Fishing Season Report 2013 Dec 12, 2013
Stocking
Ten thousand brown trout were stocked in the 2013 fishing season averaging between 16ozs and 32ozs almost 7 tonnes in total weight.
Stockings took place on 6th March, 13th March, 24th April, 19th June and the 17th July. The average weight stocked in 2013 was 1lb 8¾ ozs.
Stocking Loch Earn
Our slipway
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 again at 4.4% compared to 5.6% in 2012. 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 under 23 days fishing this season which means you have saved a whopping£100!!.
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.
The information you supply is important, so please as many returns back before 31st October 2014 and you will be entered into our prize draw.
This years information represented 158 days fishing effort where a total of 1021 fish were landed giving an average catch per visit of 6.5 fish compared to 4.5 fish in 2012, 6.8 fish in 2011,11.2 fish in 2010, 9.0 fish in 2009, 7.5 fish for 2008, 8.5fish for 2007, 5.7 fish for 2006, 4.8 fish in 2005 and 3.2 fish for 2004.
By species, 474 brown trout, 547 rainbow trout made up the total numbers taken. The total weight caught was 1104 lbs 12ozs giving an average of 1lb 01¼oz.
Breaking these numbers down further :
- 254 brownies were killed for a total weight of 415lbs 4ozs (ave wt 1lb 10ozs)
- 220 were returned for a total weight of 316lbs 8ozs (ave wt 1lb 7ozs)
- 121 rainbow trout were killed for a total weight of 111lbs 12ozs (ave wt 14¾ozs)
- 426 rainbow trout were returned for a total weight of 261lbs 4ozs (ave wt 9¾ozs)
- There were no char registered in this years returns however two anglers registered the eels they caught a total of 45 for an approx. weight of 46½lbs.
Total fish killed was 375 (37% of total) and fish returned 646 (63% of total)
Another interesting statistic for this past season is the percentage catch per species with brown trout 46.4% and rainbow trout 53.6%
A significant increase in the number of rainbow trout in the water up from 8.9% to 53.6% would indicate that there had been a deterioration in the containment at the fish farm this year after some promising results from last season.
For the avoidance of any doubt Loch Earn Fishings only stocks Loch Earn with triploid Brown Trout.
Angling Clubs
| Date | Club | Boats | Weight | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st June | St. Mungo Angling Club | 31 browns | 31lbs 9ozs | 7 |
| 8th June | Wiremill AC | 15 browns/2 rainbow | 14lbs 11ozs | 8 |
| 22nd June | Laurencekirk & District AC | 59 browns (56 returned, 3killed) | 4 | |
| 25th June | Loch Inch AC | 42 browns (34 returned, 8 killed) | 4 | |
| 29th June | St. Mungo AC | 34 browns | 40lbs 11ozs | 8 |
| 20th July | St Mungo AC | 9 browns | 7lbs 8ozs | 7 |
| 27th July | Phoenix AC7 | rainbow/1brown | 7lbs 1ozs | 4 |
| 10th Aug | Wiremill AC | 6 rainbow/1brown | 7lbs 8ozs | 6 |
Competition Winner
This years recipient of the 10yr old Glenturret Malt Whisky goes to Charles Robb from Lossiemouth in Morayshire. He was first out of the hat for this years prize draw. Congratulations Charles. Just goes to show how far people are prepared to travel for good value fishing.
Heaviest Catches of the Season
Heaviest rainbow trout
An 11lbs 8ozs specimen taken by Associate Member Season ticket holder Richard Zalewski from Dunfermline out in his own boat Sammy Troot on the 16th March 20131 at about 9.30 in the morning as he passed the fish farm exclusion zone fence.
The fish was taken using a fast sinking lead tippedlineand a pink bead head fritz. It took a full 30 minutes to get the fish under control. Trolling rapalas they picked up four stocked browns near Neish Island and fishing pal Scotty lost another big rainbow estimated between 15lbs - 20lbs as they trolled through the cages.
All fish were returned apart from one brownie at 1½lbs.
View in Gallery
Heaviest brown trout
The heaviest brown trout was a 19lbs 4ozs specimen, the fish of a lifetime for 10 year old Brendan Mitchell from Braco out fishing with his Dad Patrick in their own boat on the 8th June 2013. Spinning lures in Ardveich Bay the biggest fish off Loch Earn for 3 years took a 13g Zebra Tasmanian Devil.
These 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.