Burnhouse Lochan Fishery: Weekly Report: 21/05/21 – 30/05/21

WEEK OVERVIEW

After a year of lockdowns, uncertainty, and restrictions, it was brilliant to finally be able to organise and host our first competition of 2021, the Burnhouse Trophy Day. The weather was awful, there were many snapped lines, it appeared like anglers were using rubber hooks with more fish being lost than making it to the net,  but the anglers were undeterred – they were here to have a great day and a great day was what they had! A day of fun, laughter, impressive fish, and great food! A day where even though we still have some restrictions, we could relax and feel almost normal again!

FISH OF THE WEEK – This week’s top spot goes to ALEX ROOK  with a beautiful 10.2lb rainbow. Well done, Alex!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – This week’s top 3 flies were BUZZERS, APPS and EGGS.

Due to the size and strength of our fish we ask that all anglers use a minimum of 8lb line, there has been a large number of doubles lost this week due to weaker line snapping. There is also a danger with weaker line that the larger fish will be over played, drastically reducing the chances of the fish recovering.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

  • BILLY HOEHLE – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using his new favourite fly, a black pennell on a floating line.
  • GREG HOGGAN – Was getting his practice in for the competition day, in just 4 hours he safely returned 10 rainbows caught using a smoker on a floating line and an olive apps on fast glass. The practice paid off; on the competition day he won the trophy! He safely returned 15 rainbows caught using various apps olive, brown and yellow on a fast glass, buzzers on a floating line and eggs fished static under a sight indicator. His last fish of the day stripped his line to the end of his backing, wrapped the line around another anglers podium and much to everyone’s disbelief he still got the fish to the net!
  • MARTIN LEYDAN – On his last visit to Burnhouse, Martin was unsuccessful in getting a fish to the net. On this visit he came with a determination to better his performance, and he did, he safely returned 5 rainbows caught using sunburst eggs fished static under a sight indictor. That is how you do it Martin, well done! Thank you for volunteering your help on the day of the competition, it was greatly appreciated!
  • DONALD FORBES – Safely returned 9 rainbows including a few weighing 7 & 8lb caught using a sweetcorn fab, buzzers and a snatcher on a floating line. On the day of the competition, in completely different weather he safely returned 2 rainbows caught using buzzers and a cat bug.
  • JIM KYLE – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a dark olive and a sunburst fab on a floating line.
  • SCOTT WALKER – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using a green & black lure on an intermediate line and a smoker on a floating line.
  • ROSS MORRISON – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using an olive apps on an intermediate line. On competition day he safely returned 6 rainbows caught using olive apps on an intermediate line and a spearmint egg fished static under a sight indicator. If Ross had managed to net all of the fish he had on, he would have been in the running for the trophy, but he did nothing wrong, the fish just kept getting away! He was disappointed, but he really enjoyed the day.
  • ALLAN DOWNIE – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using buzzers on a floating line. He was snapped several times on a double humpy.
  • ROSS DRUMMOND – Weighed in 4 rainbows for 17.11lb and safely returned 1 tiger, 1 brown and 1 rainbow, using a white rabbit on an intermediate line and a cheese egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GARY HAMILTON – Weighed in 2 rainbows for 7.17lb caught using a smoker on a floating line and a peach egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • DREW MILLER – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a buzzer and a tequila egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ANDY RICHMOND – Safely returned 2 rainbows and 1 blue caught using a tequila egg and shammies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALEX MCRYSTAL – Safely returned 1 rainbow and lost 2 doubles.
  • STEWART MORTIMER – Safely returned 1 rainbow and 1 tiger using an Ally McCoist and buzzers on a floating line.
  • TAM WILSON – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using an orange egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • PETER WEAVER – Safely returned 9 rainbows caught using an orange and a pink egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEOFF APPLETON – Safely returned 2 blues caught using a yellow wotsit on a di5 line.
  • MARK EDEN – Made his return to fly fished after many years away from it and was ecstatic to take home a 3lb rainbow for the dinner plate. Well done, Mark! A black nomad was the fly that secured him his dinner!
  • GREG HOWE – Popped up for a few hours to practice for the competition, he weighed in 1 fish for 4.3lb caught using an orange & black okay dokie on a floating line. On competition day, he safely returned 2 rainbows caught using an olive apps on an intermediate line and buzzers on a floating line. A few days later, fishing for an hour he safely returned 1 rainbow caught using an orange lure on an intermediate line.
  • JIM ANDERSON – Won second place on competition day with 10 rainbows and 1 7lb brown, using a black pennell, buzzers, cormorants, and a cutthroat damsel all on a floating line.
  • LEWIS KIDD – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a uv yellow dancer on a floating line.
  • ROBIN LAMBERT – From THE SCOTTISH FLYFISHER online magazine, lost more fish than he got to the net, but it did not faze him, he safely returned 4 rainbows caught using a uv cormorant and CDCs on a floating line. He was also snapped twice one very early on by a large double.
  • STEVEN MCGOWAN – From Newhouse fishery safely returned 5 rainbows using a white bug fished static under a sight indicator, buzzers, and cormorants on a floating line.
  • ALLY MCMAHON – “It’s some set up here, I’ve had a cracking day and the fish are another level! I will be back very soon!” He safely returned 4 rainbows all of a good size caught using a Dawsons olive rabbit on a floating line. He was also snapped early on in the competition by a double.
  • ALAN SMITH – Was snapped on his very first cast! He ended the competition with a return of 4 rainbows caught using sedgehogs and hoppers on a floating line and “a mad, crazy, bung, THING” he tied up the night before, sorry Alan but your description just had to go in the report. A few days later he popped in on the way past for a coffee but could not resist an hour on the water when he seen the amazing evening rise, he safely returned 2 rainbows caught using CDC emergers on a floating line.
  • AARON KIRKWOOD – Safely returned a beautiful 4lb brown and 1 rainbow caught using a black & green apps on an intermediate line and a pink egg fished static under a sight indicator. After seeing the evening rise posted on Facebook a few days later, he popped up for a couple of hours and safely returned 5 rainbows caught using shipmans and sedgehogs on a floating line. He returned the next day still buzzing from how great it fished the night before and he had an outstanding day safely returning 17 rainbows and blues using orange and yellow apps on an intermediate line and an orange fab on a floating line.
  • DECLAN WINTERS – Safely returned 4 rainbows caught using a purple apps and a yellow dancer on an intermediate line.
  • JOHN DONALDSON – Got off to a cracking start safely returning 6 rainbows caught using a red apps and yellow dancer on an intermediate line and shipmans on a floating line. The afternoon proved less successful, but he still finished joint 4th.
  • DEREK SAVAGE – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a yellow apps on a floating line. The first fish put up an incredible fight and “just wouldn’t come in!”
  • MICHAEL MCKENNA – Thoroughly enjoyed his first ever competition, he safely returned 2 rainbows one weighing over 5lb and the other over 6lb and 2 browns caught using a daiwl bach and matchstick buzzer on a floating line. Burnhouse provided his first wild brown caught on a Stillwater and his P.B twice! Well done, Michael!
  • SCOT MITCHELL – From Woodhall flies, safely returned 5 rainbows and 1 blue caught using an olive apps on an intermediate line, buzzers on a floating line and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • CHRIS MELVILLE – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using hoppers and damsels on a floating line. A rather large rainbow was playing games with him! He hooked into a big fish, after a good fight he got the fish close enough to see a white fly at the side of its mouth, but it slipped his hook! Later in the day, he hooked into the same fish, but it had the exact same outcome! I could feel his frustration! Next time Chris!
  • DOUGIE HUGHES – Had a breaking day! Literally, first he was snapped by a big fish, then he snapped his rod! Like a true fisherman though, it did not wreck his day! He managed 1 rainbow to the net using a damsel and really enjoyed the “banter, quality of the fish, food and atmosphere of the competition.”
  • RORY STEWART – An exceptional young angler, impressed all of the participants with his level of skill! He finished the competition not just with the biggest fish, a rainbow weighing 9.5lb but also winning 3rd place, in extremely difficult conditions! I know I say this all the time but keep up the hard work, you will go very far in this sport, and it is an absolute joy to watch your progress! Well done, Rory!
  • JONNO MCDONALD – Was having an extremely frustrating day, every fish he hooked into got off in one way or another, but he finally managed 1 to the net caught using a black rabbit on a floating line. On a return visit and in better weather conditions he safely returned 5 rainbows caught using a bibio double humpy and Donnay Mac charity buzzers on a floating line.
  • JOHNNY PORTEOUS – “Needs stronger line!” After an epic battle with either a large tiger or large brown (very different fight to a blue or rainbow) his line snapped, he was “gutted” but will be coming back for another go “with stronger line!” He safely returned 1 rainbow caught using buzzers on a floating line.
  • GARY MCCLURG – Safely returned 3 rainbows in just half an hour including 1 weighing 8lb using an amber G&H sedge on a floating
  • GRANT LINDSAY – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 3.26lb caught using a white egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • JIMMY JONES – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 4.08lb caught using a Kate McLaren, he also lost a double.
  • PAT GRANT – “I’m definitely coming back here, great wee place!” He weighed in 3 rainbows for 14.26lb and safely returned 3 using a Griffith gnat, buzzers and a shipmans all on a floating line.
  • BRIAN SKINNER – Had a brilliant day, he safely returned 9 rainbows and 1 7lb brown using white eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALAN HENDERSON – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 2.76lb caught using a sedge on a floating line.
  • GORDON MCVICAR – After losing a few fish finally managed 1 to the net using an orange foam daddy on a floating line.
  • TONY STEEN – Caught 1 rainbow on a white egg fished static under a sight indicator. For the rest of his session the fish were bubbling all around him, but he could not match the hatch.
  • DEREK GRAHAM – Safely returned 2 rainbows including 1 weighing 7lb caught using a yellow owl on a floating line.
  • DAVID DUNN – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using a yellow damsel on a floating line.
  • ALEX ROOK – Weighed in 4 rainbows for 17.22lb and safely returned 18 including rainbows weighing 9lb and 10.2lb, using buzzers fished static under a sight indicator, daiwl bachs and a floating fry on a floating line and damsels on an intermediate line. “Another brilliant day!”
  • PAUL ROWE – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 4.08lb caught using a sunburst blob on an intermediate line. He also lost “a monster”.
  • REG DAVIDSON – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a white egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEO WATSON – Safely returned 1 rainbow weighing 6lb caught using a gold head damsel on a floating line.
  • ANDY MCALPINE – Weighed in 2 rainbows for 8.42lb caught using buzzers on a floating line.
  • DAVID WELSH – Took home 2 rainbows, we do not have any records of the weight or flies used.
  • JAMES MARSHALL – Took home 2 fish, we do not have any records of the weight, or the flies used.
  • JOHN LAIRD – Safely returned 6 rainbows and 1 brown using a black gnat on a floating line. “The fish in here fight really well, I will be back soon!”
  • ROSS MORRISON – Safely returned 3 rainbows and 1 blue using stalking bugs fished static under a sight indicator and daiwl bachs on a floating line.
  • MARTYN SHEARER – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using snatchers and CDCs on a floating line and a shimmy egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • MATTHEW WATSON – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using a pink fab and buzzers on a floating line.
  • DREW MILLER – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using an Invictus on a floating line.

 

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 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.
  • IF ANGLERS FIND THEMSELVES ON A HOT SPOT, PLEASE MOVE ON AFTER 5 FISH.
  • 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 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.

 

Tight lines for the week ahead!