Fishing returns
LAKE OF MENTEITH FISHERIES
Opening day saw one of the finest spells of weather on record and the sunshine input over the last 11 days has increased the water temperature from 5.5C on opening day to 11C at a depth of 6ft earlier in the week.
The increase in temperature has seen some spectacular buzzer hatches - usually around midday - and catches have increased dramatically since opening day’s rather meagre reports.
Best areas have been the roadshore (Kates Brae) and Todhole and the Butts - with one angler saying “where did we no get fish?” and another saying “at times we couldn’t breath for buzzers”. Not surprisingly buzzers have been the best method - fished on the hang. Interestingly, Keith Logan did well (21 fish) fishing them on a washing line type set up with a Di3.
Catches for quite a few individuals have been well into double figures. Dries and lures have also been working.
A flavour of the catches at the weekend. Costa Ecosse netted 44 and Dalzell AC had 157 with their 10 boats. Heriots caught 59 with their six boats, Kelvinside didnt mark in with their four boats. Kevin McCabe was out last week and netted a stunning silver finned resident.
Day session times are 9am (or as soon as you are ready - gates open 8am) till 5pm. Voting emails on the rule change proposal for the boat league will be going out this week.
Plenty of boats available (unusually) on the following weekend days due to competitions moving or heat cancellations (May 15, May 29, June 12 and October 29).
SWANSWATER FISHERY
There was a definite feeling of spring in the air this week with some lovely warm weather and bright sunshine, but there were still some overnight frosts which kept the water temperature around 6oC. Water clarity is excellent, and fish can be seen moving in the top couple of feet of the ponds.
Despite the bright sunshine, the fish were generally near the surface of Swanswater and were occasionally being tempted by dry flies, although most were taken on the usual mixture of lures and nymphs. The area from the dam to the boat corner and along the far bank was holding most fish with the overflow also fishing well.
Some tremendous Browns, Blues and Tigers are being caught on all three ponds, along with the usual top-quality Rainbows and Golds. Favourite fly patterns included Dancer, Cat’s Whisker, Damsel, Diawl Bach, Cormorant, Buzzer and Bloodworm.
On the bait pond, mepps, green or orange power bait, spinners and worms were all taking fish.
The fishery is open from 8am to 7pm every day except for Thursday when it closes at 2.30pm.
Amongst those doing well on the fly ponds were John McLean four for 15lb including 7lb 4oz Brown, a Gold and a Blue, plus two catch and release; David Robertson two for 9lb including 6lb 4oz Rainbow; Stuart Black four for 13lb 10oz including 5lb 8oz Rainbow; Glen Anderson two for 8lb 8oz including 5lb 12oz Brown and a Gold; Frank Barr three for 11lb 4oz including 5lb 8oz Rainbow plus two C&R and three for 8lb plus three C&R; Andy Wilson four for 13lb 8oz including 5lb Rainbow; Calen McLachlan five for 13lb including three Golds plus three C&R and three for 8lb including a Gold and a Blue plus three C&R; Danny Doherty five for 12lb including three Golds and two Blues plus eight C&R; Allan Laing four for 11lb 2oz including two Golds and two Blues; Jim McInnes three for 10lb 4oz including 4lb Brown plus three C&R; Charlie Price three for 9lb 12oz plus four C&R; David McKay three for 9lb 8oz; Billy Weir three for 9lb including a Gold and a Blue; Witold three for 8lb 8oz including two Browns plus three C&R including 5lb Brown; Sandy Donald two for 6lb 12oz including a Tiger; Barry Lee two for 6lb 8oz; Steven Cunningham two for 6lb including a Blue; Nan Morrison two for 5lb 4oz including a Gold and a Tiger; Bradley Stevenson, Paul Ryder and Robert McColl all 10 C&R; Frank Barr eight C&R; Dale Adams seven C&R; Mark Anthony six C&R including three Golds; John Thomson six C&R including a Brown; John Duncan three C&R including a Blue estimated at 10lb.
A selection of the catches on the bait pond included Iain Fern, on two tickets, six for 15lb including 4lb 4oz Rainbow, two Browns, two Golds and a Tiger; Ally Douglas 5lb Rainbow; Doug Shepherd four for 8lb including three Golds; William and John Reid shared 10 for 23lb 4oz including four Golds and a Blue; Steven Devlin three for 6lb; Robert Couse two for 4lb including a Tiger; Lee Hunt four for 7lb 12oz including two Golds and a Blue; Jim Plenderleith four Golds for 8lb; Jordan Anderson four for 9lb including a Gold and a Blue; Tam Hislop three for 6lb including a Gold and a Blue; David Livingston two for 7lb 12oz; Colin Flaws two for 3lb 8oz including a Gold; Bob, Ross and Zhao shared nine for 19lb including 4lb Rainbow, three Golds and two Blues on one visit and eight for 13lb 8oz including a Gold on a second visit; James Elliott three for 6lb; Sam Parker two for 4lb.