WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY – SUNDAY 19th FEBRUARY – BF4

Even though due to the weather the fishery has been quieter over the last few months, it has been an incredibly busy time for our staff. There is so much work to be done behind the scenes to enable us to move forward with the next few stages of the Burnhouse development. This year we plan to introduce a hot food menu for our anglers, however if we want to do this right this takes a lot of research, planning, modifications to the cabin and training.

We have also been busy with the finishing touches, and finalising all of the paperwork and licences required to allow us to offer holiday accommodation at Ochil view cottage situated on our farm at High Forrester Quarter. You can see a preview on holidaycottages.co.uk and we will update you when this goes live.

The Burnhouse fishing team have been busy also with 2 rounds of the Inter Fisheries Quaich Competition, you can see how they got on after the top 20 returns.

During my time here at Burnhouse, I have heard a lot of theories with regards to fish and of catch and release. Where I do find some of the theories fascinating, others where condemning of catch and release deeming it as pointless, harmful to the fishery and cruel. I’ve heard theories about the number of times a fish can be caught some reckoning they can only be caught once or twice. Theories that once they are jagged they will only take small natural flies. Theories, with no evidence to support them. I have always been a fan of  research and have an eagerness to learn more. It was time to do some research and put facts to theories.

6 months ago we introduced a golden trout to the fishery, as this was the only goldie in the water we hoped to learn from it. In that time, this fish was caught 9 times and I have had reports of it being lost at the net 4 times. Sadly the 9th time was its last. It remained in incredible condition, maintained its weight, and never lost strength giving anglers an epic fight. Its winter colours were beautiful, and it even developed a kype. It was caught on a variety of flies; lures, buzzers, dries, snakes, diawl bachs and finally on a yellow shimmy worm. It was caught in a different location every time so didn’t form a territory like we have seen with some of the tigers and browns.

The research doesn’t end there though, this year we plan to not only introduce another golden trout to the water, but to tag a tiger, brown, blue, double figure rainbow, and regular stocky sized rainbow. For every fish that comes to the end of its life we will replace it with another to enable continuous comparable statistics on each species and I will make these available for all to read.

 

FISH OF THE WEEK.

WEEK ENDING 29/01 – DARREN BARCIK 15lb 4oz rainbow.

WEEK ENDING 05/02 – GLEN THOMSON 13lb 4oz rainbow.

WEEK ENDING 12/02 – TOBY LOMAS 15lb 4oz rainbow.

WEEK ENDING 19/02 – SCOTT POZZI 11lb 7oz rainbow.

A massive well done to our fish of the week winners, your all-day c&r tickets and scrumptious pies await you!

TOP 3 FLIES – The top 3 flies were BUZZERS, CORMORANTS, and APPS.

Other successful flies were nymphs, fabs, mop flies, squirmies, bibio, dogs bollocks, shimmies, chewing gum worms, smokers, apps, buzzers, eggs, stocking bugs, straggle cats, blood worms, nomads, rabbits, crunchers, klinkhammers, snakes, damsels, daddies, blobs, big hairy, yellow dancers, cat bugs, zonkers, sedgehogs, ace of spades, Mrs Simpson, sedge, yellow owls, eggstacy worms, humongous, beetles and grunters.

TOP COLOURS –  Pink, black, olive, and red.

HOTSPOTS –  The far bank and the cabin side bay.

TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH CAUGHT –  1156

NUMBER OF ANGLERS –  224

ROD AVERAGE – 5.16

THE TOP 20 RETURNS

  • JOHN DONALDSON – Safely returned 26 fish, when asked what he was catching with he said, “everything I put on!”
  • NORRY MCNEIL – Safely returned 22 fish using cat bugs on a floating line.
  • GREG HOGGAN – Safely returned 21 fish using black apps, buzzers, and blue eggs on various lines.
  • ROBERT STEVENSON – Weighed in 2 fish for 6lb 2oz and safely returned 18 using an ace of spades, buzzers, and cormorants on a floating line.
  • ANDREW ANDERSON – Weighed in 2 fish for 8lb 3oz and safely returned 18 using black and olive apps and buzzers on various lines.
  • ALAN SMITH – Safely returned 19 fish using various dries on a floating line.
  • PAUL SMITH – Weighed in 2 fish for 9lb 8oz and safely returned 16 using a black bunny leech on a fast glass line.
  • SCOTT GRAY – Weighed in 2 fish for 7lb 1oz and safely returned 16 using an ace of spades, buzzers, and diawl bachs on a floating line.
  • BOB GRAY – Weighed in 2 fish for 10lb 4oz and safely returned 14 using bibio, buzzers and crunchers on a floating line.
  • ROBERT STEVENSON – Weighed in 2 fish for 6lb 5oz and safely returned 13 using buzzers on a floating line.
  • DONALD FORBES – Safely returned 14 fish using buzzers on a midge tip line.
  • PAUL SMITH – Weighed in 2 fish for 8lb 4oz and safely returned 12 using a hothead damsel, buzzers, and cormorants on a floating line.
  • BOB GRAY – Weighed in 3 fish for 10lb 10oz and safely returned 11 using fabs and buzzers on a floating line.
  • COLIN SHARPE – Safely returned 13 fish including 2 browns weighing 9lb & 7lb and a 5lb tiger using an olive snake and buzzers on various lines.
  • RAB PATON – Safely returned 13 fish using red and olive apps, buzzers and a pink fab on various lines.
  • BRIAN SKINNER – Safely returned 13 fish using a green shimmy, red apps, and buzzers on various lines.
  • ALLY SYME – Safely returned 12 fish using an orange dancer on a floating line.
  • DARREN BARCIK – Safely returned 12 fish including a rainbow weighing 15lb 4oz and a brown using diawl bachs, snakes and apps on various lines.
  • DARREN BARCIK – 12 appears to be Darren’s magic number at Burnhouse! Those diawl bachs, snakes and apps on floating are serving him well.
  • TONY DEEB – Safely returned 12 fish using buzzers and squirmies on various lines.

THE INTER FISHERIES QUAICH COMPETITION.

It’s that time of the year again when Burnhouse, Newhouse, High Cleughearn and Bangour battle it out over 4 heats to lift the Quaich trophy and become the Inter Fisheries Champions. As the 2022 winners, our Burnhouse team will try their upmost to defend the title, however it won’t be easy as all teams are full of incredibly talented anglers.

HEAT 1 – BURNHOUSE LOCHAN FISHERY

The anglers were greeted to flat calm and overcast conditions. The fish were rising all over the lochan, and the anglers couldn’t wait to get started. However, when the bell rang, and the 20 lines all hit the water the fish spooked, and the morning became extremely difficult for all of the teams. Silence fell as the anglers had to put their full concentration and efforts into catching.

After lunch the wind picked up slightly, creating a much-welcomed ripple on the water making the fishing a little easier and the anglers started to rack up points for their teams. Some impressive fish were caught including Darren Meirer of the Bangour team with a beautiful fin perfect brown estimated to be around 10lb. Toby Lomas of the Burnhouse team smashed his P.B twice with rainbows weighing 13lb 3oz and 15lb 4oz, he also lost quite a few big specimens. And John Donaldson also of the Burnhouse team landed a rainbow weighing 11lb 8oz.

72 fish were caught with a rod average of 3.6, the conditions definitely put the anglers to the test.

THE RESULTS

BUNHOUSE – 26 FISH

NEWHOUSE – 22 FISH

HIGH CLEUGHEARN – 14 FISH

BANGOUR – 10 FISH

 TOP ROD – JOHN BROWN – TEAM NEWHOUSE – 11 FISH

 A first heat victory for Burnhouse! A massive thank you and well done to the team, you done us proud!

 HEAT 2 – NEWHOUSE FISHERY

The weather returned to what we have come accustomed to in the Quaich, awful! The freezing cold strong winds were a challenge in the morning and the anglers knew that the wind speed was to increase as the day went on. However, they didn’t let it hold them back and an incredible 178 fish were caught with a rod average of 8.9! 8 doubles were caught, 4 coming from the Burnhouse team. Our team captain Donald Forbes even smashed the February big fish leader board with a rainbow weighing a stonking 16.7lb! Fingers crossed he can hold on to that top spot.

A massive thank you to Stevie, Rose, Erika and Jackie for an amazing competition and hospitality! Apart from the weather, everyone had a great laugh and brilliant day!

THE RESULTS

 BURNHOUSE – 52 FISH

NEWHOUSE – 44 FISH

HIGH CLEAUGHEARN – 44 FISH

BANGOUR – 38 FISH

 TOP ROD – JOHN DONALDSON – TEAM BURNHOUSE 19 FISH

 CURRENT POSITIONS

1ST – BURNHOUSE – 78 FISH

2ND – NEWHOUSE – 66 FISH

3RD – HIGH CLEUGHEARN – 58 FISH

4TH – BANGOUR – 48 FISH

 A second-round win for Burnhouse puts us 12 fish in front, however theres not much between the teams, and with 2 heats still to go it could all change.

I would like to take this opportunity not just from myself and the team but from all at Burnhouse to thank DONALD FORBES who has been our team captain for the last 2 years. You have been an incredible support and friend to everyone at Burnhouse and you will be greatly missed. We know however, that even wild horses couldn’t drag you away so we have comfort in knowing we will be seeing you again. Best of luck with your new life in Stornoway, I have a feeling Stornoway is about to become a very popular holiday destination!

As the current team captain, Donald is now left with the difficult decision of which team member will become the new captain.

 THE WINTER BIG FISH COMPETITION LEADERBOARD

(Competition ends Sunday 5th of March 2023)

  • 1st – MICHAEL BAXTER – 16lb rainbow. BF3
  • 2nd – DARREN BARCIK – 15lb 4oz rainbow. BF4
  • 3rd – TOBY ROUGHTON – 15lb 4oz rainbow. BF4

Michael Baxter still holds on to that top spot, but with plentiful bigger fish, theres still time to knock him off the spot and claim yourself the 5 all day catch and release tickets!

A massive THANK YOU to all of the anglers that have joined us over the last few weeks, without your support and custom there would be no Burnhouse. We look forward to welcoming you back.

FISHERY RULES

  • FLY FISHING ONLY.
  • BARBLESS HOOKS ONLY, NO DOUBLE OR TREBLE HOOKS, THIS RULE ALSO APPLIES TO ANGLERS ON KILL TICKETS.
  • ALL ANGLERS MUST USE THE FISHERY NETS ONLY.
  • NO LITTERING. ALL RUBBISH, CIGARETTE ENDS AND USED LINES MUST GO IN THE BINS PROVIDED.
  • 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 8LB, 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 THE 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.
  • 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 over played or snapping anglers line.
  • 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. Fish cannot breathe out of the water, any time spent out of the water drastically reduces the survival rate!
  • 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 or unhook 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.