Friday, 4th July

Portmore Loch, Evening Session

Good conditions for once, with light variable breezes and warm enough for shirt sleeve fishing.  Unfortunately, the water is getting its familiar algal bloom, which is bound to reduce visibility for the fish in the upper layers.

There were fish rising at the dam, which we took to be fresh stockies sporting, but which turned out to be residents feeding on black terrestrials.  Meanwhile, up at the Laird's bay, olives were hatching and Dougie S got into them on dries, taking 3 on a comparadun.  David E fished dries all night and took as many as anyone (5): 4 being on this well-teased-out claret bits.

Back down at the dam, it was a mixture of nymphing and dries that caught: Ian Mac had 1 on a Cove PTN early , then 2 on dries later.  Trevor had 3 'taching it.  Eric S had 2 on a daddy.  Our boat had 3 to washing line with a micro damsel booby buoying up a candy-stripe snatcher and holo-Diawl, then 2 later to black Shipmans.  Stewart B went the same way, taking 1 on the washing line then 2 on black Shipmans.  One of Stewart's fish was a wild-bred rainbow of 11 oz.  John M ,in the same boat, took 2 to dries.

Ian Mac and son Gavin... swinging nymphs in home bay

Alan D had fish of the night at 4 lb 3 oz on a Diawl Bach variant.  But it wasn't all nymphs and dries.  JWR had a brace to Kate McLaren and a silver muddler, while Douglas D took 3 to an Alexandra and black pennell.  When was the last time you had an Alexandra on your cast?

It was extremely frustrating to be called off the water by the management at 10.30, as there was good daylight and the evening rise was just getting started!

The club's total for 22 rods was 42 fish for 85 lb 12 oz