WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 2nd OCTOBER.

What a brilliant week we have just had, the dreich weather providing some spectacular sport! The larger specimens are feeding heavily, exciting anglers with their big bow waves and fry smashing! The rod average has rapidly increased and very few blanks are being recorded. The weather might be miserable, but the fishing is fun!

Some days were quiet this week due to the rain, but the rain is exactly what we want, so the next time you see the rain pouring from the sky remember that some of the best sport comes in conditions like that, pop your waterproofs on and come fishing, we have great facilities at Burnhouse to keep you warm and let you dry off over the cold and wet months ahead of us.

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming David Eadie and Nadine Jarvis for their Waldos Troot Flees Fun Day, and what a day it was! You can read all about it after the top 20.

FISH OF THE WEEK –  The top spot goes to BRIAN MCCLUCKIE  with a rainbow weighing 9.5lb! Well Done, Brian! I love it when Brian catches a big fish, because he’s like an excitable big kid and is straight on the phone to brag to his partner in crime Peach who is always working when he catches the big ones!

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

Other successful flies were hoppers, sedge, daddies, spiders, shipmans, cdcs, beetles, yellow owl, green moth, midge, parachute buzzer, sedgehogs, top hats, double deckers, floating fry, popper fry, smokers, Kate McLaren, soldier palmer, size 22 wet flies, jig head nymphs, bibio, muddler, nymphs, scruffy nymphs, cormorants, humongous, bunny leech, ace of spades, fabs, blobs, Ally McCoist, yellow Ally McCoist, snakes, apps, eggstacy worms, puddle cats, cats whiskers, pink lures, yellow dancers, Henrick Larsen, shimmies, green dancer, yellow lures, eggs, mop flies, nano bugs, orange & yellow lures, pink & white rabbits and various dries.

TOP COLOURS –  Olive, pink and yellow.

HOTSPOTS –  The far bank, sluice corner and the bridge shallows.

BEST LINE – Floating.

TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH CAUGHT –  461

ROD AVERAGE – 6.14

THE TOP 20 RETURNS

  • LEWIS YOUNG – Safely returned 18 fish using bibios and sedgehogs stripped across the surface. Lewis had never been to Burnhouse before, and his excitement made me chuckle, every time he seen a fish bowing after his flies he was shouted to his friends and, id have loved to have put my smart watch on him to see how many steps he racked up running on the one spot! He left saying, “that was the most fun I’ve ever had at the fishing, and I can’t wait to get back!”
  • SCOTT MCCORMACK – Safely returned 16 fish using a hot head damsel, diawl bachs and an ace of spades on an intermediate line.
  • ANDREW BURT – Safely returned 15 fish using a floating fry and orange daddy stripped across the surface.
  • TOMMY TURNBULL – Safely returned 15 fish using size 20 buzzers on a floating line.
  • ROBERT RICHARDSON – From the TIP TOP FLYS Facebook page, who was part of Waldos fun day weighed in 1 fish for 2.44lb and safely returned 14 using mainly eggs. He also lost a big tiger after playing it for quite some time. Robert gave us some much-appreciated feedback on the fishery and strength of the fish, his arm needed quite some time to recover!
  • MICHAEL BAXTER – Part of the Waldos fun day weighed in 1 fish for 1.6lb and safely returned 14 using nymphs on a floating line.
  • DONALD FORBES – Up for his Wednesday curry night safely returned 14 fish using buzzers and beetles on a floating line.
  • BARRY WILSON – From the FISH BOUND FLIES Facebook page, who was part of the Waldos fun day, weighed in 1 fish for 1.88lb and safely returned 13 including one of the most beautiful tigers we have ever seen! He was using yellow eggs fished static under a sight indicator and orange lures.
  • THOMAS FORD – Safely returned 13 fish using a hothead damsel, buzzers, and a sedge on a floating line.
  • ALI STRACHAN – From MASTER BAITER FISHING, safely returned 12 fish using a pink lure, floating fry, and cormorants on a floating line.
  • MICHAEL HEUCHAN – Part of the Waldos fun day, weighed in 1 fish for 1.4lb and safely returned 10 using various mop flies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEORGE LYNCH – Safely returned 11 fish using various dry flies on a floating line.
  • ALLY BRUCE – Safely returned 10 fish using size 22 wet flies on a floating line.
  • LEE ANDERSON – Safely returned 10 fish using hoppers, sedge, and daddies on a floating line.
  • ALEX DUNN – Weighed in 4 fish for 9.2lb and safely returned 6 using a puddle cat on a floating line.
  • RYAN LAIRD – Safely returned 10 fish using a hot head damsel and yellow dancer on a floating line.
  • COLIN BALFOUR – Safely returned 10 fish using various dry flies on a floating line.
  • STEVEN OBRIAN – Safely returned 9 fish using various dries on a floating line.
  • JOHN CALLISON – Formally of Newton farm, safely returned 9 fish using buzzers and an eggstacy worm on a floating line. It was great to see you again John and the rest of the Newton guys.
  • AARON KIRKWOOD – Safely returned 9 fish using a yellow dancer, yellow owl, green dancer, and popper fry on various lines.

WALDOS FUN DAY COMPETITION

David Eadie started the Waldos Troot Flees Facebook page on the 7th of April this year and it already has 839 members, the numbers increasing by the day. He decided to have a little get together, a fun competition and chose Burnhouse as “it was the place that ignited his passion for the sport again!” What a great way for the anglers from all over the country to meet up in person with the people they talk to every day through the fishing page.

The morning air that welcomed the anglers was crisp, the water was bubbling, and the conditions looked perfect for the day with the forecast set to remain overcast! Within the first 10 minutes 4 fish were weighed, the first coming from Johnathan Paul at 09.03 and then young Dylan McRoberts caught the only golden trout in the fishery…. But then the sun came out and the temperature reached an unseasonable high! The fishing slowed slightly but the anglers adjusted, and the good sport continued!

The rules of the competition were 1 fish kill, that fish was then weighed and that determined the winner of the fun day competition, meaning that it didn’t matter how well you did on c&r so long as you had caught 1 fish you were in with the chance of winning. All fish over 6lb, tigers, browns and the only goldie to be returned and not counted as a weighed fish.

THE RESULTS

1st – ROBBIE BIRRELL – 5.02lb

2nd – DAVID MCROBERT – 3lb

3rd – ALAN SMITH – 2.64lb

  • ROBERT RICHARDSON – 15 fish
  • MICHAEL BAXTER – 15fish
  • BARRY WILSON – 14 fish including a beautiful tiger
  • MICHAEL HEUCHAN – 11 fish
  • TOBY LOMAS – 8 fish
  • ROBBIE BIRRELL – 6 fish
  • JONNO MCDONALD – 6 fish
  • BRUCE DYSART – 6 fish
  • ROBERT IAIN MCANDREW – From the TROUT TREATS SCOTLAND Facebook page, 5 fish
  • ALLY MCMAHON – 5 fish.
  • DYLAN MCROBERT – 5 fish including the only goldie in the water, he beat his dad in numbers, but not in the weigh in.
  • BRIAN MCGINILY – 4 fish
  • NADINE JARVIS – 4 fish It’s a good job she only fished half the day guys because she would have shown you all right up!
  • STEVEN MCGOWAN – From NEWHOUSE FISHERY, 4 fish, he had a nightmare start, arriving with a flat tyre and no spare! And to make things even worse, it was a Sunday and nowhere was open! Resulting in having to abandon his car over night and get a lift home! Its ok Stevie, we wont charge you for the overnight parking lol!
  • LAWRENCE MCDONALD – Fell in the gorse bush, one minute i could see him, next he was gone! Happy to report he was uninjured, cheers for the laugh Lawrence! 4 fish
  • KEITH DUNCAN – 3 fish
  • STEVEN SHERRY – 3 fish
  • JOHNATHAN PAUL – 3 fish
  • DAVID MCROBERT – 3 fish
  • MICHAEL MCKENNA – From the TROUT PERSUIT Facebook page, 3 fish including his new P.B rainbow weighing 9lb
  • BRIAN DUNCAN – 2 fish
  • EUAN CLARK – 1 fish
  • ALAN SMITH – 1 fish Alan had to leave early because he was ill, we couldn’t believe he actually made the effort to come. We hope you are on the mend now Alan, especially ahead of this week’s final because we all know you won’t want to miss that!
  • STEVEN SHERRY SNR – 1 fish.

A total of 132 fish were caught with a rod average of 5.5 and there were no blanks! Exceptional given the sunshine and temperature!

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out for all of the anglers, well done to David and Nadine for all of the organising, you done a great job! Its brilliant to watch your group grow. I look forward to next years fun day already and cant wait to take part in future Waldos fun days at other venues too!

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.