Weekly Reports & News
Date: 27 August 2010
I'm not sure what happened to summer, but already some of the leaves on the trees are beginning to show signs of turning!
We've had a period of some very strange fishing with the troot rising for a few minutes then going down and, from speaking to other anglers from different parts of Scotland, this pattern appears to have been widespread. A number of theories have been proposed, but no one really knows why. However, the last week has seen an increase in surface activity, so here's hoping that the fish continue to rise. These rises are not confined to the evenings and even with a bit of wind, anglers have continued to attract fish to the surface.
Without a shadow of doubt the most succesfull fly has been a Sedge followed by a Klinkhammer and the colour of both has been important and changes from day to day.
To support the view that the fish are higher in the water than in the past, Wets are also attracting fish with the mot productive being the Black Pennel, Kate McLaren and Butcher patterns. Those anglers who use lures are finding the WSW, Cats Whisker and Montana patterns have succes, while a dark coloured buzzer, fished both very slowly or even fast, is the most successful buzzer pattern.
In recent months we have altered our stocking pattern to include brown and blue trout; the browns to increase our present stock of that are particularly canny, while the blues to add variety.
This has certainly brought a smile to some anglers after tempting a brownie or 2 to a fly including a number between 2 1/2 and 3 lbs with one at 3 3/4 lbs. One local was particularly pleased with a cracking non-stocked brownie at circa 5 lbs taken on a Sedge. Bags are gradually increasing and while double figure bags are few, a good number of anglers are reporting bags of 7/8 fish for their visit which usually include a brownie. Our bigger rainbows continue to be seen, but they are shrewd creatures and the heaviest weigh fish recently was 8lbs, while a good number of 4 and 5 lbs fish have been reported.
To date, 14 anglers caught a tagged fish and left Artloch with a Sharpe's of Aberdeen Belmont Fly Rod. To be in with a chance of taking home a Rod, all that is required is a extra £1 to enter when you pay for your fishing.
Scottish National Stillwater Championship 2010.
Congratulations to Jim Adie, Tommy Graham and Mike Cordiner who having been successful at Artloch went through to the final and were successful in getting into the Scottish Team.