FISHING LINES

Orchill The fish have been taking just under the surface when it is calm. When the cold wind is on they are lying four to five feet down. Among the best bags last week was K McKinnon from Cowdenbeath with a brace weighing 6lbs 4oz on a Diawl Bach; Keith Hunter, Tullibody, three for 9 lbs on a Damsel; Kong, Crieff, two for 6lbs on a Yellow Dancer and Craig Peattie from Glenrothes used an Apps Bloodworm to take two for 5lbs. John Brindley from Liverpool had two for 6lbs on an Ally; P Fleming, Methil, three for 9lbs on an Orange Dancer and Bob Garvie from Lennoxtown had two for 7lbs on Wee Spiders. W Dunnachie (Falkirk) caught two for 6lbs 8oz on a Diawl Bach; P Jones (Crieff ) two for 6lbs 8oz on a Bibio and G Cullinan (Edinburgh) managed two for 6lbs on a Damsel. Frandy The Beast from the East deposited rather a lot of snow in the area, resulting in the opening being delayed, but it is now well and truly open for the 2018 season. Due to the very cold conditions angling numbers have been a bit down but those who took the drive up into the Ochils were well rewarded. Craig Mason from Falkirk kept three fish weighing 11lb, Archie Miller, Perth, two for 6lb 4oz, Jim Donnelly, Tullibody two for 5lb 12oz and released a further four, and Bobby Paterson, St Ninians, had four on c/r. Albert McKinnes from Tullibody caught four on a C and R ticket, Mark Paterson, St Ninians, four on c/r and Raymond Pirrie, Tullibody, caught and released five. On the angling club front St Peters Fly Fishers kept 19 fish weighing 60lb 8oz, Bridge of Allan AC 76 took nine fish weighing 25lb and the Ayr Travellers caught and released 12. The top taking flies and lures included the Blue Flash Olive Damsel, Black Zonker, Ace of Spades and the Cut Throat Cat, whilst the best fishing area was on the south shore from the Fishery Lodge to the Dam Wall. Individual returns: Eric Fox and Jamie Pyper (Edinburgh) kept 10 weighing 31lb and released a further 19. Tom Monaghan (Stirling) caught and released six. Club returns: Foresters Fishing Syndicate kept 12 weighing 31lb 8oz and released a further nine. Gartmore A/C kept 37 weighing 90lb 11oz and released a further seven. Rainbow Warriors A/C kept 29 weighing 78lb 2oz and released a further 37. Perth Ex-Servicemens A/C kept 11 weighing 27lb. ABC&D A/C kept 22 weighing 49lb. Favourite fly/lure: Hot Head Damsel, Cormorants, Cats Whisker, Kate Maclaren, Coral Dancer. Swanswater At the start of the week the fish were generally deep and mainly in the main area of Swanswater. As the week went on they came up in the water and some were to be found in the top two feet. Early in the week an intermediate line fished with lures or Buzzers was the best tactic with nymphs or wet flies doing well towards the weekend. Favourite patterns included Cat’s Whisker, Cut-throat Cat, Dancer, Ace of Spades, Bibio, Kate McLaren, Damsel, Snatcher and Spider. The biggest fish landed this week was a superb 5lb 4oz Gold taken by Nan Morrison on her first outing after a number of weeks of forced absence due to the weather. Some of the best catches: Nan Morrison, Stirling, three for 11lb 8oz including two Golds, bigger one at 5lb 4oz; Rab Bonar, Alloa, five for 15lb including a Blue and a Brown; Danny Doherty, Denny, five for 13lb, plus 1 c/r; Barry Henderson, Sauchie, four for 13lb 8oz including a Blue, plus three c/r; Kyle Crossan, Stirling, four for 11lb 8oz; Willie Nyguist, Stirling, four for 11lb 4oz including a Blue; Gareth Mair, Kincardine, four for 11lb including a Brown, plus nine c/r on two other visits; Alan Armstrong, Dollar, three for 9lb including a Gold, plus four c/r; Conor Bernard caught and released six; Brian Lockie, caught and released four including two Tigers and a Brown estimated at 8lb. The fishery is now open from 8am to 7pm every day. Glenbervie Most trout can still be caught a couple of feet from the surface. J Watson caught two including a 5lb 2oz rainbow, K Learmonth released four, Derek Russell c/r fifteen, I Bailey got four, Peter Fish landed three, Mr Mckennan caught four for 8lb 4oz, Mr Wick had four for 10lb 6oz, A Mitchell got three for 7lb 2oz, Scott Murphy released fifteen, Paul Bell landed two for 5lb 14oz, Duncan Mcallum had fifteen and Bill Buchan caught six. Glenbervie Fishery competition on fly finished with first place for Andy Mcaulay with 12 trout, second Frank Turner with 12 and third for Alan Harper with 11. Damien Handy got the prize for heaviest bag (three for 11lb 14oz) with 71 trout caught that day. Dave Ewning had three for 6lb 7oz, Gavin Russell landed three for 8lb 10oz, Kevin Aird managed three for 7lb and Colin Easton had five including three for 6lb 8oz. On bait: Mr Waugh caught three, D Leckie and D Hunter had two each, Henry Marshall got four, G Norris landed four and George Wilson caught three for 10lb 6oz. The fishery is open every day from 8am-dusk. For information call 07968251832 or email glenberviefishery@gmail.com.