Burnhouse Lochan Fishery – Weekly Report: 19.02.21 – 21.02.21                                        

BURNHOUSE IS BACK!

I honestly do not think kids get as excited on the run up to Santa coming, as our anglers were about Burnhouse opening back up!

For the majority of the weekend the weather was horrendous, it was blowing a hooley and pouring with rain, but nothing would stop our anglers making their return! Even though the waves at times resembled that of the North Sea they all stuck it out, undeterred!

The atmosphere was phenomenal, it was great not only to see anglers on our water again but to hear the laughter & jokes from competitive personalities, to hear the cheers of joy as great fish were landed and naughty words as those big ones got away! It is the medicine we all need in such unpredictable, grim times!

FISH OF THE WEEK – The first fish of the week 2021 was caught by MARTIN LEYDEN. A stunning, perfectly conditioned, 10lb rainbow that put a massive smile on his face! Well done, Martin!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – This week’s top 3 flies were TAILED OKAY DOKEY, BUZZERS & EGGS.

OTHER SUCCESSFUL FLIES WERE – Crunchers, daiwl bachs, snatchers, black bunny leech, blue mop fly, the covid fly, shimmy eggs, hares ears, apps bloodworms, pink squirmy, black nomad, nymphs, black fritz, millennium bugs, fluff cat, polar bears, Ally McCoist, shammies, infected egg, damsels, orange lure, pink & purple lure, bubble gum worm, Sir Alex Ferguson, goldie lure, yellow dancer, blob, pin fry imitation and a black rabbit.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

  • COLIN SPENCE – Was delighted with his first visit to Burnhouse “great wee fishery!”. He safely returned 6 rainbows caught using crunchers, snatchers and daiwl bachs on a floating line. On a return visit he safely returned 2 rainbows, caught using a pink egg fished static, under a sight indicator and a pin fry imitation on an intermediate line.
  • STUART BELL – Who hadn’t visited Burnhouse for a while, left saying “what a place! I will definitely be back!” He safely returned 16 rainbows, caught using a black bunny leech on an intermediate line, and a spearmint egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALFIE SPENCE – Safely returned 2 rainbows, 1 weighing approximately 8lb “what a fish!”. Alfie used mixed tactics including a blue mop fly fished static under a sight indicator and a covid fly on a floating line.
  • TONY STEEN – Got off to a disastrous start, a faulty hook seen him lose 8 fish! Tempted to Chuck his rod in the water, instead he kept going, determined to turn things around! He weighed in 2 rainbows for 7.9lb and safely returned 2 others.
  • DEREK GRAHAM – (Titch) Who used to work at Burnhouse many years ago, could not wait to get back to his favourite fishery and what a day he had! “I’m touching fish with practically every cast!” He weighed in 2 rainbows for 9.7lb and safely returned 3 others. All were caught using a gold head hares ear on a floating line.
  • JIMMY MARSHALL – Was like a wee kid on Christmas day when he arrived at the fishery. “It’s been far too long since I’ve been here!” He weighed in a beautiful rainbow for 7.11lb, caught using a green egg fished static under a sight indicator. On a return visit he weighed in 2 rainbows for 8.14lb and safely returned 1 other, a goldie lure and an Ally McCoist on an intermediate line, proving successful in flat calm and sunny conditions.
  • MARTIN LEYDEN – Thoroughly enjoyed his first visit to Burnhouse! He safely returned 2 rainbows including, the fish of the week weighing 10lb. He was using a green apps and a pink squirmy worm fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GAVIN JOHNSTON – Safely returned 4 rainbows, caught using a pink egg and an okay dokey, fished static under a sight indicator. He enjoyed his visit that much; he booked his space straight away for the following week!
  • GREGG HOGGAN – “Cracking fishery and some of the best conditioned fish I’ve seen!” He safely returned 11 rainbows and missed just as many! Mixed tactics including free lining buzzers and apps bloodworms, fished on an intermediate line with a rolly polly retrieve proved very successful for him.
  • JOHN BRYCE – Weighed in 3 rainbows for an impressive 16.8lb, caught using a black nomad, nymph, and buzzers on a floating line.
  • ANDY McALPINE – Weighed in 2 fin perfect rainbows for 9.12lb, both were caught using a black fritz on a floating line.
  • BRIAN SKINNER – Relatively new to fly fishing had “a great day!” He weighed in 2 rainbows for 8.8lb and safely returned 3 others, all were caught using an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.
  • IAN DON – “It’s good to be back!” He safely returned 3 rainbows, caught using a millennium bug fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALLAN DOWNIE – Safely returned 3 rainbows, caught using an okay dokey and a black nymph on a floating line with a slow retrieve.
  • AARON KIRKWOOD – Was so excited to be back at Burnhouse that he was waiting at the gates for May to arrive, an hour before opening! He safely returned 7 rainbows, including 1 weighing approximately 9lb. Mixed tactics including a fluff cat and polar bears on an intermediate line, and hares ears on a floating line proved successful in varied weather conditions.
  • ROSS MORRISON – Was counting down the sleeps till his first visit back! A first-time visitor said “well that’s a good sign…. there’s a wee guy dancing about the car park telling everyone how excited he is to be back!” I knew right away it was Ross! He safely returned 6 rainbows, 2 weighing approximately 9lb and 1 blue. Eggs and an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator, and an Ally McCoist on an intermediate line. He was also snapped by a double on one of his first casts.
  • REYNER KENNEDY – Enjoyed his first visit to the fishery, he safely returned 4 rainbows, caught using an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GREGOR KENNEDY – Gregor nailed it! He safely returned 6 rainbows, caught using an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator and missed many more!
  • DECLAN WINTERS – Made the most of the ticket he won in the big fish competitions back in December. He safely returned 7 rainbows, all of a good size and fin perfect. Buzzers, a blue flash damsel and a yellow shammy on a floating line were the successful flies for him.
  • SEAN MOONEY – Safely returned 1 rainbow, caught using a pink infected egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALLAN SMITH – Safely returned 3 rainbows, caught using a hares ear on a floating line and a pink apps on an intermediate line.
  • ROBERT RANKIN – Had a “brilliant day!” Where his friends struggled, Robert weighed in 3 fin perfect rainbows for 15.4lb, caught using an okay dokey and a millennium bug fished static, under a sight indicator.
  • DARREN SMITH – Safely returned 1 rainbow, caught using buzzers on a floating line.
  • RYAN GIBSON – Safely returned a beautiful 8lb rainbow, caught using an Ally McCoist on an intermediate line.
  • LIAM RODGERSON – Young Liam showed his dad how to catch a fish, he safely returned 1 rainbow around 4lb, caught using a millennium bug fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GREG MARSHALSEY – Safely returned 4 rainbows and a 7lb tiger, damsels, an orange lure, and a pink and purple lure were the successful flies for him. Greg has caught a tiger on every visit to Burnhouse and he rubs it in big time to his friend Ross who has yet to catch one!
  • DAVID MENZIES – Safely returned 1 rainbow, caught using a bubblegum worm fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ROSS MENZIES – Safely returned 1 rainbow, caught using an Alex Ferguson on an intermediate line.
  • BRIAN McCLUCKIE – Came determined to beat a spell of bad luck earned elsewhere. He safely returned 2 rainbows, caught using a daiwl bach on a floating line and a yellow dancer on an intermediate line. He also lost a big fish on his last cast.
  • LEWIS KIDD – Left with a massive smile on his face after catching 2 tigers weighing 5lb & 8lb and, 2 rainbows including one weighing 7lb! “I’m coming back here; this place is brilliant!” He used mixed tactics including a blue mop fly fished static under a sight indicator and an orange blob, yellow dancer and blue flash damsel fished on an intermediate line.
  • WULLIE CARR – Was chuffed to be back. He safely returned 2 rainbows, caught using daiwl bachs on a floating line.
  • KEVIN MOWATT – Safely returned 1 rainbow, caught using a red shammy fished static under a sight indicator. He also lost a double figure fish.
  • DAVID PATTERSON – Safely returned 2 rainbows, both were caught using daiwl bachs on a floating line.
  • CHRIS MULHOLAND – Safely returned 1 rainbow, caught using an egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • RICHARD GRAY – Safely returned 3 rainbows, caught using a black rabbit on an intermediate line and buzzers on a floating line.
  • ALLAN MEEK – Safely returned 1 good sized rainbow, caught using daiwl bachs on a floating line.
  • JONNO McDONALD – Safely returned 3 rainbows, caught using a buzzer on a floating line and an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.

It has been a great joy to welcome anglers back to Burnhouse but even though we as a country have made great progress in our fight against covid 19, we must not let our guards down! Whilst fishing our water please adhere to the following measures, we have put in place at the fishery.

Important COVID-19 Regulations – please read:

Please adhere to the following:

  • We will be operating a strict booking in only policy. This allows us to limit the number of anglers arriving, using our facilities, and fishing our water; it also enables a better track and trace. Please phone 07949 220 511 to book your space.
  • If you feel unwell or show any symptoms of COVID-19 please cancel your booking, stay at home and isolate.
  • We will be issuing tickets from the window on the lodge.
  • Refreshments are still available via the window, gloves and masks will be worn by staff and strict hygiene standards implemented during the handling.
  • ALL anglers MUST use the hand sanitising station before approaching the window. The station will be cleaned by staff after every use. Disposable gloves are also available for anyone who wishes that extra bit of protection.
  • We ask that our anglers bring the exact money to avoid change being required. All ticket prices can be found on our website or upon request on telephone enquiries.
  • Toilets will be thoroughly cleaned on an hourly basis, though we also ask that anglers use the antibacterial wipes and toilet brushes provided to clean up after their own use.
  • Please adhere to the social distancing guidelines.
  • We would hate for anything to be traced back to our beloved sport, so let us work together to keep it as safe as possible for all participants.

Stay safe and tight lines for the week ahead!