I for one am Really glad to see loch leven back to its best again but judging by the number of large wild brown trout that are being caught and killed I fear that the excellent fishing will quickly diminish I know brown trout taste much better than stocked rainbows and have no problem in tacking one for the pot and this is only my personal opinion but if it continues it will soon go back to fishing hard it happened before in my father’s younger days where every trout caught was killed by him and everybody else it soon left very little for re production

Back in your fathers day Steve there was 50 odd boats and they were fully booked from opening day to the end of the the season. 12 boats on a loch the size of the loch 3500 acres is a mere pimple. Yes alot of fish are being caught and taken for the pot but i know for certain that these fishermen that are doing well have put back at least 80% of there fish that they have caught. They have also been fishing a very small area compared to the size of the loch. I have also spoken to other anglers who hacve fished other areas and they have been catching there to also. A we rethink is required don't you say.

Graeme.

Where they been catching?
probs going soon.
regards
bert

Hi Bert, as menteith said the fish are pretty much everywhere! it all depends on wind direction, fish are in 10ft to 15ft of water. Good spot to try is 200 yards from the peir.
Its buzzers and more buzzers that are working just now!
Robert

just come off the loch,kept 3 for friends who love a leven brownie and released 3 larger fish who were all kicking on 4lbs,personally i dont see the point in keeping loads if you get that lucky but everyones entitled to their own view on that subject
Mother nature is doing a great job on the loch,the fishing at the moment is great,as for overfishing,its over 3000 acres with only 12 boats and last winter the black death definately did not get their anual winter feed,the numbers ive recorded on the sonar over various marks on the loch is impressive,heres to a great season

__________________
Stroking my sussies!

Was also out on the loch today and had fish of all sizes from 1lb to a real big boy that got off at the net at least 6lb,, lots of young fish which is good to see , but i only killed 1 fish which was a bow about 3lb ,I have no problem anyone taking a few fish for the pan, But lets not over do it

You know i with you there colin!!
kill the bows return everything else!
regards
bert

thanks rab.
regards
bert

Since the fish were left to their own devices there seems to be a year on year increase in the the number of fish of all sizes. Assuming the water quality and spawning burns continue to improve or a least do not deteriorate the current situation should be sustainable. The voluntary C&R system seems to be working well and there is probably more of it than is appreciated, some clubs in their comps allow average weight for any fish of legal size returned.
If it is not frozen next winter it will be interesting to see if the cormorant problem might be a bigger issue.