Boat League win for Bill
Lake of Menteith Fisheries The last night of the Boat League was won by Gil Farid with eight fish but his victory was swamped by the overall picture - with lure specialist and retired oil worker Bill Ramage from Alloa managing to out-catch serial Boat League champion Brian MacKenzie to win the title.
It was all down to the final night but Bill had in reallity won in it in May and June when he acheived a first, second, first and first placings in consecutive heats.
After the best nine results were selected from a possible 14, Bill finished with 17 points, Brian was on second with 20 points and Peter Cameron third with 56.
Bill’s success came thanks to his White Cat, around two inches in length tied on a size 10 hook. Fished with a floater or a midge tip the fly sits around six inches under the water and the secret is to keep pulling till the fish are on.
Rod average this year in the Boat League was 4.17 fish per angler per shift, up from 3.54 and 3.58 in the previous two years.
The improvement of 17 per cent is a significant figure as it is calculated over a long period and with a good number of anglers and gives a reasonable comparison of year to year performance as unfortunately public catch records at the fishery are a little sporadic.
Bill, who was second last year, collected the Boat League quaich and £500 in cash from the angler kitty.
He also picked up a £150 Baynes of Callander tackle voucher and chose to nominate the last night’s permit takings (£390 donated by Lake of Mentieth) to Strathcarron Hospice.
Second placed Brian collected £150 cash (£100 donated by Southside Decorators) and a £75 Baynes Tackle voucher and third placed Peter Cameron picked up £50 in cash and a £50 tackle voucher.
Andy Smith of Southside Decorators awarded the best picture of a fish caught during the comp to Mark Steven (bottle of malt).
In all £1600 worth of prizes were dispensed during the competition and £390 donated to charity.
The catering was provided free of charge by the fishery on the last night and thanks again to Nada for the delicious cakes. Frandy (Gleneagles) Top local catches: Ian McKenzie and party (Blackford) kept 13 fish weighing 26lb; Archie Davidson (Stirling) three for 7lb 8oz; Jim Sheehan and Peter Tong (Bridge of Allan) five for 10lb 4oz;.
On the angling club front Falkirk FC had 16 for 35lb; Grangemouth AC 16 for 35lb; 12oz, Townhill AC 52 for 104lb and 14 released and Stirling Castle AC had 29 for 66lb 8oz.
Best catching flies last week included the Kate McLaren, Sedgehogs, Sedge Muddlers, Daddy Longlegs, Naked Spur, Bloodworm and the Bibio Hopper whilst all areas are currently fishing well. Orchill Loch (Braco) Last Friday, Perthshire AC caught 21 fish for 56lbs 4oz with Bruce McNaughton taking the heaviest basket of four for 11lbs.
On Sunday, Kilsyth AC had a good day catching 36 fish for 102lbs 8oz with Garry Paton taking the heaviest catch with four for 14lbs 12oz.
Two youngsters, Cody from Ibiza and Richard Todd from Jamaica, both caught a fish each at 2lbs 4oz on a Buzzer and a Cat’s Whisker. Other notable catches: Charles McKinlay (Dunipace) a 5lb fish on a Bloodworm; John Coelho (Dunblane) two for 5lbs and Hamish Carmichael (Alloa) two for 7lbs on a Diawl Bach. Swanswater Fishery Changeable weather this week meant that the fishing was challenging at times, but those anglers willing to persevere with different tactics still enjoyed some fantastic sport.
The gold trout continue to be stocked and the brightly coloured fish can often be seen cruising just below the surface.
When the fish were feeding best a floating line was usually all that was necessary, fishing around two feet down with a moderate retrieve.
Although during tougher periods the key was to go deeper with a slower retrieve.
The usual flies accounted for most fish this week with Damsels, Dancers and some Nymphs including Diawl Bach and Cruncher having the most success. Great sport was also had with dry flies this week.
Top local catches: Danny Doherty (Denny) five for 14lb 8oz plus two released; Donald McMurchy (Fallin) four for 10lb 12oz including two golds; Frank Barr (Falkirk) three for 8lb 12oz plus one released; Ian Munroe (Stirling) six released; Robert Smith (Stirling) four released including estimated 8lb rainbow. Glenbervie Fishery Fishing improved a little a bit in the last few days. Dropping temperature of water and a few heavy showers of rain stirred up everything.
Fish are still caught mostly on surface.
Notable catches: Ally Bruce eight on Yellow Budgie; Damien Handy and David Ford seven; Alan Wighton, Andy McAulay and Andy Telfer six; Alan Wartie five; Steven Gunn and Ronnie Couper four; George Kochanek, Jim Govan, Mark Mackenzie, Duncan Taylor and Jim McCartney three.
The most successful patterns this week: Yellow Owl, various buzzers, hoppers and Diawl Bach.
On bait: Barry Ferguson and K Craig landed 14 between them.