making the water boil and the stones clattering off my rod and hat.

The area is fantastic, with loads of huge trees which are all incredibly green. Wild flowers everywhere and birds twittering all day. The swallows were jetting over the river and catching flies as we fished next to them. Dave and I were in the fishing hut in the afternoon and we turned round and a swallow had actually flown right into the hut chasing a fly, it flew around for a second and then flew out the door again.

No fish for any of us, but two complete beginners were fishing the same beat and caught a 17lb fresh salmon. - Typical.

This is Finty - one of a litter of eight pups from last year, from Mike's dog Ginny. Purdie is another of her pups.

Ginny is the most amazing dog you have ever seen. She has the most human eyes and she looks at you as if she is speaking to you & it seems like her puppies have inherited her amazing character.

Back on Monday for more - can't wait - fish or no fish, there's nowhere I'd rather be than up to my waist in a river.

Have a good weekend.