Weekly Summary
Consistent winter sport and strong returns all week. Fishing at Wormit has been excellent between Wednesday and Sunday, with quality rainbows throughout and some fine browns adding variety. Water levels rose briefly with rain and sleet, lifting by three to four inches, but this had no impact on sport whatsoever. As of Monday, levels have receded and normalised.
Clarity continues to sit at around fifty per cent opacity — ideal winter conditions here. The light colour has suited the fishing perfectly, with fish feeding confidently and patrolling the margins freely. The removal of the recent easterly helped enormously, and calm spells produced visible bow waves across the surface, particularly mornings and late afternoons. Fish are not deep. The bulk of catches have come in two to three feet of water, often within one to two rod lengths of the bank.
- Rod average: 11.7 fish per rod — a strong return reflecting consistent feeding behaviour.
- Average size: Strong rainbows to 3.5 lb, with occasional better fish and quality browns.
- Key depth: 2–3 ft. Fish are holding shallow and tight to cover.
- Best windows: Mornings and late afternoons most active; early afternoon slightly quieter but not unproductive.
- Conditions: 50% opacity, water stabilised, light to moderate winds. Calm spells producing bow waves and visible surface movement throughout.
- Standout patterns: Eggs under the bung, black and olive snakes, black bunny leech, Diawl Bachs, buzzer patterns.
Catch Highlights
- Stuart Louden — 24 fish in an outstanding session. Peach and red eggs, white ecstasy worms and leech patterns all producing throughout the day. A masterclass in covering the water methodically.
- Scott Pozzi — 15 landed, 4 lost. An interesting day that rewarded patience. Struggled early on Diawl Bachs, but they became the only pattern fish would take during the final two hours. A reminder to stay with proven flies and let the fish come to you.
- Rick Wilkie — 14 landed, 6 lost. Pink and orange eggs fished 3–4 ft under the bung, with Diawl Bach and FAB on the washing line also scoring. All fish within one to two rod lengths of the bank, with plenty of activity at the burn end.
- Paul Watts — 13 landed, 7 lost. Largest approximately 3.5 lb. Black size 14 buzzer with red cheeks, both free-lined and under indicator. Worked methodically from right of the bridge across to the small island — finding fish at every stop. A textbook grid approach.
- Daniel McKay — 10 fish on mojito eggworm and Ally McCoist. Reliable patterns producing steady sport.
- Ryan Dick — 10 fish. Consistent returns across the session.
- Iain Miller — 9 landed. Orange eggs under the bung, fishing close in from the shallow end and beside the hut point. Proof that the margins are the place to be.
- Deek Harry — 9 fish. Solid, dependable sport.
- Tam Jeffrey — 9 fish on peach and red egg, white ecstasy worm and leech patterns.
- Ryan Clark — 3 on pink snakes. A tougher session, but fish were present and showing. Sometimes the water picks its moments.
- Jake Ghilchrist — 3 in a short session, including two quality browns. Proof that even brief visits can produce memorable fish at Wormit.
Best Tactics and Flies
The overriding message this week is simple: keep it straightforward and fish the water immediately in front of you before casting far.
Lines: Fast glass, midge tip and bung setups have dominated. There is no need for heavy sinking lines in current conditions.
Depth: Two to three feet remains the sweet spot. Fish are not holding deep, but they are sitting slightly lower than the tail end of autumn, so hanging your flies at the end of each retrieve is well worth the extra seconds. Systematically cover the full water column until you locate the taking depth.
Retrieve: Steady and controlled. Fish will chase, but not at extreme speed — a medium-paced retrieve at most, with regular pauses. Do not rush. Let the fly do the work.
Approach: Fish the margins first. Work the water directly in front of you using a grid or matrix approach, covering the full water column methodically until you find where the takes are. Then keep moving. Stay composed. The anglers covering ground and rotating between pegs are consistently producing the best returns.
Fly selection: Do not overthink it. The proven patterns are working: eggs (pink, orange, peach, red) under the bung; black and olive snakes; black bunny leech; Diawl Bachs; size 14 buzzers with red cheeks; FABs on the washing line; mojito eggworms; Ally McCoists; and ecstasy worms. If fish are visibly moving, prioritise buzzers or Diawl Bachs, particularly in calm conditions.
Stocking and Water Management
Water levels are stabilising following recent rainfall. The lifted, lightly coloured conditions have suited the fishing well, giving fish the confidence to patrol the margins freely. Fifty per cent opacity remains ideal for this time of year and sits exactly where we want it.
Grounds remain soft underfoot — wellies are essential. No infrastructure issues to report.
Angler Reminders
- Peg rotation remains non-negotiable: 6 fish or 90 minutes per peg, whichever comes first. Move on and miss the next peg. No side-by-side fishing when mixed rods are present. This system protects fairness and keeps the water fishing properly for everyone.
- Discarded nylon: Further cut line has been found on the banks. This is not acceptable. Bins are provided — please use them or take your waste home. Cameras operate on site. Continued issues may result in reduced day-ticket access.
- Fish care: Barbless or debarbed hooks only. Handle fish wet, unhook quickly, and return promptly. Photos in the net preferred.
- Read the rules: Please review the full fishery rules before fishing.
Weather Forecast (Wed 18 – Sun 22 February)
- Wed 18th: High 7 °C / Low 3 °C — light south-westerly 8–12 mph. Pressure 1003 hPa, steady. Sunrise 07:44 / Sunset 17:17.
- Thu 19th: High 8 °C / Low 4 °C — variable winds 6–10 mph. Pressure 1006 hPa, rising. Sunrise 07:42 / Sunset 17:19.
- Fri 20th: High 7 °C / Low 3 °C — light northerly 10 mph. Pressure 1004 hPa, steady. Sunrise 07:40 / Sunset 17:21.
- Sat 21st: High 8 °C / Low 5 °C — south-westerly 12–15 mph. Pressure 998 hPa, falling. Sunrise 07:38 / Sunset 17:23.
- Sun 22nd: High 6 °C / Low 3 °C — breezier, westerly 15 mph. Pressure 995 hPa, low. Sunrise 07:36 / Sunset 17:25.
Overall: Mild for February. Stable midweek pressure should favour continued sport. Saturday and Sunday look breezier with falling pressure — have pulled patterns (snakes) and slightly heavier setups to hand for the weekend.
Owner’s Advice
Keep it simple. Fish close. Move regularly. Do not rush retrieves. Do not overthink depth — two to three feet is where it is happening.
If you are seeing bow waves, fish are active. Stay composed, work a grid, and cover the water in front of you before moving on. Hang your flies at the end of the retrieve and give them that extra few seconds and depth. This water is fishing great right now — trust the tried and tested winter patterns and fish the conditions.
Bookings
Sport is strong and will improve as we get into spiring. Spaces available midweek and weekend — the forecast looks ideal for continued quality fishing.
Day permits must be booked online.
Book your rod online here
Full fishery rules: wormitfishery.co.uk/fishery-rules
Dawn to dusk fishing, limited to 12 rods — the way it should be.
Tight lines,
Greig — Wormit Trout Fishery
