WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 9th OCTOBER.

The weather has been unpredictable, with glorious sunshine one minute and torrential rain the next, time to make sure you never forget your waterproofs! The weather may be miserable, but nature is beautiful at this time of the year, if you sit back, watch, and listen. The landscape is changing to those beautiful autumnal colours creating a picturesque backdrop to the Lochan, the kingfisher has made its return, testosterone is pumping through the stags who have began to clash antlers and roar, the banks and surroundings are alive with activity from game birds such as pheasants, partridge, duck, geese, and our resident guineafowl, we are even having daily visits from a woodpecker!

Last week we introduced a golden trout to the fishery, all in the aid of research, although we have turned it into a ticket winning fish also! Because this is the only gold in Burnhouse we hope to learn a lot from it, feeding habits, number of times it is caught, weight maintenance, life span, how it adapts to the different seasons and water temperatures, condition and fight after every time caught. So we ask that every time this is caught if you could give us a shout so we can inspect the fish and get all the details we need for our research. This fish has already been caught 4 times, at different areas of the lochan and every time to a different fly and style of fishing, it is in incredible condition, has maintained its weight and has fought incredibly hard every time! We just hope that because of its bright colour it doesn’t become an easy target for the many predators that roam our banks and water.

It wasn’t a week for the fair-weather anglers, but those who braved the wind and rain seen some brilliant sport! There were only 3 blanks recorded this week and the rod average has again increased. There have been some truly amazing fish caught, as well as the ones listed throughout the report, Chris Beverage landed a rainbow weighing 15.5lb, Andy Allison safely returned 9 including 2 tigers weighing 6lb and 8lb, Billy Walker safely returned 7 fish including 4 tigers one weighing 12lb! Paul Burrows safely returned 10 including rainbows weighing 15.5lb and 13.6lb and a tiger weighing 5lb! But though the tigers and big rainbows are being caught, the big browns are being caught few and far between, making it extra special when one does make the net!

On Sunday we held the final of the 2022 Burnhouse Trophy, you can see how they got on after the top 20!

FISH OF THE WEEK –  The top spot goes to GORDON SMITH  with his new P.B, a rainbow weighing 16lb! Well Done, Gordon!

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

Other successful flies were badgers, sedge, sedgehog, cdcs, nymphs, apps, stalking bugs, shimmies, mop flies, cats whiskers, cat bugs, eggstacy worms, fabs, yellow dancers, green & black lures, grubs, humongous, emergers, green & white fritz, zonkers, rabbits, snakes, nomads, double humpy, pink lures, squirmies, bibio, fry imitation lures, floating fry, damsels, ace of spades, muddlers, daddies, klinkhammers, moths, shipmans, top hats, Kate McLaren, beetles, spiders, cinnamon & gold, butchers and cormorants.

TOP COLOURS –  Olive, pink and yellow.

HOTSPOTS –  The bridge shallows.

BEST LINE – Floating.

TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH CAUGHT –  541

NUMBER OF ANGLERS – 74

ROD AVERAGE – 7.31

THE TOP 20 RETURNS

• JEN OBRIAN – Safely returned 22 fish using stalking bugs fished static under a sight indicator.
• TOMMY TURNBULL – He’s in the top 20 every week using his tiny little flies! He safely returned 19 fish using size 20 buzzers and nymphs.
• KYLE BURNS – Safely returned 18 fish using various eggs fished static under a sight indictor.
• SCOTT MUDIE – This year’s Burnhouse champion, safely returned 17 fish.
• IAN SCOTT – Won the 2^nd place trophy with 16 fish.
• BOAB MCCOLL – Practicing for the competition, safely returned 15 fish including the only goldie in our water using diawl bachs, sedgehogs, fabs and buzzers on a floating line.
• BRIAN CONWAY – Safely returned 15 fish using mainly sweetcorn eggs fished static under a sight indicator. Brian fell in, I’ve yet to have the time to check the cctv but I think it should catch it, will have my popcorn ready just in case!
• ALAN DOWNIE – Safely returned 14 fish including a 6lb tiger using a double humpy, gold humongous, and nomads on a floating line. The day before he safely returned a brown weighing 11.7lb, what a great week for Alan!
• ALAN WALKER – Safely returned 14 fish using shimmies fished static under a sight indicator and fry imitations on a floating line.
• JOHNNY PORTEOUS – Who was practicing for the competition safely returned 14 fish using a covid snake on an intermediate line.
• CRAIG BINNIE – Safely returned 14 fish using diawl bachs and cdcs on a floating line and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
• GRAEME BAIRD – Came 3^rd in the competition with 14 fish including tigers weighing 6 & 7lb .
• TONY STEEN – Safely returned 13 fish including rainbows weighing 7lb & 8lb using a pink lure and a nymph on a floating line.
• TONY DEEB – Safely returned 12 fish using diawl bachs and sedge on a floating line.
• MICHAEL BAXTER – Bagged up his 2 fish and went on to safely return 10 using nymphs on a floating line.
• JOHN THOMSON – Safely returned 12 fish using a yellow dancer on a floating line.
• GREG HOWE – Came 4^th in the competition with 11 fish.
• DARREN MCPHERSON – Came 5^th in the competition with 11 fish.
• ROBERT STEEL – Safely returned 11 fish using diawl bachs and cormorants on a floating line.
• THOMAS CAMPBELL – Safely returned 11 fish using an ace of spades and cormorants on an intermediate line.

THE 2022 BURNHOUSE TROPHY DAY

25^th Anniversary Special.

The weather started off breezy and overcast, ideal conditions to kick off the final! But there was an air of dread amongst the anglers because the weather forecast for the rest of the day was horrific! Torrential rain and gale-force winds were due around lunch, so the finalists knew they had to make the most of the calm before the storm!

Scott Mudie landed the first fish after just one minute, with most anglers catching their first fish within the first hour. The larger specimens began to bite, the most memorable coming from Nathan Horner who had a dream day with a brown weighing 11.4lb and a tiger weighing 9.8lb! Graham Baird caught 2 tigers weighing 6 & 7lb one after the other! Toby Lomas landed a rainbow weighing 12.6lb, Wullie Carr after catching a beautiful wild brown weighing 1.5lb went on to catch a brown weighing 9.6lb and Johnny Porteous caught a 7lb tiger and an 8lb rainbow!

The strength of the wind increased by the hour, the direction changing throughout, a challenge to the finalists but they showed their strength and skill and the good returns continued.

Throughout the competition we had spot prizes, when the whistle blew the next angler to land a fish would win a prize, the last hour was incredible! Every time we blew that whistle, we would be blowing it again within a couple of minutes maximum! Unbelievable sport in the last peg that changed the scores drastically!

The results were so close that time of first fish was crucial!

THE RESULTS

FIRST FISH – SCOTT MUDIE – 09.01

BIGGEST FISH – TOBY LOMAS – 12.6lb Rainbow

1^st – This years Burnhouse Champion – SCOTT MUDIE – 17 fish

2^nd – IAN SCOTT – 16 fish.

3^rd – GRAHAM BAIRD – 14 fish.

4^th – GREG HOWE – 11 fish.

5^th – DARREN MCPHERSON – 11 fish.

6^th – NATHAN HORNER – 10 fish.

7^th – ROBERT PATON – 9 fish.

8^th – ALAN SMITH – 9 fish.

9^th – COLIN SHARPE – 8 fish.

10^th – BRIAN MCCLUCKIE – 7 fish.

11^th – BOAB MC – 7 fish.

12^th – JOHNNY PORTEOUS – 6 fish.

13^th – RORY STEWART – 5 fish.

14^th – WULLIE TURNER – 5 fish.

15^th – TOBY ROUGHTON – 4 fish.

16^th – JIM ANDERSON – 4 fish.

17^th – AARON KIRKWOOD – 4 fish.

18^th – CHRIS ALLAN – 4 fish.

19^th – BRUCE DYSART – 4 fish.

20^th – MICHAEL MCKENNA – 3 fish. (Retired before lunch)

21^st – WULLIE CARR – 3 fish.

22^nd – ROBIN LAMBERT – 3 fish.

23^rd – MARK GRAY – 3 fish.

WOODEN SPOON – STUART BELL – 2 fish.

A total of 169 fish were caught with a rod average 7.04! Top angling in incredibly tough conditions, well done to you all!

A massive thank you all of the anglers that took part in this year’s competitions, we were raw dealed with the weather for them all, but you didn’t let it hold you back and all of the competitions were great fun! A massive thank you also to Wullie Carr for stepping in on the day of the final, I think your dad was looking down on you when you caught that brown!

A massive thank you also to this years sponsors, your generosity as always was greatly appreciated and there was a lot of very happy anglers!

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.

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!