Fishing Season Report 2012 Jan 11, 2013
Stocking
Ten thousand brown trout were stocked in the 2012 fishing season averaging between 14ozs and 24ozs almost 4¾ tonnes in total weight.
Stockings took place on 9th March, 14th March, 18th April, 14th June and the 8th August.
The average weight stocked in 2012 was 1lb 0½ ozs.
The following information is supplied by Associate Member Season Ticket holders and includes all fish caught.
Our caravan pitches
Neish Island Moorings, Loch Earn (East)
Catch Returns
| Year | Average catch | % returned |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2.9 | 2.7% |
| 2017 | 6.1 | 4.5% |
| 2016 | 5.1 | 2.5% |
| 2015 | 5.2 | 6.4% |
| 2014 | 4.3 | 3.6% |
| 2013 | 6.5 | 4.4% |
| 2012 | 4.5 | 5.6% |
| 2011 | 6.8 | 7.2% |
| 2010 | 11.2 | 0.6% |
| 2009 | 9.0 | 3.7% |
| 2008 | 7.5 | 6.4% |
| 2007 | 8.5 | 6.7% |
| 2006 | 5.7 | 3.9% |
| 2005 | 4.8 | 4.9% |
| 2004 | 3.2 | 8.4% |
| 2003 | 3.0 | 9.3% |
| 2002 | 2.4 | 11% |
Catch returns this year were back a bit at 5.6% compared to 7.2% in 2011. We still need more.
Please remember when sending in your returns to include your name and address on the form, just in case you are a winner!
As Season Ticket holders you averaged just over 17 days fishing this season which means you have saved £39. Down on last year but still excellent value in these difficult times.
Please try to spend a few minutes after each trip and log in what you have taken and also returned.
The format of the return form now allows you to enter the number and weight of each species of fish killed and also to enter the number, species and approximate weight of fish returned, as well as what they were taken on. This will give us more meaningful data as quite a number of anglers return all their fish, whilst others keep one or two and return the remainder and some will take their limit and return none.
This years information represented 188 days fishing effort where a total of 853 fish were landed giving an average catch per visit of 4.5 fish compared to 6.8 fish in 2011, 11.2 fish in 2010, 9.0 fish in 2009, 7.5 fish in 2008, 8.5 fish for 2007, 5.7fish for 2006, 4.8 fish for 2005, 3.2 fish in 2004 and 3.0 fish for 2003.
By species, 762 brown trout, 73 rainbow trout and 18 char made up the total numbers taken.
The total weight caught was 868 lbs 1ozs giving an average of 1lb 0¼oz.
Breaking these numbers down further:
- 299 brownies were killed for a total weight of 355lbs 3ozs (ave wt 1lb 3ozs)
- 463 were returned for a total weight of 416lbs 4ozs (ave wt 14½ozs)
- 28 rainbow trout were killed for a total weight of 55lbs (ave wt 1lb 15½ozs)
- 45 rainbow trout were returned for a total weight of 28lbs 2ozs (ave wt 10ozs)
- 12 char were killed for a total weight of 10lb 8ozs (ave wt 14ozs)
- 6 char were returned for a total weight of 3lbs (ave 8 ozs)
Total fish killed was 339 (40% of total) and fish returned 514 (60% of total) Another interesting statistic for this past season is the percentage catch per species with brown trout 89.3%, rainbow trout 8.6% and char at 2.1%.
The lower numbers of rainbow trout in the water would appear to be as a result of the fish farm net replacement programme over the past two years.
Angling Clubs
| Date | Club | Boats | Weight | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd June | Wiremill Angling Club | 25 browns | 22lbs 5ozs | 9 |
| 14th June | Strathclyde Police Angling Section | 43 browns | 30lbs 6ozs | 8 |
| 16th June | St. Mungo AC | 55 browns | 50lbs 1oz | 7 |
| 28th June | Loch Inch AC | 18 browns | 13lbs 8ozs | 3 |
| 7th July | St. Mungo AC | 41 browns | 40lbs 12ozs | 7 |
| 1st Sept | St Mungo AC | 33 browns | 6lbs 9ozs | 7 |
Total: 215 browns for 183lbs 9ozs, average 13¾ozs
Other News
The restocking programme will start again at the beginning of March and the first two stockings will see about 4,000 browns at about 1¼ lbs put into Loch Earn.
Wishing you all an enjoyable and successful season in 2013.
Yours sincerely, Alex. Murray
For Loch Earn Fishings
Competition Winner
This years recipient of the 10yr old Glenturret Malt Whisky goes to Paul Elliot of Grangemouth. He was first out of the hat for this years prize draw. Congratulations, Paul.
Heaviest Catches of the Season
Heaviest char
A near British Rod-Caught record weighing in at 8lbs 12ozs taken by Associate Member Season ticket holder Gary Sinclair from Bathgate on the 22nd April out in his own boat Buster in Ardveich Bay. The huge fish took a ledgered maggot on a size 12 hook in about forty feet of water.
Unsure of what he had caught photos were taken, the fish weighed and then gently released back into Loch Earn. It was only when he got back to shore and the photos checked out that he realized the significance of his catch.
The current British Rod Caught record char stands at 9lbs 8ozs and was taken by W. Fairbairn from Loch Arkaig in 1995.
View in Gallery
Heaviest rainbow
A 8lbs 3ozs specimen taken by Associate Member Season ticket holder Jim McKenzie from Stirling out in his own boat She Fears No Fish in the shallows of Ardveich Bay on the 8th August and was taken on ledgered maggot.
View in Gallery
Heaviest brown trout
A 7lbs 11ozs fish taken by Associate Member Season ticket holder Richard Zalewski from Dunfermline out in his own boat Sammy Troot on the 26th May.
Trolling a rapala about 70yds behind the boat in 20 feet of water opposite the South Loch Earn Caravan Park, Richard felt a slight resistance on his line. Thinking it might just have snagged on some weed or might be a small fish he left the retrieve for a minute only for his rod to be bent double. After a battle lasting fifteen minutes he eventually managed to net the big brown and into the boat. On unhooking Richard was amazed to find that the huge brown had actually taken a rainbow about 8ozs which had taken his rapala. You couldn't make it up, amazing!
View in GalleryThese fish and other catches are available to view in the Gallery. If you do catch a decent fish or a nice basket of fish or something unusual let us know and we will put your pictures into the gallery on our website along with details of weights, numbers, how you caught your fish and where about.