Fishing Lines...

Mar 19 2010 by Jean Pedder, Stirling Observer Friday

Frandy

AFTER a number of postponements the fishery plans to get up and running for the 2010 season tomorrow (Saturday).

At the start it is the usual coral and yellow dancers, nomads, crazy cats, etc, which are the most successful patterns but a number of the Frandy regulars fish buzzers from beginning to end.

The south shore from the fishery lodge to the dam wall is usually the most productive drift.

Lake Of Menteith

AFTER 12 weeks of ice cover the fishery was finally able to get the boats for a successful day’s pike fishing on March 13.

Bailiff Douglas Fraser recently celebrated his 25th year at the fishery. Douglas got his start when he was 16 years old and has “enjoyed the work, fun, banter and occasional wind up” over the years.

The cold winter reduced the growth rate of fish for the coming season, particularly those that are set to be stocked over the next three months. The fishery is investigating sources of bigger fish but growth rates have been affected over the whole of the UK. Pre-season stocking is to be 1300 rainbows with a mean weight around 2lb and 600 brown trout of average weight ¾lb. There is a belief among the angling fraternity that the buzzer fishing on the lake can be exceptional after a long freeze.

The reconstructed website has a boat availability page. Payments by mainly debit and some credit cards will be available shortly.

The opening is tomorrow (Saturday) and afterwards the anglers are invited to the chairman’s dinner at the Forth Inn.

Orchil

AT LONG last the ice has finally disappeared but the water is extremely cold so fish are taking very slowly on a variety of colours.

Some good catches: Allan McComisky, Moodiesburn, 4 for 10lb 8oz; John Stevenson, Cowie, 3 for 7lb 4oz; Allan Buchan, Bannockburn, 3 for 6lb 8oz; Bob White, Alloa, 3 for 8lb 8oz; John Hutchison, Alloa, 2 for 5lb; Jim Duncan, Alva, 3 for 10lb 8oz; Dave Wilkie, Stirling, 3 for 8lb; Willie Plank, Bridge of Allan, 3 for 7lb 8oz.

Swanswater

A TOTAL of 413 were landed, with several anglers taking multiple tickets on the same day. Where the fish were located depended on the temperature. At certain times the area behind the islands was the hotspot but at others it was the far bay or the dam area. Often the fish were quite deep and taking lures but there were times that nymphs and wet flies were successful. Favourite patterns included the usual small lures, cat's whisker, dancer, damsel, tadpole and viva, bloodworm buzzer, cormorant, diawl bach, Kate McLaren and bibio. Stocking of brown trout started on Monday and several overwintered browns have been hooked and put back.

Paul Mitchell, Westquarter, took this week's best bag: 5 for 23lb 8oz including a 7lb 8oz rainbow and 6lb 8oz blue. Biggest went to Hugh McGhie, Stonehouse, with an 8lb 10oz rainbow.

Other good catches included: Ricky Wilson, Linlithgow, 8lb 2oz rainbow; Allan Hunter, Alva, 2 for 9lb 8oz, best 7lb 5oz; Colin Simmonds, Armadale, 2 for 8lb 10oz, best 6lb 10oz; Scott Pryce, Balloch, 3 for 12lb 4oz, best 6lb 8oz; Paul Brown, Alva, on five tickets, 16 for 30lb 80z; Graeme Johnston, Alva, 7 for 18lb 4oz on two tickets; Charles Devine, Stirling, 5 for 14lb 8oz; Nan Morrison, Stirling, 2 for 6lb 10oz.

Wellsfield

MANY anglers bagged their limits. Two red £50 tagged trout were caught by I Boyd, Cumbernauld, and S McDonald, Edinburgh.

Many specimen-sized fish were caught, including a 12lb rainbow by A Mitchell, Stirling, and an 8lb rainbow by S Munro, Milton of Campsie.

Best flies: black/green fritz, yellow dancer, claret damsel diawl bach, bloodworm, black cruncher. Best bait: white or green powerbait, worms and maggots, mepps.

Some of the best catches: A McGee, Grangemouth, 5 for 23lb, best 11lb; D Wishart, Falkirk, 5 for 19lb, best 8lb; W McAllister, Kirkintilloch, 5 for 17lb; A Semple, Stirling, 5 for 16lb; C Nairns, Alva, 5 for 15lb; S Seath, Alva, 4 for 12lb; M Boyden, Denny, 4 for 11lb; S Hamilton, Tullibody, 4 for 9lb; A Mitchell, Stirling, 3 for 17lb, best 12lb; I Conn, Tillicoultry, 3 for 12lb; A Paterson jnr, Fallin, 3 for 10lb; A Paterson snr, Fallin, 3 for 10lb; P McLagan, Denny, 3 for 9lb; J Marshall, Stirling, 3 for 8lb; P Johnstone, Fallin, 3 for 8lb; D Douglas, Sauchie, 3 for 7lb 8oz; L Paterson, Bannockburn, 2 for 6lb; M Paterson, Stirling, 2 for 6lb. R Upfold, Bannockburn, 2 for 6lb; G McPhillips, Denny, 2 for 6lb; B Robertson, Cowie, 2 for 6lb; D Drummond, Tillicoultry, 2 for 6lb; S Munro, Milton of Campsie, 8lb rainbow.