July

just to let you know I got a fish in the garden stream 8-9 lbs on the fly about 1 oclock ish Dont have a name of the fly, tied by my self a shrimp type pattern , fish was released No lice noticed but spanking new and strong fight.

This morning the gates were raised and the water level fell to about two inches above summer low. It would have been better if they had dropped it to weekend height but alas they didn't. Dunky Campbell caught a 13.5lbs salmon on the worm at the Stuckie bridge before the gates were raised. There was a fish lost at the Church burn on the fly. By my reckoning there were fourteen salmon caught in June and about eight lost. There could have been more but this is all that I have heard about. Half a dozen of them were caught on the fly. In past seasons the fly has more than held it's own but not recently. The low water level means that a few fish could still be in the pools so the next day or so is worth a go with small flies and a floating line.

Reports concerning the river are few and far between at the moment but I have received two. First up Iain Morrison e mailed me to tell me that he ventured out on Wednesday evening and fished into the darkness. At midnight he connected with a sea trout around the 2lbs size at the tail of McKinnons. He said that he had the river to himself. He had previously been out on Monday evening.

Hi Robbie 

Finally something to report. Fished Mckinnons and Garden Stream last night 
from 21:00 to 01:00. Got one fresh off the tide at 1.5 lbs which put up a 
good account for its size.  Had lots of other offers but could not connect.  
There was a large fish sitting at the tail of McKinnons but was not 
interested, would put it in the double figure bracket.
I intend to return this evening and will keep you posted. 


Tight Lines
Iain

Another e mail from Jim - the bin man - Fleming telling me that Davy Robertson hooked and lost a salmon on Tuesday tea time. He reckoned it was the biggest salmon he had ever hooked. Davy knows a big salmon when he sees one. Two seasons ago he caught an 18lbs springer on the fly. It was the 30th April. It is difficult to be optimistic about the future. Hopefully the grilse run will happen soon! Thanks to Iain and Jim for the information.

The water level is at a good weekend height. I was told this morning that there were two grilse caught during the week at the Top pool around the 6/7lbs size. Apart from this piece of information no other news except for a correction concerning the last up-date. Davy Robertson lost the fish last Saturday and not on Tuesday evening. The story was correct but it was the wrong day. Apologies! This week the river has been quiet once again. Nuff said!

The soporific atmosphere on the river that was prevalent due the the low water conditions has been rudely shattered by the news of a 14.5lbs salmon being caught. Yesterday evening Colin Smith caught it in the Bonhill pool on a Stoat's tail fly. The appearance of the fish is a little odd but Jack assures me it was a good fish albeit with no lice. There is an informative thread on the forum under the heading of Salmon Angling C&R. Also Ian Hogg has informed me that Rab Melville caught a 5lbs grilse on a small toby at the bottom of the Street run. Ian saw a shoal of grilse going through the Chuckies with trout amongst them. The water level is possibly the lowest this season but fish are seemingly making progress towards the Loch. Looks like better news! Thanks to both for their information.

The water level is now back up to good weekend height. Yesterday evening Rab Strachan caught a 5lbs grilse at the pipe at the bottom of the Bonhill pool. Other fish were seen in the vicinity. The start of the grilse run? During the week a shoal was seen at the Barrage before moving through and onwards to the Loch. Colin has passed on another image of the 14.5lbs salmon that he caught on Tuesday evening which shows the fish in a better light. He stated that he caught it on his single handed rod and it was the biggest salmon he had ever caught. The tally for the week so far as I know is one good salmon, two grilse and some trout. Not a lot considering the time of season. One odd aspect that I have noticed is the lack of weed in the river. In previous seasons just above the Stuckie bridge there was a large weed bed but it is non existent now. Lack of sunshine? Maybe the winter floods scoured the river bed?

The river level is about eight inches above the weekend height and it has been running dirty because of the out flow of the Haldane burn. No reports, apart from some small trout, of fish being caught this morning. On Saturday Jimmy Johnstone caught a 4lbs grilse with lice on it, on the worm, at the Top pool. Ian Hogg has informed me that he saw an angler on Saturday at McKinnons with a 5lbs grilse that also been caught on the worm. It is ironic that there has been few, that I have seen, anglers fishing the worm recently. There is more rain forecast so there should be, hopefully, good water levels for the rest of the week. Thanks to all for their input.

The gates were lowered this afternoon and the water level is now five inches above the closing height. Thanks to Jack for the information.

The water level is now three inches above the closing height. It should be Monday at the earliest before they are raised. There was a rumour of a 7lbs fish being caught yesterday at the Piles but not any confirmation. At midday Jack caught a 2lbs sea trout on the wasp grub at the Chapel hole. Apart from this information nothing to report. One of these days there should be a red letter day but when?

Up until 12.00hrs there weren't any reports of fish being caught at the top end of the river. There weren't that many anglers on the river, possibly due to the holidays. Chic caught a 5lbs fresh sea liced grilse yesterday and lost another about the same size. I was told this morning it was on the Toby at the Sandy hole. There was another fish caught on the Rapala and another was lost at the Street run. On Thursday a 4/5lbs fish was caught on the Rapala above Ritchies and another lost on the Rapala. At noon time Jimmy Lunney told me that he lost a double figure fish at Mckinnons on the fly this morning. A report concerning Wednesday.

Fished from 6:30pm to 10:00pm last night caught a couple of sea trout, one about the pound the other about pound and a quarter, both on the fly. The last one I foul hooked in the tail and for about 15 seconds I thought I was into a decent fish! Actually saw 2 salmon showing at the Bonhill Bridge Pool, the first I have seen this year, also heard another splashing in the Glebe run, however, didn't see it. Needless to say I didn't connect with any of them. Lot of people fishing but no reports of anything being caught.

Depending on whom you talk to there seems to be fish moving through but mostly at night. Anglers are seeing more signs of activity but it is hard to be upbeat because the catch rate isn't as good as it should be for the time of the season. Other rivers in Scotland are suffering badly so the Leven isn't alone in this respect. Difficult to fathom! The water temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Thanks to all for the information. An unfortunate incident took place this morning. An experienced angler was fly fishing above the Bonhill bridge. Despite him snake casting and wearing a hat his fly hook knocked his glasses - normal ones - off, which floated away, and the double hook embedded in his head an inch from his left eye. One hook was well beyond the barb. A quick visit to the Vale hospital proved fruitless because the A&E was closed. He was last seen driving towards one of the City hospitals. Hopefully there won't be any complications! Hard to believe because he is a careful caster. A salutary lesson for all fly casters.

The angler mentioned in the last up date was Tommy Walker. He has contacted me to tell me that he visited the Southern General at Govan and they managed to extract the hook which was in really deep. After a fair bit of digging they successfully managed to extract it. He has a couple of stitches and a black eye that Henry - or is it Tommy - Cooper would be proud of. He thanks everyone for their concern and help. If anyone finds a pair of brown tinted glasses he would welcome the return of them. Passing them on to Jack or O'Briens shop would be the best thing to do. I saw the hook in his face and it was a pleasant sight, the hook that is! An e mail from Ian Hogg to inform me that he caught a 4lbs bar of silver grilse with no sea lice on a black flying C at the top of the managers. Chic doubled his tally with a 6lbs grilse covered in sea lice at Ritchie's lade on a copper spoon. Thanks Ian and thanks to Tommy for the reply.

The gates have now been raised and the level is at good weekend height, but that could change. Thanks to Jack for the information.

The water level is now at weekend height. Yesterday evening Paul Matulevicze caught a 7lbs grilse, covered in sea lice, at the Stuckie bridge on a Rapala. Today a good sized sea trout was lost in the Bonhill pool. This week overall seems to have been quiet in respect to fishing activity. Ironically Jack has assured me that grilse are getting caught on the Loch in fairly good numbers. I don't have any details but it is obviously a sign that they are going through the river. I have been told that a regular angler on the river has fished from 19.00hrs yesterday evening right through till noon today without a catch. Madness or dedication? In contrast I haven't been on the river this week because you can fish too much and a break is needed! The season overall still continues to be a poor one with no real signs of catches improving on the river but the Loch seems to be producing sporting activity. Thanks to Jack for the image and information.

I have just lifted this off the forum. A lot of grilse have been seen at the Renton just off the tide. The description is bubbling! Hopefully good signs. Thanks to Ian for the information.