Fishing returns
LAKE OF MENTEITH
Catching has been pretty good. The dry flies are still working out of the wind and the top areas have been Malling Shore, Butts and Gateside. The changeover to the new booking portal is scheduled for this week. It will be a one stop book and pay operation with special dispensation for clubs to pay with different methods on the day if required.
The Pike Fly Fishing Association was out last Saturday with 12 boats and some fine specimens were landed - seven double figure fish (biggest 19lbs) and 14 fish of less than 10lbs.
The big fish points were dominated by English visitors to the lake. Congratulations to Richard Grave who landed a cracking 18.04lb fish winning himself the VISION Big Mama reel, Big Mama line, backing, Vee cap and engraved tankard. Second place went to his boat partner Paul Varcoe with a fish of 15.08lb, winning a Grand Daddy line and Gillie cap. Third place went to Andy Cheetham with a 14lb fish, winning the Big Mama fly box and Natives 4.0 Cap. Fourth place to Marc Light with a lovely fish of 13.08lb winning the Mega Tungsten forceps.
Thanks to VISION UK and David Bilbrough for their prizes and support and to the PFFA for prize donations.
On the fourth night of the shortened 2020 Menteith Boat League sponsored by
Fario Flies, 22 anglers went out and caught a combined total of 159 fish.
The winner was Keir Hardie with 24 fish catching his first at 6.23pm, fishing using a midge tip with Diawlbachs. Second was Bill Ramage with 16 fish, caught using a Cat Booby. Craig Inglis was third. He caught 13 fish with his first being at 6.12pm. Thomas Mcmillan was fourth, winning a free night’s boat league voucher.
Notable methods on the night were Dries, Diawlbachs, Candy Booby and Nymphs. There were several productive areas which were Malling Shore, Sams Point and the Cages.
FRANDY
Fishing from the bank - Davie Hunter from Alloa caught and released five; Raymond Pirrie (Tullibody) three c/r.
Best boat returns - Dave Quate and Colin Milworth (Greenloaning) with 12 c/r; Ian Macechern (Crieff) and Jim Mcintosh (Fort William) kept four fish weighing 8lb; Sam Mcfarlane and Alastair Murphy (Ayr) three for 8lb 8oz and 10 c/r; Alan Bernard (Tillicoultry) and Bill Ramage (Alva) three for 6lb and five c/r.
The top taking flies and lures included the Sedge Muddler, Cormorants, Hot Head Damsel, Kate Mclaren & Crunchers and the best areas are the DogLeg, Middle and North Shore.
ORCHILL
The fish are still being caught at varying depths on dries to lures.
Top catches - D Wilson (Dunfermline) three for 10lbs on Dries; B Mcvites (Dunfermline) two for 8lbs 4oz on Wets; K Johnston (Airdrie) four for 15lbs on Bloodworm and the Yellow Dancer; J Kelly (Airdrie) four for 14lbs on a Bloodworm; R Morris (Auchterarder) used a Cat to take a brace weighing 6lbs; J Rankin (Bridge of Allan) caught one weighing 5lbs on a Dry; Ian Bayne (Dunblane) one for 2lbs 8oz on an Orange Buzzer; Jim Wood (Carnoustie) four for 11lbs - best 4lbs on a Damsel; J Mcnally (Dunning) one for 3lbs 8oz on a Buzzer; Mike Christie (Scone) two for 6lbs on Dries; M Robertson (Dunning) two for 6lbs using Hoppers; Mike Lord (Murthly) two for 6lbs on Dries; J Stewart (Lochgelly) three for 9lbs on Black and Red Buzzers; D Conlan (Alloa) two for 5lbs on a Highland Chief and William Docherty (Alloa) used a Yellow Dancer to take two fish for 6lbs.
SWANSWATER
With the weather still changeable, the fishing has been a bit up and down with some days better than others. The dam area and the boats were doing best this week.
The fish were at different depths at different times of the day, usually deeper in the morning and nearer the surface early afternoon and evening.
Dancer, Damsel, Diawl Bach, Daddy and Buzzer were the favourite patterns with the fish usually looking for something that was moving rather than static. Some superb Golds and Tigers were landed this week with a lot of Blues also figuring in the returns alongside the usual top-quality Rainbows.
Many anglers are reporting on the great fight they are getting due to the great condition of all the fish.
Opening hours remain 8am-2.30pm and 5-9.30pm every day apart from Thursday when there is no evening opening. Please remember to observe social distancing, to wear a mask in the reception and to use the hand sanitiser provided. Contactless card is the preferred method of payment and booking ahead is appreciated.
The biggest fish of the week was landed by George Horn - 8lb 4oz Rainbow.
Other fly anglers doing well included Ryan Beaton two for 9lb including 6lb 8oz Gold; Eddie Mckillop three for 11lb 10oz including a Gold; Danny Doherty four for 11lb plus three c/ r; Stewart Nicholson four for 10lb plus two c/r including a Tiger; Peter Smith and Barry Jamieson shared four for 12lb including a Blue; Callum Mcmillan three for 8lb plus one c/r; Malcolm Miller three for 7lb 12oz plus one Gold c/r; Iain Mcmillan three for 7lb 8oz; Conor Orr three for 7lb 8oz including two from the Millpond; James Elliott three Blues for 6lb from the Millpond; John Mathieson two for 6lb 12oz; Jim Hughes two for 6lb 4oz from the Millpond including a Blue and a Gold; Willie Nyguist two for 5lb; Paul Mckeown 4lb Rainbow; Andy Duffin one for 2lb 8oz plus three c/r; Kevin Mathias six c/r including a Gold estimated at between 5lb and 6lb and a Tiger; Graham Rodger four c/r including three Browns; Stewart Marshall three c/r.
Work continued this week to clear the weed in the bait pond and those doing well there included Alan Duncan 5lb 3oz Gold; Josh Kelly three for 7lb 12oz including 3lb 8oz Gold; James Morgan two for 4lb; George Prow two for 6lb including 4lb Gold.