Well the 2008 season has ended and in common with many fisheries, it has been a disappointing year. The very dry spring allowed water levels to reach levels so low that we could only just operate our harbour. Levels recovered with the heavy summer rains but the stange pattern did not help the fishing. The season did however end with some very decent catches and anglers on Venachar during the final few weeks were finding some very nice fish.The fishery remains open over the winter for pike fishing with the boats available until the end of November. We then remove the boats from the water over the winter for safety and maintenance. They are returned to the water some time in February in readiness for the 2009 season. We are removing some of the older boats from our fleet and next year will offer about 18 instead of the 24 on offer this year.

Its strange how rumours start and then multiply! Word has reached us that we are shutting down. What rubbish!

For the avoidance of all doubt, we are absolutely NOT closing. Our fishery is very much OPEN and will be open for the foreseeable future. The loch will continue to be a Brown Trout water with an excellent head of natural fish supplemented by an appropriate stocking policy. We shall continue to monitor the habitat and feeder streams and to ensure that those interested in Brown Trout have an excellent water for their sport.

During June and July, our water level was the lowest in living memory and that made the fishing rather difficult. The recent rains have brought the level back to summer norms or even higher so our fishing is very much back to normal with reasonable catches.

We have seen some fantastic catches over the past week and most drifts are now fishing well. However, due to very bright conditions, the fish are mainly being found fairly deep. Fast intermediates and DI 3’s have been the best lines. The SANA National prelim was held on Friday producing 129 fish for 14 rods with an average weight per fish of 1lb 5oz. Mark Stephens was top rod with a very impressive total of 25 brownies for 27lb 4oz. Tom Taggart caught and returned a superb 2lb 8oz fish from the Grass Banks on a Kate McLaren. Those qualifying for the Semi’s are listed below:

Mark Stephens-27lb 4oz, Tam Burnett-19lb 13.5oz, Davie Bowie- 14lb 13oz, Ronnie Robb- 13lb 13.5oz, Ian Webster- 13lb 3.5oz, Archie Whitehead - 11lb 5.5oz, A. Young- 9lb 11oz.

The best drifts have been Milton Bay, Grass Banks,RoadShore and Portnellan. Successful flies were Doobrie, Sparklers, Dunkeld and Kate McLaren.

Club outings got on the way this week and there were some excellent catches. Despite a bitterly cold east wind (gusting to 20mph) and a water temperature of only 7.5c some boats have achieved their limits. The Road Shore drift, which offers shelter, has been the most productive with the Grass Bank and Sailing Club areas also doing well. With the air and water temperatures being low most anglers have been going down.

The best club over the past week was Aberfoyle FC with 20 fish for 25lbs. They also had the best boat, Ian Webster, Derek Peoples and Ian Wilson with Ian Webster catching 9 fish for 9.5lbs.

Successful flies have mainly been size 10’s traditionals such as Blue Zulu, Kate McLaren and Bloody Butcher.

The 2008 stocking program started in february and the loch has now received two large stockings of 1.5lb+ brown trout. It is our policy this season not to introduce any fish below this weight, many fish will be well in excess of 2lb’s and include fish up to 4lb in weight.

Having had a cold wet start to the season not many boats have ventured out onto the water but those that have braved the conditions have had, at times, good sport. Its still mainly intermediate lines teamed up with size 12’s traditional wets such as the Bibio, Zulu and Bloody Butcher.

Prospects are good for April and as the water and air temperatures rise many more boats will start returning good catches