Busy month for Lake of Menteith anglers WITH NEIL ANDERSON

At the LAKE OF MENTEITH the weather this last week has been rather variable, with high winds and heavy rain to very low wind and bright sunshine.

There have still been good reports of catches particularly on the dry fly around Gateside bay, Malling shore and Todd Hole.

The water level is now beginning to drop back to a normal height after a few dry days over the weekend.

The Ladies National championship was held, with the overall winner Jean Ferguson with 11 fish.

Jean won both heats making her the National and Overall Ladies Champion for 2019.

What a weekend at KINROSS TROUT FISHERY with 110 anglers over the two days with some amazing catch returns and a lot of fish caught on dries.

Flies of note were various dries, Ally McCoists, yellow eggs, yellow dancers and buzzers to name just a few with fish active on the surface more.

The £100 cash draw winner over the weekend was Stephan Lee and the TroutMasters for the month stands at Grant Benvie 14lb 11oz, Shaun Craig 14lb 1oz and Robb Hall 14lb.

MONIKIE has benefited from the cooler weather and yet another stocking this past week. Fish are very active on the surface and responding well to dries and washing line tactics.

The Goth Fly Fishing Club with six boats (11 rods) kept 22 for 42lbs 4ozs and the Arbroath Angling Club kept 38 for 76lbs 8ozs and returned another 35.

Notable individual returns include H Lewis with five for 10lbs 8ozs, J Gibb with four for 7lbs 10ozs and returning two.

Visitors E Craig and A Craig kept four fish for 9lbs 10ozs and returned 13, H Anderson and K Davidson returning all 12 caught, W Cathro and A Ramsay with eight for 17lbs 5ozs, D Brown keeping five fish for 11lbs, K Giblin and B McLellan with 10 for 20lbs and returning five, M Tidcombe and P Kilminster with 10 for 22lbs 8ozs and returning five, H Lewis with five fish for 10lbs 12ozs and returning three, H Anderson returning all seven caught, K Giblin keeping five for 10lbs and D Couper with four for 9lbs 9ozs. Successful patterns include cormorants, dry flies, cormorant boobies, invicta, white booby, brown and claret hopper, Kate McLaren, goats toe and blue cruncher.

Last week at FRANDY FISHERY the top taking flies and lures included the yellow dancer, cormorants and the hot head damsel with the best fishing areas being in the middle to the Far Shore.

Fishing from the bank Andy Hunter, Alloa, caught and released nine, Raymond Pirrie (Tullibody) had seven c/r whilst Mark Ferry and Jimmy Short from Stirling kept 10 weighing 21lb while fishing from a boat.

On the angling club front Dundee West End AC kept 10 weighing 19lb 6oz, Pitcarmick A/C six weighing 10lb 14oz, Loch Inch A/C two for 4lb 8oz, Roybridge A/C five for 9lb and Wiremill A/C kept 12 weighing 20lb 5oz. Penicuik A/C kept six weighing 11lb 9oz, St Mungo A/C 13 for 24lb 10oz, Perth Ex-Servicemen’s A/C four weighing 7lb 6oz, The Edinburgh Masonic Club had six for 12lb 12oz and Kelty Artisan kept 10 weighing 20lb 4oz.

At LOCH LEVEN weather, especially the high winds, made for challenging fishing last week on the loch.

Some anglers have managed to get some action and John Reilly, out on his own last Thursday, had a very nice basket of fish.

John had nine trout with the best estimated between 5-6lbs and all were returned.

The fish were taken deep but using traditional flies.

The Kate McLaren had the most in the area just off Brock’s Hole to the Back of Yards at the very east end of the loch.

There has been a fairly prolific bloom of green algae this past 10 days quite unusual at this time of the year as normally there is a presence of brown algae (Diatom) in the back end of the season.

Fish are still “patrolling” the weed beds, ambushing the large numbers of fry to be found in or near to the weed but catching these trout can be very challenging indeed. If any fisheries, clubs or individuals would like their news included in this column email sales@angusangling.co.uk or contact Neil Anderson on 01307 466366 or 07759 022503. Tight Lines!