Fishing Reports

River Leven.

Over the past fortnight the Leven has been fishing very well with good sport being enjoyed by anglers on the fly, spinner and worm.

On Saturday 11th May there were at least four fish landed including this 16.5lb springer, caught on the worm by Andrew Casey at the Haldane Burn.

Malcolm Campbell with a 15lb spring salmon caught at the Glebe on the fly.

David Sunman jnr with an 8lb springer on a cascade fly at McKinnons.

Sean McAulay landed this 12lb, sea liced  spring salmon on the worm at the Piles.

On Monday 13th May sport continued. Mike Palmer landed this 15lb salmon on the fly at Factory Wall and Sam Burgoyne (10lb) at the Top Pool which was released.

On Tuesday 14th May, Tam Mitchell landed his first salmon of the season at the Glebe. Here’s his story. Angler in distress..damsel to the rescue.

‘ I left the house about 6.00pm en route to collect my wife from work via the Glebe. Fished down the straight at the rear of the church, half dozen casts but nothing doing. Moving on to the bend, after two casts I had a take and up the river it went. My heart was jumping at this time as I had left my net in the car. I was in a real panic until a lady walking along the path with her dog’s approached and asked if I had caught something. She did a bit of fishing herself and asked if she could help land it for me. In great trust I handed her my car keys and she returned with my net landing a 12lb fish. A big thank you to that lady!…………….’

 

The very same day, Neill Sproull connected with this fine 13lb springer on the fly at Bonhill Pool.

‘Struck lucky at last this evening with a 13-14 pounder from Bonhill Pool. Sea liced and took a size 9 Ghillie just above the Cables. Expertly netted by Alan Pryce and photographed by Jack Ferguson. The fish was returned’.…. Well done Neill!

15th May, Derek Hughes has similar success at the Bonhill Pool with this 14lb springer coming to the fly. A bar of silver indeed! Once again a spring salmon was released back to the river.

There are further reports of fish caught and released by Sam Burgoyne (12lb) and (10lb) returned. Scott McFarlane (14lb) returned. 17th May, Billy Quinn (13lb) double pipes, returned (above). Jim McDonald (12lb) returned.

Also on 17th, Chic McLean lost a good fish at the Bucks and then landed this 15lb springer, returned. Shortly afterwards, Hugh Russell had a 14lb fish at the top end of the Street Run.

18th May, it was Colin Smith’s turn for some rod bending stuff at Bonhill Pool…..

…..resulting in the capture and release of an estimated 14lb spring salmon…..

…..sent safely back on its way.

20th May, John Little (13lb) Chapel Hole on a flying c.  Ally Barrowman (10lb) Stuckie Bridge, flying c, returned. Tam McBride (10lb) Stuckie Bridge. 22nd May, Ian Quinn (9lb) Linnbrane Hole, returned. 23rd May, Ally Barrowman (15lb) Back Stream, returned.

22nd May, Peter Ingram is captured by our bailiff Colin, playing a good fish, caught on the fly at McKinnons.

A good 13lbs in weight, it was quickly photographed……

……and another of our spring run fish is returned into the system.

The most recent report we have had is from David Sunman snr, who on 27th May, not to be outdone by David jnr, landed a 9lb fly caught springer at the Garden Stream. It as taken on a Bann Shrimp.

Unfortunately the gates closed yesterday, but the Loch is still at a good height and the unsettled weather may produce enough rain to see them open again before the weekend…..we hope.

Loch Lomond.

May started off very quietly on the Loch with nothing reported over the first Bank holiday weekend. Last year it was towards the end of May before the spring run filtered through and some good sport was enjoyed by loch boatmen, well into June. But there are fish about…..

Saturday 11th May, Balmaha regular Geordie Fyfe has his first fish of the season. Weighing in at 22lbs and almost as deep as it is in length, it’s a memorable start to the season.

‘Saturday 11th was quite windy, blowing south westerly, so I headed along the bank down as far as the pumping station, about turned back  towards Balmaha for the third time and the poker rod let out a scream – fish on! After about 10 mins of getting tossed about the boat the fish broke the surface. A cracking 22lb Salmon came to the net, what a fight!’  Wee Geordie.

Other lucky boatmen this month include: Scott Pryce (13lb). Russell Boyd (10lb) returned. Craig John (10lb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River Leven.

Last weekend the river was at a good fishing height with catches of spring salmon continuing on Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May.

Alec Doey landed a (13lb)springer at the Haldane Burn on the worm and Stephen Gilfeather (12lb)salmon also on the worm at the top pool.

Alec’s fish with sea lice-and tag-attached.

Brian Ward landed this spring salmon (15lbs) the same day at the Double Pipes. There were numerous reports of good fish lost including a 20lb springer from Chapel Hole which was dropped at the net.

More reports have been received of sea trout going through the system. Graham Dunsmore contacted us with this report:

‘In the last couple of days 8th/9th May, I’ve been enjoying great sport with sea trout on the Leven.’

‘I wasn’t able to fish for any length of time either day but managed 7 sea trout (all returned of course!) to the fly with a couple more lost. 

All between 3/4lb to 1lb 8oz. Not big sea trout but the largest one fought spectacularly and until I saw it, thought I was playing a fish of approx 3 or 4lbs!

I can’t remember getting sea trout on the river like this at this time of year for many years.

Interestingly only one had a single sea louse. Some were fairly lean, very bright looking and suspect that some in fact were well mended kelts.

This makes me wonder – are some of the sea trout now running later and spawning later?

I’ve attached a pic of one of approx 1lb 4oz.’

Thanks for that Graham.

On Tuesday 6th, due to the height of the Loch, Scottish water dropped the gates and the river turned into a raging torrent. Some anglers did persevere and we hear that Scott Laird (15lb) and David Watt (13lb) both landed fish at the top pool. There is an unconfirmed report of a further salmon landed and possibly four lost. This morning the river remains high, but is beginning to drop back slowly.

There’s a good chance that quite a few springers will have passed through into the Loch and spread out……. there’s no truth in the rumour that the gatekeeper is on the Loch fishermen’s payroll!

LochLomond.

A good number of Bank Holiday boatmen out on the Loch, the bailiffs estimated at least twenty hopefuls out on the troll.

 Most boats were seen patrolling the Boturich and Claddich shores, and of course the Endrick Bank.

 

However, there were no reports of fish landed into either Balmaha or Balloch.

Even though conditions were fairly calm a few fly fishers were on the usual drifts.

 

Andrew Gilchrist had a near miss at the Ladies Point with a salmon rising to the fly.Unfortunately it didn’t connect.

Although the Loch surface temperature is still sitting around 8C, fly fishers are having sport with sea trout around the islands. Colin McCrory boated a fine 5.5lb specimen on Saturday and other Balmaha boats reported good catches of finnock.

River Endrick.

No more news from the Endrick, but bear in mind that the first salmon came off in May last year…..

Membership Fees.

Just a wee reminder to those who have still to raid their piggy banks and gallon whisky bottles:

‘Any Member who has failed to pay his Annual subscription by the 1st day in March in any year shall be held in arrear, and any member still in arrear by the 1st day in June in any year shall, in option of the Committee, cease to be a member but shall, notwithstanding, be liable for all arrears. Members subscriptions for any season must be paid before they fish.’

It’s getting near that time …………

 

JR

 

Contact Reports at : reports@lochlomondangling.com

 

 

 

River Leven.

During the second half of April the Leven stayed at a good height, the Loch having been topped up by some real heavy downpours. There were several reports of fish moving  in the upper reaches, but with no reports of catches it was apparent that they weren’t staying in the river for any length of time. Then on 29th of April at the stroke of twelve, after being open for a fortnight, the barrage closed and the level fell back.

The month of May arrived and on 2nd we had the report of a 12lb fresh fish to Chic McLean on the fly at the Street Run. This was Chic’s first fish this year and if his performance over the past few years is anything to go by, won’t be his last.

Saturday 4th May saw some real action on the river. John McGinley was fishing down from the double pipes when his season began with an 18lb spring salmon.

Bailiff Colin McFadyen was passing and seeing the commotion in the river went to Robert’s assistance….

A further two reports followed. Ally McGhee (10lb) at Pikey Hole on a flying c and John Donald (10lb) at Dalquhurn Lade. This should be the beginning of the main spring run and undoubtedly we’ll hear of more catches from the river very soon. Members and ticket holders are reminded that all fish which are despatched must be tagged. We ask that the tag is clearly shown in any photos of fish submitted for posting.

Loch Lomond.

Reports from the Leven indicate that good numbers of sea trout have been making there way into the Loch. This is indeed good news for Loch fly fishers.

Iain Morison has been out on the Loch a few times recently, enjoying good sport on the usual drifts.

A few of these fresh fish can provide a good day’s sport.

The Loch is at a good height just now for fly fishing and those out on the troll.

But it’s still very cold. Fresh southwesterly winds can make things rather uncomfortable on the east side of the Loch, which is exactly where Loch boatmen want to be at this time of the year. Although there has been an armada of boats out over the past two weekends, there have been no further reports of spring salmon caught. They’ll come soon enough.

Members will already be aware that the bailiffs have been active on the Loch. This presence will continue, with regular patrols midweek to ‘sniff out’ any unlicensed anglers….

 

JR

 

Contact Reports at : reports@lochlomondangling.com