August

There must be a secret canal linking the Clyde and the Loch for the fish to swim through. The reason? There are few fish being seen or caught on the river. Saturday was busy, but the only report that I received of a catch was

Hi Robbie,

I started my fishing at the Piles yesterday and caught a nice grilse on a Cascade. The water was a bit on the high side and careful wading was needed. When I got the fish home it was 5lb+ and it did have some sea lice. Hope this is the start of a good run, glad to see the site is back up.

All the best,

Ralph

The high water - now eight inches above the closing level - should have meant more reports of catches considering the time of the season but alas ... no. This morning Dunky Campbell caught a fish about 9lbs at the double Pipes. Possibly by the end of the week when the level drops there will be sightings and catches of fish. The Loch by all reports continues to fish well which prompted the opening sentence. Thanks to Ralph for the report that lightened the gloom!

At last some good news for a change. David Watt caught his first salmon from the Linbrain Hole on the flying C. It weighed 9lbs. I have been told that there were three other fish caught but I don't have any details. In my experience - others may disagree - that it is usually two or three days after the lowering of the gates that fish tend to be caught. I don't know why. There is heavy rain forecast for tomorrow so it is likely that the high water will be with us till Monday at least? Still no sign of a good run of grilse? Hopefully soon? Thanks to Jack for the information.

Reports from elsewhere suggest that the river is starting to fish. Not before time! Unfortunately I haven't received much news of these catches. I will try my best to "confirm" them. Anglers should - going on past experiences - be cautious about "glowing" reports. Brian McCaskie e mailed news of a catch by him from yesterday. A nice 5lbs fish caught at the Factory Wall. Well done. The river will be running dirty due to the heavy rain. Some anglers won't go near the river when it is dirty but fish can be caught. The last two days catches are welcome news but don't forget that the season is nearly six months old!

I spent five hours on the river today trying to gather information about catches. Dunky Campbell lost a fish at the Double Pipes. That was all that I heard. There are nine inches of water above the closing level. More rain is forecast for Saturday which means that there will be good water levels into next week. I watched Jack doing his good deed for the season today. He was teaching a young angler the finer points of worm and spinning. Unfortunately the young lad ended up fishless just as Jack has been this season! What didn't help was that the Chapel hole area where they were fishing is the most overgrown that I have ever seen it. At least the young angler learned about fishing overgrown banks. In the Renton area Peter Jordan recently lost a fish at the Managers area. He couldn't get near the fish because of the long grass and eventually it broke him. He is not a happy chappy and when Peter is unhappy you hear about it. I don't know what the Chairman is busy with but getting the cutting machine onto the river should be a priority!

The river level is now ten inches above the closing level. Yesterday evening Paul Matulevicze caught another fish on the Rapala in the vicinity of the Craft Stream. It weighed 7lbs. There weren't any reports this morning of fish caught and few signs of fish being seen. However this afternoon there were fish seen lying on the cable in the Bonhill pool. First to try his luck was seasoned campaigner Hughie Currie. He was unsuccessful in his efforts and left for home soon afterwards to lick his wounds. Another grizzled regular then entered the pool but left without worrying the inhabitants. It was then up to the "young turk" Arron Molloy to enter the pool and after two or three casts he showed the "auld yins" how it should have been done by hooking one of them and duly landed it five minutes later. A grilse of 4lbs covered in sea lice taken on an Ally's shrimp fly. His first of the season and well done to him! He left the rest of the inhabitants for others to try for! The flurry of activity earlier in the week seems to have died down but one never knows! Thanks to Jack for Paul's image and thanks to Brian McCaskie for netting Arron's grilse

In the last few days it has become obvious that the river banks are now badly overgrown to the extent that anglers who have hooked fish are having problems landing them. The grilse that was caught yesterday would not - IMHO - have been landed with out the aid of a net. Dunky Campbell hooked a fish at the start of the week above the Double Pipes at a spot that had been trimmed in early July. Unfortunately in order to land it he had to walk the fish down stream to the bend at the Whisky kegs. This meant lifting his rod over a large bush and holding the rod at right angles to avoid bankside vegetation. He landed the fish. Other parts of the river at the top end are badly overgrown. An angler the other day declined to wade and fish the Factory Wall because he couldn't double spey cast due to the bankside vegetation. The Chapel hole - a top spot for bank fishing - is almost unfishable. Other images.

Unfortunately the entire length around Renton at the waters edge is over grown with either grass or shrubs and with the close proximity of trees on the edge of the foot path fly fishing is difficult in this height of water, the run above Ritchie's and the managers are out , but the other areas flowers, eastery, sandy hole, bucks, street and down a McKinnons you can just about wade if you keep tight to the bank, any more water and these to will become difficult if not impossible, there is a big difference between well manicured lawns and vegetation kept in control to a jungle for some reason and i can only assume it's the council but only the edges at the foot path has been strimmed , as apposed to what would be more helpful the first two feet adjacent to the river edge , perhaps the committee will organize a clean up of the bank some time soon and I'm sure we all will chip in with help , the other point being high water feeds the grass great

The Association were trying earlier in the week to attract anglers to the river. The Leven must be the most accessible river in Scotland because it has a path running it's whole length. A visitor walking it's length would be horrified. It isn't the Amazon they are looking at. £95/£105 is a lot of money to spend on a permit so some of it should be spent on maintenance. After the last post highlighting the overgrown banks on the 5th July the Chairman instructed Eddie to trim the banks which he did above the Double Pipes. This time it is the cutting machine that is needed.

Judging by reports that I have received in the last couple of days there seems to be definite signs of a grilse run .... at last! There has been reports of sightings of fish, as well as fish lost and some caught. I can't be definite in respect to what has been caught or lost but one report that is typical is

Hi Robbie

Just to let you know I caught one last night about 9.30 pm at the chapel hole at the last set of stair nearest Bonhill bridge it was 5 1/2 lbs John Paul assisted in getting it out many thanks to him he also mentioned that he lost a new shooting head on the craft stream got himself snagged up and the line broke so if anyone finds it when the water drops they will know who it belongs to, think it was blue with a bit of orange line attached.

Also a guy called rammy caught one just up from me at the top stairs about the same time believe he was

spinning, nice fish 7 1/2 lbs.

regards

John Gallacher

There is twelve inches of water above the closing level, perhaps a little high for most anglers, but when it runs off then there should be more catches to report? The banks of the Endrick were getting a trim this week so it could be the Leven's turn soon? I watched this morning two anglers trying to negotiate the vegetation at the Glebe so that they could spin the river. If they hooked a fish then they would have to play the fish where they stood and that would have been problematic? Thanks to John for the information.

14th August

This morning I walked from the Polaroid bridge up to the Bonhill pool. I was told that a regular angler - Alec - had caught, yesterday evening, a 7lbs fish on the worm at the Bucks. Fish had been seen in the river in the last couple of days which would confirm that there are signs of a run of grilse. There were a few of the locals about but no news of catches. However just after 13.00hrs just above the Bonhill bridge an angler hooked into a grilse on the fly. The angler, who lives in England, visits the river two or three times a season to fish and is well known. Harry Feltham is his name and it was his first fish for many seasons. One of the regulars used his net to scoop it from the water which was just as well because the overgrown banks would have made it very difficult otherwise. A 5lbs grilse taken on a cascade fly. Unfortunately it had signs on a large red anus. Well done to him and the angler who netted it for him.

Up-date

I have received an e mail from the angler mentioned in the report

Hi Robbie

have read your report my name is Alex McLaughlin and this is my first fish in 3 years of trying, you can believe how good it was

Thanks Alex

17th August

Up until now the biggest salmon caught on the river this season was I believe 15.5lbs. Yesterday there was news of two fish bigger than that. In the afternoon Stuart McBean caught a 18lbs fish at the Glebe matted in sea lice on a black flying C. In the evening a fish estimated to be between 18lbs and 20lbs was caught, and returned, in the Bonhill pool on a red Francis fly. The angler's identity is unknown but tomorrow I will try and find out? This season's catches from the river is probably about average in regards to quantity but in regards to size they have been above average. Two large fish at this time of the season is unusual but never the less welcome. The water level should remain high for the rest of the week at least, so are there more to come? The grilse catches seem to have tapered off but that is probably temporary? There is an image of Stuart's salmon on the forum. Well done to the anglers. Thanks to the anglers who posted the information!

18th August

Bank Maintenance

It isn't only the top end of the river that is in need of trimming. The Renton area is just as bad if not worse. When I visited this area at the end of last week I was told that there were anglers, who normally fish the area, that weren't visiting the river because of the overgrown banks. At one time it was possible the stand here and spin the river and the lure would swim into the Lade and prove attractive to the fish. Alas no more! The Floors is 90% overgrown. When was the last fish reported caught in this area? Regarding the Endrick I have been told that some anglers are trimming the banks that the Association aren't bothering about. Have the Association contacted anglers in the area to request assistance? Likewise, when is the next clean up for the Leven?

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Conclusion

This problem with the banks isn't going to go away. There is considerable resentment among the anglers that there is less and less of the river to fish especially if an angler is bank fishing. A quote from the LLAIA'S website concerning the Endrick. It is probably applicable to the Leven.

Some of the stretches were in need of some strimming, though we remind all members that what you are paying for when you purchase your annual membership is for the right to fish all the fishings available. Strimming and tree pruning as well as removal of trees are all an extra bonus if they are carried out.

Nuff said!

20th August

Reports from elsewhere are suggesting that the river is fishing really well. Forty three salmon caught in a two week period when Eddie the bailiff was on Holiday. The regular anglers can make a judgment as to how accurate that report is. Yesterday afternoon Alun Pryce caught a 6lbs fish on the Flying C. It was also reported that Dunky Campbell caught a fish about 12lbs/13lbs at the Linbrain hole. Earlier in the day he had lost one at the chapel hole. Gordon Pollock, who does well on the river despite lack of acknowledgement from elsewhere, caught another two fish, but as yet I don't have any details. More reports from anglers will be appreciated and won't be exaggerated. An honest and realistic report will be given whenever possible. This site doesn't try and pull the wool over the angler's eyes!

21st August

Yesterday Andy McElwee lost a fish estimated to be about 20lbs at the Double Pipes. He had hooked it on a flying C. I believe it broke him after a fight lasting 15 minutes. Ironically this is one of the stretches that has been trimmed. Robert Galbraith caught a small grilse and he reported seeing fish moving through. Today Two fish were hooked on the fly at the Glebe but unhappily lost. Steven Gilfeather caught a grilse about 4lbs on the worm at the Chapel hole. It was generally quiet this morning but I believe that evenings are a bit busier. There are now eleven inches of water above the closing height. With more rain that should last till the end of next week.

25th August

Reports from the river in the last week have been scarce. On Saturday Dunky Campbell caught a 5lbs grilse early doors. Later on Alun Pryce lost two fish on the floating red Minnow. This method done well last season, but not so this season. I believe that Chic McLean caught two grilse on the fly. Perhaps reports from elsewhere can enlighten the anglers?

26th August

Yesterday Rab Melville Jnr caught a fish about 10lbs at the bottom of the Street run on the fly. This morning there were signs of a run of fish on the river, possibly due to the early morning high tide. Alec McElwee caught a 6lbs fish on the worm above the Linbrain hole and another angler Billy Harris had a fish about 5lbs on the spinner. Regular angler Andy "leadhills" Patrick caught his first fish of the season on the Rapala at the Craft Stream. It weighed just under 5lbs and was covered in sea lice. Andy has put in a lot of hours and was obviously a happy chappy. This month has been the best on the river since the start of the season. Fish are being seen as well as caught and lost. No sign of colouration yet with the exception of the 20lbs fish caught in the Bonhill pool by Ian Taylor. The rain is keeping the river level topped up so it is anyone's guess when the gates will be raised.

28th August

Last season there were reports of fish with bleeding vents and a good number were reported in the system Unfortunately the Association in their wisdom left it for several weeks before commenting on it. This season there seems to be less reports of fish affected. Andy Patrick's fish featured on the main site the other day had a bleeding vent. The problem hasn't gone away and is worth commenting on again.

http://www.cononfishing.com/index.asp?pageid=61074

If an angler catches an infected fish or even handles one they should take precautions.