August

Despite reports of fish being seen in the river there are very few catches to report. The exception was an 8lbs sea liced fish caught by John Clark on Saturday evening under the Bonhill bridge. I have been informed that the fish sighted on Friday at the Renton moved through without any of them being caught, at least in the Renton area. At the moment the river is a couple of inches above summer low. Personally I have had a ten day break from the river. There are a few more anglers that undoubtedly feel the same. No reports of night time sea trout angling success. Ironically catches of perch and brown trout are being spoken about. Not sure if that is a good sign. I wonder if there are any farm fish moving towards the estuary? It might be the only sport that the anglers will enjoy this season! Thanks to Jack for the image and to others for the information.

Yesterday afternoon Colin Smith caught two grilse somewhere in the vicinity of the Floors. One was about 5.5lbs and the smaller one about 3.5lbs. Again it seems to have been quiet on the river during the week. The almost summer low water level would be the culprit. An interesting e mail from Iain Morison.

Checked your site today and seen you were short of reports of night fishing. To be honest I don't think there are many anglers fishing on after dark as I see most people finishing as soon as dusk settles. I fished last Thursday with only one good pull at the tail of McKinnons for 3 hours fishing. Another angler got broken off at the same spot and I think it was 15lb nylon he was fishing. I had another 2lb fish on Monday evening which went back in, so no pic, and there were a lot of fish moving in the pool. I would go as far to say I've never seen so many fish moving in Mckinnons in all my years fishing this stretch.

The forum isn't reporting much activity on the river. The LLAIA site hasn't any reports of fish being caught so if there are any it is a big secret! They are reporting fish heading and tailing in the Loch so this must be the fish that has went through the river in the past ten days or so? Thanks to Jack for Colin's image and information and Iain once again for his input. The water level is now at a good weekend height. Thanks to Jack for the information.

The gates weren't lowered this morning as expected. The level is several inches above weekend height. The water authorities could leave it to run off - hopefully - or lower them this afternoon, or tomorrow. This morning Gordon Pollock caught two grilse on the worm at the Chapel hole about 4/5lbs size which he returned. Another angler reported losing a fish - estimated 12lbs size - at the Glebe corner on the worm. He had it on for fifteen minutes or so. On Saturday Eddie the bailiff said that he heard of "ten or twelve" fish caught but he didn't have any details. On Friday early evening Gordon Pollock caught a nice fish about 10/11lbs under the Bonhill bridge. Overall catches are very patchy but the signs are there of a possible improvement. Thanks to Davy Dougans for the information regarding Gordon's Friday's catch.

The gates were lowered this morning about 11.00hrs and by 13.00hrs the level was almost five inches above the closing height. Probably it will be Monday before they are raised again. All morning there was diesel flowing from a pipe at the Linbrain hole down the river. Sepa were phoned and promptly appeared and asked relevant questions as to where it originated. For a while the spillage abated but reappeared about 13.00hrs. The Sepa representative told me that the big spillage last season in the vicinity of the factory wall resulted in the building firm being fined £7.500 for rupturing the oil tank. As to the fishing this morning Ross MacLeod caught a 5lbs sea liced grilse at McKinnons on a small shrimpy style fly. Yesterday Gordon Pollock caught another grilse with sea lice about 125 yards above the Bonhill bridge on the flying C. Alun Pryce had a 9lbs fish at the wall below the Linbrain hole on a black/gold/red floating devon and another angler by the name of Jimmy Johnstone had a 6lbs grilse on the worm at the Chapel hole. A regular angler told me that he has seen in the last fortnight good shoals of fish in the vicinity of the boat hole. He had hooked some of them on the flying C but they had got off. Most of the fish weren't interested in what the anglers presented to them. There seems to be an increasing amount of fish running the river but not stopping. Thanks to all for their information.

I have been taking a wee break from the fishing which means that the updates are fewer than normal. In the last update I mentioned that Jimmy had caught a grilse. The angler was Jimmy Johnstone and he has passed on an image of the grilse which I have linked in the previous update. Colin Smith informed me that on Thursday he caught a 5lbs sea liced grilse on a small black&orange cone head at the Glebe. Into the bargain he caught a 10lbs clean fish off the Endrick on Monday. Colin is the kind of angler that fishes conditions that most anglers shun therefore he fares better than most in respect to catches. During the week there was a 5lbs grilse caught on the flying C by regular angler Robert at the Haldane burn and Davy Robertson caught a grilse on the fly at the Stuckie bridge which was returned. I believe that there were other grilse caught but I don't have any details. Overall there is anecdotal evidence of activity on the river but considering the water level probably not as much as expected at this time of the season. Jack has supplied an image of a large branch which floated down the river on Tuesday and become stuck at the pipe at the Bonhill pool. He managed to organize some anglers to remove it from the river. This week I will be back on the river with renewed enthusiasm so hopefully there will be more information to report! Thanks again to all for their information.

Because of the heavy overnight rain the water level is now seven inches above the closing height. Thanks to Jack for the information

There is now eight inches of water above the closing height and the water temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Last Friday Sinclair MacAllister caught a nice 6lbs grilse in the Bonhill pool. This was despite the fact a good few anglers had fished through before him. Today Gordon Pollock caught a 5lbs grilse in the pool about 13.00hrs. An angler - Russell - was broken by a fish in the Linbrain. He said that there were a few fish showing in the hole. Yesterday Johnny Little caught a 5lbs sea liced grilse on a small stoats tail fly - at the Howgate - which he returned. Chic caught a 6lbs grilse and lost one about the same size. Yesterday evening a good fish was lost at the Factory wall on a cascade fly. The angler said he had it on for a good while. I won't name him in case his wife reads this because he said it was better than sex! Jack Ferguson nearly caught his first of the season but it parted company with his hook. This is the best activity of the season so far but it isn't a bonanza by any means. Jim Muir has e-mailed me some interesting news which he received Thanks Jim.

Dear All,

Over the last fortnight or so many rivers have reported catching salmon and grilse (grilse rather more than salmon) with bleeding vents and accompanying sores. (See attachment).

Samples have been sent to FRS and it has been identified that the cause is a parasitic worm in the gut. We are still waiting for FRS to identify which parasite, whether it is killed in fresh water, whether these fish will be capable of spawning an so on. Chris Wallace the parasiteologist at Marine Harvest has also been very helpful in liaising with the fish health dept of the Veterinary Institute at Inverness who have also been involved..

Until we have any further news, as a precaution, please would you let anglers know that fish with this problem should be returned, if possible without handling. (ie remove the hook in the net). In the event of a fish being killed, take extreme caution when gutting it (if possible wear rubber gloves). Prevent the possibility of any other animal eating the guts by burning and make sure the fish is cooked right through before eating-ie NO SUCHI.

I'm sorry if this sounds like something from science fiction but apparently, depending on which parasite, there may be no known cure if it enters the human body.

It is apparently transferred by fish eating other fish which have it. As farm fish eat processed food, I am advised they are free from it and OK to eat raw or smoked.

I will let you know of further news.

Not good news at all! The banks above the Chapel hole have been shorn of the vegetation. A job well done. Thanks to all for their contributions.

16th August

Yesterday Brian McCaskie caught two fish. One was a grilse caught at the Stuckie bridge and the other was a farm fish caught in the Bonhill pool. Look carefully at the image to see the difference. Gordon Pollack also caught a grilse and Brian netted a grilse for an angler who had caught one on the worm. I don't know if this is the start of a run of farm fish. Some anglers will welcome the sport but the purists will not. This morning there was a 4lbs grilse caught in the Bonhill pool with sea lice on it. A good looking fish which unfortunately had a reddened anus. Jack gutted the fish and inside there were signs of infestation. This is the first confirmed fish with parasites. There has been one or two possibilities before. Conflicting evidence as to what to do with them? Return them or keep them? The Association will have to give guidance because this is a serious problem that will have to be addressed. I fully expect they will in the next day or two? Another grilse - 6lbs - was caught at the Glebe on the spinner. I was told that an English angler on holiday - by the name of Ted - caught a 10lbs summer fish with sea lice on it at the Chestnut tree on the fly. He has been fishing on a weekly ticket. The infected fish is a blight on the prospects of the river. The catch rate recently is good news but isn't remotely like a sign of a good season. The night time sea trout fishing has been a non starter because of the water levels and the spring run - which most anglers judge the season by - has been a disaster.

21st August

The water level is now ten inches above the closing height. On Saturday Chic caught a 7lbs fish on the fly and lost an even bigger one. Yesterday Rab Haining hooked and landed a 5lbs grilse on the worm. Today I spoke to Jim MacDonald and he told me that he had caught a 5lbs grilse at the Managers and lost a double figure fish at the Floors this morning He also stated that recent reports concerning him had been exaggerated. Because of the height of the water sightings of fish seem to be a lot less than previous weeks. The catch rate is on the low side considering the water conditions but it has been a lot worse. There hasn't been any more sightings concerning farm fish. Some anglers are still not sure about catching parasitical fish. Should they be kept or returned. The silence from the Association isn't helpful. Thanks again for the information that has been passed on.

Up-date

Mark Gibson has informed me that Rab's fish weighed 9lbs. Thanks Mark.

24th August

At 12.30 hrs today Jack hooked a grilse on the small red floating devon at the Chapel hole which was netted by yours truly. It weighed just over 5lbs and had sea lice on it. Unfortunately it had four net marks and a small chunk out of it. A nice fish all the same. No sign of anal bleeding. This is of course the first of the season for Jack. Chic had another 5lbs grilse this morning and I believe he caught one during the week. Steven McKean caught a grilse mid week at the Craft stream which was a good looking fish but was bleeding from the vent. He asked part time Bailiff, Jim Fleming, whether to return it or keep it. Jim stated that the Chairman hadn't made up his mind yet on a policy in respect to the parasitic fish in the system. Nobody is blaming the Association for their existence in the river but how to dispose of them should be made clear. Gordon Pollock had two fish, one about 10lbs and the other about 6lbs. There has been other fish caught but I don't have any details. The Association has an up date worth reading with news of catches. A makeover and more regular up dating has taken place which must be good news for the anglers on the river but one wonders if it would have happened if this site wasn't in existence? There is seven inches of water above the closing height which should last till the middle of next week. The last three weeks have been the best of the season. Hopefully it will continue. If anyone wants to repeat information from the site please do so but an acknowledgement would be nice!

26th August

Yesterday Russell Boyd caught a 5lbs grilse on the Flying C at the Street run. The fish had a reddened anus. Jim Fleming - the temporary Bailiff - told me that he had note of sixteen fish caught this week up until Saturday. A good week! At the Stuckie bridge Davy Robertson caught a 7lbs fish on the fly which he returned. He has caught a few at the bridge. Rumour has it that it is the same fish he keeps catching and returning. Gordon Pollock caught another one. I think that he has had more fish this season than any other angler. Ten I believe. Ian Doran and John Donnelly - I think that is their surnames - both lost fish yesterday. Two or three good fish lost. Thanks Jack. No sign of coloured fish yet so the runs of fish should continue hopefully for some time to come? News of catches from the Loch have been scarce. Have most of the fish run the Endrick? There should be at least two or three days of high water to come before the gates are raised. One thing for sure the anglers have enjoyed record amounts of water this season.

27th August

Between 0630 hrs and 0700 hrs Richard Shields hooked and landed two grilse on the fly in the Bonhill pool. The biggest was 6lbs and the smaller one 5lbs. The smaller one had a red anus. The fly was a size twelve treble Cascade type fly just over an inch long. Considering the height of the water it was smaller than most anglers would fish. He said that was the size he caught his fish on. In the past Richard has had more than his fair share of fish. Indeed I have personally seen him catch fish when all around him weren't. He donated the fly to me. What was he hinting at? Further down the river at the Piles Steven Gilfeather - Gully - caught a 4lbs grilse at the Piles. Again a red anus. Neil Baxter had a similar fish in the same condition. Another two were caught further down but I don't have details of their condition. Eddie told me that The Association have been informed by the Scottish Executive that the parasitic fish should be returned to the river without them being gutted. A definitive answer to what has gone wrong isn't available at the moment but the fish shouldn't be taken home. Bigger fish don't seem to be affected. There were fish showing in the Bonhill pool early this morning. There is no doubt that the grilse run is still taking place. Catching them in good numbers is the problem. Still it is worth trying! The condition of some of the fish shouldn't deter anglers from fishing. They haven't got the Black plague!

28th August

This morning Jack caught a 8lbs salmon on a Cascade fly at the marker above the bridge. It wasn't a 5lbs grilse as wrongly reported elsewhere and Rab Haining lost another fish below the Stuckie bridge on the worm. At 12.00hrs Davy Scott caught a 8lbs salmon from the Bonhill pool on a size 12 treble sparsely dressed stoats tail fly. There weren't any sea lice on the salmon. John "Partick" McGinley caught a 5lbs grilse from the bottom end of the Floors on the flying C. Davy Robertson reported seeing fish in several areas of the river and I was told by Eddie that the tally was seven caught yesterday. There is no doubt that there are fish moving through the river. What is particularly pleasing is that four fish have been caught in the last two days on the fly, possibly because the water level is almost at the closing height. One or two fish are showing colourization but that is to be expected. Hopefully the water authorities will allow the water level to run below the closing height. They have said in the past that they will do so at this time of the season. Water temperature is still 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The LLAIA have had another up date. Anglers who have a low amount of ram and dial up connections on their computers will struggle to download the relevant pages. The images that have been embedded in the page haven't been compressed for easy loading which means the page is "bloated" Normally images are Hyperlinked to aid easy loading. I struggled to download the page - I am on broadband - because the file size was a whopping 12.5mb It should have been under 1mb. Something the person who is doing the up dating should take note of if the LLAIA wish for the anglers to read the information! Otherwise some of the comments are controversial. Anglers who manage to finally see the information will see what I mean. One piece of free advice, don't insult the people who pay to keep you in existence. Just because they aren't allowed to vote at an agm don't take them for mugs! They are voicing their opinions on this website because they have genuine grievances. I am looking forward to a forum on the LLAIA site. Will it happen soon?

Up-date

Anyone wishing to view the LLAIA up dates should start Internet Explorer and go to internet options > advanced Scroll down to Multimedia > Show pictures and un tick the box. The page will load quicker. Remember to tick it again for sites that load normally! For those anglers who use Firefox go to Tools > options and un tick > Load images automatically. Again remember to tick it again. Happy surfing!

29th August

The LLAIA seem to have solved their problems concerning their site. It is loading a lot quicker now. This morning Ben Marshall caught a grilse about 5lbs in the Bonhill pool which was returned. I believe it had a reddened anus. I have been told that there was a 10lbs farm fish caught yesterday at the Easterlies by an angler named Barry. Rab Melville had a wild fish on the fly. An angler by the name of Stuart had a 7lbs fish and last but not least Chic caught a wild fish on the fly weighing 6lbs. The water level is now under the closing height so it could be tomorrow or Friday that the gates are raised. What to do with the parasitic fish? The Association haven't received definite news as to what is causing the problem but returning the fish to the water seems to be the latest advice. They are stating it is safe to handle the fish despite criticizing the angler who gutted the fish shown in the 16th August up date. Still life goes on and we become a little wiser each day!

30th August

The river was fairly quiet today. An angler seen another angler walking past the Glebe with a fish estimated to be about 6lbs. He had spinning gear with him. I didn't hear of any other catches. Yesterday Rab McDougall caught his first ever salmon from above the Chapel hole. It weighed 6lbs and was caught on a 28grm toby with a a size 12 hook attached to it! Slightly coloured but no signs of disease. Thanks to Ian for the information. I was told by a regular angler that there were at least ten fish caught in the Renton area in the last few days. He had seen seven of them and six of them had been caught on the fly by Chic and he had lost even more. Early afternoon the gates were raised and the water level started to drop down to weekend height. Jack has just confirmed it as I was typing this! There can be no doubt that there are a lot of fish in the river. Ben Marshall fished a good bit of the river today and he stated that he hadn't seen so many fish showing for a long time. It will be interesting to see how the fish react to the weekend height. Stay in the pools or move on? Alex Barnes has sent me an e-mail with information that I think is similar to what has been posted on the LLAIA site concerning the parasitic fish. Thanks Alex. Click here to read it.

31st August

The river level is now back at the weekend height after an "over compensation" by the water authorities. When the gates were raised yesterday the level went below the weekend height. This doesn't bode well for the expected good water levels that was forecast for the end of the season. Yesterday Jim Craig caught a 6lbs grilse at the Factory wall. This was James's first on the fly and it was returned because it had a reddened anus. As I stated before this shouldn't stop anglers visiting the river. Regarding visitors, there are fewer and fewer visiting the river. Most day ticket and weekly ticket purchasers usually appear at the Bonhill bridge because O'Briens is the only shop that sells tickets adjacent to the river. They will ask for advice, which is freely given, which means that the locals know that they are there. It has unfortunately been a few seasons since I heard a foreign accent. In the past Swedes, Germans and the like have fished the river but not now. The last foreign visitor that I met was a Dutch angler that Davy Bell was instructing. It is a shame but a sign of the times!