Boat bookings: Tel.01877 385 664

FISHERY REPORT

Report for week ending 4th May 2004

Weekly Report and Monthly summary

Temperature at 6ft 14C; Clarity 2m. The lake has heated up another 2C this week and we can expect to see some phenomenal buzzer hatches soon. The eastern basin is still the place, and hot spots have been Reedy Point, Road Shore, Lochend, Todhole and the Butts. Out in the middle of the Lochend Leg and Stable Point have also produced good baskets. Buzzer and nymph tactics have produced the best reported catches this week but mini-lures and going a bit deeper have also worked well. Evening fishing is now well under way.
Boat Availability
We currently only have day time boat availability for Tuesday 11th (5 boats) and Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th May. There are plenty of evening boats available and there will doubtless be some day time boat cancellations in the days and weeks to come.
Top Catches and Club results for last week:
27th April: Gary McKee (Paisley) 15 fish for 35lbs. 28th April: T.Ward (Cumnock) 14 fish for 32lbs. 29th April: G.Learmonth (Falkirk) 15 fish for 33lbs, A. Mackay (Port Glasgow) 13 fish for 24lbs. 30th April: West of Scotland (5 boats) 18 fish for 47lbs, CIBA Angling (6 boats) 30 fish for 70lbs. 1st May: NorHet (6 boats) 21 fish for 41lbs, Newmarket AC (6 boats) 26 fish for 60lbs, Basfords (3 boats) 18 fish 39lbs, Stanley AC (8 boats) 44 fish for 86lbs, Thack AC (6 boats) 60 fish for 128lbs. 2nd May: Leslie Llanilar (5 boats) 49 fish for 107lbs, Lanrig (6 boats) 21 fish for 44lbs, Denny and Dist (8 boats) 44 fish for 86lbs. 3rd May: W.Fullerton/W.Leach (Falkirk) 14 fish for 26lbs, Clarke/Ferguson (Glasgow) 13 fish for 29lbs, R.Fullerton (Roche) 15 fish for 28lbs, Ladies Sponsored Fish (6 boats) 24 fish for 54lbs. 4th May: Lothian and Borders Police (12boats) 80 fish for 170lbs.

April Catches
Average boat catch for April 2004 was a respectable 4.25 fish per boat for a total weight of 9.25lbs. This wasn’t as good as last April when the average boat catch was 5.25 fish for 10.2lbs. However the average weight of the fish this year increased to 2lbs 3oz compared to last year and the quality seemed even better. I can’t remember seeing such a high proportion of overwintered fish in the catches.
The season got off to a much colder start than last year, 6C at a depth of 6ft, compared to last years balmy 10C, but the water temperature of 14C at the end of April pipped last year’s month end by a degree. The lilly leaves are later to emerge on the surface than last year. This colder and inclement start will have effected the fish and anglers, but we have also slightly adjusted our stocking policy so that there will be more fish available to stock prior to and during the traditionally dourer summer months of June and July.
We wish disabled internationalist and well kent fly tyer Andrew Herd a speedy recovery from his broken hip.
A Charity Competition will be held at the Lake on the 29th July, in aid of Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, which is building an additional hospice at Balloch. Registration forms for this are available at the Lake, and we hope to attract some well sponsored individuals to compete!