Friday 03/12/2021 – Friday 10/12/2021

It may be freezing cold, but this time of the year brings so much beauty with it. The frozen landscape that welcomes the anglers so beautiful that it sets them up perfectly for the day ahead, the frost highlights the intricate workings of the cobwebs, the flat calm water mirrors the magnificent colours of the sunrise, the glistening ground below your feet crunches as you walk and has captured the movements of the wildlife that frequent the water. Winter is here and it can be a test to your will power at times but take a deep breath of that crisp air and appreciate the beauty of your surroundings.

The best sport continues to come from the shallows, the wild browns are spawning in the burn, and it is attracting the fish in large numbers. The recent heavy rainfalls also mean that there is plenty water coming in from the field drains, the fish are feeding on all of the insect life washed in, creating plenty hot spots around the lochan.

FISH OF THE WEEK –  This weeks top spot goes to SCOTT WALKER with his new P.B a 14.4lb rainbow. Well done, Scott, you are this weeks winner of our winter big fish competition! Your free all-day c&r ticket and scrumptious steak pie awaits you!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – This weeks top 3 flies were CORMORANTS, SQUIRMIES and EGGS.

Other successful flies were yellow dancers, Pittsford pea, emergers, orange lures, okay dokies, blobs, shammies, buzzers, grub imitations, case caddis, fabs, mop flies, blue mermaid, apps, olive dancer, pink lure, hoppers, black lures, shimmies, millennium bugs, snakes, cat bugs, eggstacy worm, black rabbit, smokers, midget gem, black pennell, diawl bachs, midge, gummy worms, shimmy eggs, kingfisher butcher, spiders, eggs with legs and a purple lure.

CATCH REPORT

  • PAUL PRICE – Safely returned 3 rainbows using a smoker and blob on a floating line and an egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • BILLY HOEHLE – Was getting nips and pulls on his lures but nothing would stick until he changed to cormorants, catching almost instantly, he safely returned 2 rainbows caught using cormorants on a floating line.
  • ALAN HENDERSON – Had “another brilliant day” he weighed in 3 rainbows for 10.11lb and safely returned a further 5 including a beautiful rainbow weighing 8.93lb using a midget gem, black pennell, diawl bachs and a size 18 midge all on a floating line.
  • ROBERT RENDALLS – “what a day” he safely returned 7 rainbows caught using an okay dokey on a floating line.
  • JOSH MAITLAND – Enjoyed his first visit to Burnhouse, he left us great feedback on the brilliant condition and fight from our fish and the maintenance, thank you Josh we love good feedback .He safely returned 2 rainbows caught using an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.
  • BILL MCDONNACH – Safely returned 1 rainbow using a cormorant on a floating line. He also gave us the best description of a fly I have ever heard. “My mates up there catching fish after fish on something that looks like a centipede with a hair do!” We couldn’t wait to find out what the fly was.
  • PHIL MCDONALD – “That was a fantastic day!” He safely returned 10 rainbows using a centipede with a hair do…. A gummy worm fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALEC CAMPBELL – Safely returned 1 rainbow using an egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • TOBY ROUGHTON – Enjoyed his first visit to Burnhouse for a wee while, he safely returned 11 rainbows including 1 weighing 9.2lb and another that was just shy of his P.B weighing 12.6lb. “I knew it was big the second I hooked into it!” His arm was very tired in the end. He was using cormorants and fabs on a floating line and shammies and squirmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • BRIAN SKINNER – Safely returned 5 rainbows including 1 weighing 7lb using a mojito squirmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • IAN DON – Safely returned 4 rainbows using buzzers on a floating line.
  • SCOTT WALKER – Safely returned 2 rainbows including 1 well into double figures using a grub imitation fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALAN WALKER – Safely returned 1 rainbow using a pink mop fished static under a sight indicator.
  • JOHNNY PORTEOUS – Safely returned 2 rainbows in his short time fishing using his new creation, a covid shimmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • BRIAN JACK – Safely returned 2 rainbows using white eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEOFF APPLETON – Safely returned 6 rainbows caught using a yellow mop fly pulled on a fast intermediate line and cormorants on a floating line.
  • ECK KYLE – Weighed in 2 rainbows for 5.47lb and safely returned 1 using a blue mermaid and an orange dancer on a sink tip line.
  • JOHN DONALDSON – Made the challenging conditions of flat calm and sunshine look easy, he safely returned 12 rainbows and blues using apps and an olive dancer on a slow intermediate and a squirmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • AARON KIRKWOOD – Safely returned 2 rainbows using a red apps on a fast glass and pink lure on an intermediate line.
  • JOHN MCKAY – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using an orange egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALAN SMITH – Safely returned an 8lb rainbow caught using a black hopper on a floating line.
  • WULLIE CARR – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using fabs on a floating line.
  • RORY STEWART – His rod eyes kept freezing over but Rory stayed from the beginning to the end! It is brilliant to see youths so dedicated! He safely returned 2 tigers and 4 rainbows using a black lure and red apps on an intermediate line.
  • DOMINIC HIGGINS – Weighed in 4 rainbows for 12.4lb caught using a yellow dancer on a floating line and a pink squirmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GRANT TENNANT – Weighed in 3 rainbows for 7.03lb using a pink squirmy fished static under a sight indicator. He appeared to be practicing his long-distance catch and release for most of the day.
  • LAWRENCE MCDONALD – Had “another excellent days fishing at Burnhouse” He safely returned 10 rainbows including 1 weighing 8lb using a Pittsford pea and emergers on a floating line.
  • CAMBELL BAILLY – The pressure was on when Cambells partner in crime Hugh kept catching and missing fish, it looked like the blank was on again, but he finally got 2 to the net using a yellow dancer and orange lure on a floating line.
  • HUGH RANKIN – What a day for Hugh! He safely returned 6 rainbows including 1 weighing 11.5lb and another weighing 6.3lb! The fish finding his yellow dancer irresistible! We look forward to these guys coming every week, the competition between them is brilliant, a joy to witness!
  • JONNO MCDONALD – Safely returned a 6lb brown and a rainbow using a red and yellow apps on an intermediate line and an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.
  • EDDIE HUNT – Weighed in 2 rainbows for 4.56lb using an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.
  • TRACY & CAITLIN ALLAN – Had “another amazing mother and daughters day out!” Tracy safely returned 7 using an orange dancer and orange blob on a floating line and a yellow shammy fished static under a sight indicator. Caitlin safely returned 1 rainbow that gave her a tremendous fight using an orange dancer on a floating line.
  • GREG HOGGAN – Popped up for a couple of hours and safely returned 5 rainbows using Donnay Mac charity buzzers on a floating line.
  • RUSSELL BRENNAN – Weighed in 2 rainbows for 4.62lb using an orange lure on a floating line.
  • SCOTT WALKER – Safely returned 7 rainbows including for the second visit running a double figure rainbow, this one his new P.B weighing 14.4lb using his faithful grub imitation fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALAN WALKER – Safely returned 6 rainbows including 1 weighing 9lb using a case caddis on a floating line and pink squirmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • DONALD FORBES – The buzzer king strikes again! He safely returned 1 4lb blue and 7 rainbows including 1 weighing 8lb that “just did not want to come in!” using his buzzers and fabs.
  • BRIAN SKINNER – Safely returned 5 rainbows using shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ROBERT PATON – Had a very memorable day, he safely returned 12 rainbows including 1 weighing 11.5lb and a tiger weighing 6.8lb using buzzers and fabs on a floating line, and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • MALCOLM MILLER – Weighed in 1 rainbow weighing 2.2lb using a kingfisher butcher on a floating line. Good to see one of the old traditionals making the catch report!
  • ALEC CAMBELL – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 2.8lb using a yellow squirmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ROBIN LAMBERT – Had yet another brilliant day, he weighed in 3 rainbows for 6.11lb and safely returned a further 4 using cormorants and spiders on a floating line.
  • ROBERT GRANGER – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • MARTIN LEYDEN – Safely returned 5 rainbows using apps, buzzers, and eggs with legs fished static under a sight indicators.
  • TRACY ALLAN – Her first fish of the day got her very excited, a 5lb tiger! She then went on to safely return a rainbow using a shimmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEORGE BROWNLEE – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • SCOTT WALKER – Has became a Burnhouse addict! He safely returned 3 rainbows using a grub imitation fished static under a sight indicator and a purple lure on a floating line.
  • JOHN MCKAY – Safely returned 3 rainbows using a mop fly fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ANDY ROBB – Safely returned 2 rainbows using a mop fly fished static under a sight indicator.

 

THE B.B.C (BUNG BASHERS CLUB)

They arrived before the sun came up and brought their awesome banter and cheesiest Christmas jumpers and hats. Andy Richmonds outfit caused hilarity lighting up the dark morning with the numerous twinkling-coloured lights on his hat and jumper, an almost spooky sight as he walked around the dark shores looking for his first fishing spot, like something from a U.F.O movie.

The weather started off beautiful and the fish welcomed the anglers with a spectacular morning rise! But it wasn’t to last, the weather took a turn for the worse, even the weather forecasters didn’t predict it! The freezing cold strong winds and heavy rain were a test to their will power! But they stuck it out, determined to make the most of their day, some of the anglers had travelled up from Newcastle and it would have been a waste to give in!

They took advantage of the roaring log fire in the BBQ hut at half time to dry off, heat up and have a good bit of banter, a proper catch up for the friends that the borders divide. Though most struggled at the thought of leaving that comfort, relaxation, and warmth, they bravely once again ventured out into the horrific weather outside for the remainder of their day.

Despite the challenging conditions there were some brilliant returns. We take our hats off to them for braving that weather!

  • RICHARD BAIN – “ I will definitely be back!” he safely returned 17 using “practically everything he put on!” bugs, eggs, shimmies, he caught on so many things he couldn’t remember them all.
  • ANDY RICHMOND – Safely returned 14, the best saving itself till last, the biggest fish of the day, a stunning 11lb rainbow! Millennium bugs and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator proving very successful for him.
  • KEVIN WALKINSHAW – Safely returned 12 using cat bugs, eggs, squirmies and an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator.
  • JIM SKILLING – Safely returned 9 using snakes and apps on various lines.
  • DAVID NEILSON – Safely returned 8 using a black rabbit on a floating line and shammies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • PAUL SNAITH – Safely returned 5 using shammies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • DREW MILLAR – You always know when Drews on the water, that brilliant loud belly aching laugh echoes through the hills lol. He caught the first fish of the day and went on to safely return 5 using a yellow shammy and millennium bugs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • KENNY SKILLING – Safely returned 4 using eggs and squirmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ROB SHARPE – Safely returned 2 using eggstacy worms fished static under a sight indicator.
  • THOMAS FLEMMING – Safely returned 2 using millennium bugs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • STUART BELL – For some reason the Burnhouse trout always escape Stuarts capture, this time though he got one to the net using a millennium bug fished static under a sight indicator.
  • RONNIE SHEPHERD – The fish were at their games, GET YOUR REVENGE the next time!

A total of 79 fish was caught between 12 anglers, a rod average of 6.58, exceptional given the very  challenging conditions!

Thank you for choosing Burnhouse for your end of year group booking. We hope to welcome you all back.

 

FISHERY RULES

  • FLY FISHING ONLY
  • NO LITTERING. ALL RUBBISH, CIGARETTE ENDS AND USED LINES MUST GO IN THE BINS PROVIDED.
  • BARBLESS HOOKS ONLY, NO DOUBLE OR TREBLE HOOKS
  • EVERY TICKET ENTITLES ANGLERS TO FISH ONLY 1 ROD AT A TIME
  • NO SET LINES
  • 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 BAILLIFF
  • 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 BAILLIFF BEFORE DEPATURE, EVEN IF IT’S A BLANK.
  • 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.
  • IF ANGLERS FIND THEMSELVES ON A HOT SPOT, PLEASE MOVE ON AFTER 5 FISH
  • THE BAILLIFF 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. Never 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.

 

Thank you to all of the anglers this week, we look forward to seeing you again!

TIGHT LINES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD!