Fishing: Cold winds stopped early season hatches on Leven

Nov 28 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ENCOURAGING is perhaps the word that best sums up the fishing on Loch Leven this past season.

Initially, for about six weeks in April and early May, we experienced a series of strong, cold north east winds. The extension of these cold winds into May prevented the big early season buzzer hatches similar to those we saw in spring 2007.

However, right from the start of the season, the condition of the fish being caught was absolutely superb, with many of those being landed found to be full of buzzer larvae and, to a lesser extent, snails and the usual other vertebrates and invertebrates.

For the future of angling on Loch Leven, it is important we continue to see different year classes of fish being caught.

Small fish below the 10" mark were seen sometimes in pretty large shoals whilst the largest fish recorded was a pretty hefty 6lb 14oz, big for Loch Leven where the average size of brown trout weighed in since 1880 is still under one pound.

Overall, trout covering all the main age groups were seen and caught but it was evidence of the younger age groups which was encouraging as they are the stock for future seasons and proof that all has not stopped just because stocking has ceased.

As I write this fish are into the third week of their spawning activities, the amount of fish seen on the reeds has been very encouraging, with fish seen in the South Queich some 11 miles up stream from the loch. Self regeneration is now what it is all about at Loch Leven and we are lucky to have so much, excellent habitat for brood stock to access, and fry to grow on until ready to migrate back to Loch Leven.

Finally I would like to thank the angers who gave the loch a 'try'. Loch Leven can be very frustrating to the novice and experienced angler but I think a fish caught on water like the loch is a real achievement and hopefully an experience we can enjoy for many seasons to come.