FISHING LINES

Lake of Menteith In the Sierra Pairs Open 16 boats landed 121 fish for 286lb and returned an estimated 80 fish. Best fish of the day was 7lb 4oz, taken late on in the match by Lee Lindope and William, who will now be able to fish the Golden Grove Fishery. The winning pair were Harris Campbell and Brian Carngie, whose bag of eight fish weighed nearly 25lb and included a brace of rainbows for 11lb 1oz. Evening fishing starts on Monday, May 1, and the evening boat league starts two days later. Single can register by contacting Douglas on 07752 128489 or turn up on the night. More than £2000 of prizes are on offer. Boat partners are drawn each night by lottery. The competition is sponsored by James Bayne and Andy Smith of Southside Decorators. Orchill Alexanders FFC had a good day, taking 37 fish for 109lb, with R McCann having the heaviest basket with four fish for 24lb 4oz. Top local catches: Allan Mitchell (Stirling) three for 13lb with best 7lb on a Yellow Owl; Robbie Scotland (Stirling) three fish for 10lb 8oz on a Blob; John Stevenson (Bannockburn) three for 9lb on Buzzers; Bill Dawson (Dollar) caught fish for 9lb on a Plumber. Frandy On the individual front Ronnie Stewart (Alva) kept four weighing 8lb 4oz and released a further four; Tom Clodes (Dollar) caught and released seven; Ben McGovern (Sauchie) caught and released seven and David Hatley (Alloa) caught and released 12. Bothwell and Blantyre AC kept 44 fish weighing 82lb 15oz and released a further six; Wellington AC kept 12 fish weighing 28lb 4oz; Aberdour Angling AC 26 weighing 51lb 5oz and Kinross Ex-Servicemens AC kept 12 weighing 24lb 5oz. Top taking flies last week included the Cormorant, Cut Throat Cat, Fritz Damsel, Okey Dokey and the Bloodworm and the best area remains on the south shore from the Smithscleuch Burn to the Dam Wall. Swanswater The fishing remained good for most of the week, despite the cool winds and cold nights. Rainbows were in the top three feet of the water and the browns were taken in the top 12 inches. Browns were looking for a faster retrieve and were usually after traditional wets, although some were taking small lures. The water remains very clear and the current temperature is 9˚C, which is ideal for trout feeding. Hatches remain quite small because of the cold nights so fish are looking for artificial flies. Fish are starting to be caught behind the islands and up the roadside, with the far bay also being a popular area, particularly for the Browns. avourite patterns included lures and wets such as Kate McLaren, Bibio and Soldier Palmer. Top local catches: Rab Bonar (Alloa) four for 11lb 8oz including three browns; Greig Donaldson (Alloa) four for 11lb 8oz including two browns, bigger one at 3lb 8oz; Ian McLean caught and released seven and Mark Ramage caught and released seven. Glenbervie Sandy Dickson and David Robertson had 13 trout each; Andy McAulay 12; Bill Buchan 11; Gary Graham, Ronnie Couper and Stephen Gunn 10; John Patrick caught eight including three trout for 7lb 4oz anmd Jim Harper also landed eight; J Wilson and Alastair Bruce seven; Jason Taylor six; G McKinley, Ross Hamill, Willie Russell, David Ford and David Guild five. Best patterns on fly have been Yellow Owl, Suspended Buzzers, Spiders, Wotsits, Purple Prancer and Apps Bloodworms. On bait Tom Gray, David McLay, D Taylor, and T Dodds all had three.