Hi folks, sorry about the recent lack of reports, but due to a problem with the PC and holidays I haven’t been able to get on line (PC terminology), or for that matter wet a line (fishing terminology).

I have not been up to Balmaha as often as I would have liked recently, to hear all the gossip on who`s catching what, on what and where. However what I do know is that due to the unseasonable weather (rain fall) from August right through to today has meant that the loch is bursting its banks to contain the excess amount of water. The gates at the barrage on the River Leven have been open since mid August in order to take the pressure off the amount of water the loch is containing, and with the gates open the fish have had no barrier in front of them and have been entering the loch in their droves. In mid August I received a telephone call stating that the fish are running the River Leven in shoals of 20 to 50 fish with almost every tide. Being the suspicious type I found out that the locals have been buying day tickets to fish the River Leven by the barrel load and that catches on the River Leven have soared. This was also confirmed by a Glasgow tackle dealer who had similar reports from anglers coming into his shop. Now that speaks volumes, local buying tickets.

Onto the Loch and how it’s fishing, firstly the fly fishing. There are lots of fish in the loch despite the River’s Endrick, Luss, Fruin and Falloch all experiencing good runs whilst they`ve got water, the loch is still holding a good number of fish. The usual drifts along Inch Lonaig, the Luss Bank, the Long and Short Points, Ross Isles and the Pilot Bank are all providing the fly fisher with good sport.

I ventured out one day in September, the conditions looking good when I left the house, only to become becalmed for the remainder of the day out on the loch. It’s on these flat calms that you see just how many fish are actually in the loch. I saw a fish well into double figures just pop its nose out of the water as if testing the air temperature, like a trout nymphing. Then there are the fish that like to show off and leap about all over the place, it wasn’t all wasted time sitting waiting for the slightest of winds to come, I was filled with the confidence that there are definitely fish in the loch and some good ones at that. I saw fish moving all along the shore of Lonaig, from close in to out in 84 feet of water. I saw fish move at the Long and Short Points, and fish were caught at the Luss Bank in the last half hour before darkness fell when a soft breeze swept over the loch.

The usual suspects have all been having success with their fly and dapping rods, Bob Forshaw from Southport is almost claiming residency at Balmaha the number of times he’s coming up. He`s has had Sea Trout up to 5lbs and plenty of fish in the 2lb to 3lb size. Angus and Gary MacRitchie, Colin McCrory, Matt and Alan Stewart, Frank Donnelly, Duncan Ferguson, and a host of others have all been doing well.

As to flies well there’s a can of worms for you, pick something your happy with and you’ll fish it with more confidence that something your not happy with. Personally I’ll fish a Claret Bumble or a Golden Olive Bumble on the bob, an Invicta or Silver Invicta in the middle and a Turkey and Gold or a wee double Burton on the tail, but far be it for me to say that’s what you fish with, they’re just my favourites. You could add to that list a Bibio, a Mallard and Yellow, A Mallard and Claret, and a favourite fly of a good Lomond angler, Alan Dunlop, sadly now fishing somewhere in heaven, was a Black Penell sparsely dressed. A well known trout saying ‘bright day bright fly, dull day dark fly’ also applies to our loch fishing.

On to Dapping, a method that’s very successful on the loch, but instead of using those shaving brushes of times gone by, the norm now seems to be artificial daddy long legs, tied in various densities, heavy for the stronger wind, I was also told that using orange legs (dyed pheasant centre tail feather) was slightly more successful that the natural colour of the center tail feather, normally used for the legs, or was it that they were just pulling my leg. Don’t know but I tied some up anyway. The secret in dapping is having enough wind to blow out your floss or nylon and keep your fly skating across the water at a reasonable pace to the wind. The takes can be explosive, and it’s a toss up between you and the fish to see who got the biggest fright.

Lastly but not forgotten is the trollers who are still having success, the flat calm day I mentioned earlier, proved a good day for Dick Dickson who landed a fresh looking beauty of 10lbs up at the Ross Isles.

Finally, I would like to wish Eddie Ventisei a speedy recovery, his stature is missed in Balmaha, and Robert just doesn’t troll in as straight a line as you do. Get well soon Eddie.

In the picture below is a 4.5lb Sea Trout caught on the fly and ready for diner.