Issued by Jim Boyd on behalf of the following fisheries on Monday 24 March 2014. The report is for the week ending Sunday, 23March 2014.

1. FRANDY (Gleneagles) Due to the extremely cold weather the fishery was very quiet last week but on the individual front Andy McCreary from Glenrothes kept 4 fish weighing 8lb 8oz, Andy Hunter, Alloa caught and released 12, Michael Willis, Dunblane, caught and released 6 and Raymond Pirrie from Tullibody caught and released 7. On the club front the Bridge of Allan 76 A/C kept 27 fish weighing 60lb and the best catching flies and lures last week included the Cormorant, Coral/Yellow Dancer, Hothead Damsel an the Olive Hotty. The best fishing area was from the start of the Dogleg to the dam wall on south shore.

2. FORBES OF KINGENNIE (Broughty Ferry) LATE REPORT TO FOLLOW

3. MARKLE (East Lothian) There were some outstanding catch and release returns last week with Bruce Hunter topping the list with 20 on a Damsel. Alex Rowley from Dalkeith had 12 on a Damsel, Mattie Devine, Hagston, 15 on a Diawl Bach and Keith Watson from Hagstone also had5 but on a Bloodworm. Some big trout also featured in the catches with Steve Rogers from Edinburgh having one a 10lbs on a Cat’s Whisker, D McConnell, Gorebridge, one at 10lbs on a Hare’s Ear, J Davidson, Prestonpans one at 8lbs on a Damsel and P McKenzie from Dalkeith bagged one at 7lbs 8oz on a Black Zonker. The Goth AC from Stirling had a fine outing taking 51 fish weighing 131lbs and the heaviest fish tipped the scales at 8lbs 8oz.

4. MORTON (Livingston) NO REPORT THIS WEEK 

5. ORCHILL LOCH (Braco) The water is heating up just a bit now with the fish now being found as high up as the two foot mark where they are taking the likes of the Damsel Nymph, lly McCoist, Yellow Dancer and he Diawl Bach. He Falcon FFC had a good outing taking 58 fish for 156lbs 12oz with Willie Barr having the top basket of 4 fish for 13lbs 4oz. Also doing well was Bob Garvie from Lennoxtown with 3 for 7lbs on a Yellow Fritz, Ron Lusher, Perth, 2 for 6lbs 12oz on a Diawl Bach, Willie Townsley, Perth, 2 for 5lbs 4oz on a Buzzer and Mike Christie from Scone used a Buzzer to bag a brace weighing 5lbs. Richard Jackson from Perth had 2 for 4lbs on a Bloodworm, David Morrison, Cumbernauld, 3 for 7lbs 8oz on a Damsel and Donald McClarty from Cumbernauld had 4 for 9lbs 4oz on a Black Fritz. 

6. SWANSWATER (Stirling) The direction and strength of the wind was the determining factor as to where fish were being caught this week at Swanswater.    Some days there were only certain places that anglers could get a cast out and therefore the far bay, the front of the island and Nan’s corner were all popular spots.   With another 20mm of rain falling in the middle of the week, the water was coloured on Thursday but quickly cleared and conditions were good for the weekend.   For most of the week the fish were in the top 3 feet of the water and the best tactic was a small lure fished on an intermediate line, retrieved almost as soon as the fly hit the water.   The fish, particularly the Browns, were looking for something to chase and favourite patterns included Dancer, Damsel, Montana, Green Pea, Diawl Bach, Hare’s Ear, Bibio and Buzzer. The small ponds fished well this week and were popular with anglers as they offered more sheltered conditions than Swanswater on the windiest days.
Gareloch and Loch Long Angling Club had a good outing on Saturday with 8 members bagging 32 fish for a total of 85lb 10z, including 13 Browns and a Tiger.   Best bag was Jim Blenkinsop with 5 for 15lb 11oz, followed by Alec Couper with 5 for 14lb 3oz plus a further 9 caught and released. Thomas Ritchie, Hamilton, 5lb Tiger, Willie Nyguist, Stirling, 5 for 15lb including 2 Blues plus 2 caught and released, Danny Doherty, Denny, 5 for 14lb including 3 Blues and a Tiger, Barry Hamilton, Muirhead, 4 for 13lb including a Brown and Steve Hunter, Balloch, 4 for 11lb 4oz. John Alcock, Balloch, 4 for 10lb 8oz including 2 Browns and a Tiger, plus another 4 caught and returned. G Cargill, 4 for 10lb 8oz including a Blue and a Brown, Eddie McKillop, Glasgow, 3 for 8lb 8oz including a Blue and a Brown, plus 3 caught and returned and Gordon McPhee, Cumbernauld, 2 for 6lb 8oz.
The Swanswater Cygnets Junior Angling Club had their first session of the year on the Millpond on Sunday morning.   Despite the cold wind the Cygnets enjoyed the dry, bright weather and landed a total of 9 fish for 21lb 1oz with another 3 caught and released.   They were encouraged in their efforts by the Club’s Honorary President, Paul Young, who popped in for one of his frequent visits to give advice and tips to the members.
Swanswater Cygnets
The Swanswater Cygnets Junior Angling Club, a club for junior anglers aged 16 and under was the brainchild of the late Tom Postlethwaite, a retired gentleman from Cumbernauld, who started giving lessons to youngsters at Swanswater Fishery near Stirling in Scotland in the summer of 1999. The club’s aim is to promote the arts of fly fishing and fly tying to youngsters and it has grown over the years. Initially the committee was made up of members of the Club but it is now run on a more formal basis with all Office Bearer positions being held by adults and lessons being led by UKCC qualified coaches. During the year the members attend fortnightly sessions on the Millpond and usually the more experienced members also go on outings to other fisheries nearby. All boys and girls aged 16 and under are welcome, whether complete beginners or more experienced anglers as the club offers tuition and fishing experience to everyone, right up to international level.
The new season of the Swanswater Cygnets Junior Angling Club starts on Sunday 23rd March at 9.30am. The Club will then meet on alternate Sunday mornings from 30th March at Swanswater Fishery, Stirling, from 9.30am to 1pm. Further information can be found on the Cygnets’ page of the Fishery website (www.swanswater-fishery.co.uk/cygnets) where there is a blog with all the latest news.
Three members of the Swanswater Cygnets JAC last year qualified for the Scottish Youth International team for 2014. Alasdair Anderson, Falkirk, who won the best newcomer shield at the qualifying event in September, is joined in the team by Robert Fyfe, Perth and Cameron Smith, Alloa. All three boys have done very well with the Club and will represent Scotland at the Home International on Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, in August.
The Club is fortunate to have TV personality and angling guru, Paul Young as its Honorary President. Paul makes frequent visits to the Fishery during the season and passes on hints and tips to the youngsters. He also often presents the prizes at the annual prize giving in November when the Club Champion is announced. The Club’s 2013 season finished on 24th November with a fun morning’s fishing followed by the AGM and Prize Giving. The Club Champion is Eddie McKillop, from Glasgow, who beat Robert Fyfe by 3 points (representing 3oz), with Cameron Smith in third place. Alasdair Anderson won the Fly-Tying Shield.

7. WOODBURN (Milton of Campsie) It was a quiet week due to the very variable weather ranging from the extreme wet to cold and windy but despite this some good catches were recorded. On the fly front Robert McGinn from Kilsyth had 4 rainbows – best 4lbs, Mr Anderson, Cumbernauld, 9 on catch and release, Craig Walker, Bonhill, 2 for 3lbs 8oz and David Cairns from Kirkintilloch took a nice rainbow weighing 2lbs 6oz.Ryan Kelly from Stirling had a great bag of 4 for 12lbs 8oz – best 4lbs 7oz on a Green Fritz and Edward Kennedy from Falkirk caught a brace of rainbows for 6lbs7oz an also returned a terrific brown trout of 5lbs on a Damsel Nymph.
The bait fishers also did pretty well with Mr Wilkie from Glasgow taking 3 – best 3lbs on maggot, James Bett, Cumbernauld, 1 at 2lbs 5oz and Daniel Scullion from Kirkintilloch had 2 rainbows for 5lbs on maggot.
The top taking flies last week were the Yellow Fritz, Damsel Ny6mphs, Buzzers and the Ally McCoist.

ENDS