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Loch Fad, Isle of Bute Fishing Reports in 2007

Loch Fad Doubles Competition

Loch Fad Doubles competitors Friday 19th October saw many anglers out on Loch Fad practicing for the 10th Loch Fad Autumn Doubles Fly Fishing Competition to be held over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of October. The fishing was good and it was looking very promising for the weekend with a good weather forecast also

Saturday morning was flat calm with bright blue skies and fish rising all over the loch. It was only minutes until the first fish was caught and then lots more followed. The boats seemed to concentrate on the north end of the loch with the cages and pumphouse shore being popular spots

All sorts of flies caught fish including Black Zonker, Black Cats, Wishy Shellback, Lime Green Fritz, Orange Blob, Candy Booby, Kate McLaren and Clan Chief to name but a few. The total catch for the 66 rods on Day One came to 273 fish for 718lbs 5ozs. Biggest fish fell to Iain Campbell from Paisley and weighed 11lbs. Best Boat Day One went to Robin Smith and Laurie Taylor from Airdrie with twenty fish and the best total weight for the day went to Jim Jack and Danny Bryce from West Lothian with 16 fish for 57lbs 5ozs including a lovely fish of 10lbs 15ozs

Once again Rothesay Golf Club was the venue for the competition meal and very nice it was. After the meal a raffle was held in aid of Calum's Cabin which raised the magnificent sum of £1189. A big thanks must go to the anglers who showed some spectacular generosity. After the meal it was down town to sample some of Rothesay's night life. The next morning two anglers never showed, but they do have "previous" for this!

Sunday morning was dull with slightly more wind and a bit cooler. Still fishing well from most of the hot spots of the day before the fishing went on and off all day. A good total of 210 fish weighing 432lbs 5ozs was caught by 64 rods. Best fish of the day was caught by James Arnott from Fife and weighed 11lbs 7ozs. Best Boat Day Two was John Simpson and Martin Hamilton from Ayrshire with 13 fish weighing 32lbs 14ozs

The total number of fish for the weekend was 483 fish weighing 1150lbs 10ozs

The overall placings were as follows: sixth place went to Irish pair John Chambers and Jimmy Brown with 59lbs 1oz. Fifth place went to Campbell Wilson and James Arnott from Fife with 65lbs. Fourth went to Ayrshire pair John Simpson and Martin Hamilton with 73lbs 15ozs. Third went to Robin Smith and Laurie Taylor from Airdrie with 77lbs 9ozs. Runners Up were previous winners Peter Edge and John Morton from Ayrshire with a total of 77lbs 15ozs. This years winners were Jim Jack and Danny Bryce from West Lothian with a superb total weight of 86lbs 9ozs

With both days fishing well it turned out to be a very successful weekend and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves

As usual a big thanks is due to many people for their help and generosity including David Kilpatrick from The Bike Shed who donated a bike to the raffle to raise awareness to Breast Cancer. There were many others who donated prizes including Jeff Worrall, Jimmy Duncan, John Miller, Andy McNeil, The Irish Boys, Kev's Garden Centre, Donald McKellar, Bobby Beattie and Loch fad Fisheries. Also the many others who donated bottles etc for the raffle. A big thanks also to the Golf Club staff and John and Hazel Rannie who once again looked after us on Saturday night, to Norrie Mulholland for his help over the weekend taking many action shots of the anglers and the prize winners and last but not least Chris Hartley and his team at Guide Flyfishing for their continued support of this event

Reports for November 2007

Sunday 18th November

Mr Montgomery from Motherwell, 4 fish = 8lbs 4ozs, fly

Friday 16th November

Mr Swinburn from Blantyre, 7 fish = 14lbs, Bait

Thursday 15th November

Mr Williamson (5 anglers) from Paisley, 19 fish = 33lbs 4ozs, Bait

Wednesday 14th November

Mr Sutton from Glasgow, 5 fish = 10lbs 6ozs, Fly

Sunday 11th November

Mr Gillespie from Renfrew, 5 fish = 13lbs 4ozs, Bait

Mr Taylor from Bothwell, 5 fish = 14lbs 3ozs, Fly

Saturday 10th November

Mr Reynolds from Rothesay, 6 fish = 14lbs 12ozs, Mepps

Mr McGlone from Fife, 6 fish = 18lbs 6ozs including one @ 3lbs 12ozs, Damsel, Blob

Wednesday 7th November

Mr Douglas from Wishaw, 7 fish = 21lbs, Bait

Monday 5th November

Mr Swinburn (2 anglers) from Blantyre, 14 fish = 33lbs 8ozs, Bait

Sunday 4th November

Mr Price and Mr Findell from Kilmacolm, 14 fish = 41lbs 3ozs including one @ 6lbs 9ozs, Fly

Saturday 3rd November

Mr Price and Mr Findell from Kilmacolm, 19 fish = 38lbs 8ozs, Black Zonker, Yellow Dancer, Clan Chief

Mr Currie from Glasgow, 7 fish = 17lbs, Bait

Friday 2nd November

Mr Neil from Glasgow, 10 fish = 22lbs, Worm, Sweetcorn

Thursday 1st November

Mr Williamson (4 anglers) from Paisley, 12 fish (no weight), Bait

Reports for October 2007

Wednesday 31st October

Just an average day on Loch Fad!

Mr Neil from Glasgow, 7 fish = 14lbs 12ozs (gutted weight), Bait

Mr Scanlon and Mr Sutton from Glasgow, 9 fish = 16lbs 12ozs, Fly

Monday 29th October

Mr Martin from Prestwick, 6 fish = 16lbs, Bait

Sunday 28th October

Mr Galloway from Ayr, 7 fish = 17lbs 12ozs, Polar Bear

Mr Anderson from Ayr, 3 fish = 13lbs 6ozs, including one @ 8lbs 10ozs, UV Cat

Saturday 27th October

Mr Reynolds from Rothesay, 6 fish = 17lbs, Bait

Mr Thomson from Glasgow, 10 fish = 27lbs 12ozs, Maggot, Worm

Mr Bridge from London, 7 fish = 15lbs, Clan Chief

Mr Allan from Glasgow, 8 fish = 16lbs 8ozs, Bait

Friday 26th October

Mr Hill (2 anglers) from Manchester, 6 fish = 27lbs, Bait

Thursday 25th October

Mr Eardley (3 anglers) from Greenock, 28 fish = 101lbs, Bait

Wednesday 24th October

Mr Gemmell from Port Glasgow,10 fish = 23lbs 6ozs, Mepp

Tuesday 23rd October

Mr McFarlane from Rothesay, 3 fish = 12lbs 10ozs including one @ 5lbs 12ozs, Black Zonker

Monday 22nd October

Mr Cameron from Prestwick, 6 fish = 17lbs 2ozs, Bait

Sunday 21st October

Autumn Doubles Competition (64!! anglers), 210 fish = 432lbs 5ozs

Saturday 20th October

Autumn Doubles Competition (66 anglers), 273 fish = 718lbs 5ozs

Thursday 18th October

Mr Duvivier from Prestwick, 6 fish = 14lbs 4ozs, Green/Black Fritz

Wednesday 17th October

Mr Lancaster (2 anglers) from Wigan, 7 fish = 14lbs 13ozs, Maggot, Sweetcorn

Tuesday 16th October

Mr Lancaster (2 anglers) from Wigan, 14 fish = 30lbs 8ozs, Maggot, Sweetcorn

Sunday 14th October

Mr J Simpson from Kilwinning, 10 fish = 22lbs, 1oz, Fly

Saturday 13th October

Mr B Peterson from Greenock, 10 fish = 20lbs, Black/Green Technocat, Pink Lady

Thursday 11th October

Mr Scott from Newton Stewart, 8 fish = 16lbs 4ozs, Black Zonker, Olive Bumble (Narrows)

Tuesday 9th October

Mr Coxford (3 anglers) from Alnwick, 13 fish = 36lbs including one @ 8lbs, Bait (Boathouse)

Sunday 7th October

Mr Marshall from Renfrew, 4 fish = 8lbs 10ozs, Black & Gold Humungus, Pink Minkie

Mr Coxford (3 anglers) from Alnwick, 12 fish = 25lbs, Bait (boathouse)

Saturday 6th October

Mr Docherty from Glasgow, 5 fish = 17lbs 7ozs including one @ 9lb 7ozs, Maggot, Sweetcorn

Mr Wallace from Fife, 7 fish = 17lbs 7ozs, Bait

Mr Mitchell from Fife, 7 fish = 15lbs 4ozs, Maggot, Sweetcorn

Mr Nugent from Linwood, 4 fish = 18lbs 4ozs including one @ 9lbs, White Fritz

Mr W Smith from Alexandria, 10 fish = 28lbs 15ozs including one @ 9lbs, Black Cat

Mr J Costello from Bonhill, 10 fish = 21lbs 1oz, Fly

Friday 5th October

Mr Bell (2 anglers) from Newton Stewart, 4 fish = 9lbs 8ozs, Humungus

Mr D Ferguson from Bonhill, 6 fish = 18lbs 9ozs, Fly

Thursday 4th October

Mr Baird (2 anglers) from Glasgow, 4 fish = 10lbs, Bait

Monday 1st October

Mr Swinburn from Blantyre, 5 fish = 11lbs 4ozs, Spinner

Reports for September 2007

A trio of Loch Quein brown troutSeptember on Loch Fad started well with good sized fish falling to Damsels, Yellow Dancer, Minkies and Blobs, with a best fish weighing 11lbs on a Black and Peacock Spider. Some nice fish to 9lbs also came off to spinner and worm and then it went a bit quiet. However, it picked up mid-month with some good fish on Orange Blobs, Dunkelds, Yellow Dancer, Cats and Viva. A fish of 10lbs fell to an Orange Blob on the 15th to Kahts Whisker AC angler D Houston

The fishing gradually improved, although there was a few dour days, up until the end of the month when some excellent rises of fish came on. Lots of fish were lost on flies such as Humungus and Orange Blobs, but enough stayed on to give some decent bags. The last day in September even saw fish being taken on dry flies at the dam end of the loch. The bait fishing also improved with some better bags coming from the Pumphouse shore and the Fence

With the Brown trout season coming to an end, time is running out for a last cast on Loch Quien where some excellent fish have been caught of late. Good rises of fish to small flies have been seen with fish to 2lbs 8ozs being caught, with much bigger being seen

Sunday 30th September

Mr G Bridge from London, 7 fish = 13lbs 12ozs, Orange Blob Fritz

Saturday 29th September

Mr Yates (4 anglers) from Preston, 18 fish = 31lbs, Bait

Mr Baird from Coatbridge, 6 fish = 10lbs 8ozs, Maggot, Spinner

Mr Jamieson from Coatbridge, 6 fish = 10lbs 8ozs, Bait

Mr S Strathie from Rothesay, 5 fish (no weight), Brown Zonker

Thursday 27th September

Mr McKellar from Rothesay, 2 fish = 4lbs 8ozs, Bait

Wednesday 26th September

Mr Cropley from Edinburgh, 3 fish = 7lbs 8ozs, Bait

Monday 24th September

Mr McAvoy from Glasgow, 2 fish = 5lbs, Bait

Sunday 23rd September

Mr Woodall (4 anglers) from Greenock, 7 fish = 17lbs including one @ 7lbs, Maggots

Saturday 22nd September

Mr Rankin from Falkirk, 3 fish = 27lbs 6ozs, Gold Rib Hares Ear

Mr Baxenden (4 anglers) from Preston, 8 fish = 20lbs 6ozs including one @ 7lbs 10ozs, Bait

Mr A'Hara from Rothesay, 3 fish = 7lbs 12ozs, Technocat

Friday 21st September

Mr Baxenden (4 anglers) from Preston, 9 fish = 27lbs 6ozs including one @ 9lbs, Bait

Wednesday 19th September

Mr Speirs from Rothesay, 2 fish = 5lbs, Fly

Sunday 16th September

Mr Jim Arnott from Fife, 5 fish = 11lbs 6ozs, Orange Blob, Black/Silver Zonker

Mr Richards from Fife, 5 fish = 12lbs 6ozs, Black Booby

Mr Scott from Fife, 5 fish = 11lbs 12ozs, Sunburst Blob, Viva

Saturday 8th September

Mr Halligan from Glasgow, 3 fish = 7lbs 8ozs, Bait

Mr McGoldrick from Glasgow, 3 fish = 8lbs, Bait

Mr Johnson (2 anglers) from Darlington, 5 fish = 13lbs 2ozs including one @ 4lbs 8ozs Bait

Thursday 6th September

Mr Branchfield (3 anglers) from Greenock, 15 fish (no weight), Bait (Fence)

Wednesday 5th September

Mr Lynd from Kilmarnock, 4 fish = 8lbs, Fly

Monday 3rd September

Mr Clarke from Crewe, 1 fish = 11lbs (returned), Black Peacock Spider

Saturday 1st September

Mr Reynolds from Rothesay, 5 fish = 13lbs 12ozs, Spinning, Sweetcorn

Mr Bowler from Ayr, 4 fish = 10lbs, Coral Booby

Mr Dott from Dumbarton, 4 fish = 12lbs 8ozs, Bait

Reports for August 2007

A Loch Fad monster pikeAugust on Loch Fad was another unpredictable month for the weather with hot sunny days followed by wet and cool days. Mid-August saw a ten inch rise in the water level in the loch which helped the fishing. Although the fishing was difficult, some good fish were taken in the 3 – 5 lb bracket with the best fish at 5lbs 8ozs to S McNeil. Bigger fish were hooked and lost! Loads of Mayfly, Pond Olives, Sedges and Buzzers with the occasional good rise of fish didn't seem to make the fishing any easier

The longer cooler nights should see a drop in temperature in the loch and this should bring on the fish anytime now. An increase in catches towards the end of August was hopefully the start. Best flies for September are usually Zonkers, Damsels and Daddies. Bank anglers probably fared better that the fly with a few good bags from the fence, pumphouse and boathouse bay

Some good Pike have been caught with the best estimated at just over 30lbs from the reeds at boathouse bay, caught on a large lure. Prospects for September should be good as the temperature drops and the summer stockies start to come on

Wednesday 29th August

Mr Lancaster (2 anglers) from Wigan, 5 fish = 14lbs 8os, Bait

Tuesday 28th August

Mr Lancaster (2 anglers) from Wigan, 5 fish = 13lbs, Bait

Sunday 26th August

Mr Davidson from Lesmahagow, 4 fish = 9lbs 8ozs including one @ 3lbs, Bait

Friday 24th August

Mr Stables (2 anglers) from Glasgow, 4 fish = 7lbs 12ozs, Sweetcorn

Wednesday 22nd August

Mr Fowles (3 anglers) from Chester, 10 fish = 18lbs, Bait

Tuesday 21st August

Mr Fowles (3 anglers) from Chester, 7 fish = 12lbs, Bait

Mr Howell from Manchester, 6 fish = 11lbs, Maggots, Sweetcorn

Monday 20th August

Mr Bellis from Manchester, 6 fish = 12lbs 4ozs, Maggots, Sweetcorn (Grassy Bank)

Sunday 19th August

Mr Wilson from Glasgow, 2 fish = 3lbs 4ozs, Bait

Friday 17th August

Mr Hill (2 anglers) from Mancheser, 5 fish = 13lbs, Maggots, Sweetcorn

Thursday 16th August

Mr Hill (2 anglers) from Manchester, 5 fish = 10lbs, Maggots, Sweetcorn

Wednesday 15th August

Mr Varela from Glasgow, 7 fish = 15lbs, Bait

Monday 13th August

Mr McKay from Shotts, 2 fish = 4lbs, Bait (Concrete Hut)

Saturday 11th August

Mr Mellor from Staffordshire, 6 fish = 10lbs (gutted weight), Bait

Wednesday 1st August

Mr Haggarty from Kilchattan Bay, 4 fish = 8lbs, Fly

Reports for July 2007

A Loch Fad specimenThe weather on Loch Fad in July was very mixed. Warm, bright, wet and windy conditions all in the same day was not uncommon. With the wind changing direction every other day, predicting where fish might be feeding was not easy. Good hatches of Mayflies were still coming off with occasional good rises early and late in the day. Although the fishing wasn't easy, there were some decent days and the best fish caught on fly went to Eddie A'Hara and weighed 8lbs 4ozs, caught on an Olive Bumble. Best areas for fly fishing seemed to be the Barnauld burn and Barmore bay

Prospects for August are good as there is a good build up of stock in the loch. Damsels, Cats Whiskers and Olive Zonkers should catch a few with Ace of Spades, Dancers, Blobs and Black Zonkers all worth a go. Depending on the wind direction the south end of the loch can be a good area at this time of year

Bait fishing and spinning has also been a bit challenging but some good days were had. The fence, pumphouse and boathouse bay seem to be the favourite areas. Popped up baits seem to be working the best. Things have been quieter over the last couple of weeks, and the fishing has been harder, but last couple of days were better, here are some catches from last couple of weeks

Some nice Pike also coming off, including fish of 27lbs and 25lbs 10ozs

Saturday 28th July

Mr Cameron from Greenock, 3 fish = 6lbs 8ozs, Bait

Thursday 26th July

Mr Stewart from Cumbria, 3 fish = 6lbs, Bait (Boathouse)

Wednesday 25th July

Mr A'Hara from Kilchattan Bay, 2 fish = 12lbs 8ozs including one @ 8lbs 4ozs plus 5 fish returned, Olive Bumble

Tuesday 24th July

Mr Kyle from Dalry, 6 fish = 10lbs 4ozs, Maggot, Worm and Sweetcorn

Sunday 22nd July

Mr Blackmore from Rothesay, 2 fish = 3lbs 8ozs, Black CW

Saturday 21st July

Mr Sinclair from Glasgow, 7 fish = 12lbs 10ozs, Bait

Mr O'Brien from Glasgow, 6 fish = 10lbs, Bait

Friday 20th July

Mr Davidson (1 adult and 1 junior) from Muirkirk, 6 fish = 11lbs 12ozs, Wasp Grub

Tuesday 17th July

Mr Casement from Rothesay, 2 fish = 4lbs, Bait

Monday 16th July

Mr Lyden (3 anglers) from Glasgow, 5 fish = 10lbs 6ozs, 2 on fly and 3 on maggot

Saturday 14th July

Mr Logue from Skelmorlie, 2fish = 7lbs 4ozs inc one @ 5lbs 2ozs, Bait

Friday 13th July

Mr Hamilton from Fife, 2 fish = 3lbs 8ozs, Bait

Thursday 12th July

Mr Williamson (4 anglers) from Paisley, 7 fish = 13lbs 8ozs, Bait

Mr R McLean from Stewarton, 3 fish = 6lbs, Fly (South End)

Sunday 8th July

Mr Baxter (2 anglers) from Wigan, 7 fish = 16lbs, Bait