Stocking

Ten thousand brown trout were stocked in the 2018 fishing season averaging between 16ozs and 32ozs, almost 5¼ tonnes in total weight. Stockings took place on 26th March, 30th March, 30th April, 4th June and the 9th July.

The average weight stocked in 2018 was 1lb 1ozs. The table alongside shows the average catches per visit to Loch Earn over the past ten years. This is information supplied by Associate Member Season Ticket holders and includes all fish caught. This table also gives the % of returns we receive back from our Associate Member Season Ticket holders.

Catch Returns Show Catch Return Data  

This year’s information represented 89 days fishing effort where a total of 256 fish were landed giving an average catch per visit of 2.9 fish compared to 6.1 fish in 2017.

By species, 255 brown trout and 1 Char made up the total numbers caught. The total weight caught was 266lbs 10ozs giving an average of 1lb 1oz. Breaking these numbers down further:

• 56 brownies were killed for a total weight of 82lbs 8ozs (ave wt 1lbs 8ozs) and 199 were returned for a total weight of 184lbs 2ozs (av wt 15 oz)
• No rainbow trout were registered this season
• 1 char was registered on 2018 returns and returned for a total weight of 6ozs

Total fish killed 56 (22% of total) and fish returned 200 (78% of total) which indicates a very healthy percentage of fish are being returned.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the extremes of weather we experienced during the 2018 fishing season were reflected in the catches.

Very cold water temperatures at the start courtesy of "the Beast from the East" followed on by one of the longest hottest, driest spells on record with air temperatures reaching 33C with the water temperature in Loch Earn reaching 23C at its peak.

Salmonids such as trout require water high in dissolved oxygen and at 23C this is not possible so they move into the cooler water below the thermocline which sits at around 4C to 10C and is rich in oxygen.

Anglers with fish finders on their boats reported large numbers of fish sitting in water between 70 – 100 feet deep for long periods during the summer months.

For the avoidance of any doubt Loch Earn Fishings only stocks Loch Earn with triploid Brown Trout.

Angling Clubs

Angling Clubs also had their fair share of success.

176 Browns caught by 94 rods = average of 1.9 fish per rod. Fish killed 84 for 83lbs 4ozs = average weight 1lb 0ozs

As you can see from the above figures Angling Clubs are also playing their part in conserving fish stocks by returning over 52% of their fish.

Other News

Floating Bridge/Jetty

The main project for last winter was to look at upgrading our jetty facilities. It was fifteen years ago since we first put in our floating bridge and it has served us well, however over time the amount of boat traffic has increased dramatically and the polystyrene flotation had lost a lot of its buoyancy. We first looked at the plastic option for fairly obvious reasons and there are many good examples of these around Scotland however after consideration the cost was well outwith our budget.

We took the decision to go down the route of refurbishing our existing platform by replacing all the polystyrene sections and adding a new beefed up platform at the front which is three times the length of the previous one.

As a result we have greatly increased our harbour area and this has led to a decrease in congestion especially at weekends and periods of prolonged sunshine as we had this season when everybody wants to use their boats.

In the past two seasons Drummond Estates has invested the best part of £40,000 in a new slipway and jetty which hopefully will give our many boat users years of service and pleasure.