Fishing Reports

River Leven.

The Leven has been quiet this week with a few rumours, though no confirmed catches. The gates were kept closed last weekend due to the Clean Up, but have remained open since Tuesday giving a good steady flow…..and fewer snags.

The clean up was well supported and covered from the barrage down to the Polaroid Bridge. It started on Saturday morning at Bonhill Bridge where Mrs Tracey Brittain, representing the Robin House Children’s Hospice in Balloch was presented with a cheque for £250 by LLAIA vice president, Eddie Edmonstone. This money was proceeds of the raffle at the  AGM of a rod donated by Glasgow Angling  Centre.

Despite poor weather conditions in the morning, the team of 15 LLAIA/VOLDAC members and volunteers worked away in high spirits

and by the afternoon managed to clear the river down to Bonhill Bridge.

On Sunday the 18 participants concentrated their efforts on the stretch between Bonhill Bridge and the Polaroid Bridge.

Over the weekend approximately 9 tons of waste was collected.

The following items were recorded for posterity: 18 x Bicycles. 12 x Scooters. 2 x Supermarket trolleys. A variety of pots, pans and grills. A Teasmade. 7 x Hoovers. 1 x Bank deposit safe. 2 x typewriters. 2 x mattresses. 6 x Carpets. 9 x Traffic cones. 1 x 3 metre pipe. and a Cuddly Toy found by Keith Adams in an uncuddley state!

Future work party dates for the Leven, Fruin and the Endrick will be announced in the near future.

Return a Springer Initiative.

The LLAIA ran the ‘Return a Springer’ scheme again this year jointly funded by the Association and our partner Mr Paul Devlin at Glasgow Angling Centre.

On 27th June, Neil Sproull (2nd left) Vincent McMenamin (centre) and Ally Barrowman (right) were presented with their £40 tackle vouchers by Angus Soutter, River Leven Rep. (left). Five other anglers anglers will receive their vouchers in due course. We’d like to thank all of them for their conservation minded actions.

Angler John MgGrogan was presented with a reel for ‘almost returning’ a spring fish. In May, John landed a springer at Stuckie Bridge and was adamant that the fish was to be returned. As he carried it to the water’s edge it slipped from his grasp and unfortunately dispatched itself on the bank.. A fishy story?….no, it was all witnesses and caught on video. We’ve heard that since then John has landed another salmon at the same spot, which was successfully returned.

Loch Lomond.

A quiet week on the Loch, though still a few boatmen out on the troll.

Saturday 22nd June saw David Henderson out on the Loch for the first time this season, landing this 15lb salmon off the Ladies Point at Inchcruin. Last season David had similar success on his first trip of the year….obviously getting some good advice from his boat partner…..

JR

Contact Reports at : reports@lochlomondangling.com

River Leven.

Unfortunately the rain at the weekend didn’t have much effect on the system, certainly not enough to top up the Loch level. The gates have been closed since Monday and the river is at summer low. Not much activity reported, which is not unusual at this point in the season. The spring run has gone through and the arrival of summer salmon and grilse is awaited.

Still fish to be caught though with a few sea trout coming to rods willing to persevere. Russell Hall recently landed this fine looking brown trout of 2lbs at Stuckie Bridge.

Leven Clean Up.

The clean up takes place this weekend meeting at Bonhill Bridge, Saturday/Sunday at 10am. All welcome and (soft) refreshments will be provided. Anglers are advised that the gates will remain closed over the weekend to enable debris to be removed from the river, but should open again on Monday morning.

Loch Lomond.

After a couple of busy weeks the Loch’s beginning to quieten down. The spring run will be well dispersed by now, taking up residence wherever they can hide…….

Saturday 15th June was a particularly inhospitable day out on the Loch weatherwise, but Alan Dorrian landed this cracker of a sea trout off Inchmoan. It weighed approx.12lbs and was returned.

Jim McNiven had success in the more sheltered south end of the Loch with an 8lb fish taken on the troll off Lomond Castle. There are still reports of salmon being landed, mainly in the Claddich, Net Bay and Endrick Bank areas, but in fewer numbers. Only a handful of boats have ventured up the ‘tap end’ of the Loch and there have been no reports of any activity.

Recent Catches include: 10th June, Robert Paterson(12lb), 12th June, Alec McElwee(10lb). 13th June, Steven Gilfeather (13.5lbs) returned. Rab Strachan(12lb).14th June, Albert Biddulph (14lb), Eric Donnachie (8lb), Ross McNair(12lb)&(8lb), 18th June, Dave King (15lb).

Obituary.

It is with much regret that we announce the passing on 19th June 2013, of George Malloch. ‘Geordie’ was a very keen fisherman and with his 81 years experience, probably knew Loch Lomond better than anyone. He had been a member of the Vale of Leven Angling Club ‘since it was built’ and was well known and liked by his fellow anglers. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts at this time are with his family, to whom we offer our condolences.

George Malloch’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 25th June at  the Vale of Leven Cooperative funeral parlour at 11am, thereafter to Alexandria cemetery.

JR.

Contact Reports at : reports@lochlomondangling.com

River Leven.

Another prolonged dry spell, but unsettled weather’s on the way with heavy showers forecast for Friday and Saturday. Still fish going through so it may well turn out be a good weekend…..the eternal optimist. Recent catches include..

28th May, Derek Mackenzie with a (12lb) salmon caught on the worm and returned at the Top Pool.

31st May, Terry Mallin (12lb) at the Stuckie Bridge on the worm.

1st June, Tam McBride (14lbs) Top Pool on the worm (above). 30th May, John McGrogan (12lb) Top Pool, worm. 3rd June, Scott McFarlane (10lb)

Colin Smith’s been having good sport…..Friday 7th June  ‘I had an interesting day on the Leven today despite bright sunshine. I was broken by a fish in the Bonhill Bridge Pool. I then hooked and lost a fish in the laid stream below Flowers. Finally this 12.5lb fish stayed on. All fish hooked on a single handed rod on a small black conehead fly’

Colin then reports returning to the same stream the following day and landing an 11lb salmon…..what more can you ask for?

In the last report we mentioned that Ally Barrowman (above) had landed and returned two salmon (10lb) and (15lb) on 21st and 23rd May. Ally has forwarded some video footage of the larger fish being returned which we’ll share with you shortly. He’ll be receiving GAC vouchers for his conservation minded action.

River Leven Clean Up.

The clean up on the Leven will take place, weather permitting, on Saturday/Sunday 22nd-23rd June, meeting at Bonhill Bridge at 10am. Skips, poly bags, gloves and refreshments will be provided. All members, ticket holders and volunteers will be most welcome.

Loch Lomond.

The Loch has remained at a good height for boatmen with some excellent catches being made. After last year’s poor season, mainly due to high water, it’s refreshing to hear of so many fish coming to the net.

Catches include: 1st June, J. O’Neill (11lb). Scott Pryce (14lb) Davy King snr (14lb). 3rd June, Jim Conners (12.5lb). Stuart McBean (9lb). Charlie Pryce (14lb).

4th June, Bobby McClurg comes out of retirement for a day on the troll and lands this 6lb trout off Little Ireland followed by a 4lb sea trout off Inchmoan Long Point. Both were returned.

4th June, Alan Dorrian looking well pleased with a 14lb salmon caught on the troll at Net Bay. After a photo it was carefully returned.

 Catches on the Loch continue: 4th June, Danny Docherty (7.5lb). 5th June, J.O’Neill (16.5lb). Alec Doey (11lb) – (above). 6th June, Geordie Fyfe (13lb) off Cashel Burn on a black and gold rapala. 7th June, Alastair Bruce (5.5lb). 8th June, Scott Sinclair (8lb) and Bob Forshaw (12lb).

LLAIA member Bob was up from Merseyside for the week and had seen at least five boats with fish. Perseverance finally paid off and on his last day he struck it lucky on the Bank. 11th June, Steven Gilfeather (24lb) & (8lb)

Today, 12th June, an extremely happy John McClurg had his first fish of the season at the Claddich shore on an orange and gold rapala. Weighing approx. 10lb, it was safely returned and certainly deserved to be…….watch John landing his fish in true ‘Tales From The Loch’ style by clicking on……. http://youtu.be/MFnE5TmgkNw

River Endrick.

No more reports from the Endrick yet, but just watch this space……….

JR

Contact Reports at: report@lochlomondangling.com

River Leven.

Despite fluctuating water levels the Leven continues to produce good quality fish. A few reports may escape our notice, but this one certainly didn’t ‘slip through the net’.

Vinny McMenamin landed this beauty at the Bonhill Pool on 24th May. He was using a self tied fly on a single handed rod. It weighed approx. 16lbs and was returned.. Vinny’s catch has been authenticated and he can expect to receive £40 of Glasgow Angling Centre vouchers very shortly.

Other recent catches include: 28th May, Derek McKenzie (12lb) returned. Jack Ferguson (12lb) returned. 29th, Alan Pryce (13lb). Alec Doey (13lb) Top Pool returned. Alec’s catch is also being considered for GAC vouchers. 3rd June, Keith Adams, (10lb) Street Run on the fly, returned.

Loch Lomond.

The run has now entered the Loch with good numbers of fish coming to trolled lures, particularly on the Boturich and Claddich shores, Endrick Bank and Auchentullich Bay.

On 27th May, Frank Caldwell boated this 13lb bar of silver on the Endrick Bank.

28th May, Balmaha boatman Joe Brown with a 12lb springer landed at the Ross Isles, showing that some fish are already heading up to the deeper, colder water.

30th May, happy Balloch boatman John Bell with his first fish of the season, weighing 13lbs,taken in Auchentullich Bay on a copper/silver lurgan. Makes up for a blank season last year.

Stewart McBean with his first salmon of the year, 10lb, on the Claddich shore.

Other Loch catches include: 23rd, Donald Brown (14ll). 24th Euan Slowic (8lb) returned. 28th, Danny Dochetry (17lb) Claddich shore. 29th Jackie Millar (12lb). 30th, Brian Follett (14lb). 31st, Stuart McBean (10.5lb)., Paul Dorrian (11lb). Rab Strachan (13.5lb). Daniel Gray (19lb) & (7lb). 3rd June, Mark Lees (11lb) St James Bank/golf course.

River Endrick.

In our last update we mentioned that it was still early days for the Endrick. However, on 28th May, after some overnight rain, Malcolm MacCormick and Chris Turner decided to head out in search of the first salmon of the year…or two…or three..

In less than two hours Chris landed two absolute crackers weighing 14lb and 10lb……

releasing both back in to the system. Chris also landed the first salmon on the Endrick last year.

Malcolm hooked into a 10lb springer seen here jumping out of the net……..

……before it was carefully returned…..Great stuff!!!

Members and ticket holders are reminded that all fish that are dispatched must be tagged as soon as possible with the numbered tags issued. The tag must also be clearly showing in photos submitted for inclusion in the Reports section……..unless the fish is being returned of course!!

JR

Contact Reports at: reports@lochlomondangling.com