Cormorant feature in returns at Butterstone

Aug 29 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AT Butterstone, intermediate lines are still recommended but floating lines and midge tips are also taking numbers of fish.

Fly choice remains the same with small dark traditional wets being successful – try Bibio, Connemara Black, Black Pennell and small dark Snatchers. White Cat and Cormorants have started to feature in returns.

The average size of fish at the moment is just over the 2lb8oz mark with fish to 5lb being regularly boated.

Northern Constabulary weighed in 22 fish for 53lb10oz for 6 boats; Longannet AC landed 13 fish for 31lb14oz for 3 boats; and Bridge of Allan 25 fish for 62 lb 8oz for five boats.

On the club front at Frandy, Moncreiffe AC kept 20 fish weighing a total of 47lb8oz; Carrongrove FFC caught 6 fish for 16lb10oz – heaviest a 4lb 8oz rainbow.

Best taking flies and lures have included Sedgehog, Bibio, Bibio Hopper, various Buzzers, Daddy, Cats Whisker and Olive Fritz Damsel.

At Orchill, fish have been taking dries well after the weed has been cut again and there is so much natural food around A wide variety of other flies has also taken fish, including Bloodworm, Diawl Bach, Damsel and various Fritz patterns.

Mayfield FFC had a successful day on with 29 fish for around 92lb mainly on Buzzers. Donald Stewart, Perth, had 3 fish for 9lb8oz. James Tripney from Perth won the Angus Dragons coarse fishing match with 17lb of fish.

David Campbell from Falkirk took 15 carp on Midton Lake and Bill Hamilton a 15lb mixed bag of carp, bream, roach and rudd.

The fishing has been pretty difficult at Loch Leven, though some evenings did produce a small rise of fish but they were very hard to catch.

Having said that, a fine trout of 6lb8oz was caught by a member of Balgay AC. A green algae bloom certainly hasn't helped, though water clarity is at 1.5 metres.

Fry imitations should start to work soon, with action forecast around the mouths of the North and South Queich burns.

NIMROD