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Fishery News
ROSSLYNLEE TROUT FISHERY, near Penicuik (01968 679606): Bannockburn Angling Club's 13 anglers took 27 fish with a total weight of 100lb 6oz, giving an average weight per fish of 3lb 11oz. The heaviest bag of the day went to B. Dawson who had four fish for 16lb 13oz including one at 6lb 2oz. Runner up was J. McKee with four for 15lb 15oz with his heaviest at 5lb 2oz. S. Allen had one fish at 5lb 12oz. The water is now cooler and the fish well spread out, now taking dry flies again such as Daddies, CDC's and Hoppers, although Buzzers and lures are also taking a great number of fish. BUTTERSTONE LOCH (01350 724238): Conditions have changed dramatically with water temperatures plummeting from the 20s down to 16oC. Water clarity is nominal at around 1-1.5m depending on the day and the wind conditions stirring up the bottom.
All systems go for trout season
Finally, thousands of wader-wearing Vermont anglers will have the chance to dance on the grave of Old Man Winter when trout season opens Saturday morning.
"It seems like people have a lot of desire and demand to get outside and do something than going skiing," said Roger Ranz, owner of the Classic Outfitters tackle shop in South Burlington. "Everybody is primed for a good season."
Opening-day trout fishing in Vermont usually means more freezing fingers than fish. Rivers and streams swollen with rain and melting snow and near-freezing water temperatures conspire to make catching trout an iffy proposition.
"The water will be high and it will be cold," said John Hall, a spokesman for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. "The trout are going to be down deep and not as active as they will be later in the year.
Insects have fish hopping
As a general rule of thumb, the insects that make up the trout diet tend to get smaller as the summer progresses. The most notable exception is the grasshopper. These bugs are relatively long lived and they grow larger during the season. In the last week of July, the hoppers made their appearance in the Sierra and they have the trout looking up for chow. The most common color at this time is tan. The critters are young (1-inch long) and size #12 or #14 flies will be a close match.
The most notable hopper bite from an anglers perspective has been on the Walker River drainage on the east side of the Sierra. Jim Weil from Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport reports that on the West Walker river along Highway 395, hopper fly patterns are the No. 1 fish catcher. The West Walker is just now getting down to fishable flows and a big fly will get the trout to swim up through fast water to take an insect on the surface.
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