BUTTERSTONE (Dunkeld) This week saw 2 anglers coming very close to receiving a prize but saw many more having a great time trying. Fishing during last week has not been for the complete novice or the unlucky as the fish have been slightly less willing to jump into the boats but having said that with a week’s catch return of 509 fish for a total of 1033lbs 9oz giving an average weight of 2.03lbs its not been brain science either!
Flies that have been doing well included the fishery owner’s nightmare – the dreaded Booby however Cormorants have dropped off in favour of Buzzers (most of Saturday’s catch came to them) and the good old Kate McLaren has still been bagging her share of fish. Best club this week went to Dundee west end with a total of 55 fish for 115lb 7oz. Biggest fish went to Gary Jones of the Outlaw AC at 11lb 10oz (just short of the magic 12lb mark) followed by Sandy Robertson Jnr. with a cracking 10lb 9oz rainbow that fell to a White Cat Booby.
There are 2 boats available for this coming Saturday and plenty space through the week so get booked up and set a new record. Thanks to all who fished last week hope to see you all for one last cast before the season finishes.
FRANDY (Gleneagles) It was a very quiet week due to persistently strong and at times extremely cold north winds. On the club front IBM F/C kept 24 fish weighing 55lb, Tullibole A/C took 17 fish for 31lb 10oz and Leslie Llanilar A/C had 14 fish weighing 26lb 7oz.
The favourite flies and lures last week included Snatchers, Yellow & Coral Dancers and Fritz Olive Damsels fished with intermediate lines and the best fishing area was on the north shore from the dogleg to the dam wall.
ORCHILL LOCH (Braco) Hamish Carmichael from Alloa caught 4 fish for 9lbs 8oz on a Yellow Dancer, William Smith, Menstrie, 3 for 8lbs 8oz on a Black & Green Fritz, Peter Paterson, Menstrie, used Buzzers to bag 3 for 6lbs 8oz and Peter McLean, Clackmannan had 6 fish weighing 14lbs on a Silver lure. Jim Duncan from Alva had 3 fish for 7lbs on a Damsel, Jim Prentice, Tullibody, 5 fish for 14lbs on a White Fritz, Jim Colley, Bonnybridge, 4 fish for 9lbs 8oz on a Damsel and Harry Graham, Glenrothes took 6 for 19lbs 8oz on a Black Fritz. Jim Denny, from Dunipace had 3 for 9lbs on an Olive, Alec Hoggan, Bonnybridge, 3 fish for 7lbs 8oz on a Sedge and Alistair Lennox, Cupar, 2 for 8lbs on a Yellow Dancer.
TRIBUTE
Elizabeth Jackson, owner of Orchill Loch Trout Fishery pays tribute to regular visitor Rab Mitchell from Menstrie who died suddenly last week after taking ill at the end of his holiday in Spain.
‘Rab’ was great character who always had a smile and a joke for everyone, and with his special friend Ada was here on the Wednesday before they went on holiday. Rab will be sorely missed not only by his family and Ada but all his fishing, gliding and country and western friends and many more who will remember his cheery smile. We have had so many good and sad times here over the last 15 years and each year we raise the money for Strathcarron Hospice in memory of Rab’s late wife Letty. We will all be able to remember the humour and funny incidents we have all shared over the years. Rab will be remembered with great admiration and affection and our sympathy goes out to his two daughters, Wendy and Lorna and his grandson Stuart and Ada at this sad time.’’
ORCHILL LOCH COARSE PONDS (Braco) It was a lovely day on Saturday for the County Championship match that was won by Mark Cook with 33 lbs 11 oz from Peg 32. James Woodrow on Peg 28 was second with 32lbs 2oz, Colin Skeel came third with 24lbs 10oz from Peg 26, third place went to Colin Kerr with 22lbs 14oz from Peg 34 and Ian Whitson on Peg 30 took fourth place with a bag of 20 lbs 10 oz.
On Thursday Tony Ball had a great day’s fishing catching 70 lbs of carp, chub and tench, Mark Gleave from Auchterarder had another good day catching 45 lbs of mixed fish and Allan Colon, Tranent, had a good day on Sunday catching 70 lbs of carp, 1 at 7 lbs, 2 at 6 lbs and 1 at 5 lbs on peg 45.
SWANSWATER (Stirling) The recent drop in water temperature brought about by some chilly nights has certainly livened up the ponds and led to the best week’s fishing for some time, with Brown trout, in particular, now much more active. The fish are still well spread out and there are no real hotspots although several Browns were taken from the roadside fishing towards the wooded island. Buzzer, Damsel, Hare’s Ear, Diawl Bach, Bibio, Kate McLaren, Spider and Dancer were the most successful patterns with black the favourite colour. Various dry flies are also still catching especially in the small ponds, both for anglers wishing to take fish and for those on catch and release. The Swanswater Cygnets had a successful outing on Sunday with Paul Taylor and Robert Fyfe leading the catches with three fish each. Cygnets’ classes continue until the end of October,
Some of this week’s best bags included Jim Laughlin, Tullibody, 2 Blues for 15lb bigger one at 8lb, John Moyes, Grangemouth, 7lb 12oz Blue, Brian Hogg, Glasgow, 7lb 2oz Blue, Peter O’Brien, Camelon, 3 for 11lb 12oz including 6lb 2oz Brown and a Gold and John Alcock, Balloch, 4 for 14lb 14oz including 6lb Rainbow, 4lb Gold and a Blue. Jimmy Marshall, Stirling, 3 for 11lb including 5lb 12oz Rainbow, Alec Mitchell, Polmont, 4 for 13lb including 5lb 4oz Rainbow, Stephen Connelly, Newtongrange, 3 for 10lb 12oz including 2 Blues, bigger one at 5lb 4oz and John Wotherspoon, Stirling, 3 for 10lb 4oz including 5lb Blue. John Relf, Falkirk, 4 for 11lb 12oz including 5lb Blue from the Meadow Pond, Archie Smith, Ardrossan, 5 for 15lb 6oz including 4 Blues, biggest at 4lb 10oz, and 4lb 4oz Rainbow, Tam Rodgerson, Kennet, 5 for 15lb including 2 Blues and Danny Doherty, Denny, 5 for 10lb 4oz including 4 Browns and a Blue. George Kochanek, Tullibody, 5 for 11lb 8oz including 3 Browns, Tom Marr, Edinburgh, 3 for 9lb 4oz, Brian Wood, Dunfermline, 3 for 9lb including a Blue and Nan Morrison, Stirling, 2 Browns for 4lb.
LOCH VENACHAR (Trossachs) Well, it certainly is autumn weather with sun, rain, wind and sometimes cold all in equal measure. However, this is better news for the fishing. Although the water level is still excessively low we are at least seeing the fish rising again in greater numbers and the last few days especially seem to have re-awakened the trout population. When the loch is calm it is fascinating to watch the fish rising in numbers.
Trout catches reported recently included F. Baskerville who caught two beautiful fish on Friday 16th September weighing in at 1lb 10 oz and 2lb 1oz respectively. Eddie McGuire from Glasgow landed one brownie approximately 1lb 6oz and Geordie Allan from Falkirk caught two at around the 1 lb mark.
As per usual the pike fishing at Venachar is in a healthy state with numerous significant catches being reported recently, particularly during the Help for Heroes fundraising event which raised a large amount of money for the charity. Thanks to everyone who took the time to participate. All pike caught have been described as being in excellent condition with minimal disease and/or damage which is in no small part due to responsible practices by our fishermen and our continuing efforts to keep Venachar clean.
Featuring amongst the best catches were A. Rosinsky from Germany who caught three pike weighing 8lb, 7lb, 4lb using sardines, James Johnson from Uddingston landed three pike weighing in at 15, 10 and 7lbs using mackerel and Scott McKenzie from Glasgow caught two pike using a float and mackerel off Otter Island weighing 11lb 8oz and 8lb. Chris Barlow from Wishaw had a hugely successful trip fishing from the boat with his nephew ( 5 year old Liam McMahon) and father landing a total of six pike weighing 18lb 4oz, 16lb, 13lb 8oz, 12lb, 7lb and 2lb using roach and perch as bait. The 16 lb fish was caught by 5 year old Liam using a 6” perch dead bait – a good day by anyone’s standards!
