Anglers have been enjoying good sport at Linlithgow Loch this week reports Tom Lambert, secretary of the Forth Area Federation of Anglers, a non-profit organisation who run the popular water which attracts fishermen from all over Scotland and England.
Successful lines recently have been floating, midge tip and sink tip and flies taking the most fish are buzzers, muskins, crunchers, black and green Lures, cats, cormorants, damsels and fabs. The loch water is still clear at present.
There have been 77 boats out in the last week with 129 rods, 96 fish were kept, weighing 255½ lbs, and 190 fish were returned. The change in the weather and atmospheric pressure made a detrimental change to the catches over the weekend.
Best catches for the week; Monday went to Mr P Thomson out on his own released 9 Trout, also Mr Graham fishing solo returned 7 trout. Tuesday’s successful anglers were Mr Duncan and partner who kept 2 fish weighing 5 Lbs and returned 14.
On Wednesday, Tam Easton with his boat partner kept 4 fish for 10 Lbs and returned 8, George Mackintosh with Oliver Sneddon returned 6 while Gavin Dunn out with Mark Lawton kept 4 fish for 10½ Lbs, also returning 4.
A busy Thursday had Falkirk Municipal AC out with 10 anglers keeping 3 Rainbows weighing 6½ Lbs and returning 36. Ian Dobbie and partner returned 14 fish, Ron Thomson and partner kept 2 for 5 Lbs and returned 12 fish, Mr Reitch returned 8 fish, Ian McLaren and partner kept 4 fish for 12 Lbs and returned 3.
Friday, best catches for the day were by SSEB AC out with 4 boats keeping 12 Rainbows for 32 Lbs, Gavin Dunn and Jim Mackie kept 2 fish for 6 Lbs and returned 7, Andy Lumsden and partner kept 4 fish for 12 Lbs and returned 4, Robin Smith fishing with George Mackintosh returning 9 Trout. Evening anglers did well with Colin Wilson out flyfishing for Pike netting/releasing 5 Pike and Karl Pholen returning 4 Rainbows.
Anglers had mixed results over the weekend with the change in the weather. On Saturday Waders AC’s 4 anglers kept 8 fish weighing 22½ Lbs and returned 1, Bridge of Allan AC’s 7 anglers kept 15 fish for 40½ Lbs and returned 4, Craig Cowan and partner only managed to return 4 fish, also, Jimmy Russell out on his own only netted and returned 2 Rainbows into the Loch (an indication of the conditions as both are excellent anglers). Denny AC with 3 boats kept 4 fish weighing 12 Lbs and returned 2.
On Sunday best catches were by Rosyth Civil Service AC’s 16 anglers kept 9 fish for 17 Lbs while Balbeggie’s 14 anglers kept 16 fish weighing 43 Lbs. Trevor Gibson with Jimmy Russell kept 3 Trout for 9 Lbs and returned 4. James Christie and 3 friends returned 8 fish.
The loch re-stocks regularly and boats are available on most days for a full day or 4-hour sessions. To avoid disappointment call 01506 671753 or book online in advance.
Nearby, the settled weather has assisted anglers fishing Millhall near Polmont. Tthe loch has been fishing consistently well, with lots of fish feeding at or near the surface according to Bill Sutherland.
Floating lines with dry flies, suspender buzzers, small nymphs and skinny buzzers produced the goods for most anglers, while those on sinking and intermediate lines using a variety of flies from mini lures to snakes also had some good results.
There were none of the really big fish landed this week, although a fair number of anglers reported hooking into fish that they could do nothing with, until they eventually were broken off.
Good bags on kill tickets went to A Johnson with 4 fish weighing 10lbs 12oz on snatchers, B Bailey with 4 fish for 11lbs, also on snatchers, and S Kyle with 4 fish for 11lbs 8oz on mini lures. Catch and release anglers doing well were R Birrel with 8 fish on buzzers, D Blair and B Sives with 9 fish each on snakes, S McCarrol with 12 fish, also on snakes, while I Fleming returned 20 fish on dries, and B Granaghan also returned 20 fish on suspender buzzers.
At Eliburn in Livingston, Alastair Wickstead reports that lots of silver fish are being caught on light float gear with maggot and also bread punch or flake as the bait.
A few big carp up to 18lb are being tempted on boilie with some good tench up to 5lb also getting caught. Currently, fish are spawning so not really a good time to fish and probably in the next few days spawning should be over with.
PICTURE: Keir Hardie with a 6lb rainbow from Linlithgow Loch. Contributed by Linlithgow Loch
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