Spinfish Online Magazine

LAKE OF MENTEITH REPORTS APRIL 2019


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Lake of Menteith contact 01877 385664

Lake of Menteith Fisheries, Ryeyards, Port of Menteith, Stirling FK8 3RA

Lake of Menteith 29th April 2019

Water Temp at 6ft 13.5C Secchi Disk Clarity Gateside Bay 2.1m

EVENING FISHING COMMENCES WEDNESDAY 1ST MAY.

Boats out at 6pm but there are usually boats on the shore earlier so if you manage to get along earlier we can usually let you out earlier. The other good thing about the evening fishing is that it is the only way to get a boat – due to us being fully booked during the day from now until Sunday. Stop Press one now available for tomoz.
Jane's fish

MENTEITH BOAT LEAGUE COMMENCES WEDNESDAY 1ST MAY. If you fancy taking part in the boat league why not have a trial night on the Evening of May 1st. Turn up, pay your fishing fees (£14) choose a ball and get a boat partner allocated at random. The rules are simply the Lake rules, all fish are returned unless you have mouths to feed (in which case pay a little more). You must record the time of the first fish caught (to separate anglers that catch the same number of fish caught). If you have a nice evening’s fishing, come along next week and pay the £20 entry fee. More info at https://www.menteith-fisheries.co.uk/menteith-boat-league-2019/

The washing line remains the most popular method at the moment at the Lake. Hot spots are Hotel Bay, International Bay, Reedy Point, the Plantation and Tod hole. Some big olives visible and if we get some warmth and overcast skies the dry fly should also work. Above Jane Wright who will be fishing in the Menteith Scottish Select Team against England in July with a nice 5lb fish caught on her outing with Kelvinside AC on Saturday 27th April. They had 3 boats and weighed in 20 fish for 43lbs with another 20 returned. St. Peters took 35 fish for 73lbs and retuned another 13 with 6 boats. Wellington AC netted 23 with 4 boats, East Kilbride killed 33 for 71lbs and returned another 88 with 10 boats.

Lake of Menteith 24th April 2019

National Championships


The second heat of the Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship 2019, Sponsored by Ridgeline UK, 7plus7 Construction & R & E Hygiene was held on the lake on 23/4/19 in cooler overcast conditions and a south easterly. The top area appeared to be International bay and Hotel Bay to Reedy Point, with good catches also occurring in Sandy Bay. The 59 anglers caught 390 fish giving a rod average of 6.6. Top bag on the day was George Gall of Roscobie Loch DA with 13 fish and his first 3 weighing 7lbs 15.9oz. George (pictured on right) was fishing in International Bay and Hotel Bay with a washing line with buzzers held up by a fab – most of his fish took the fab. In 2nd place was Kinross AC’s Connor Campbell (in middle) also with 13 fish fishing in similar areas with similar tactics but his first 3 weighed 5lbs 7oz. Third placed was William Davidson of Black Bull FFC who was also fishing with similar tactics, but his fish all took the buzzers! The cut off weight for qualification was 13lbs.

National Heats

Traffic Disruption


A lot of road disruption with the A873 closed between Blairdrummond and Thornhill this week between 8am and 6pm. On Sunday the Stirling Marathon is closing a lot of local roads and probably best to consult their closure map at https://www.greatrun.org/great-stirling-run/event-info to get a route to suit.

Menteith Boat League


Evening Fishing Commences on 1st May as does our Friendly Boat League. If you are interested in joining the boat league this season let the fishery know (07752 128489 or 07710 433464) and turn up and see if it is for you. Kick off is at 6pm next Wednesday 1st May with randomised boat partners. More info at https://www.menteith-fisheries.co.uk/menteith-boat-league-2019/

Lake of Menteith  16th April 2019

Water Temperature at 6ft 9C;  Secchi disk Clarity 2.5m


The first heat of the Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship 2019, Sponsored by Ridgeline UK, 7plus7 Construction & R & E Hygiene was held on the lake today. Thankfully the strong easterly wind experienced on Monday abated slightly but the day was still on the cool side with light persistent rain for most of the session. Most of the boats headed for shallow water drifts in the Eastern Basin with some also heading to Sandy Bay and Malling.

Buzzers were hatching through the day and the birds were busy feeding on them above water with the trout doing likewise sub-surface.

The winner of the heat was Kevin McCabe of Change FFC. He managed to land 23 fish for a total weight of 45lbs 3.7ozs. (First three fish killed and weighed with 2lbs awarded for each fish returned thereafter). Kevin was fishing a floating line and buzzers around Shear Point. Kevin also won the corresponding heat last year with 39 fish and will be captaining the Scotland team at the Spring International at Grafham Water next month. Here's hoping that his form continues!

2nd place went to Neill Barrett of Gilmerton FFC with 14 fish for 30lbs, 5.6ozs. Neill got his fish between the ferry pier and the shallow marker buoys on a floating line with a fab and cormorants.

3rd place went to Wayne Cram of West Lothian Fly Dressers AC. Wayne landed 13 fish for a total of 27lbs, 13.7ozs. Wayne fished Hotel Bay using a Buzzer Tip Boobies and diawl bachs.

The top 23 anglers qualified for the semi-finals with the cut off weight being 14lbs, 7.8 ozs. The 46 anglers landed a total of 352 fish for a total of 734lbs 1.3 ozs, giving a rod average of 7.65. PB

On Sunday the Scottish team were out practising and had 128 fish from their 8 boats. On Saturday, Falkirk FD killed 28 for 64lbs and returned a further 21 with 5 boats, IBM netted 50 with their 6 boats.

Lake of Menteith  9th April 2019

Water Temperature at 6ft 9C;  Secchi disk Clarity 2.4m


We`ve had a cold east wind for the past week so most anglers are hugging the east shore or in Sandy bay and having good sport, a good drift to catch some of the bigger fish is starting at Katies Brea and drifting across to Chicken leg bay. Method vary from straight lining buzzers to pulling blobs.

Notable Catches; Mr Raeburn 10 fish, SPRA West12 boats 100 fish, Mr Lock and Mr Webster 21 fish, David Bradshaw 8 fish, Priory AC 5 boats 170 fish, Clydesdale bank (7 Boats) 99 fish, Rainbow warrior’s (3 boats) 43 fish. Mr Harvey 9 fish including 3 brownies Peter Batchelor and Gary Hamilton 30+ fish.

Water Temperature at 6ft 8C;  Secchi disk Clarity 2.4m

Lake of Menteith 2nd April 2019


Water Temperature at 6ft 8C;  Secchi disk Clarity 2.4m


Stonking Menteith Bow

Fishing has been good during the last week with many boats catching and returning a lot of fish. Fly Tyer Peter Batchelor was out with his mate Gary Hamilton on Monday in dreich conditions (but not two drops as was forecast) and had a brilliant day. I asked them for a few tips and Gary said we followed the housemartins which were swooping over the Lake in certain areas and they led us to the fish. They did well up behind Dog Isle on washing line tactics the n moved away from the fish to Lochend and put on dries and continued catching – ending up with over 35 fish.

Top areas have really been all over. Malling shore to Reedy Point, up to the Gap and down to the Butts.

The Defibrillator training morning held recently was well attended and our thanks to Trossachs Search and Rescue for their expert advice on defibs and first aid and also to Scottish Police Recreation for the fundraising and to all who contributed. Fishery employee Connor Shearer demonstrates his technique.

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