Kilts and Fishing

**Jock Scot** · 25th July 07, 10:51 AM

I have just experianced the funniest day of my life,please bare with me whilst I explain.We have a distant relative and new bride staying with us for part of their honymoon and absolutly charming they are too.Anyway, I thought that there was a good chance of catching a salmon today so it was decided to go fishing.
So there I was sitting by the river waiting for the happy couple to arrive and in due course they arrived with Jack clad in his kilt.It was very smart and knowing where it came from, it was VERY expensive.So, after a sharp intake of breath I suggested that perhaps he ought to pop back and change."No problem" says he,"I will fish where I dont have to wade,so I will be ok.Fishing in the kilt is traditional in Scotland,is it not?" "Not in this part of the Highlands",said I.
So anyway the kilt went fishing and after while I left them to see what was going on down river.On my return I was met with the commical sight of Jack trying to fit himself and the kilt into a pair of chest waders with a singular lack of success!
After a very pleasent few hours fishing we returned home ,fishless,and proceeded to have a wee dram when I noticed Jacks legs covered in blotches.Yes you have guessed it ,the wee midge and its mirriad of reletives had struck.So off to the bedroom the not so happy couple fled to do some running repairs so to speak.The next thing I heard was gales of laughter coming from the bedroom."OK", thought I ,newlyweds get up to all sorts of antics so le them be.It turned out that Jack had 2 ticks attached to a vey embarrasing part of his anatomy!!!
The moral of the story?Take my advice and dont wear the kilt fihing,dont wear the kilt if you want to wear chest waders,dont wear the kilt where the Scottish midge will get you beause if they dont ,the ticks will!
Be warned that events like today are seriously painful to your sides!

**Arlen** · 25th July 07, 11:19 AM

Sounds like he had a dreadful time. And it's a shame you didn't catch anything.

I regularly fish in a kilt, but never any of my expensive ones. And I've discovered that if you spray tea tree oil on your legs and, ahem, self, the ticks and midges will bite elsewhere.

Hope you have better luck fishing next time.

**irishrob** · 25th July 07, 12:09 PM

I'll stick to my boat fishing in a kilt, just have to make sure to tuck the sides in while going full speed ahead!

**Kid Cossack** · 25th July 07, 04:34 PM

I had a tick get me there once.

Like a cork in a bottle.

I thought that was bad enough, until my dad came into the bathroom with a zippo lighter and a Randall knife . . . .

**Phil** · 26th July 07, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by Kid Cossack

I had a tick get me there once.

Like a cork in a bottle.

I thought that was bad enough, until my dad came into the bathroom with a zippo lighter and a Randall knife . . . .

Whatever you do don't try and remove ticks with tweezers, lighters, alcohol etc.. As soon as you do they regurgitate and infect you. This little gadget gets them off completely and safely. I would still go and get an antibiotic anyway just to be on the safe side.
http://www.otom.com/
I saw a video some years back, think it was called "A Fisher for all Seasons" and the guy in that was fishing in a kilt. Thought at the time the midgies would give him a hard time.

**Jock Scot** · 26th July 07, 02:11 AM

As a post script to the fishing tale of yesterday,Jack could not sleep due to the itching so early this morning he and Jenny went fishing,more suitably attired I hasten to say.They both caught a fish!Jenny her very first salmon (a grilse actualy) and Jack a fine fish of about 12lbs.Both fish had sea lice on and were safely returned to the river.

Ticks are a menace up here,I have been fighting this wretched Lyme thing for the last four years and I would not recommend it to my worst enemy.Lyme is still rare up here and the advice about not getting the tick's body fluid into your body on romoval is very important.Thanks for the tea tree oil tip too.

**caig** · 26th July 07, 03:44 AM

I have many times fished the man-made loch at Tullich near Ballater and always in the kilt. Never had a bite - that is neither fish nor midges !!

I'll be there again in 2 weeks when I hope to get a bite, but only from the fish.

**Phil** · 26th July 07, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by acaig

I have many times fished the man-made loch at Tullich near Ballater and always in the kilt. Never had a bite - that is neither fish nor midges !!

I'll be there again in 2 weeks when I hope to get a bite, but only from the fish.

You've obviously never fished on the West Coast then, anywhere from about Dunoon northwards. Quite a different species of midge there, nasty little beasties with spots on them and a killer bite. Try it I dare you. I was in Ballater too recently but the fishing was a total washout although maybe I should have tried Tullich.