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News 2009
Chairman's |
NewsEnd of Season Report 2009Finally the rains stopped and very slowly the river dropped by the beginning of December so we got started catching up fish for the hatchery. We had no problem getting fish - the only thing was the cocks were out-numbering the hens by about 3-1 in some parts of the river. The quality of the fish was amazing with a lot of good sized fish in the pools with a good few well over 20lbs. The second night we were out we found hens no bother in fact in one pool not all that large there were 18 fish in it. We also noticed a few redds had already been cut and indeed a few had spawned. The fish we took back to the hatchery were all stripped within 2 days and returned to the river. So now we have all the trays full and the hatchery running to full capacity. (not sure of exact numbers). As I write this report on December 31st the river is very low and snow and severe frosts dominate. October 2009On the Ballantrae beat the high water of August proved very difficult for
the rods as fish didn't hang about. The average was around 5 or 6 fish a
week which is very low for this usually productive time. September arrived
and apart from the first week, the river remained low for the month, only
breaking on the last day. The total for 2009 was 76 fish although a very
notable 40% of these were salmon. Robert tells me they only had one fish
over 10lbs last year.
August 2009 Stuart with a 14 pounder at Balnowlart Robert Dalrymple tells me his tenants at Ballantrae Bridge are having a difficult time with the constant high water, only averaging five or six fish a week, although this last week in August they had nine and there was noticeably more fish about. On Balnowlart it's a similar story with fish not keen to hang around. Some of the syndicate members who have fished here for many years find it very unusual to blank in these conditions but quite a few have gone home without a pull. However there are fish going through and those who keep at it can be rewarded with some good quality fish. Andy Ewing has had a few, best of which was twelve pounds. Stuart Lang has had a good few including three between twelve and fourteen pounds. Kirkholm has been very lightly fished and have only half a dozen in the book so far.  Stuart returning his fish Up in Knockdolian there have been a few good catches despite it also being very lightly fished. Hugh McLatchie had a ten pound fish and five grilse off Dalnie & Scaur. Regulars Tony and Brian Wilson had seven fish off Twins and Bankweil best of which was twelve pounds. Other successful rods were Mr Edwards, J Hyslop, A Cowan, G Hamilton. This week Paul Smith fishing the first of his two weeks finished with six fish and lost quite a few more including a monster on Sallochan after a lengthy battle. I had a fantastic evening fishing Shakieston on Thurs 27th Aug during squally showers. I caught the river just before it rose, hooking and losing my first fish then landing four and a sea trout (best around twelve pounds), returned the sea trout and two salmon. On the Club water, Les Howarth had a brace, four and eight. Junior member Stuart Walker had two small grilse, Robert McIlwraith had three fish. On Saturday the 29th, Sandy Wilson had three, two returned and his twelve yr old son landed a thirteen pound fish. Well Done Alexander!!  Gordon's Shakieston Fish On Kirkhill Gilbert Brown tells me his guests have been getting the odd fish but hopes things pick up next month. Almont, Dalreoch and Bardrochat has been relatively lightly fished during August but have certainly been getting a few (best an eighteen pound fish from the Bridge Pool on a nine foot trout rod by keeper Paul Mottram). Hallowchapel has had a good few including three in one afternoon for Bailiff Tom Lothian and a fourteen pound fish for young Robert McIlwraith which was his first fish on the fly. Up on the Wee Stinchar Doug Wyllie has had a couple at Laggansarroch as has Phil Haughton. On Minuntion, Johnny Warrender was out for a few evenings and had a fish most nights. All in all there seems to be a reasonable run spread throughout the river. Ninety per cent of these fish are spanking fresh and whilst most anglers keep a few it is encouraging to see so many being returned. On another matter completely, the roads dept employed a company to paint the Jubilee Bridge at Pinwherry. The company erected a scaffold on both sides of the bridge to which the river board expressed concern at the time of year to sanction such work. On Sat 15th Aug a massive flood brought down a huge tree which smashed into the structure and buckled it actually creating a dam. When the river dropped a bit the company did try to dismantle but the rain never stopped and another huge flood on Thurs 21st broke the whole lot free and washed it down the river for approx 100 metres. Andrew Cowan who was in residence at Hallowchapel at the time captured the whole event on video and it was he who informed the river board. Thankfully it jammed in the tail of the Jubilee Bridge Pool before reaching Hallowchapel. By the following Monday with the river dropped a few feet the river board contacted the roads dept and informed them this had to be removed from the river immediately as heavy rain was moving in on Wed and expected to last for remainder of week. I offered the services of an excavator on the Tuesday and thankfully along with two scaffolders we managed to drag it all out and dismantle it before it did any real damage - so well done to the members of the board for preventing a potential disaster.
JULY 2009 Barr bridge On the Ballantrae Beat, despite plenty of water in July there was a definite scarcity of fish. We managed to catch 1 small salmon and a 2lb sea trout. There seem to be a lot of hurling around in the 8oz to 1 lb bracket – a lot more than we have seen for many years. We look forward to grilse run in August.
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