Angling Reports 2007
20 January - Loch Awe (Dalavich) - We were kindly offered a weekend in one of Mark Hamilton's holiday chalets at Dalavich to try a spot of winter pike fishing. We met up with a couple of mates from Glasgow, Fergus and John, who we met whilst on a trip at Bonawe a few years ago. We started off fishing near Kames Bay at around 9am in very mild conditions for the time of year. We weren't there long when Brian had a run on his roach dead bait but it got off. Around an hour later he had another run, this time producing a 12.5lb pike in excellent condition which put up a great scrap. We continued fishing until about 1pm without anyone else getting a bite so we decided to pack up. We headed back to the chalet for a bowl of soup then we thought we'd try fishing the loch just in front of the chalets. Shortly after setting up I had a run on my roach dead bait but lost the fish. I re-baited and about 10 minutes later landed a 9lb 5oz pike which tail-walked when near the shore. Soon afterwards the temperature began dropping sharply and the snow started. We decided to call it a day, packed up and headed to Dalavich Social Club for a few well-deserved pints. Andy, Al, Brian, Ronnie, Stu, Fergus & John
18 February - Loch Crinan & Loch Fyne (Furnace) - Brian had collected some fresh ragworm so we decided to head south of Oban to try a new sea mark. We stopped off at the estuary of Loch Crinan to try for some flatfish on the flood tide. We fished for a good couple of hours with ragworm tipped with squid without any success so we packed up and made for Furnace to a mark we'd fished before near the quarry. We fished there until the light was fading but didn't land a single fish. Brian had a few knocks but they didn't look like much. We reckon this mark is better fished at night. The weather was fresh with practically no wind and a clear sky. Andy & Brian
23 March - Un-named Loch - Al and I headed off early for our eagerly awaited first outing of the season. The conditions were perfect for sightseeing but a tad bright for the gin clear limestone loch we had chosen to fish. We had a good day all the same with Al having a very good day - four excellent early season trout in tip top condition, biggest was two and a bit pounds, a cracker of a wild brownie. I've still to break my early season duck, watch this space!! Brian & Al
26 March - Inverawe Fisheries - Myself and my uncle were fishing on Inverawe fishery. It was a bit cold that day but the fish I caught made me smile. One rainbow trout in the hydro pool and a nuther in the beginners pool both averaging about 4lb. Both fish were caught on large blob flies. The staff thare were very help full and polite. Fraser Tinney
31 March - Loch Lochy, nr. Fort William - Loch Lochy is well know as an early season loch so we decided to give it a go as Brian and I hadn't caught a trout between us since the start of the season. We set off just before 7am from Benderloch and we were out on the loch in the belly boats before 9am. The weather was bright and sunny with a slightly chilly NE wind. Brian and I were fishing wet flies but Al started off spinning. Al was the first to land a fish, abrown trout just over half a pound in weight, taken on a silver Toby lure. Brian was next with another fish around the same size, quickly followed by another almost identical fish. Al changed to the fly in the afternoon but had no more sucess. I was the last to land a fish, another brownie of the same size as Al & Brian's, taken on an invicta. Brian was snapped off a couple of times by larger fish. A cracking day out in the float tubes. Andy, Brian & Al
1-2 April - Loch Etive - Fished at low tide in Airds Bay, Loch Etive, for a couple of hours. Had to move around a bit but found fish by tying the boat to the orange buoy in the centre of Airds Bay over deep water. Produced quite a few small whitng and small spurdog, but best spurdog was 2lbs. Lovely weather and a great day out. Tried loads of other marks by cliff edges for pollack but no luck at all. Used flourescent shrimps baited with mackerel. Also had a go in various parts of loch creran the next day but didnt manage a single bite!! Robbie
6 April - Furnace Pier, Loch Fyne - Fished from 7pm-11pm with mackerel & squid baits, trying to catch conger. We dropped a bag of rubby dubby off the pier, hoping to attract a few fish, but the fishing was poor with only a couple of LSDs caught. I had a couple of good knocks and Fergus had two runs but no conger were hooked. Andy, Fergus & Raymie
7 April - Firth of Lorn - Spent the day out fishing on the Jane R with a few mates from down south. Fished around Bach Island to the south of Kerrera where we picked up a few pollack, then headed to Lady Rock off Lismore where we caught a few more. Biggest fish was just under 5lb, taken on a jellyworm. In total we caught around 8 fish which isn't fantastic. Weather was cloudy with a chilly westerly wind. Andy
7-14 April - Loch Awe - Fished on Loch Awe every day, trolling plugs and spinners for pike. Tried mainly around the Dalavich area. A typical session was 2 hours per day. Fishing was frustratingly slow- only managed 2 trout, both rainbows, one small and the other worth eating. Best guess was that its too early in the season and the fish are not in the shallower water yet. Perhaps dead baits would have been better. Great weather and lovely scenery though - will return later in the year. Robbie
26-27 April - Loch Etive (flat rock) - Set up on flat rock, bait was macky and squid. Not a touch until dark and then only one bite which produced a cracker of a whiting about 3lbs then nothing until morning, a small spurdog and a small doggy. Dissapointing but the weather was scorching and it was a great night. Ryan & Iain
5 May - Saulmore Point (nr. Connel Bridge) - Colin and I set off to Saulmore Point for some pollack fishing. John was the first to land a nice 1lb pollack on the leadhead-jellyworm combo and shortly landed another on the same tactics. It all went quiet for a while so we decided to change tackle. We tried a set of 3 hokkais and Colin landed a quality 3lb pollack. We cought at least 25 altogether using the jellyworms and the hokkais. At 3:30pm there was no sign of life so we settled the day with some tea and digestives. John & Colin
12 May - Loch Etive - Fished boat from Taynuilt pier from 8.30 til 5pm. Contrary to the weather forecast the day was mostly fine with low winds and only the odd shower. Headed up to Inverawe and freelined ragworm and sandeel baits. Picked up Pollack, Coalfish and half a dozen Codling, best fish about 3lbs. Tied up for lunch and fished a deep water mark with big baits with no luck. Spent the afternoon moored to one of the orange buoys further down the loch. We had 10 Thornbacks to 4lb, 2 Spurs (both under 2lbs), 3 Lsd's, a Grey Gurnard and countless Whiting. It was young Ross on his first boat trip who, having caught 27 fish and 5 different species, must have had the best day. Although no decent sized fish were caught it was still a very enjoyable day. Fergus, Craig & Ross
21-22 May - Loch Etive & Loch Awe - Fished for about 2 hours around the quarry area on Loch Etive. Caught a few gurnard and small codling, but it was very windy and this is a big problem in my small boat! Bait was squid and mackerel. Gave up fishing and cruised to the far end of the loch - a lovely place if there ever was one. The following day had a go for pike on Loch Awe, but again the wind made fishing very difficult. Caught a small one on a silver toby spinner. Got chatting with the bailiff who said there had been an escape of rainbows from the fish farm at the barrage end of the loch, so easy fishing if thats what you are into. Returning next month for a spot of fly fishing on Loch Avich. Robbie
26-27 May - Loch Etive (Flat Rock) - Set up on flat rock. Bait was macky and squid. Not a touch until dark and then only one bite which produce a cracker of a whiting about 3lbs then nothing until morning, a small spurdog and a small doggy. Dissapointing but the weather was scorching and it was a great night Ryan & Iain
1 June - Port Appin Pier - We had been fishing all the known spots with no luck so decided to head over to the Port Appin Hotel for a swally. While there we set up our gear and used tobys hoping to catch some Mackerel to use for pike in Loch Awe. After fishing for six hours we caught one...yipee. The lismore boat skipper said he had been going into the peir for years and that has been the first fish he has ever seen being caught there...he reckons the poor fish was lost. Alex & George
2 June - Oban & Inverary - Went for a weekend fishing up the west coast around some of our favourite marks. Started on Saturday and did some fishing near Oban, both my friend and myself caught pollack from the shore (1lb & 3.5lb). Headed home on the Sunday and stopped at Inveraray peir to catch some mackerel and got somewhat of a surprise in the variety of fish fish caught. Fish that were caught were Mackerel, Dab, Gurnard (Grey & Red), Pollack and codling, all were about 1lb but this was a surprise as we were both spinning with lures and feahters for makerel! Simon Mcdougall
6 June - Loch Avich - Hired out the boat on Loch Avich which is part of the Awe system. Weather conditions were initially bright sunshine and flat calm, but this changed to a little bit of cloud cover and a good breeze as the day went on. Once there was a good ripple, started catching small brownies easily. Best technique was to drift close to the shore and to cast very close to the edge. Any small black wet fly seemed to do the trick- the ones I used mainly were clan chief, black pennel and bibio. Size of fly didnt seem to matter. Caught around 30 fish. Biggest though was about 10oz, though most were in the range of 4-6oz. I would thoroughly reccomend a day out on this loch- glorious scenery and the loch to yourself. Robbie
17 June - Hill Lochs above Musdale - Fished 2 hill lochs above Kilmore/Musdale - caught a few squeekers but nothing above 1/2 lb. Loads of trout rising in bursts when the hatch was on - frustratingly all out in the middle of the loch. Better luck next time - lovely day out though! All trout caught on bibios. Alister B.
27 June - Loch Fyne - I caught this sea trout on float and mackerel strip across from Furnace. Saw plenty of other fish jumping. I also let 3 1lb sea trout go. I have noticed a big difference in the loch this year, even saw some minkie whales, plenty of bait fish. Tight lines!! Andy+C
1 July - Loch Awe - The four of us set out to fish Loch Awe for the escapee rainbows. We started off fishing at the Pass of Brander near the fish cages. Between the 4 of us we caught over 30 rainbows mostly averaging just under the pound, a few nice perch and a brownie nearly 2 pounds. We were using bubble and worm and spinning with tobies and mepps. There must be thousands of fish that have escaped and the place was just alive with fish which is a worrying sight for the wild stocks of fish in Loch Awe. Vilas, Liam, Kennny & Henry
22 July - Loch Tralaig - Myself and Al met up with Andy and Fergus at Tralaig at about 8.30 Saturday morning. It was a nice day for flyfishing, warm and overcast with a nice steady breeze from the west. We had with us three float tubes and had also arranged a boat for the fourth member of the group. As it turned out, the person in the boat was to catch less, with the float tube coping better with the conditions and producing more action.The killer fly on the day was the 'daddy long legs' but I suspect it was being taken as a mayfly as hundreds of them were hatching off. The butcher and peter ross produced fish as well and we've found fry patterns like them to be deadly on Tralaig. Lost count of the fish I caught on the day as it was pretty much non-stop all day. All of us caught fish and Fergus had a cracking first float tube session (beginners luck). I wouldn't be surprised if he's bought one already! Biggest fish would be 1 1/2 pounds with loads at the pound mark. Great day. Great venue. Brian, Al, Andy, Fergus
5 October - Loch Awe - Me and Sanny started fishing at 8am after being informed of escaped rainbows from fishfarm. Info spot on set up ledger rods with maggot and sure enough the trout came instantly. Weather was cloudy slight westerly wind 15mph. Stopped at 4 oclock. We ended up with 35 rainbows all in the 1lb class with occasional perch too. Roll on 15th march. Ginger
13 October - Loch Linnhe - I fished Loch Linnhe at the weekend with 2 friends. We got to the mark just before nightfall and the tide coming in, just perfect. We started fishing with 2 rods each. After a couple of minutes got the first bite, a dogfish of about 2lb. After that it got a bit mad, too many bites and not enough bait, so had to fish with 1 rod. Anyway, by the morning we had landed 49 dogs and lost plenty as well. So a good nights fishing had by all.. PS. Bait squid and peelers. Graham Anderson
2-4 November - Loch Etive & Loch Leven - Me and 4 other lads fished Loch Etive and Loch Leven from Friday 2nd till Sunday 4th Nov. On the Friday we fished north shore of Etive with fish baits and got 3 spurs 8.2lb, 7.2lb and 4lb and 2 rays 4.5lb, all returned alive. On saturday morning we fished Loch Leven at the back of Mystery World but only managed 2 codling, one at 1lb and the other for 3lb. On the night we went back to Loch Etive and got only 2 dogfish. On the Sunday we fished Loch Etive again with fish baits and got 4 spurs best weighed 8lb 11oz and 2 dogfish. Best baits for the weekend were sandeel and squid but mackerel picked up the codling. The weather was fine until Sunday when the rain started. All in all a good weekend. Steve Burnett
28 November - Loch Etive - Me and a couple of other boys were on a boat at Loch Etive. We drove up the loch to the second set of orange buoys beside the yellow marker. We tied up the boat and started fishing. After two minutes we had landed 2 spurdogs. After a short while we landed a few more spurdogs, the biggest was 39 inches long and weighed about 12 lbs and we also got one at 34 inches and about 10 lbs. It was windy and the rain was on and off all day. it was a great days fishing and we used mackerel strips and squid. By the end of the trip we had caught about 32 fish, 1 lesser spotted dog fish, 1 whiting and the rest spurdog. Neil Fisher