Although the weather was mixed during the past week with rain on Tuesday and Wednesday then bright skies and a coolish north easterly wind for the later part of the week there have still been some superb catches, though some boats have found the conditions quite testing. The north shore came into its own towards the end of the week.

On Monday, Ronnie Rob, who drove up overnight from Rutland Water had his limit by mid day. Stevie Docherty, Fort William, had 13 fish on Wednesday mostly on Dabblers from the Portnellan drift. Mark Stephen and Tam Burnett, fishing catch and release, had the largest catch for the week loosing count at over 30 fish to the boat. Scott Griffin, Weir Pumps AC, had his limit and returned a further 15 fish, as did John Orr.

The angling clubs were out in force and included amongst the best catches were Gartmore FC, 7 boats, 21 fish – best result Robert Murray winner 5 fish for 7lbs; Dunrod AC, 3 boats, 13 fish – best catch R. Gonet winner 4 fish and Weir Pumps AC, 5 boats, 55 fish (31 returned) winner Scott Griffin with 22 fish. Last but not least Kelvinside Academicals, 4 boats, 18 fish best bag Roddie Spiers, Strathaven 4 fish for 5lbs 8oz.

The best fly patterns have been Dabblers with an orange throat, Professor, Soldier Palmer, Kate McLaren- green tag, Clan Chief, size 14’s and wee double traditional. Midge tip lines produced good catches during the early part of the week, then slow intermediates towards the end.The best areas have been the Grass bank and Scouts bay that fished extremely well and the Portnellan drift fished well over the weekend. The Road Shore, fished further out than Submarine Island, saw many boats ‘bagging up’ from mid afternoon to the end of the session.