This season’s catches to the end of May have now been compared with the same period in 2006. The average catch for an 8hr boat session is 9.3 fish compared with 6.25 last season, 36% of brownies were returned and a mean average weight of 1.25lbs per fish has been attained.  During May fishing effort was most concentrated at Grass Banks, Grahavie Bay, Submarine Island, Otter Island, Boat House Bay and the Portnellan drift. The loch was last stocked on Wednesday with brownies up to 2.5lbs introduced to most drifts and bays. The pre-yearling programme, which started in 2004, is now proving to be very successful. Fifteen thousand 4” adipose fin clipped fish were stocked during that year. Large numbers of these fish, which are now 10” to 12”, are being reported as caught and returned. The fast growth rate shows that Venachar has superb feeding and water quality. The biggest fish taken last week was taken by Gerry Henderson on a Clan Chief at Grahavie Bay. Also doing well were the B.P. Angling Club,   5 boats, 17 fish         for 17lb 14oz - best rod, B. Adam 4 for 4lb 14oz. Edinburgh Walton AC,  4 boats, 7 fish for 8lb 15oz, Dunoon & District A.C. 5 boats, 5 fish for 9.5lbs – best rod Graham Macher 2 for 2lb 8oz. The best fly patterns have been the JC Hot Head Diawl Bach, CDC Shuttlecock Diawl Bach, Claret Hopper, Claret Bumble and the Silver Invicta.The top fishing areas have proved to be Boathouse Bay, Milton Point, Submarine Island, Beetle Bay and Lendrick Bay.