WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 11th OF SEPTEMBER.

What an exciting week we have had at the Lochan. With the cooler temperatures we decided it was time for a big specimen stocking. We were like kids on the run up to Christmas waiting for them to arrive and when they did, we were blown away with how beautiful and impressive in size they were, the quality and condition was outstanding! Big rainbows, blues, tigers, and MASSIVE browns, fin perfect with tails so big that the lucky anglers will be in for an epic battle! We have been watching, waiting, with the camera and scales ready to go, but, as yet only one of the rainbows and two of the tigers have made the net! They join the many tigers from the last stocking that still haven’t been caught. The wait continues!

The weather has been all over the place this week, glorious sunshine, and flat calms one day and blowing a hooley with torrential rain the next. This has at times meant that the fishing was difficult, however there has still been some phenomenal returns. The top 4 in the weeks top 20 dominated by 2 men, our Burnhouse Team captain Donald and his teammate Alan, both determined to beat one another! Its great to see the fun rivalry that the top 20 has created, not just between them, we have seen it from many more anglers, its hilarious sitting back and listening to the banter.

FISH OF THE WEEK –  The top spots go to JOCK HUNTER with rainbow weighing 12lb! Well Done, Jock!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – The top 3 flies were BUZZERS, BEETLES, and YELLOW DANCERS.

Other successful flies were nymphs, diawl bachs, hoppers, suspended buzzers, sedgehogs, double humpy, cdcs, spiders, shipmans, daddies, top hats, snatchers, crunchers, nothing fly, deer hair emergers, f-fly, sedge, ants, Griffiths gnat, black pennell, cormorants, bibio, damsels, white rabbit, green & black lures, apps, pink lures, eggs, shammies, shimmies, mop flies, pink dancer, black & blue lures, orange fritz, fabs, black rabbit, goldie, blobs, squirmies, floating fry, straggle cats and humongous lures.

HOTSPOTS –  The far bank and the bridge shallows.

BEST LINE – Floating.

TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH CAUGHT – 317

ROD AVERAGE – 5.46

THE TOP 20 RETURNS

  • DONALD FORBES – He wanted Alans top spot, and he got it! He safely returned 22 fish using buzzers and beetles on a floating line.
  • ALAN SMITH – Safely returned 18 fish using rabbits, sedgehogs and daddies on various lines.
  • ALAN SMITH – Safely returned 16 fish using hoppers, buzzers, sedgehogs and sedge on a floating line. Taking his total in just 2 2-hour sessions to an incredible 34 fish! Great angling Alan, well done!
  • DONALD FORBES – Safely returned 15 fish using, you guessed it, we don’t call him the buzzer king for no reason! That’s 37 fish in just 2 visits using the same flies and line, in completely different conditions! Outstanding, well-done Donald!
  • NICKY COCOZZO – On his first visit to Burnhouse, safely returned 13 fish using a black & green lure on a fast glass line.
  • GARY PEREZ – Also on his first visit to Burnhouse, safely returned 10 fish using an orange fritz and cormorants on midge tip and fast glass lines.
  • JOCK HUNTER – Had a brilliant father and son fishing trip. He safely returned 9 fish including a 12lb rainbow using diawl bachs, black & green fritz and a black & blue lure he designed and calls a blue thunder on various lines. His son William bagged his 3 fish and caught his first tiger, and what a beauty it was weighing 7lb and gave him a fight he will never forget.
  • STEVIE OBRIAN – Loves his dry flies and after discovering on his first visit that Burnhouse is a great top of water fishery, he returned for the second time in a week. He safely returned 9 fish using a nothing fly, top hats and deer hair emergers on a floating line.
  • GREG HOWE – Safely returned 9 fish using squirmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • TONY STEEN – Safely returned 8 fish including a beautiful tiger using pink lures, red and olive apps, and a double humpy all on a floating line. Tony said he had an incredible night, that he could easily have had 20 fish if he had landed all of the fish from the offers he had.
  • CHIC MCGREAVIE – Safely returned 8 fish using shammies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ANDY MCALPINE – When everyone else ran into the cabin, Andy stood out in the torrential rain and faced the strong winds and his determination not to let the weather ruin his day paid off! He safely returned 8 fish including a double hook up using a yellow dancer and cormorants on a floating line. He also lost many more. He’s a wee legend is oor Andy, made of tougher stuff!
  • MARK HOPKINS – On his first visit to Burnhouse safely returned 8 fish using various lures and an orange fab on a midge tip line.
  • TOMMY TURNBULL – Safely returned 8 fish using buzzers and nymphs on a floating line. The biggest fly in his box is a size 16! He only ever uses very small naturals, and it has always worked for him at Burnhouse.
  • ALAN HENDERSON – Endured the wind and rain, he bagged up his 4 fish and safely returned another 3 using daddies, top hats, yellow dancers, and buzzers all on a floating line.
  • TOMMY HOUSTON – Safely returned 7 fish all fish caught on a yellow dancer on a floating line.
  • TOBY ROUGHTON – Made a last min decision to pop over for the evening session, he safely returned 7 fish using a silver humongous, buzzers and beetles all on a floating line. With every cast you could hear Toby cursing the fish as they were chasing and teasing him.
  • ALAN MEEK – Safely returned 6 fish using cdcs and diawl bachs all on a floating line. He also congratulated me for making the Scottish team, saying that it must be the years of watching him fish lol.
  • TONY DEEB – Had a brilliant day out with his son Cameron, and though the conditions were less than ideal with the bright sunshine and flat calm between them they safely returned 11 fish! Tony landing 6 and Cameron 5 using eggs and damsels on various lines.
  • EDWARD JONES – Safely returned 6 fish using the Burnhouse faithful a Griffith gnat, bibio, damsel and an orange daddy all on a floating line.

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

TIGHT LINES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD!

 

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.