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Chairman's |
News 2007September 2007Despite the lack of water for most of the month the river continued to fish well. At Ballantrae Bridge they had 58 for the month, with only the 2nd week being a bit disappointing with only 4. Best week the last with 23. This beat has continued to return around 60% of all fish landed. All the way upstream the news is the same with all beats reporting lots of fish in the pools and for those anglers fortunate enough to be on the river after a rise in water have had some terrific sport. One regular rod on Knockdolian landed 16 fish for 3 days. At Colmonell the Kirkhill rods have being doing well with a good few fish in double figures (all returned). This beat has been under the ownership of Gilbert Brown since last season & if anyone wishes to enquire of availability on this beat, Gilbert can be contacted on 078661661266. On Bardrochat, Peter Trotman landed and returned a fish he thought to be around the 18 lb mark. Up on Dalreoch David Tilsley had his best trip in recent years landing 8 during his stay. We are now into the final month and there seems to be no let up in the number of fish still entering the river. Here's hoping for a few more spates to enjoy the remainder of the season. August 2007As I write this report the river is at 4ft 8” at Colmonell Bridge after the deluge on Saturday 18th August. Prospects for the coming week are excellent, with the high water coinciding with high pressure by mid week and most importantly lots of fish in the river. The grilse arrived in numbers on the 8th August. The Mullhollands (tenants on Ballantrae Bridge beat) started fishing on 6th August and saw only a few fish, but by the Wednesday they were in every pool in good numbers. This beat rotates top/bottom daily with the owners and between them they landed 43 fish mostly around 5-7 lbs including 4 fish in double figures – 80% of these fish were returned. Immediately upstream the syndicate rods on Balnowlart had a bonanza but not until the next week starting the 13th August. All regular rods had 2 or 3 fish but most notable on the 14th were catches by Stuart Laing and Hugh McLatchie landing 15 fish between them of which 12 were returned. It was the same story all up the river. The small stretch of Kirkholm had 10 for the 13th and 14th with William Marshall senior landing 4 himself. On Knockdolian despite not having every beat fished they had their share of grilse and a good few double figure fish. The Club water at Colmonell has only had a few as has the new owner of Kirkhill Fishings. Bardrochart, Dalreoch and Almont beats had 5 or 6 most days the water was in order but no doubt they will welcome the new fish when they arrive and perhaps sample the kind of fishing being had on the lower river. Hallowchapel is the same, only a few in the book, but no doubt this will change in the next few days as the fish progress upstream. On the ‘Wee Stinchar’ at Minuntion a 17.5 lb fish was landed by John Scobie from the Mill pool. Report of an 18lb fish from a farm stretch has also been confirmed. Given regular rainfall the Stinchar will have a lot of happy anglers by it’s banks in the next couple of months. July 2007While the summer has been a non event and other parts of the country are deluged with rain the Stinchar has only had a number of little freshets. It was during a little rise in late June Dr Swain's party landed four salmon on Knockdolian. Three of these fish were in double figures, the best at 16lbs. There was also a report of a large fish from a private beat around the Daljarrock Hotel area. Downstream on Balnowlart to date there have been four fish landed. There is quite a number of sea-trout being encountered which is very encouraging, however the River Board would ask all anglers to return all sea-trout to give these fish every chance to perhaps return to our river in the numbers they once used to. Please read the new river code of practice. June 2007
May 2007
Although the numbers reared in the hatchery were down this year due to
difficulties in securing enough broodstock in the continual high water at
spawning time, the survival and growth rates in the hatchery have been very
good. The remaining fry will be stocked in the upper Balloch Burn. Ayrshire
Rivers Trust will monitor the success or otherwise of the stocking during
its comprehensive electro fishing survey of the river in the summer. |
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