Latest Ayrshire fishing: December 31

Jan 2 2009 by Mike Wilson, Kilmarnock Standard

SPRINGWATER Fishery (Dalrymple): fly pond fished well.

Thanks to everyone who fished and donated prizes for the Mary Scott Memorial competition. 24 anglers took part and everyone went home with a prize, but there had to be a winner.

John Logan (Ayr Travellers Club) won with three fish for 10lb 14oz, second was big Alex from the Harbour Lights with three fish for 10lb 1oz.

Bait pond fished extremely well with some big fish caught. John McDonald had four fish for 15lb, biggest was 6lb.

Course pond fished hard due to the cold weather. The Sunday sweep was won by Ewan Weed with a weight of 1kg 650gms.

Springwater is open on New Year’s day. Wishing all our customers a happy new year and tight lines in 2009.

COYLE Water Fishery (Coylton): fishing has been generally excellent over the past week only spoilt by the nasty cold snap overnight on Saturday and despite ice breaking on Sunday the fly pond was partially closed.

Ian Kilpatrick managed to be top rod for the Kilmarnock boys over the week. The fun fly competition on Boxing Day was won by Kevin Andrews. Everyone went away with a prize and full of festive spirit.

Mr McKeen and Mr McKeen had 14 fish between them taking three for 10lbs. George Young had two during his short session. Dougie Inglis released eight.

Flies have been varied as tactics, with fish taking flies at varying depths. During bright sunshine, the fish are rising freely but not taking dries regularly just nosing at them. Best tactics really are intermediates teamed up with lures and vary your retrieve and depth until you contact the fish.

The fishery staff extend New Year wishes with tight lines and screaming reels for 2009 to all anglers.

MIDDLETON (Largs): fishing was good at the start but slowed up as the week went on due to changes in weather, fish have been caught mostly on lures and bugs used under sight bobs.

Catches: K. McCallum two for 6lb 4oz, K Dickens four for 10lb 2oz, D McCallum four for 11lb 3oz, J. Crawford two for 6lb, J. Inglis two for 5lb 12oz, G. Fergusson two for 4lb 8oz.

Catch and release: T White released 15, M Thomson released 10, S Milne released 15, D Szulc released six, J Dunbar released four, R. Sambells released seven, A. White released eight, D. Monaghan released nine.

Flies: various Damsel Patterns, Reverse Millennium Bug, Reverse Okey Dokey, Black Fritz, Black and Green Bloodworm, Chartreuse Blob, Orange Bloodworm.

The Boxing Day fun competition was won by Tam White with seven fish. Contact the fishery on 01475 689692.

LAWFIELD Trout Fishery (Kilmacolm): Early and late has seen some of the best fishing particularly to redhead damsels, yellow dancer, diawl bach and bugs fished under an indicator.

C. Docherty had eight for 23lbs 5oz over three visits, Mr McGuigan two for 4lbs 9oz and two released, Mr Boyland two for 4lbs 8oz and two released, Mr O`Donnell two for 4lbs 10oz and three released, Mr Blair two for 5lbs 2oz, Mr Tucker four for 9lbs 4oz, Mr Wyllie three for 7lbs 14oz, Mr Dobbie three for 8lbs 12oz, Remo seven, Bobby Quinn seven, Joe Currie six while Dean Monaghan returned 30 fish over four sessions.

The management and staff want to wish all customers a Happy New Year. Contact Billy on 01505 874182.

HOWWOOD (Paisley): a good week for the fly-fishers with some excellent catches taken to those fishing with the bung. Top flies were buzzers, orange blob, bloodworm and redhead damsel.

J Black seven, S Banks four, G Boyd had 13 over three visits, Ryan Garrott three, M Jackson three, Mr Coleman seven, J Kyle two, Mr Adams four and Mr Watt two.

Bait has also fished well, Mr Robertson four for 8lbs 14oz, Ricardo two for 5lbs 4oz, Mr Luke five for 11lbs 2oz, R Badger five for 16lbs 14oz including one at 6lbs 8oz, Mr Quinn seven, Mr Chapman five for 11lbs 2oz and Mr Murray four for 8lbs 8oz.

There will be a bait competition on Sunday January 4. Contact John on 01505 702688.