Fishing Reports

River Leven

A steady run of springers coming through despite the drought.

11 May, Craig Williamson sent his report…

‘Not long home after great couple hours down the Leven. Arrived at the river at 7.30 just in time for the bright sunlight starting to fade and at 8.10 connected with a springer at the Piles. Fish landed and after few pictures taken by a passing cyclist the fish was returned to the river safely. Would guess it to be around 12lb??
New member and new to fishing the double hander so absolutely over the moon with my first salmon off the Leven.’

Well done Craig…a fish you’ll always remember and first of many we hope!

12 May, Frank McGeachie (10lbs) at the Stuckie Bridge, flying -c.

13 May, wasn’t an unlucky day for Grant McIntyre (10lbs) at the Double Pipes on a cascade fly. After some great sport his catch was carefully returned.

Loch Lomond

One of the many moods of Loch Lomond….. Saturday 13 May was a grey, dreich day with continual rain but it didn’t dampen the spirits of Loch anglers. The bailiffs reported at least twenty boats out on the Loch. Some anglers were no doubt aware of the second confirmed spring salmon (13lbs) from the Loch caught on Thursday 11 May by Voldac angler John Connolly at the north end of Auchentullich Bay. One boat did have success. Stephen Gilfeather landed his first fish of the season (13lbs) at the Stables, one of the well known marks we expect to find fish at this time of year.

If reports seem a bit scarce over the next fortnight it doesn’t mean that nothings happening…it means the regular web reporter’s on an extended fishing break. Keep your updates coming and I’ll catch up soon as I get back.

JR

Email Reports at: reports@lochlomondangling.com

River Leven.

A steady stream of spring fish moving up river into the Loch. Most of the fish reported have been caught by anglers worming at the Top Pool.

5 May, Adam Sandilands (15lbs) Stuckie Bridge on an Ally’s Shrimp fly. 6May, Stuart McMillan (11lbs) Top Pool, worm. 8 May, Andy McIlwee (14lbs) Top Pool, worm. 9 May, Jim McFarlane (14lbs) Top Pool, worm, Alex Doey (15lbs) Top Pool, worm.

River still siting at weekend height which allows reasonable fishing conditions. Rain forecast for next week but will it be enough to make a difference….?

Thanks to Jack Ferguson for his continuing River conditions updates.

Loch Lomond.

With the recent bright, sunny conditions things have been a bit slow on the Loch but the weather is about to change and so should the fortunes of Loch boatmen. Last week Danny Docherty lost a good fish at Milarrochy Bay and Davie King had a brief encounter up near Inversnaid. Eric Donaghey landed and returned a nice sea trout (10lbs) and John Connolly also had a sea trout (6lbs). Plenty of fresh fish seen going through into the Loch so things should start to liven up anytime.

JR

Email Reports at : reports@lochlomondangling.com

River Leven.

1st May, holiday Monday, saw another couple of springers landed on the Leven.

Angus Soutter reports catching this bar of silver (11/12lb) at Sandy Hole on the fly. His first of the season which was released back to the River.

Derek Hughes had a second spring salmon (8lbs) at the Top Pool on the worm which was also released.

Not many anglers on the banks this week probably due to the bright conditions. No signs of any rain in the forecast yet…..

Leven Rep.

The new River Leven Rep Stuart McCallum can be contacted at the following email address: Leven@lochlomondangling.com

Catch Return Boxes.

As part of the committee’s commitment to ensure an accurate record of catches, returns boxes have been sited at the riverside outside the Vale of Leven District Angling Club and within O’Brien’s shop adjacent to Bonhill Bridge.

The LLAIA is required to submit a return of all salmon and sea trout caught on the system to Marine Scotland by 31 December each year. The future Conservation Categorisation of the Lomond System depends on these figures. Day/weekly game ticket anglers are requested to submit their returns, including blank days, either directly to the Association or by posting in these boxes. All returns received will be entered in a draw for a River Leven season ticket for 2018. A similar incentive is being introduced for  Full Members and Leven Season Ticket holders.

Loch Lomond.

I mentioned in the last report that there’s always some big sea trout in the Loch at the start of the season….

2nd May, Balmaha regular Angus MacRitchie set out round the island drifts in sunny conditions with an east wind. Just past the Ladies Point of Inchcruin he hooked into something which he knew right away was big. After a 30 minute fight this fine specimen of a  sea trout came to the net. Estimated at 14lbs it was photographed and returned to the Loch. A size 12 double pearly invicta on the tail had done the trick. Great stuff Angus! Full report on the Balmaha Anglers Website.

3 May, Not a cloud in the sky. Gerd Elsweiler reported two sea trout about the 3.5lb mark on the troll at the mouth of the Endrick.

Great weather for a sail….

Renewal of Membership

Just to remind those members who are still to renew their membership for this season. The LLAIA constitution states:

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

Memberships can be renewed by sending in your fee and completed form to the Treasurer, LLAIA, 5 Woodside Place, Glasgow G3 7QF or using PayPal – see LLAIA Membership on our home page. A completed form is still required.

JR

Email Reports at : reports@lochlomondangling.com

River Leven

Now into May and things are beginning to hot up….. you wouldn’t think it right enough….

Derek Hughes got his season off to a start early this morning with a fresh (12lbs) springer at the Top Pool on the worm. It was netted by Alec Doey, whom he thanks, and then released.

Later on, day ticket angler Derek McInnes landed this fine spring salmon (10lbs) also at the Top Pool on the worm. A quick photo and it too was released.

Worming is allowed from 1st May on the River Leven and while anglers must use circle hooks during May, we would encourage their general use. Anglers are reminded that under LLAIA Bye Laws they must not fish upstream from 100yards below the Barrage and must remain and cast from downstream of the yellow marker.

Loch Lomond

Public holiday weekends always produce fish on the Lomond system and it’s one that Derek Rannachan won’t forget in a hurry…..

Derek reports….

‘I launched at Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway and motored over to my usual starting spot at Pasty’s stane. I had just put my lures out and within 2min my outside rod went. By the take I realised it was a pike but a good sized one. Fifteen seconds later my inside rod went and there was no doubt it was a salmon that was on this time.The wind was blowing north towards Inchmurrin and I was struggling to reel in both rods and line was getting pulled out rapidly. I decided to deal with the rod that had  the pike first. The wind was strong and pushing me out to deep water and after about 15 mins landed the pike.

I picked up the salmon rod once again and realised this was a big yin!, I was now drifting past the boat house still in a strong wind with this fish fighting hard. After seeing it for the first time I knew that I could do with some assistance . A few swear words did leave my mouth as I saw its back and tail on the surface and down it went once again. Forty five minutes had now passed and I thought to myself  ‘don’t loose it, Derek take your time don’t blow it’… like I did 14yrs ago with a cock salmon I reckoned was over 30lbs.. lost at the net.

I spotted a boat heading towards the boathouse and waved frantically at him. The chap was with his young son. He got his lines in and came over to me, tying the boats together. By now the fish was to the side of his boat so I jumped aboard, brought it to the surface and he netted it with ease. I could not believe how deep this salmon was and very much a typical Lomond springer. He commented on the sea lice attached to the fish however I was more interested in getting pictures of my trophy fish. It weighed at 19lbs, was quickly photographed and released. For the record it was hooked at 10.20am and landed an hour later near the old girl guide hut, approximately one mile from where it was first hooked. I was buzzing with excitement all day as this was my heaviest landed salmon in 23 years fishing this big water’

Sounds like a fair old tussle Derek….and the first off the Loch this season…a lovely fish, well done!!

While Derek was acting out ‘The Old Man and the Sea’, Scott Sinclair was discovering where Loch Lomond’s sea trout have been hiding………

Early in the day Scott landed a (4.5lb) sea trout on the troll off the east side of Inchmurrin and later came across this (5lb) specimen off Boturich. Both fish were carefully returned. There are always some good sized sea trout caught in the earlier part of the season….before they head back down to the Estuary to feed again.

Good news indeed that there’s a fish off the Loch. May can be a good month as the spring salmon make their way in from the River Leven.The bottom end off Balloch Park where Derek caught his fish, Boturich/ Claddich shorelines and the Endrick Bank all feature in early catches on the Loch. What we do need is a week of heavy rain to get things freshened up and encourage more fish into the system….. definitely time to get out there though…

JR

Email Reports at: reports@lochlomondangling.com