Friday 18/03/2022 – Friday 25/03/2022

Spring is in the air. The anglers have been enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. There have been a lot of hatches this week, giving the fish a plentiful amount to feed on and creating spectacular rises! The natural fly imitations are taking over the catch report and the anglers are experiencing the thrill of the surface take and hard hitting buzzer takes.

Though the days could prove difficult at times with the strong sun, the evenings have consistently produced excellent sport, the big fish in particular going into a feeding frenzy in the evening hours. Many PBs have been smashed this week and many anglers have reported their best days fishing!

The hot spots this week have been the deeper water from podiums 1-6 and the cabin side bay during the day, during the evenings the fish are being caught all over however the shallow water at the bridge has provided the best sport. For those eagle eyed regular anglers that are  wondering why podiums 1-6 are being mentioned in the deeper water, we have re-numbered the podiums starting with number 1 being the big platform in front of the cabin.

This week we also hosted the final of the Quaich competition, you can read how the teams got on after the catch report.

FISH OF THE WEEK –  The top spots go to JOHNATHAN MCDONALD with rainbow weighing 17.2lb! Well Done Johnathan!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – The top 3 flies were BUZZERS, DIAWL BACHS and APPS.

Other successful flies were shipmans, hoppers, suspended buzzers, spiders, muskins, caenis, corixa, klink hammers, foam beetles, double humpy, yellow owls, nymphs, crunchers, midas, fabs, Kate McLaren, black lures, eggs, blobs, squirmies, shimmies, mini lures, dogs bollocks, white cats whiskers, Donnay Mac charity lures, grub imitations, cat bug, black rabbit, okay dokey, hares ears, cdcs and various dries.

CATCH REPORT

  • WULLIE MOUNTFORD – Safely returned 2 fish using a black apps fished static under a sight indicator.
  • JIM MCINTYRE – Safely returned 2 fish caught using a fab on a floating line and eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • JOHNATHAN MCDONALD – Safely returned 9 fish including his new PB weighing 17.2lb using a double humpy and buzzers on a floating line.
  • DONALD FORBES – Safely returned 14 fish using buzzers and foam beetles on a floating line.
  • RUSSELL BRENNAN – Safely returned 6 fish using buzzers, fabs, black lures and hoppers on a floating line.
  • STEPHEN LIMBERT – Safely returned 5 fish caught using hoppers, suspended buzzers and shipmans on a floating line.
  • JOHN STEWART – Safely returned 2 fish caught using a black rabbit and a black apps on a floating line.
  • ROSS COCHRANE – Safely returned 4 fish using various apps on an intermediate line.
  • BILLY HOEHLE – Safely returned 1 fish using a diawl bach on a floating line.
  • PAUL ROE – Safely returned 1 fish using a corixa on a floating line.
  • DAVIE GARTSHORE – Safely returned 8 fish including a rainbow weighing 12lb caught using spiders, blobs and caenis on a floating line.
  • SCOTT DOC – Safely returned 9 fish including a tiger and a 10lb rainbow using various dries and buzzers on a floating line.
  • GEORGE BROWNLEE – Safely returned 2 fish using a pink squirmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • TONY STEEN – Safely returned 5 fish using a Klink hammer and nymphs on a floating line and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • DEREK GRAHAM – Safely returned 5 fish including 2 8lb rainbows using a foam beetle and buzzers on a floating line.
  • MICHAEL INGLIS – Safely returned 7 fish including a rainbow weighing 9lb using apps and buzzers on a floating line.
  • JAMES GRAHAM – Safely returned 2 fish using various dries on a floating line.
  • STEVEN BROWN – Safely returned 2 fish using a white mini lure and dogs bollocks on a floating line.
  • RICHARD TAYLOR – Safely returned 9 fish including 2 double figure rainbows using a double humpy on a floating line.
  • ALAN WALKER – Safely returned 4 fish using muskins and fabs on a floating line.
  • COKER WILSON – Safely returned 2 fish using a tequila fab and a white cats whisker on floating and intermediate lines.
  • GORDEN REID – From Bowden Springs Fishery, safely returned 9 fish using buzzers and a white cat on floating and intermediate lines.
  • KEVIN WILSON – Had his best ever days fishing, he safely returned 12 fish caught using Donnay Mac charity flies, lures, grubs, shipmans and double humpy.
  • SCOTT ANDERSON – Safely returned 7 fish using diawl bachs and a yellow owl on a floating line.
  • WARREN HOLSTEAD – Safely returned 3 fish using a yellow blob and buzzers on a floating line.
  • ALAN MACGREGGOR – Safely returned 4 fish including his new pb, a rainbow weighing 15.2lb using a yellow blob and buzzers on a floating line.
  • ALAN MCQUEEN – Weighed in 2 rainbows for 4.4lb caught using buzzers on a floating line.
  • WULLIE MOUNTFORD – Safely returned 3 fish using a black spider on a floating line.
  • PAUL PRICE – Safely returned 8 fish using diawl bachs on a floating line.
  • TED HALL – Safely returned 3 fish caught using shimmies on a floating line.
  • JOE FRANCE – Weighed in 4 fish for 8.93lb and safely returned 1 using a midas, apps and diawl bachs on an intermediate line.
  • STEVE SALMON – Weighed in 4 fish for 9.5lb and safely returned 5 using shimmies, blobs, apps and diawl bachs on various lines.
  • HARRY HARRISON – Safely returned 3 fish using buzzers on a floating line.
  • ALEX BARONS – Safely returned 2 fish using a cat bug on an intermediate line.
  • DARREN SMITH – The last time I spoke to Darren he had 3 fish, but we don’t know how many he ended up with or what he was using.
  • JOHN BUTLER – Safely returned 6 fish using a dogs bollocks and shimmies on a ghost tip line.
  • MARK GRAY – Safely returned 3 fish using various apps on an intermediate line.
  • ALAN SMITH – Safely returned 5 fish using apps and various dries on floating and intermediate lines.
  • RAYMOND BAIRD – Safely returned 1 fish using an olive apps on a floating line.
  • FRANK BRADLEY – Safely returned 3 fish using a red apps on a floating line.
  • IAN BALFOUR – Safely returned 2 fish using an olive buzzer on a floating line.
  • SCOTT DOC – Safely returned 4 fish including his new PB rainbow weighing 13.5lb using diawl bachs on a floating line.
  • BRUCE DYSART – Safely returned 8 fish using buzzers and a black lure on a floating line.
  • GARY SNEDDON – Safely returned a beautiful wild brown using buzzers on a floating line.
  • JAMES CRAIG – Safely returned 1 fish using an apps on a floating line.
  • RUSSELL YEARLY – Safely returned 3 fish.
  • RUSSELL BRENNAN – Safely returned 4 fish including his new P.B rainbow weighing 15.7lb using various apps, an okay dokey and buzzers on sinking lines.

GETTING THEIR PRACTICE IN FOR THE FINAL OF THE QUAICH

  • RONNIE WEIR – TEAM BANGOUR – Safely returned 12 fish.
  • COLIN DAVIDSON – TEAM HCF – Safely returned 6 fish.
  • ADAM JUKES – TEAM HCF – Safely returned 18 fish.
  • JONNO MCDONALD – TEAM BURNHOUSE – Safely returned 12 fish.
  • DONALD FORBES – TEAM BURNHOUSE – Safely returned 12 fish.
  • AARON KIRKWOOD – TEAM BURNHOUSE – Safely returned 8 fish in just a few hours.
  • JOHN DONALDSON – TEAM BURNHOUSE – Safely returned 18 fish in just a few hours.
  • ALAN SMITH – TEAM BURNHOUSE – Safely returned 5 in an hour.

THE FINAL OF THE WINTER QUAICH INTER FISHERY COMPETITION.

Firstly we would like to send our thoughts to the original HCF team who all caught covid, we hope that you are all now on the mend. We were gutted you weren’t there for the final after a few months of getting to know you all and the laughs we had but your replacements were exceptionally good and they did you proud so that should be a comfort!

We were originally meant to host the 3rd heat however the competition had to be cancelled due to flooding, meaning that we had the honour of hosting the final instead.

The weather for the final could not have been more different, anglers were met with bright sunshine and a flat calm. As they tucked into their breakfast rolls jokes were made that they would have preferred the wind and rain! It was set to be a difficult day, made even harder when the wind started blowing from the east, an east wind and sunshine are never a good combination. The conditions certainly did not favour the anglers, but their knowledge and experience shone through and yet again it was a tight competition.

 

THE BURNHOUSE TEAM

We had a 4 fish advantage after moving ahead of HCF at Bangour, but 4 fish could easily be caught! Our team had to use their knowledge of the water to their advantage. The pressure was on throughout the competition, all teams were catching well despite of the conditions, nobody knew who was ahead. All teams brought their A game, so our team had a challenge on their hands. Our anglers were doing well but they also dropped a lot of fish and with every one you could see their frustration grow, but they dusted themselves off and kept their composure, they wanted the victory!

 TEAM CAPTAIN DONALD FORBES – 5 fish

JOHN DONALDSON – 13 fish

ALAN SMITH – 7 fish

AARON KIRKWOOD – 6 fish

JONNO MCDONALD – In the practice sessions he excelled, but on the day he just couldn’t get a fish to the net.

TEAM TOTAL – 31 fish

TEAM NEWHOUSE

STEVEN MCGOWAN – 3 fish

LEN WEAVER – 1 fish

ALLY MCMAHON – 8 fish

RORY STEWART – 4 fish

HENRY MACKIE – 0 fish

 TEAM TOTAL – 16 fish

TEAM BANGOUR

GERRY KING – 1 fish

RONNIE WEIR – 5 fish

RUSSELL DODD – 2 fish

PAUL BEGBIE – 2 fish

TAM BEGBIE – 2 fish

TEAM TOTAL – 12 fish

TEAM HCF

CONNER MOOR – 4 fish

ADAM JUKES – 9 fish

ANDY OBRIAN – 4 fish

STEWART WHITE – 8 fish

COLIN DAVIDSON – 4 fish

TEAM TOTAL – 29 fish

THE FINAL RESULTS

WINNERS – BURNHOUSE – 155 fish

2nd – HCF – 149 fish

3rd – NEWHOUSE – 117 fish

4th – BANGOUR – 101 fish

The Burnhouse team did it! With 2 fish ahead on the day they won by 6 fish! A massive thank you to all of the team, team captain Donald Forbes, John Donaldson, Alan Smith, Aaron Kirkwood, Scot Mitchell, Jonno McDonald, Greg Hoggan and Alex Rook! Every one of you contributed to the victory. It was an absolute joy to watch the team bond, to watch the team grow as you shared your experience, knowledge, and techniques amongst each other and to see you tare each other apart with friendly banter and jokes. You all knew each other before the competition, but now you are a team! Your fishery is very proud from the staff to the regulars, well done to you all, I hope you are as proud of you as we are of you!

Every team started out wanting to win, but this competition wasn’t all about winning it was about the overall experience. It was getting out to the other fisheries, meeting up with people we knew and getting to know new faces and personalities, it was about the belly aching laughs from the dodgy banter and competitive but fun rivalry, all of this during the miserable winter months when the weather would usually have us sitting in the house with our feet up. It was a fun way to spend the winter, exactly what fishing should be about, great sport, great laughs and great memories. I look forward to next years competition.

A massive thank you to Steven McGowan for inviting us to be a part of the Quaich, and for being the genius behind it! It was a thoroughly enjoyable competition, even though im not sure if anyone has figured out how those starting pegs work!

 

FISHERY RULES

  • FLY FISHING ONLY
  • ALL ANGLERS MUST USE THE FISHERY NETS ONLY
  • NO LITTERING. ALL RUBBISH, CIGARETTE ENDS AND USED LINES MUST GO IN THE BINS PROVIDED.
  • BARBLESS HOOKS ONLY, NO DOUBLE OR TREBLE HOOKS, THIS RULE ALSO APPLIES TO ANGLERS ON KILL TICKETS.
  • NO FISHING FROM THE BRIDGE.
  • EVERY TICKET ENTITLES ANGLERS TO FISH ONLY 1 ROD AT A TIME.
  • NO BOOBIES, DOUBLE HOOK SNAKES OR SPIN FLIES.
  • A MAXIMUM OF 3 FLIES TO BE FISHED AT 1 TIME.
  • NO LURES FISHED STATIC UNDER A SIGHT INDICATOR.
  • NO SPLIT SHOTS OR WEIGHTS.
  • GROUND BAITING, THE USE OF BAITS AND SCENTED DIPS ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.
  • ALL FISH OVER 6LB, TIGERS AND BROWNS MUST GO BACK, UNLESS IN POOR CONDITION. THE DECISION TO KILL THESE FISH MUST ONLY BE MADE BY THE BAILIFF.
  • BAG LIMITS ARE ACHIEVED FROM THE FIRST FISH CAUGHT, NO SELECTIVE KILLING. FISH MUST BE KILLED IMMEDIATELY AND SHOULD NEVER BE KEPT ALIVE IN KEEP NETS UNTIL THE END OF THE SESSION.
  • ALL RETURNS MUST BE RECORDED WITH THE BAILIFF BEFORE DEPATURE, EVEN IF IT’S A BLANK.
  • ALL ANGLERS ON KILL TICKETS MUST REPORT TO THE CABIN FOR WEIGH IN BEFORE GOING TO THEIR CARS.
  • ANGLERS MUST NOT AID OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR BAG LIMITS.
  • CATCH AND RELEASE ANGLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO KILL FISH, KILL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE FISHING.
  • WHEN FISHING CATCH AND RELEASE THE FISH MUST BE KEPT IN THE WATER AT ALL TIMES, NEVER ON THE PODIUMS OR BANKING AND STRICTLY NO HANDLING
  • IF ANGLERS FIND THEMSELVES ON A HOT SPOT, PLEASE MOVE ON ATLEAST 2 PODIUMS AFTER 5 FISH, WITH NO RETURN TO THAT PODIUM WITHIN 2 HOURS.
  • ANGLERS MUST NOT STAY ON THE ONE PODIUM FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS, UNLESS THEY REQUIRE TO DO SO DUE TO MOBILITY.
  • ANGLERS MUST RESPECT OTHERS AROUND THEM; NO INSULTING OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR WILL BE TOLERATED.
  • NO PODIUM HOLDING, IF ANGLERS ARE LEAVING THEIR PODIUMS OTHER THAN FOR TOILET BREAKS, THEY MUST TAKE THEIR BELONGINGS WITH THEM.
  • ANGLERS WILL NOT PASS JUDGEMENT ON OTHER ANGLERS METHODS OF FISHING, UNLESS THEY ARE BREAKING THE RULES.
  • THE BAILIFF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PERFORM BAG CHECKS

ANYONE FOUND TO BE IN BREACH OF THESE RULES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE, NO REFUND WILL BE ISSUED AND NO RETURN VISITS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 

SAFE CATCH AND RELEASE PROCEDURE

  • Only use single, barbless hooks. Strictly no multiple hook snakes, double or treble hooks. Not just for catch and release but for kill tickets too.
  • Due to the size and strength of our fish we ask that ALL anglers use a minimum of 8lb line, this is to reduce the number of fish being lost and over played.
  • Bring the fish to the net as quickly as possible. Over playing a fish causes stress and exhaustion and decreases the chance of survival.
  • Unhook the fish as quickly as possible, keep the fish in the water. It is strictly forbidden for anglers bring the fish onto the banking or podiums as this removes the protective slime, increasing the chances of infections and diseases.
  • If you have to handle the fish do so with wet hands, never with gloves on, this avoids removing the protective slime.
  • If the hook is too deep to be removed, cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
  • Avoid squeezing the fish as this can cause damage to internal organs.
  • Take time to recover the fish, be patient as this can take some time especially in warmer weather. Support it gently until the fish is strong enough to swim away from you.

If you are struggling to recover a fish please call the bailiff for assistance, the decision to kill any fish whilst on catch and release must only be made by the bailiff.