Spring fishing is fantastic at Wormit, and the fishery is in good shape. Cherry blossom in full bloom, grass cutting underway between weather windows, water gin clear, and fish feeding consistently across the loch. A slightly later report than usual this week – competition commitments and time away – but a very positive one. We are comfortably averaging around 7 fish per rod at an average size of approximately 3lb, with plenty of fish present throughout the system.
The transition out of that cold easterly influence is now underway, and a warmer, more settled spell is arriving through the week. Fish will only become more active and more willing to feed higher in the water as conditions improve. Add to that the launch of evening rod sessions, and there is a great deal to look forward to.
📌 Weekly Summary
- Rod average: ~7 fish per rod; average size ~3lb; fish active and well distributed.
- Conditions: Gin-clear water; cold easterly easing; barometric pressure recovering and stabilising after earlier dips.
- Top tactics: Buzzers leading overall; washing line setups highly effective; eggs under the bung reliable; snakes and mini lures when fished actively; Bibio, Kate McLaren and traditional wets also picking up fish.
- NEW – Evening sessions: Now available from 5pm to dusk, Catch and Release at £25. Maximum 3 evening rods per day, online booking only, total cap of 12 rods on the loch at all times.
- Incoming stocking: A further stocking planned shortly, targeting a slightly larger average size around 4lb. The loch is already well stocked.
- Fishery condition: Excellent. Grounds improving week on week, blossom in full bloom, water quality first class.
🌅 Evening Sessions – Now Available
After careful consideration of how best to introduce evening fishing without compromising the experience for day anglers, we have launched a controlled evening session with immediate effect.
- Hours: 5pm to dusk (currently approximately 5pm to 9pm, extending as days lengthen).
- Permit type: Catch and Release only, priced at £25.
- Availability: Maximum 4 evening rods released per day at 12 noon
- Rod cap: Total rods on the fishery never exceed 12. Evening permits count toward this total.
- Additional rods: Where space allows, further rods may be released – but only where it does not compromise the fishery cap of 12 or the experience of other anglers.
Evening sessions are best suited to anglers who are comfortable fishing independently and want to make the most of that late window – typically the most productive period of the day as light fades and fish move into the surface film. With temperatures now improving and day length well beyond 15 hours, the quality of evening sport at Wormit is only going to grow.
🎣 Catch Highlights
Catch return submission has been a little patchy this week, but the reports received confirm the loch is producing consistently. Rod average of approximately 7 fish per rod is a solid result for late April, particularly with a cold easterly having held conditions back at times.
- Mr McCleary and Stewart – 28 fish, all taken on buzzers. A textbook session and exactly the kind of return that focussed buzzer fishing produces at this time of year.
- Rick Wilkie – 10 fish between 6am and 1pm, fishing cat bug, Ally McCoist, damsel snake, and Bibio – all fished fast. A well-planned mixed approach that covered methods and water effectively.
- Johnny Whitlam – 10 fish, with an unplanned but memorable run-in with a carp mid-session. The trout won convincingly on the day.
- Michael Fairweather – 5 fish, mainly on buzzers with one taken on a Smoker.
- Alan Thomson and Stuart – 4 fish at around 2.5lb, with additional chances not converted.
Plenty of other fish are being caught across the loch that are not making it into the returns. If you want to be featured in the next report, send your catches and a short note via text or email – include your flies, method, and anything that stood out from the session.
🎯 Best Tactics and Flies
Key patterns: Buzzers continue to lead overall, and the washing line remains a consistent and reliable setup in current conditions. Eggs under the bung are still producing steadily, particularly when there is surface movement from any breeze. Snakes and mini lures, when fished actively, are picking up fish from those willing to cover water. Bibio, Kate McLaren, and traditional wet patterns are also accounting for fish and are worth having on the cast when buzzers are not producing at a particular peg.
- Primary: Buzzers in various sizes and colours – black, red, and olive all working.
- Washing line: Highly effective – floating line with subsurface fly on the point, FAB or buzzer on dropper.
- Static and bung: Eggs and FABs at 2-3ft; reliable when there is surface movement.
- Active methods: Snakes, mini lures, damsel snake, Ally McCoist – fished faster when covering water.
- Traditional wets: Bibio, Kate McLaren – worth a try when buzzers have gone quiet at your peg.
- Specific patterns noted: Cat bug, Bibio, Smoker.
Key observation: Fish have been sitting at varying depths depending on conditions. The cold easterly kept them down at times, but as that influence eases and temperatures lift, expect more consistent surface activity and shallower feeding through the back half of the week. When buzzers are not producing, the answer is usually to move to fresh water rather than wait it out at the same peg.
Evening fishing: Light presentation will be the priority during evening sessions. Start with buzzers on a midge tip or slow intermediate. As the light softens toward the final hour before dark, watch for rising fish and be ready to switch to small dries or emergers. The surface film is where the action will concentrate as conditions settle.
📦 Stocking and Water Management
A further stocking is planned shortly, with the aim of bringing in a slightly larger average size – around 4lb – to add quality weight alongside the fish already in the system. Timing is still being confirmed. The loch is already holding good stocks of fish across all areas, so this stocking is about maintaining and improving quality rather than filling a gap.
The loch itself is in excellent condition. Water is gin clear with strong visibility, fish are healthy and active, and natural food availability is building as temperatures warm. Grounds continue to improve weekly, with grass cutting underway as the fishery comes into its best spring condition.
💡 Angler Reminders
- Peg rotation: 6 fish or 90 minutes per peg – then move on and miss the next peg. This rule keeps sport fair and fish well distributed across the loch. Non-negotiable.
- Discarded nylon: Please take all used leader material home or use the bin. Never leave nylon on the bank or in the water – it is a serious and entirely avoidable hazard to wildlife.
- Fish care: Barbless or debarbed hooks only throughout. Keep fish wet, unhook in the net, and return quickly. Photographs in the net, please – not held aloft for extended periods.
- Evening bookings: Online only, strictly 3 rods per evening. No walk-ins for evening sessions. Please do not arrive without a confirmed booking.
- Self-service permits: All permits must be purchased online before fishing. Warden checks are carried out regularly.
- Be featured: Send catch returns, fly choices, and a short account of your day to fishery@salmoscotland.co.uk or via text. Photos welcome – landscape orientation preferred.
🌤 Weather Forecast – Wednesday to Sunday
A meaningful improvement is now underway. The cold easterly that has characterised recent weeks is easing, with barometric pressure recovering and stabilising after earlier dips. Temperatures are lifting day on day, and by the back end of the week conditions should be close to ideal for both day and evening fishing.
- Wed 22 Apr: 13°C, cloud breaking, lighter winds. Sunrise 05:50 – Sunset 20:35.
- Thu 23 Apr: 15°C, dry with brighter spells. Sunrise 05:48 – Sunset 20:37.
- Fri 24 Apr: 16°C, mild, light winds. Sunrise 05:46 – Sunset 20:39.
- Sat 25 Apr: 15°C, cloud and sunny intervals. Sunrise 05:44 – Sunset 20:41.
- Sun 26 Apr: 15°C, bright and settled. Sunrise 05:42 – Sunset 20:43.
Day length now well beyond 15 hours and extending. As the barometric pressure steadies through the back end of the week, expect more consistent surface activity and improved evening sport across all sessions.
💡 Advice
- Fish the improving conditions: As temperatures lift from 13°C on Wednesday to 16°C by Friday, fish behaviour will shift. Expect them to feed more confidently and move progressively higher in the water as the week develops. Adjust your presentation accordingly.
- Adapt, don’t anchor: Buzzers are not producing consistently from every peg right now. If they are slow at your position after a reasonable trial, change method or move to fresh water. Traditional wets like Bibio and Kate McLaren are worth a try when buzzer sport has gone quiet.
- Evening slot priority: The new evening sessions offer genuinely exciting sport in good light until close to 9pm. Fish lighter – midge tip or dry line – and resist the temptation to overload the leader. As the light drops in that final hour, the surface film is where it happens.
- Active methods pay: Rick Wilkie’s 10-fish session on a fast retrieve is a reminder that covering water and keeping the fly moving works. Do not be passive if static methods are slow.
- Fish care: With temperatures improving and fish in peak condition, handle them with care and return them quickly. They are the reason Wormit continues to fish as well as it does.
📲 Bookings
Weekend spaces are available and the forecast looks genuinely good. Evening rods are now live and will fill quickly as word gets around. If you have not yet fished an evening session at Wormit, this coming week is the time to start.
🎟 Book Day Tickets – £32.50 Catch and Release, dawn to dusk
🌅 Book Evening Sessions – £25 Catch and Release, 5pm to dusk
💳 Season Pass – £500 for 25 visits
🎁 Gift Vouchers Available
Open Wednesday to Sunday, dawn to dusk. Maximum 12 rods. Pre-booking only.
Call 07727 360428 or email fishery@salmoscotland.co.uk
Tight lines,
Greig – Wormit Trout Fishery
