The family of a champion Dundee angler who died while fishing the River Tay have paid an emotional tribute to their “happy-go-lucky” loved one.
Alan Taylor (58), of Turnberry Avenue, lost his life on his favourite stretch of water near Dunkeld on Saturday, while on a trip with fellow members of Lochee Angling Club, including his brother Colin Taylor (51).
The group had drawn lots to decide where each would be placed that day and it was the first time Alan had been allocated his preferred Dalguise beat since this year’s trout season opened.
Speaking at his home in Loraine Road, Dundee, Colin said he “couldn’t get his head around” the possibility that his brother may have been swept away, considering his extensive fly-fishing experience and the low water level.
He said, “Alan was dropped off at the Dalguise beat, which was his favourite piece of water. He has been fishing there for almost 30 years he knew it as well as he would know his own back garden.
“He had fished there so many times that I just can’t get my head around him losing it there.
“It’s not a dangerous stretch and the river is not at a level that makes it dangerous. It is easy wading and easy walking.”
Alan had acted as full-time carer to his father David (82) and the family are now left to decide who will take over that responsibility.
Colin said, “My dad lives in a house on his own and my brother went up every day he regarded it more like a job.
“He went fishing on his two days off a week, on the Thursday and the Saturday.
“It’s going to be difficult now but we are going to have to make arrangements to look after him somehow.
“He understands what has happened but he is completely devastated. He is kind of lost at the moment.”
Alan’s daughter Nikki Taylor (32) said her father had always been a “great practical joker” who would count the days to the start of each fishing season.
She added, “He used to tell me the best places to fish and I remember him taking me fishing when I was younger.
“He hardly ever brought his fish home because he always gave them away and if it was just for practice he would put them back.
“The family are all supporting each other just now and there is nothing else we can do. The waiting and wondering what happened is the horrible bit.”
Police contacted Colin at around 4pm on Saturday after the body was discovered around 100 yards from the Jubilee Bridge, nearly four miles from where his brother had been fishing.
Following identification of the body one 83-year-old member of the angling club vowed never to return to the sport and Colin said he was still considering whether he will ever go back.
He said, “I was sitting at Kinnaird when we got the call and I had a feeling that something was wrong as soon as I heard they had pulled somebody out of the water.
“We have not had the results back from pathologist but the river is at a very low level for the time of year and it is easy to fish on.
“I went back up to where he had been to see if I could find any of his things and I actually found his rod floating in the pool where he had been fishing, so I know exactly where it happened.”
He added, “Alan was club champion every year for nearly 10 years and he was very competitive. Everybody else wanted to beat him.
“He was dedicated to fishing it wasn’t just a hobby or a pastime, it was more like an obsession.”
Stan Pelc, the ghillie for the Dalguise beat, also paid tribute to Alan.
“He was an angler I’ve known for as long as I’ve been here 16 years,” he said. “He probably fished here before I was even born.
“He is probably the most experienced trout fisherman you could find. He would have known every inch of water on this beat, the beat above and the one below.
“It’s very sad. He was a popular man.
“Dalguise is his favourite beat but I didn’t see him here on Saturday myself. He had permits for several local beats.”
Alan was born in Dundee and worked as an engineer following his education at Macalpine Primary and Kirkton High School.
He spent most of his life in the Ardler and St Mary’s areas of the city, was a keen supporter of Dundee FC and enjoyed regular holidays in Benidorm.
Alan is survived by another two brothers, David (56) and Paul (45), his sister Ann (54) and another two daughters.
Mr Taylor’s death is the second tragedy to take place on the River Tay this month.
Further up river in Highland Perthshire, Simon Fletcher died at Grandtully on April 7 when his canoe capsized.
Picture used under the Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Framboise.