ANGLING PRESS SERVICES

JIM BOYD - angling journalist/photographer

Issued by Jim Boyd on behalf of the following fisheries on Tuesday 16 January 2018. The report is for the week ending Sunday, 14 January 2018.

1. FRANDY (Gleneagles). NOW CLOSED UNTIL MARCH 2018

2. ORCHILL LOCH (Braco) Saturday was the first day the water was completely ice free but those anglers who braved the icy conditions were well rewarded finding the trout lying around the 2-5 foot mark depending on the wind. Jim Linton from Moodiesburn had 4 fish for 14lbs on a Goldie, Jim Vann, Stirling, 2 fish weighing 12lbs 8oz on an Egg Fly, Jim Marshall, Stirling, 2 fish for 8lbs on the Egg Fly, Dave Wilkie, Stirling, 3 fish for 12lbs 4oz on a Black & Green Fritz and Robert Noble from Crieff used a Black Zonker to take a brace weighing 7lbs.Chris Martin from  Lochgelly had 3 for 6lbs on a Hot Head Damsel, Ricky Watt, Lochgelly, 3 fish for 8lbs 8oz on a Black & Orange Buzzer, J Rey, Helensburgh, 2 fish for 6lbs on an Okey Dokey Bug and Alistair Hamilton from Comrie took a couple for 4lbs 8oz on a Damsel.

3. FORBES OF KINGENNIE (Broughty Ferry) The fishing over the last few weeks has been a bit weather dependent with high winds and rain at times making things interesting at times. The times when the weather has settled the fishing has been very good with some good bags returned as well as some really big fish. The water at the moment is very clear with fish visible cursing around near the surface at times. Tactics have varied greatly with fish being taken on a mix of patterns. Nymphs and Buzzers have very effective when the fish are active and feeding but lures are catching more consistently. Mr Gordon returned 19 fish in 2 sessions on the Burnside Pool fishing Yellow and Orange Lures - 2 of his fish were over the 10lb mark. Mr McLaren fished the Boathouse to great effect with Buzzers and Bloodworms returning 13 fish in a session. Our winter prices will continue until at least march with catch and release starting from £8 for 4 hours and £12.50 for 2 fish all day.

4. MARKLE (East Lothian) It has been extremely quiet due to the inclement weather and the outbreak of colds and flu. However those who went out had good sport including Mark Anderson from Musselburgh who had 12 on Blobs, Dave Smith, Dunbar, 4 on the Cormorant, Eric Livingstone, Edinburgh, 5 on the Damsel and Ben Robertson from Edinburgh used a Fab to take 9. George Charters from West Linton had 9 on a Fab, Bruce Hunter, Edinburgh, 5 on Apps and Kenny Morrison from Edinburgh had 4 on the Bloodworm.

5. SWANSWATER (Stirling) Swanswater was open all week despite overnight temperatures at the beginning of the week dropping to around -9oC.   As the week went on and both air and water temperatures rose, the fishing improved and there was some great sport to be had.  At the start of the week, the water temperature was only 2oC but it rose to 4oC by Saturday.   For much of the week the area round the back was frozen but the main area was completely ice-free.   The fish were in the channel in front of the island and a useful tactic was to fish as near to the ice as possible.   This tactic also worked very well on the Millpond with many fish being caught near the edge of the ice.   Once the area behind the islands on Swanswater thawed a good number of fish were to be found there.   The water is exceptionally clear and, at times, fish could be seen chasing flies.  Most fish were taken on small lures or nymphs with favourite patterns being Cat’s Whisker, Dancer, Humungus, Silver Sparkle, Bloodworm, Hare’s Ear, Diawl Bach and Buzzer.
Amongst those doing well this week were Danny Doherty, Denny, 5 for 18lb 4oz including 5lb 4oz Rainbow, a Gold and a Blue, plus 2 C&R, Robert Chapman, Linlithgow, 4 for 12lb 12oz, Davy Quinn, Dunfermline, 4 for 12lb including a Gold, plus 6 C&R including a Brown estimated at 7lb and Robert Anderson, Longriggend, 4 for 10lb 8oz including 2 Golds and a Blue, plus 7 C&R. Alan Armstrong, Dollar, 3 for 10lb 4oz including 2 Golds, Kris Elliot, Stirling, 3 for 10lb 4oz including 2 Golds, Robert Smith, Falkirk, 3 for 10lb including a Gold, plus 4 C&R, Alec Knox, Glasgow, 3 for 10lb including 4lb 8oz Rainbow and a Gold and Kyle Crossan, Stirling, 3 for 8lb 12oz including 2 Golds. Ian Whitelaw, Dunipace, 3 for 8lb, Frank Barr, Falkirk, 3 for 8lb including a Blue and a Gold, Rab Cooper, Dunfermline, 3 for 6lb from the small ponds including a Gold plus 2 Browns returned to the Millpond, Charlie Conlan, Glasgow, 2 for 8lb 8oz including 4lb 12oz Rainbow plus 1 C&R and Jim Donnelly, Alloa, 2 for 7lb plus 2 C&R. John Sneddon, Falkirk, 2 for 6llb, Nan Morrison, Stirling, 4lb 10oz Rainbow, Malcolm Miller, Clackmannan, 4lb 12oz Gold, Neil Sharp, Dollar, 4lb 4oz Gold, Paul Dancer, Whitburn, caught and released 15 and Darren Haxton, Cardenden, caught and released 7. Mark Anderson, caught and released 7, Brian Laird, Stirling, caught and released 6 and Paul McKenna caught and released 9 in two visits.

6. WOODBURN (Milton of Campsie) NO REPORTS UNTIL MARCH 2018

ENDS