Portmore Loch, day session, 5th August.

(click on flies for photos)

The loch was still heavy with algae, although it was now collecting into areas.  Strangely enough, the clearest area, The Laird's Bay, seemed to be devoid of life.  Top areas by far were the Big Bay, from the Alders down towards the Lonesome Pine, and round the corner going towards the dam.  The latter area was very bad with algae and everybody avoided it until late in the day.  By that time, however, the wind had blown the algae tight to the shore, and 40 yards out it was not too bad.  The lack of fishing pressure probably contributed to it coming good.  However, as soon as a few boats had been in for an hour or so, it went off very quickly there too.

Those who persevered with dries found the going hard, although the odd fish was taken with a daddy-long-legs.  Up at The alders, Fraser G and JWR had best boat, with 8 between them.  Fishing floating lines at anchor, Fraser had 3 to this season's hottest fly, the Diawl Bach.  Late on, a hatch of sedges tempted him to go to dries and he took 2 to an elk hair sedge.  JWR had all his fish to a Montana variant, also on the floater (photo to follow), including a big 'un of 8 lb 14 oz (below, right).

Stewart B repeated his successful method from the last outing fishing a black booby under the algae, taking 3, including another big fish: 7 lb 6 oz (above, left).  Another bag of 3 (including one of 7 lb 14 oz) was taken by guest, Derek K, and it was a shout to Derek's boat to get the gen that put yours truly onto the right track.  Derek was figure-of-eighting lures on a slow sinker, and a change to that put me into fish.  Hard to believe, but I ended up getting mine on a large sparkler (The Rescobie toby), on the bob, on the hang, at the end of a figure-of-eighted retrieve... of the slow glass!!!

Other big fish were taken by Eric B (8 lb 14 oz) and Dougie G (7 lb).  In all, the club's 21 rods weighed in 30 fish for 103 lb 10 oz.