Carron Valley Reservoir, day session, 21st May.

(click on flies for photo)

Dougie with a filled-out wildie

This was a cracking day, weather-wise.  It proved that whenever the conditions are good, Carron will perform.  Our 4 boats headed for 4 different areas and all found fish in numbers: at point of Burnhouse Bay, in Bins Bay, Carron Bay and the far dam.  Early doors there were not many fish showing on top, but rods trying out a nymphing rig had success with such as a GRHE and buzzer tad.  The boat in Carron Bay continued for most of the day with sink tip and Kate McLaren (now you don't need a photo of a Kate McLaren!) and had continuous sport.  The others switched to dry fly as more and more fish showed on top, and fish were taken with various flies, mostly black, but also claret hopper.  The other successful patterns included a simple black spider, black Shipman's buzzer, an emerger that was a cross between a comparadun and a Klinkhammer, a black bits and a black raider.

The rises were mostly oncey, but if covered often produced a response.  Some found that fish had to be covered to get a chance, while others found them willing to come out-the-blue as well.  The fish were the usual mix of wildies and stockies, although the newer stockies were top notch quality, a testimony to the aquaculture of Howietown hatchery.  Some of last year's stockies showed in the catches as very long, thin, silver fish, and we wondered if they may be having trouble competing with the large shoals of powan that are now prevalent in the water???

The total for 8 rods was 26 fish weighed in for 25 lb 14 oz, plus 61 returned.  Great sport!