Loch Leven, day session, 1 June
Not a bad day, to start off with at least, though we felt pretty frazzled by 6.00 pm. This was our first trip of the season, having given up on early season evening outings. It was a small one too, with an already low demand being exacerbated by 3 of our rods having to call off when they drew the same date for their Scottish Clubs' Heat. So, just 3 boats set out for our club outing.
The water was nowhere as clear as last season, with quite a bit of green to it. There were a few buzzers hatching -- good sized ones too -- and a scattering of big pupes showed in stomach contents.
Stuart S nets a fish at Hole of Inch
We made a decent start, with Jimmy M taking 2 fish at the Sluices, fishing DI-3 and a damsel and an Oakham orange. When that action ceased, we could see there were many boats working the Hole of Inch area at the back of St Serf's, so we went over to investigate. We could see fish being caught and we managed to squeeze in. We were soon catching them ourselves too, picking up 9 between us. Alan M and I had all of ours on the hang (DI-3/DI-4 and assorted black tadpoles), while Jimmy M continued to catch pulling the Oakham Orange. The fish averaged 1 lb 8 oz to 1 lb 10 oz and were very bright and lively.
The situation quickly became ridiculous, however. Here we were on a water of 3,500 acres and there are 20-odd boats trying to fish an area of about one acre. We moved away and tried our luck elsewhere, but drifts at the Black Woods, Carden Bay, Kelson Strip and Thrapple Hole all provided not an offer.
Jimmy with a typical Leven rainbow from The Sluices
One of our remaining boats did have success later on at the Kelson Strip, and Ian Mac and Stuart S picked up fish there. Ian's successful flies (fished on DI-6) included an orange blob and a black and green mini-lure. Stuart had a fish on a natty wee trad!
Our total for 9 rods was 15 rainbows for 24 lb, plus 2 more returned. Jimmy had 6 to his own rod, which was exceptional, given how awkward the day had proved.
