Fishing Report Week Ending 9 August 2015

Firstly let me say, well done to our Scottish Youth Team, who won the International competition by a big margin during the week. Well done to the boys, and the team. 

Evening sessions finish at 10.00pm now. Nights are closing in, so you have the chance of another permit. That permit means, you can start the evening session from 2.00pm and go on till 10.00pm. But you will need to check first, that boats are available on 07527 254811. The middle of the season can sometimes be a harder time to catch fish. It can be a feast or famine. During the week the loch fished great with good returns, then at the weekend some anglers struggled. The middle of the loch is definitely the hot spot with fish showing. Birds working the area normally means that food is coming off, and they worked the middle of the loch the hole day on Saturday. So that means the fish are there feeding also. It takes almost an hour on the drogue to drift slowly across the middle of the loch, but well worth it at the moment. The fish come from the depths and hammer the fly, then head back down again. S. Adams had 11 on c/r on Saturday doing that with a midge tip line on hoppers and sedges. During the week it was the South reedy bay and the high bank. With fab's, booby's and crunchers working well. At the weekend it was in the middle. What does that mean? You have to move about and try different methods to catch the fish. And remember, it is the middle of our summer so the fish should be looking up towards the surface for the terrestrials that will be getting blown on. Daddy's, ants and heather flies should all be making an appearance soon. Anglers that did well, George Learmonth 12 on c/r on fabs, Harry Broadley 3 for 8.5lb and 4 c/r on diawl bach's, J. Marshall 3, and 4 c/r on a bibio, J. Mason 5 on c/r on blob and fab, John Middleton 3 for 8.8lb and 1 c/r on hoppers, W. McCann 3 on c/r and one brown about between 5-6lb, D. Cameron 2 for 6lb and 8 c/r on blob, J. Duckworth 4 for 11.2lb on fab and blob's, Falkirk Fly Dressers had 23 for 47.12lb and 13 c/r, I.B.M. had15 for 37lb, A.B.C and D had 14 for 37lb on cormorants and blobs, FFDAC had 8 for 21lb.

Fishing Report Week Ending 2 August 2015

Diawl bach's, crunchers and cormorants were the best flies this week. Fab's and sedges worked also on the top. But just under the surface with a floating line or a midge tip with a slow retrieve worked best. The North reedy bay and the heather hills were the hot spots with forest bend giving up some beautiful brown trout. The browns were in such great condition that the angler put them back after taking a photo, and he was on a kill ticket, but thought they looked to good to do that. So they live another day for some one else. The weather as we all know, is so bizarre this summer. One day it blows from the West, then the South then the rain. Is there anything we can do about this summer? Yes, get out and practise. Keep a diary, and record your catches. When things get far from normal conditions, in the future. You can look back at a previous time like this, and you will know what to do! That is supposed to give you some comfort in this miserable weather. Gilmerton Fly Fishers were out on Saturday and smartly turned out in there club jackets. The photo will be on the web site. They had 15 fish for 39.7lb, Dalziel club 21 fish for 55.1lb, Stephen Burke 5 on c/r, Jim MacKie 5 for 14.7lb, G. Relini 6 on c/r on sedges, Milgavie angling club 20 for 51.1lb and 2 c/r, Matt Penman 4 for 13.1lb, George Bell 3 for 7.7lb and 2 c/r, Robert Paton 3 for 8.3lb and 2 c/r, A. Ritchmond 3 for 9.5lb and 2c/r, George Learmonth 9 on c/r, John Middleton 3 for 8lb and 3 c/r, D. Patterson 4 on c/r. Two of this years Scottish youth team members were out practising ahead of the International this week. Marco Ezzie and Alasdair Anderson. They both had 4 each on c/r. The Scottish youth team is very strong this year and in very good hands. I wish them great success in the competition.

Fishing Report Week Ending 26 July 2015

The water is in great condition, full and crystal clear. Sedges are still in abundance at the moment and are about an inch long. They are getting blown about in all directions, as the wind cant make it's mind up, and blow in the same direction for more than two days in a row. We are still occasionally getting a east wind during this summer. I also don't think we will get a hose pipe ban this year. Any way back to the fishing. School bay and about 80 yards out from the heather hills were good spots this week, with good steady catches coming from both. Methods varied from sedges to cormorants and damsel's. They all caught fish and in different areas. The weather is changing conditions almost daily, and that affects the trout diet. Hatches and rises don't seem to be planed this year, as no two days are the same. Lets hope for more settled weather everywhere. Anglers that did well this week, Heriots 6 for 13.9lb and 42c/r, D. McDowell 3 for 9lb, J. Sneddon 3 for 7.12lb, J. O'Hara 3 for 7.4lb, J. Middleton 3 for 7.11lb, S. Montgomery 3 for 6.13lb, L. Taylor 3 for 7.4lb and 6 c/r, D. Frater 3 on c/r, G. Fisher 4 for 16.4lb, K. MacMillan 3 for 6.12lb, J. O'Hara was back again with 3 for 9.12lb and 1 c/r and a cracking brown, I. Mc Clean 3 for 11.4lb one was 5.14lb, J. Kettles 5 for 10.4lb, St. Mungos Angling Club 10 for 23.7lb and 1 c/r, Rainbow Warriors 30 for 62lb, J. Epp 4 for 10.3lb, Bridge of Weir 10 for 25.2lb. Evenings finish at 10.30pm now.

Fishing Report Week Ending 19 July 2015

It is still top of the water sport with floating lines. Daddy's, sedges and yellow owl's out performing everything else. School bay and the heather hills were the best spots, with the high banks a very close second. Drifting was the best method used this week, covering more water and fish. The fish are well spread out. It is the height of our summer at the moment, so the trout should be looking up to see what is hatching of the surface for an easy meal, or to see what is being blown on to the surface, again for an easy meal. Some stunning big fish are making an appearance at this time, and they will check your knots and tackle to the max, if you hook one. Some anglers opted for the anchor this week, using the washing line method of a fab or booby on the point, with diawl bach's or crunchers. They did okay, but not as good as the boys on the dry. Well done to First Bannockburn on Sunday. They were out fishing, as well as putting on a charity day for Strathcaron Hospice. It was one of their ways to say thank you, to the hospice for looking after Charlie Horne. One of their members who sadly passed away earlier this year. They managed to raise £650.00 on the day for the hospice. Well done to everyone who helped run and organize the event. kyle from the club was the top angler on the day, and so, picked up the first place trophy and a cheque for £100.00 that was donated from Charlie's wife. Kyle said "thank you", then immediately handed the money back to go into the hospice funds also. Who said our local bus drivers don't have a caring soft side. Well done boys. 

On Saturday day session we cancelled the boats for safety, as the wind was to gust up to speeds of 47mph. The evening boats were still on as the wind had died down. The boys that fished the evening had a good night on dries. McIntosh 5 on c/r on sedges, McGill 4 on c/r on sedges, Livingstone 4 on c/r on cruncher, comorant and sedge, S. Robertson 9 on c/r on washing line, using booby and buzzer method. Other anglers that did well, J. O'Hara 3 for 6.11lb, First Bannockburn 12 for 27.8lb, W. McSpadgen 3 for 105lb and 1 c/r on sedge, Anglers Attick 8 on c/r on sedges, J. Sneddon 3 for 6.10 and 3 c/r, J. O'Hara was back again catching 3 this time for 9.3lb and 8 c/r, M Peeney 5 on c/r, J. Kerr 3 for 6.4lb and 1 c/r. The evening finish time is now 10.30pm. The water is in great condition, crystal clear and full to the brim.

Fishing Report Week Ending 12 July 2015

The loch is covered in sedges and mayfly at the moment. Then it got even better. The big trout are hitting the perch fry. The swifts, black headed gulls and terin's have been working the water all week. The natural feeding moving and coming off the water, at the moment is astonishing. The fish are on the feed. Anglers who spooned their fish found bellies full of mayfly and sedges. Some of the big fish were hooked but lost, and that is on 13lb nylon. The fish are loving this natural food source that is abundant at the moment. which means they are putting on weight and muscle. Great news for us anglers. Regular senior angler John O'Hara was back this week after a week of with a bad back. He did an evening session on Sunday night and said he had to stop fishing and move position as he caught and released over 20 fish on a red sedge. Some were crackers. Hot spots this week were, School bay and the high banks. Anglers using the washing line method, with green/olive crunchers, cormorants or diawl bach's did very well. The fish are at the top of the water. Gartcosh angling club were out on Saturday, and 4 of there boats were back in the lodge by lunch time finished, fishing in School bay. So had time so socialise. 10 out of 10 for that. The water is crystal clear so we advise you to stay seated in the boats. Standing up means the fish can see you. It may put them off. Anglers that did well this week, A. Anderson 4 on c/r on buzzers, G. Mooney 3 for 9.6lb on dries, Findlay Mc Donald 3 for 10.3lb, Camp and Camp 3 on c/r one about 6lb, R. Kennedy 3 on c/r on G&H sedge, S. Gordon3 for 10.5lb on yellow owl, Gartcosh Angling club 44 for 90lb, Grangemouth Fly Fishing 16 for 43lb and 3 c/r, Falkirk Municipal 19 for 43.12lb, Barry's Angling Club 7 for 15.9lb.

This Sunday organized by Davy Symon. the Bannockburn fly fishers have an outing at the Loch. Also it is in memory of Charlie Horne, his brother in law who passed away recently and was a member of the club. Charlie's sister is coming up and is putting on a barbeque free for all who want it. Davy has approached various tackle shops in the area and has had donations of various items for this Sunday. Drop in a prize if you want. There will be a auction/raffle with the proceeds going to Strathcarron hospice, as a thank you, for all that they did for Charlie while he was in their care. Some boats are still available, but if you don't want to fish, please come up and support Davy and his wife and buy a raffle ticket for a great cause, or just to show your appreciation to" The Wee man."

Fishing Report Week Ending 5 July 2015

The weather again is a hot topic this week. As we know a big change in atmospheric pressure does not help when fishing, The trout don't like it. So the thunder and lightning at the weekend and the huge change in atmospheric pressure that it causes makes anglers work hard for there fish. The middle of the loch fished the best this week with small traditional flies like bibio's, wingless wickhams, soldier palmer and ke-he. Fished the traditional wet fly style. A steady retrieve on a slow sinking line. Booby and cormorants also did well as did big sedge patterns. Anglers who did well this week, Anglers attic 8 fish for 21.11lb on sedge and candy booby, John O Hara 3 for 11.10lb on a sedge, then back again with 3 for 9.4lb and 4 c/r on sedge again, John Kerr 3 for 9.4lb and 1 c/r, Longannet A.C. 9 for 25.9lb, Priory angling club 15 for 42lb and 1 c/r, Luggiebank Fly Dressers 11 for 31.3lb. Evening sessions are still on till 11.00pm 7 days a week. The fish this week are coming on Friday from Ae fishery in Dumfries. This is the company who we get the blues from. It is rainbows they are stocking this time. Let us know what you think about them. But you have to catch them first. Contact Alex on 07527 254811 for bookings and boat availability.

Fishing Report Week Ending 28 June 2015

** NB - Sorry for the late report - technology is great when it works properly!! **

It was a week for the big fish. It started with one at 6lb then two at 7lb then one at 8lb. The trout are on the sedges and the big fish are scooping them up in numbers. Up still Saturday the weather was settled and the fishing was constant. Then on Sunday it got colder the wind done a complete u turn and changed conditions again. With much more warmer and settled weather forecast it should make for good fishing or sun bathing if the forecast is correct. Again right along the high banks was the hot spot fishing close to the lilly's. The washing line method of a fab or booby on point then buzzers, or diawl bachs had the best results. During the evening session the top of water fished well with sedge imitations and hares ear hopper's fished dry working well. Good catches this week went to John O'Hara with 3 for 7.6lb on a yellow owl and 4 c/r, G. Fisher 4 for 14.6lb, Harry Broadley 3 for 13.10lb and 3 c/r on cormorants, John O'Hara was back again on a three fish ticket catching 3 for 10.12lb, M. Kershaw senior 6 on c/r on doobri, M. Kershaw junior 6 on buzzers, David Symon 3 on c/r on cormorants, G. Steele 5 for 14.9lb on candy and buzzers and 1 c/r, S. Gordon 5 for 14.2lb on yellow owl, B Taylor 5 on c/r on pheasant tail/cruncher, Falkirk Fly Dressers 31 fish for 88.2lb and 5 c/r, Bill Braitwait4 for 9.10lb and 4 c/r on a damsel. Evening sessions are still on till 11.00pm. Please remember to put on sun protection as the forecast is for sun.