The highlight of the week was holding the big money competition and fundraiser for the Scottish loch-style team. There was a great turnout with 38 anglers enjoying some great fishing and nice weather until the rain got heavy later in the afternoon. There were no blank rods on the day and a total of 270 fish were caught, Boathouse 84 fish, Burnside 81 fish and Bankside 105 fish. There were more than 17 big fish into double-figures landed including Grant McCauley’s fish weighing over 20lb caught on an Olive Worm. The top rod on the day and the winner of the £500 prize with a total of 17 fish was Paul Sharp who had most of his fish on a mix of bugs fished under the bung. Second place went to young Robert Gibson with 16 fish, most of his fish fell to a Yellow Dancer on a fast glass. Thank you for everyone who came to support the event.
Some other impressive returns have been caught through the week from all the ponds. Jock Leslie returned 17 fish (mostly from Boathouse) including big fish of 10lb 11lb and 13lb on a mix of Buzzers and Eggs. Tyler Hay took a brownie of over 10lb on a Floating Fry from the Burnside as well as several other fish. Mr Kydd was fishing a sinking line and a black lure producing 8 fish up to 8lb from the Burnside. Mr Sherriff was very successful on Bankside landing 11 fish to 9lb 10oz on Yellow Dancers and Worms. Over the weekend 13 anglers landed a total of 25 fish for 46lb. Yellow Powerbait has been the best bait by far.
Milder, mostly overcast weather this week saw the water temperature rise a few degrees and the fish become more active again. Conditions were excellent for much of the week and the fish were to be found well spread out round the pond, with the bridge, the channel and the far side of the island being the best areas at certain times. At the start of the week they were around 2 to 3 feet down, or even nearer the surface, but towards the weekend they went a bit deeper and were to be found 4 to 5 feet down. In the small ponds, a lot of great sport was to be had as the golds could be seen chasing lures fished with a fast retrieve. Dancer, Hot-head Damsel, Ace of Spades, Viva, Cat’s Whisker, Woolly Bugger, Cormorant, Diawl Bach and Buzzer were the most successful patterns this week with the favourite colour being black. The fishery opening hours are now 8am to 4.30pm every day.
Robert Park, from Glasgow, in two visits caught 6 fish for 19lb 8oz including 3 golds, biggest at 4lb; Stewart MacKay, Bonnybridge, 5 for 16lb 4oz including a gold; Danny Doherty, Denny, 5 for 14lb including a gold, plus 4 released; Ian Whitelaw, Dunipace, 5 for 12lb 8oz including a tiger; George McLachlan, 4 for 11lb 12oz including a gold; Marius Botezatu, Stirling, 4 for 11lb including 3 golds plus 4 released; Brian McPeake, Gargunnock, 3 for 10lb 4oz including a gold; Jim McHale, Clydebank, 3 for 9lb 12oz including 2 golds; Kyle Crossan, Stirling, 3 for 9lb 4oz including 2 golds; Tom Baird, Glasgow, 3 for 9lb 4oz including 2 golds; Robert Watt, Glasgow, 3 for 8lb 8oz plus a brown released; Willie Nyguist, Stirling, 3 for 8lb 4oz including 2 golds, plus a brown released; Anne McInnes, Clydebank, 3 for 8lb including 2 golds, plus 3 released; Alex Knox, Glasgow, 2 for 7lb 8oz; Alan Johnston, Neilston, 2 golds for 7lb 4oz; Colin Copeman, Falkirk, 2 for 6lb including a gold; Harry Haggarty, Glasgow, 2 for 6lb plus 2 released; Heather Johnston, Neilston, 4lb 4oz rainbow; Ali Jawad, Johnston, caught and released 10; Jim Dougall, Kincardine, caught and released 10.
In a week which saw fluctuating water temperatures – 6oC at the be-ginning and end of the week dropping down to 4oC in the middle of the week – the fish were to be found in different areas of the pond depend-ing on whether the temperature was rising or falling. As always hap-pens at Swanswater, those that go looking for fish and move around do better than those who stay in the same spot all day. Regular anglers and staff members are always happy to give advice to newcomers as to where the fish are likely to be. Early in the week as the water tem-perature was dropping the fish were to be found in the area around the boat jetty, and towards the end of the week as the water temperature was rising again they were to be found in the channel and around the bridge. Favourite flies included Dancer, Humungus, Cat’s Whisker, Damsel, Buzzer, PTN, Diawl Bach, and Cormorant. Fishery opening hours are still 8am to 5pm every day.
This week Danny Doherty, from Denny, caught 5 fish for 13lb 4oz in-cluding 3 golds, plus 1 released; John Mooney, Queenzieburn, 4 for 14lb, including 3 golds, biggest one at 4lb; Alan Prentice, Clackman-nan, 4 for 11lb 2oz including a gold and a tiger; Willie Nyguist, Stirling, in two visits, 4 for 11lb including a gold, plus 4 released including a brown; Chris Kerr, East Kilbride, 4 for 10lb 4oz including 2 golds; Wil-liam Sheppard, Glasgow, 3 for 10lb 5oz including a gold; Barry Little, Peebles, 3 golds for 9lb 8oz; Archie Crockett, Wishaw, 3 for 9lb 8oz in-cluding 2 golds; Gareth Mair, Kincardine, 3 for 9lb 4oz plus 1 released; Frank Barr, Falkirk, 3 for 8lb plus 3 released including a brown esti-mated at 6lb; Robert Ross, 3 for 8lb plus 2 released; Conor Meiklejohn, Stirling, 3 golds for 7lb plus 9 released including a brown; Alan Laing Carstairs, 2 for 7lb 4oz including a gold; Jim Allan, Kilsyth, 2 for 6lb; Sam O’Neill, 4lb gold plus 7 released; Alex Knox, Glasgow, 4lb 4oz rainbow; John Duncan caught and released 7; Alan Stewart caught and released 7; and Alan Kirkham caught and released 6.
With very changeable weather it was hardly surprising that the catches were also somewhat up and down. The Boathouse was discoloured earlier in the week but some steady catches were still witnessed. Mr Jackson returned 10 fish, as did the Cruickshanks. Alex took 3 fish for 15lb (with one weighing 10.50lb) and returned 2. The Cruickshanks were also top rods on the Burnside Pool with combined returns of 26 fish and 12 fish on two separate days. Among those fish were some fi-ne rainbows of 11lb 9oz, 9lb 7oz and 7.50lb. Grant Burnett also did well releasing 10 fish including a superb rainbow of 12lb and another of 9.50lb. Other good fish during the week included another excellent rainbow, returned by Ian Barlow and estimated at 12lb. Despite the time of year there was still some fine sport to be had on dry flies as two of our Glen Lyon guests returned 7 fish each on Thursday. Favoured patterns included Daddy Longlegs variations, Yellow Owl, black/silver Buzzers and black/green lures.
On the Bankside Pool Mr Farson returned 11 fish, taken mainly on ei-ther a Squirmy or a small Bloodworm. Frank Sherriff returned 6 fish in a short session and Nick Soave took 4 fish for 8.25lb. Black/green lures and Yellow Dancer had some reasonable success.
Powerbait fished beneath a float again proved to be the best option on the Woodside Pool (any legal method). On Sunday 8 anglers landed 17 fish for a total of 30lb. As the weather turns colder it could well be worth trying spinning with a Mepps.
The week started reasonably mild but with a cool breeze which was strong at times. By the end of the week it had turned colder and the weekend saw the first frost of the autumn. For most of the week the fish were sitting in the top 2 to 3 feet and were well spread out round the ponds. The bright sun on Saturday, after a cold night, saw the fish going a bit deeper but still being caught in good numbers. Lures or nymphs fished on an intermediate line was the best tactic all week with favourite patterns including Dancer, Cat’s Whisker, Humungus, Dam-sel, Cormorant, Diawl Bach and Buzzer. On the small ponds there was still a bit of surface action and a few fish were taken on Daddy Long-legs and CDC. A group of cubs from Bridge of Allan had an enjoyable but cold outing learning to fish on Saturday with one of them catching 2 fish at his first ever attempt. A few others hooked but lost fish. They all had great fun watching the golds chasing their flies in the Meadow Pond. Now that the clocks have changed, the Fishery is closing at 5pm every night.
Successful anglers this week included Danny Doherty, from Denny, with 5 fish for 16lb 4oz including 2 golds, plus 1 released; Gordon Fer-guson, Coatbridge, 4 golds, for 13lb 4oz; John Tawn, Glasgow, 4 for 10lb 8oz, including a gold, plus 3 released; Robert Watt, Glasgow, 4 for 10lb 12oz including a gold; Marius Botezatu, Stirling, 3 for 9lb including a gold and a tiger plus 6 released; Grant McPherson, Lanark, 3 golds for 8lb 10oz plus 5 released; Gavin Johnstone, Stirling, 3 for 8lb 8oz in-cluding 2 golds; Frank Barr, Falkirk, in two visits, 6 for 16lb including 5 golds, plus 7 released; Willie McFadyen , Cowie, 3 golds for 8lb; Eddie McKillop, jnr, Glasgow, 2 for 6lb 12oz, including a gold; Ross Gracie, South Queensferry, 2 for 6lb 4oz including a gold; Tam Hislop, Stirling, 2 for 6lb 4oz; Donald Macrae, Isle of Skye, 2 for 5lb plus 6lb brown re-turned; Paul Dancer, Glasgow, caught and released 10; Keith Honey caught and released 5 including a brown and a tiger; Peter Tanner caught and released 5 including a grown; Andy Young caught and re-leased 5.
The recent rain has discoloured the Boathouse Pool somewhat but it is steadily clearing and water conditions are improving. Mr Stevens re-turned 10 fish on catch/release while Mr Wilkinson released 6. Most fish were taken on Buzzers (black/silver) or small lures. The Burnside Pool has fished well this week. On Saturday we were again privileged to host Raemoir Angling Club when 13 anglers released 90 fish with 10 fish estimated at over 5lb each. Best fish was a superb rainbow re-turned by Stewart Crockett, which weighed 15lb. Mike Cordiner re-leased another fine rainbow of 10lb. Other notable fish returned during the week were rainbows of 10lb (Mr McCabe) and 8lb (Keith Kydd and Mr Thompson). Mr Brown took 3 fish for a combined weight of 7.50lb. Successful patterns varied greatly from lures through to Buzzers.
There were some excellent catches on the Bankside Pool this week. Mr Sutherland returned 15 fish while Richard Marshall released 13. Frank Sherriff returned 14 fish on Monday and 8 on Thursday, including a nice rainbow of 6lb 10oz. Other decent catches included a bag of 5 fish weighing 13lb for Nick Soave; 3 fish for a combined weight of 10.75lb for Bob Anderson (including a rainbow at 6lb), and 4 fish for a total of 10lb to Mr Rennie, who also returned another 3 fish. Lures were the order of the day with Yellow Dancer being prominent. Black/green pat-terns did well, as did white.
Powerbait fished beneath a float was again the preferred method on the Woodside Pool (any legal method). Mr Lowrie took 2 rainbows for 13lb and Mr Bricknall had 4 rainbows for a combined weight of 6.50lb.
Amongst the successful anglers this week were Danny Doherty, from Denny, with 5 fish for 15lb including 3lb 6oz tiger and 2 golds; Mark Kenyon, Menstrie, in 3 visits, 14 for 38lb 12oz including 5 golds; Paul McGlinn, 5 for 14lb 8oz including 3 golds, biggest one at 4lb 8oz; Rob-ert Park, Glasgow, 4 for 12lb 8oz including a blue and 3 golds; Barry Hamilton, Moodiesburn, 4 for 11lb 12oz including 3 golds, biggest one at 4lb; George Dobbie, Glasgow, 4 for 12lb 8oz including 3 golds; Brian Paterson, Cambusbarron, 3 for 11lb 8oz including 2 golds, bigger one at 4lb 8oz; Brian McPeake, Gargunnock, 3 for 10lb 8oz including 2 golds, bigger one at 4lb 8oz; John Moonie, Q1ueenzieburn, 3 for 10lb 4oz including a gold; Frank Barr, Falkirk, in two visits, 6 for 16lb plus 12 released; Ricky Goodwin, Larbert, 3 golds for 8lb; Alex Botezatu, Stir-ling, 2 for 7lb, plus 8 released; Ian Anderson, 2 for 7lb including 4lb gold; Alex Knox, Glasgow, 2 for 6lb 4oz; David McArthur had 4 from the Meadow Pond plus 2 browns returned to Swanswater, one estimated at 6lb; Neil Whitelaw, caught and released 22, including a tiger and a brown; Rab Cochrane, Stirling, caught and released 10; Tony Clarke, Ardrossan caught and released 9; Joe Wood, Beith, caught and re-leased 8; Mark Anderson, Kilsyth, caught and released 8; Gavin Glen caught and released 7 including 4 golds.
Strange weather this week, lots of gusting winds and rain then sunshine, but this didn’t upset the fish which gave anglers plenty of sport. Mick Wilson from Hereford was delighted with his blue trout weighing in at a hefty 9lb 4oz, taken on a white fritz using a slow retrieve, floating line and 5lb leader. The fish has been entered into Troutmasters. Craig Duffy caught a beautiful 6lb 8oz rainbow on a Grey Duster CDC, an intermediate line and 6lb leader. Paul Johnson caught his 10 fish limit on catch and release. Father and son Keith and Jason Brooks caught 9 between them on catch and release. Also on catch and release and catching their 10 bag limit were Colin Gooch, Chris Blackham, John Burton, Keith Fenton and G. Moor. Allen Clark had a good morning’s fishing taking 6 fish to restock his freezer, mostly caught on Egg flies.
A 6lb blue trout was caught and released by Ken Roberts on a White Egg fly. This was Ken’s first time here and he said catching this beauty made his day. Graham Jeremiah took 1 fish on an Egg fly and Phil Rees took 2 on Squirmy Wormies. Jason Williams hooked into a tiger trout from the lodge pool, and it put up a great fight. Popular flies this week have been Green Damsels, Squirmy Wormies, Egg flies, Green Spiders, Grey Duster CDC and Deer Hair Sedge. Bigwell is open every day from 7.30am.
At last we have received some reasonable rain, which has helped to flush the system through and raise the water-level slightly. The Boathouse Pool fished well this week. Chris Skivington was top rod returning 16 fish on catch and release with the biggest being a superb rainbow estimated at 12lb. Another excellent return was made by Mr Egan who released 15 fish with the best being a magnificent blue trout estimated at 9lb. Lures are starting to produce better results with Hothead Damsels and Yellow Dancer being amongst the preferred options.
Ian Gordon found the formula on the Burnside Pool, returning 11 fish. Robert Gibson and Grant Burnett released 10 fish each with the latter including a fine rainbow estimated at 8lb. Other big fish returned were rainbows of 12.50lb and 9.25lb for Jock Leslie, and another fine rainbow of 12lb for George Birse. Mr Brown took a 3-fish catch for a total of 7.50lb. Daddy Longlegs patterns and small lures did well but small dry flies also produced some decent results.
The Bankside Pool fished steadily with Jock Leslie returning 8 fish and Mr Stevens releasing 12. Bob Anderson took 4 fish for 14lb and returned a further 3, whilst Mr Rennie had 4 fish for a total weight of 10lb. Green and black patterns produced the best results.
On the Woodside Pool (any legal method) the best option has again been Powerbait fished beneath a float. On Wednesday 12 fish were taken for a total of 21.50lb. However, this was eclipsed on Sunday when 39 fish were caught for a combined weight of 75.50lb.
With 858 fish and nearly £11,000 worth of fish in the last 2 months weighing in at nearly 2 tonnes it’s not hard to see why Kinross's reputation has soared across Scotland and become synonymous with large fish and anglers getting personal bests. In September 1523 fish were caught. Catches of note over the weekend: Mike Paszowski 11lb 2oz; Colin Bernard 10lb 8oz and 9lb; James Brooks 10lb 8oz; Mo Courtney 10lb 2oz; Brian Sutherland 9lb 12oz; Robert Pollock 9lb 5oz; Dan Brown 7lb 8oz; Mark Dobson 8lb 5oz and 7lb 3oz; Ian McGourty 6lb. Successful flies have been Kate McLaren, Yellow Dancers, green/black lures and Wotsits, Daddies and Black Buzzers with red cheeks. Troutmasters final results for the month ending September 20 were: Seniors - Derek Linton 15lb; Roy Haxton 13lb; Ian Welsh 12lb 8oz. Juniors - Lee Gilruth 3lb 5oz; Taylor Graham 2lb 8oz. Currently for this month: Seniors - Marco Capozzella 14lb 8oz; Stephan Lee 14lb 2oz; Neil Kelly 13lb 1oz. Juniors - Samantha Marshall 2lb 8oz; Taylor Graham 2lb. Winter League starts 28th Oct 28, see Facebook Events Page for details.
A windy and, at times, very wet week was split in two by a glorious sunny day on Wednesday. The rain and wind did not seem to affect the fish too much and in fact the best fishing was to be had on Saturday when it poured all day! As usually happens after the end of the season, a few big browns had to be returned including a couple estimated at around 5-6lb. The golds are still very visible in all the ponds indicating that the fish are generally in the top 3 feet of the water. Lures and nymphs fished on an intermediate line did best with the favourite patterns including the usual Dancer, Damsel, Cat’s Whisker, Ally McCoist, Diawl Bach and Cormorant. The Fishery opening hours are 8am to 6pm every day.
Tony Kilanowski, from Edinburgh, caught 5 fish for 15lb including 3 golds, biggest at 4lb; Dave Tunnah, Edinburgh, 5 for 14lb 6oz including a gold; Danny Doherty, Denny, in two visits, 7 for 19lb 4oz including 4 golds; Bill Yule, Edinburgh, 5 for 13lb 4oz including 2 golds; Kevin Dempster, 5 for 12lb including 4 golds; Alan Prentice, Clackmannan, 4 for 13lb including 3 golds, plus 3 released; Robert Smith, Airth, 4 for 10lb including a gold plus 1 released; Robert Smith, senior, 4 for 10lb including a gold; Graham Miller, 4 for 9lb 12oz, plus 3 released; Ian Leslie, Edinburgh, 3 for 10lb including 4lb 4oz rainbow and a gold; Gregor Hunter, Inchinnan, 3 for 10lb, including 2 golds; David Robertson 3 for 9lb 8oz including a gold; Tam Baillie, Kincardine, 3 for 9lb 4oz including 2 golds, plus a brown released; Dave Grierson, Edinburgh, 3 for 9lb including a gold, plus a brown released; Hamish MacDonald, 3 for 8lb 4oz including a gold and a tiger; Ray Hunter, Edinburgh, 3 for 8lb 3oz; Ricky Goodwin, Larbert, 3 for 7lb 8oz including a gold, plus 3 released; Willie McFadyen, Cowie, 3 golds from the Meadow Pond, plus 2 released; Jim Spiers, Falkirk, 2 for 7lb 8oz including a gold; David McArthur, Denny, 2 for 7lb; George Dobbie, Glasgow, 2 for 7lb including a gold; Tim Gellaitry, Stirling, caught and released 5.