ANGLING PRESS SERVICES

JIM BOYD - angling journalist/photographer
             
Issued by Jim Boyd on behalf of the following fisheries on Monday, 25 November 2013.

The report is for the week ending Sunday, 24 November 2103.

1. FRANDY (Gleneagles) NOW CLOSED UNTIL MARCH 2014

2. FORBES OF KINGENNIE (Broughty Ferry). Winter has well and truly set in here at Forbes of Kingennie. This is the first time this winter that the ice has made any impact but the fishing is still on good form, just a change of tactics has been called for with the colder water. It has been very noticeable on all the ponds that the fishing will be very good for short period when the fish have been "on" but then much slower when they have switched "off" again. The last hour of light has seen the most action even with fish on the surface rising. The Boathouse has remained completely ice free and the fishing has remained constant in the very clear water with most anglers managing their fish. Again lures are the method of choice with most patterns taking fish. Young Logan Cumming had a great morning on Saturday managing to catch a 5lb 2oz rainbow. Dean Calder also had successful day landing 3 fish for 16lb 2oz. There have also been a couple of nice browns to just under 5lb being caught as well.

The Bankside has seen the worst of the ice with around half the pond frozen but the fish have still been getting caught. The water has continued to clear and now the visibility is very good, again most fish have fallen to lures with anything with a bit of yellow in it doing well with yellow dancers being the most popular. Mr Gordon did well returning 6 fish in three hours and Mr Sheriff had a great day returning 7 loosing just as many and missing a lot. The Burnside has seen a small amount of ice on it and it has seen the fish move deeper. A sinking line and once again flies with a bit of yellow in them have been the best tactics. In the clear water Buzzers are still working very well and small size 14 flies fished under the "bung" has been the best combination. Mr Barlow continued his great run of form landing 12 on Buzzers in a very short time. Mr Simpson also did very well returning 14 fish on a Di 3 and Blobs.

The Woodside has been fishing well for those that have braved the cold. Powerbait is still the best bait with the float of lead being just as good. Worms and spinners continue to take their share of fish. Mr Ferguson and his son had a good morning on Saturday taking 6 fish for 10lb 3oz on Powerbait fished under the float.

There will be a competition on the Boathouse and Burnside pools on Saturday the 28th of December for those looking to book a peg or for more information please call the sports department on 01382 350777/350213 for more details.

3. MARKLE (East Lothian) It was another quiet week due to the rather inclement weather but despite this Chris Godfrey from Edinburgh had a fine 14lb 8oz specimen on a Black & Green Rabbit and Tam Sandon from Edinburgh used the same lure to bag one at 13lbs. Also doing well was Willie Brash from Mayfield who had on C+R on a Stalking Bug and Mick Mulgrew from Linlithgow had 9 on a Bloodworm.

4. ORCHILL LOCH (Braco) NO REPORT THIS WEEK

5. SWANSWATER (Stirling) The first hard frost of the winter presented no problems as the aerators were in place and running to prevent the ponds freezing over.   The cold conditions had the fish well spread out – sometimes at the dam, other times in the far bay, and on other occasions in front of the island.   The water temperature is down to 2oC and although there were fish showing on the surface, they were not being caught there.   A slow retrieve around 4 to 6 feet down was required on Swanswater, with the best depth on the small ponds being 2 to 4 feet down.   Small lures, such as Dancer, Fritz and Cat’s Whisker, and nymphs, including PTN, Bloodworm and Buzzers, were the best patterns.

The Swanswater Cygnets held a fun morning on Sunday before the AGM and prize giving.   The boys practiced accuracy casting by bursting balloons and hooking rubber ducks before the serious business of the AGM!   The competition for Club Champion was the closest ever with only 20 points separating the first three, and only 3 points between first and second.   This year’s champion is Eddie McKillop, with Robert Fyfe runner-up and Cameron Smith in third place.   The fly-tying shield was presented to Alasdair Anderson.   Congratulations go to Alasdair, Robert and Cameron who have all qualified to fish for the Scottish Youth International team, adding to a growing list of Cygnets’ members who have fished for Scotland.

Malcolm Miller, Clackmannan, 5 for 23lb 6oz including 8lb 10oz Rainbow, 6lb 10oz Tiger and 3 Blues, Stewart Nicholson, Knightswood, 4 for 13lb 8oz including 6lb Tiger and 2 Blues, Charles Campbell, Falkirk, 5 for 17lb including 4 Blues, biggest at 5lb 8oz and Ian Whitelaw, Dunipace, 5 for 15lb including 4lb 8oz Tiger and 4 Blues, plus 3 caught and returned. Frank Barr, Falkirk, 5 Blues for 13lb plus one returned, Eddie McKillop, Glasgow, and son, Eddie, shared 3 for 9lb 4oz including 2 Blues, Alex Knox, Glasgow, 3 Blues for 8lb 8oz and Alfred Sanford, Grangemouth, 2 for 7lb including 4lb 8oz Tiger and a Blue, plus a Brown returned. John Moyes, Bo’ness, 2 Blues for 6lb, Mike Chubb, Stirling, 2 for 4lb from the Millpond, plus 6 caught and returned and Stewart Marshall, Cambusbarron, had 8 on catch and release

6. WOODBURN (Milton of Campsie) NO REPORT THIS WEEK.

ENDS.