Friday 04/02/2022 – Friday 11/02/2022

The high winds, snow and freezing cold temperatures put a lot of anglers off this week but the ones who braved the weather were rewarded, we witnessed an increase in the amount of fish anglers were catching… sometimes the worst weather can produce the best fishing!

The wind has been blowing into the far bank for over a month, regulars knowing this and who were brave enough picked up fish easily casting along the shoreline, a challenge in the strong winds but especially on the days when the snow was blowing directly into their face. Other hot spots included the field drains, burn drop off and the sluice corner.

The larger fish showed up in big numbers this week, with many impressive specimens landed and many anglers reporting losing double figure fish, usually right at the net. We recommend using a minimum of 8lb line, check your line regularly for knots especially in the windy weather, try to get another angler to net larger fish or call on the bailiff and make sure those hooks are nice and strong! Our larger specimens have a reputation for fighting hard and breaking hearts.

FISH OF THE WEEK –  This weeks top spot goes to TONY STEEN with a rainbow weighing 14.9lb, one of 2 doubles caught by Tony in what was an amazing week for him. Well Done, Tony!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – This weeks top 3 flies were BUZZERS, SHIMMIES and CORMORANTS.

Other successful flies were foam beetles, cat bugs, red & black lures, snails, pin fry imitations, snakes, diawl bachs, snatchers, squirmies, incredible cat, hares ears, apps, eggs, nymphs, mini lures, cats whiskers, millennium bugs, shammies, daddies, bunny leech, bibio, eggs with legs.

CATCH REPORT

• DONALD FORBES – The weather was awful and changed every hour, but Donald made the challenging conditions look easy with 11 to the net using buzzers and beetles on a floating line.
• TRACY ALLAN – Even the bad weather wont stop this woman from getting her days fishing in, she safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a red & black lure and a cat bug on a floating line.
• CAITLIN ALLAN – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using a cat bug on a floating line.
• HUGH RANKIN – Safely returned 1 rainbow using a cormorant on a floating line, while Cambell “made his weekly donation” next week Cambell!
• COKER WILSON – Safely returned 3 rainbows including 1 weighing approximately 6lb caught using nails and a pin fry imitation on a floating line.
• GORDON REID – From Bowden Springs fishery safely returned 4 rainbows using snakes and cormorants on an intermediate line.
• COLIN SPENCE – “No fish fight like these fish do!” Colin had a brilliant day in terrible conditions, he safely returned 7 rainbows “probably lost about the same amount and then never mind the amount of offers and pulls! He was using cormorants, diawl bachs and snatchers on a floating line.
• ANDY GIBB – Who is part of the High Cleughearn Fishery team popped up for a practice session ahead of the next round of the winter Quaich fishery competition which is at Burnhouse this time. He safely returned 7 fish using cat bugs, squirmies and incredible cats on floating lines and fished static under a sight indicator.
• DEREK GRAHAM – I started the day thinking that nobody would turn up because of the wind, snow, and freezing temperatures, but Derek arrived well dressed for the occasion, like a burglar, black balaclava, and all! A truly terrifying sight if caught off guard! Braving the weather was worth it, in his 4 hours he safely returned 10 fish using a hares ear and black apps on a floating line and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
• TONY STEEN – What a week for Tony! On his first visit he safely returned 8 fish including rainbows weighing 14.9lb, 9lb and a few around 5-6lb using shimmies fished static under a sight indicator. On his return visit he safely returned 18 fish including a rainbow weighing 11.2lb also using shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
• TAM BROGGAN – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using a white egg fished static under a sight indicator.
• RUSSELL BRENNAN – Weighed in 4 fish for 9.79lb and safely returned 2 including his new P.B weighing 14lb using a gold head nymph he uses whilst river fishing.
• GARY DRUMMOND – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a mini black lure on a fast sinking line.
• ALAN JACK – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using a cats whisker on a floating line.
• ALAN SMITH – Safely returned 3 rainbows using a millennium bug, red apps and buzzer on a floating line.
• STEVEN DAVIDSON – Safely returned 4 fish using a pink egg and a black egg fished static under a sight indicator.
• OWEN COOK – Safely returned 8 fish using various shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
• JOHN MULVEY – Left a very happy man after safely returning 3 fish including a beautiful resident rainbow weighing 6lb that gave him a fight he wont forget. A daddy on a floating line and an okay dokey fished static under a sight indicator proving successful for him.
• JAMES WATSON – Safely returned 3 fish using bunny leech and snakes on a floating line.
• GORDON MCVICAR – The fish tend to escape Gordons capture however he was on fire on his morning session this week, he safely returned 5 rainbows including 1 weighing 9.4lb and lost a few more using buzzers, yellow eggs and cormorants on a floating line.
• ROBERT PATON – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using a buzzer on a floating line.
• JIM MCINTYRE – Safely returned 5 rainbows including 1 weighing approximately 8lb using a black apps and bibio on a floating line, a great day, however he was left heartbroken when he lost “the biggest fish he has ever seen!” Right at his net! His wee face resembling that of a kid who had lost their favourite toy! Next time Jim!
• WULLIE MOUNTFORD – I could hear Jim shouting from the cabin and could see Wullie with a large fish in his net, now I cant use Jims exact words lol but I will write them as close as I can get “This is becoming a bit of a habit with that auld…” for the 2^nd week running he had caught a large fish, this one weighing 8.4lb. He safely returned 3 rainbows using a black apps fished static under a sight indicator and lost a very large double when it straightened his hook right at the net. It was suspected to be the same fish that had escaped Jim earlier in the day.
• MICHAEL DONNELY – It was looking a lot like the blank was on, however when reeling I to go home he managed to catch one! Eggs with legs, saving the day! Perhaps try them on the retrieve on your next visit instead of static.
• DEREK GRAHAM – Safely returned 5 rainbows caught using shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
• KEVIN CRAIG – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using buzzers on a floating line.
• IAN DON – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using an okay dokey on a floating line.
• BRYCE DYSART – Was having a nightmare day when fish after fish came off! He was determined not to leave until he got a fish to the net! He finally got one to the net using buzzers on a floating line and received a massive cheer!

 A massive thank you to all of the anglers that braved this weeks crazy weather, we hope to see you all again soon! Tight lines for the week ahead!

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• IF FISHING THE BRIDGE, THE FISH MUST BE LANDED ON THE BANKING TO THE SIDE.
• IF ANGLERS ARE FISHING THE BANKING TO THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, THEY MUST NOT CAST ACROSS BOTH BRIDGE PODIUMS.
• 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.

COVID-19 precautions – please read

• We are operating a strict booking in only policy. This allows us to limit the number of anglers arriving, using our facilities, and fishing our water. Please phone 07949220511 or 07889603160 to book your space.
• If you feel unwell or show any symptoms of COVID-19 and cannot do a lateral flow test please cancel your booking, do not take any chances.
• We will be issuing tickets from the door of the lodge.
• Refreshments are still available; 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 door, this is located on the wall to the right of the door. The station will be cleaned after every use. Disposable gloves are also available for anyone who wishes that extra bit of protection.
• Card is the preferred payment option; however cash will still be accepted, we ask that our anglers bring the exact money to avoid change being given. All ticket prices can be found on our website or upon request on telephone enquiries.
• Masks must be worn in the cabin and no more than 2 anglers in at one time.
• Toilets will be cleaned on a regular basis, though we ask that anglers use the antibacterial wipes and toilet brushes available to clean up after their own use. There is hand sanitiser and hand wash in both toilets.
• Please adhere to all social distancing guidelines in place.

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.