Autumn sport remains exceptional. Following Wednesday’s stocking of 125 strong rainbows averaging 2.5 lb (with fish to 6+ lb), the loch has settled beautifully and is fishing superbly. The past week delivered a rod average of 8.4 fish per rod – plenty of anglers hitting double figures and several in the 8–12 range. Best rod of the week landed 18 fish, and catches included a stunning 5 lb brown trout. They weren’t just giving themselves up though – you still had to crack the code, and we did have a few blanks. But that’s fishing.
Water remains crystal clear at 12 °C, with trout visibly active across the loch – feeding hard on naturals, particularly tiny black smuts (1–2 mm) and snails along the margins. Watching fish cruise head-down on the bottom or intercept buzzers in the film has been a highlight. Those willing to vary tactics, cover water, and switch flies consistently hit double figures, while anglers grinding out a single method found it tougher as fish fed selectively throughout the day.
📌 Summary (Read This First)
- Rod average: 8.4 fish per rod; average weight ~2.5 lb; fish to 9 lb landed.
- Best rod: John Reid with 18 fish; plenty of anglers in the 8–12 range.
- Top range: Rainbows to 9 lb, with a stunning 5 lb brown landed by Scott Fraser.
- Conditions: 12 °C water, crystal clear; unseasonably mild air temps drove smut activity. Barometric pressure stable high (1020–1024 hPa) easing to low fronts (1010–1014 hPa) by weekend.
- Best windows: Early mornings and the last 90 minutes of light; calmer spells saw surface feeders active throughout the day.
- Key observation: Fish locked onto tiny black smuts (1–2 mm) and snails in the margins – selective feeding required tactical variation and depth control.
🌤 Weather & Water Conditions
An unseasonably mild week for mid-November, with light winds, drizzle, and bright intervals creating ideal autumn fishing conditions. Water temperature held steady at 12 °C, and clarity remained pristine throughout – weed is minimal and well-managed. Barometric pressure started stable (1020–1024 hPa) on Wednesday and Thursday, driving selective feeding on naturals, then dropped into a low-pressure front (1010–1014 hPa) Friday and Saturday as rain moved through. Pressure began rising again Sunday, bringing sunny intervals and improved sport as fish fed more aggressively in clearer conditions.
Daily summary:
- Wed 12 Nov: 12 °C / 7 °C – light rain, gentle breeze; pressure 1020–1024 hPa; sunrise 07:43 • sunset 16:08.
- Thu 13 Nov: 8 °C / 3 °C – light rain, moderate breeze; pressure 1016–1020 hPa; sunrise 07:45 • sunset 16:06.
- Fri 14 Nov: 8 °C / 5 °C – light rain, moderate breeze; pressure 1012–1016 hPa; sunrise 07:47 • sunset 16:04.
- Sat 15 Nov: 8 °C / 3 °C – drizzle, gentle breeze; pressure 1010–1014 hPa; sunrise 07:50 • sunset 16:02.
- Sun 16 Nov: 7 °C / 1 °C – sunny intervals, gentle breeze; pressure 1014–1018 hPa; sunrise 07:52 • sunset 16:01.
Outlook for the week ahead: Mild conditions continue with light winds and patchy rain. Pressure stabilising mid-week before another low moves through. Perfect buzzers-and-nymphs weather as we head deeper into November.
🎣 Some Reported Catch Highlights
- John Reid – 18 fish; best rod of the week with consistent sport across all tactics. Texted in: “Had 18 on a spent midge and Cormorants, dropped about 6, and had a rainbow about 7 lbs. Great day’s fishing.”
- Bill Patrick – 17 fish; superb session covering water and varying depth.
- Brian Collins – 12 fish; excellent results on floating lines and midge tips.
- Stuart Wilson – 12 fish; steady sport with buzzers and damsels.
- Lee Chisholm – 12 fish; consistent takes on bung rigs and pulled patterns. Posted on Facebook: “12 to the net (13 touched my net 😡) (one spat the hook half in the net, then spilled out argh?) 2 lost, so a good conversion overall. All beautiful rainbows from 2–5lbs with a Bluey in the mix too. All fish healthy, without damage and fighting hard! The bung with a squirmy, egg, washing like triple dbs, buzzers and with a fab on th point reigned supreme and a single on a damsel blue flash hot head damsel.”
- Brian Sutherland – 12 fish. Brian mentions fish were “preoccupied on something small round the edges” – confirmation of the smut and snail activity driving selective feeding. Setup: bung rigs with eggs, pink snake, polar bear Apps, and constant variation to trigger takes.
- Johny Whitlam – 11 fish; great session mixing pulled and static methods.
- Scott Fraser – 10 fish and dropped around the same; “couple of stockies hanging FABs in the margin, plenty of plucks and pulls, had a couple on yellow owl suspender slow retrieve just under surface, but best method for me was Ally McCoist, rolly poly or steady retrieve.” Landed a stunning 5 lb brown trout – the highlight of the week. In his Google review, Scott described the sport as “amazing” and noted “hard fighting is an understatement.”
- Chris Kirk – 10 fish; consistent sport on buzzers and damsels.
- Darren Mcpherson Snr – 9 fish; steady takes on midge tips and bung tactics.
- Arthur Moore – 8 fish; excellent results on floating lines and washing-line setups.
- Joseph Giacchetto – 8 fish; “fish on first cast, fish on the drop, and a fish on the dry.” A great session showing the variety of tactics working when presentation is right.
- John Blacklick – 7 fish; solid session on buzzers and nymphs.
- Darren Mcpherson Jnr – 7 fish; consistent takes on floating lines.
- Ryan Wightman – 6 fish after a slow start spent trying to crack the naturals. Eventually switched to an orange mop 6 ft under the bung (3 fish), then a size 24 yellow owl (2 fish), and finally a hot-head damsel/Cormorant combo (1 fish). “Plenty of fish moving and feeding naturally but very hard to catch!”
- George Kellichan – 6 fish; “had 6 fish, lost 4 & missed god knows how many; most came to Vicar buzzers.”
- Andy Kidd – 4 rainbows in a 3-hour Friday morning session in mild, foggy, and still conditions. Andy followed fishery advice and fished a Wakesaver on a slow figure-eight, taking fish on Cormorant, Diawl Bach, and hot-head damsel. In his Google review: “Plenty of offers and lost another couple near the net. A great place to fish and enjoy a few hours relaxing.”
- Alan Smith – 4 fish; steady results on bung tactics.
- Darren Barcik – 4 fish; consistent takes on floating lines.
Private booking note: We also welcomed a client on Monday 10 Nov who, due to shift patterns, couldn’t fish on our regular open days. They opened with 5 fish in 5 casts – a brilliant start to the session, finishing well over 10 by day’s end.
Experience days: We received another lovely review from a beginner experience guest (Jessica Downey). Jessica wrote: “Highly recommend the beginner experience day at Wormit. I booked the Fly Fishing Taster Half Day as a birthday present for my partner, and the Wormit team were fantastic from the start. Greig was friendly and helpful throughout the booking process and even arranged for a gift voucher to be posted out, which looked great when it arrived. The location itself is scenic and peaceful, and Craig, who led the session, was a brilliant instructor and an all-round great guy. Meanwhile, I had the luxury of relaxing in the lodge with the wood-burning stove, my book, and the hot drinks provided by Wormit. Nick definitely caught the fly-fishing bug and is keen to continue with his new hobby. I’m sure he’ll be back at Wormit soon, bugging Craig for a few more tips!”
🎯 Stocking & Water Management
125 rainbows from our trusted Scottish supplier went in on Wednesday 12 November, averaging 2.5 lb with fish to 6+ lb. As always, the immediate post-stocking boost was strong, but the real consistency kicks in around a week after they settle – and that’s exactly where we are now. Fish are visibly active, feeding hard, and in prime condition.
Bank upgrades: Improvement works continue on far-bank maintenance. We’re waiting for a hard frost so we can get the tipper into the field and gravel dumped.
Stocking video note: Our recent stocking video generated some interesting debate and comments on social media – but rest assured, no fish were harmed going in. They only get harmed when we catch them, and that’s the reality of fishing! If in doubt, check out how they stock fish in the States on some waters.
🎣 Best Tactics & Flies
Key observation: The fish are feeding selectively – if you’re not getting takes, switch tactics rather than grinding it out. As Brian Sutherland put it: “Just kept changing to try and spark a reaction.” The margins and visible cruisers offer excellent visual cues – watch for feeding behaviour (head-down on snails, nymphing in the film, or chasing) and adjust accordingly.
Daytime Tactics
- Floating lines and midge tips remain the most effective setups by far.
- Two-rod approach: Fish are switching frequently between pulled patterns and static presentations, so carrying two or three rods (one with lures, other(s) with buzzers/bung) will give you the edge.
- Static bung rigs: Eggs (green, orange), squirmy worms, FABs, and buzzers (#14–24) fished at 2–6 ft under an indicator have been deadly when fish are locked onto smut or naturals in the film. Dipping and bobbing the bung – waiting for it to settle, then reacting to subtle takes – has been key.
- Pulled patterns: Pink snakes, polar bear Apps, hot-head damsels, Ally McCoists, and Cormorants on a steady retrieve have all scored well, especially when fish sit deeper mid-afternoon or when there’s a ripple.
- Washing-line setups: A mix of Diawl Bachs (double or triple), buzzers, and a buoyant fly (e.g., FAB or hopper) on a floating line or Wakesaver intermediate continues to pick up fish throughout the day with a slow figure-eight retrieve.
- Tiny patterns for tough days: When fish are visibly feeding but refusing, drop down to #24 yellow owls or small black buzzers and fish them static or with minimal movement.
- Margins: Fish have been head-down feeding on snails along the bottom – great to watch in the crystal-clear water. Orange mops and squirmy worms fished under the bung at 6 ft have been particularly effective.
Later in the Day
Fish come on strong in the last 90 minutes of light. Surface activity increases, and fish that were deep earlier will move up to intercept emerging buzzers and midges. #14–16 black buzzers or cat bugs/eggs fished in or just under the film remain your best bet. A slow figure-eight or static hang with small dark patterns will consistently pull takes. Dries have picked up a few, though the smut hatch has made matching the hatch near-impossible – focus on profile and presentation rather than exact imitation, or as I do, strip through them fast.
Flies That Worked This Week
- Size 14 black buzzers (dominant in calm conditions)
- Size 24 yellow owls (when fish are being fussy)
- Vicar buzzers (George Kellichan’s go-to)
- Spent midge (John Reid’s standout)
- Hot-head damsels
- Pink snakes
- Polar bear Apps
- Ally McCoists (Scott Fraser’s best: rolly poly or steady retrieve)
- Cormorants
- Diawl Bachs (double or triple on washing-line setups)
- FABs (hanging in the margins or under the bung)
- Eggs (green, orange)
- Squirmy worms and orange mops (6 ft under the bung)
- Yellow owl suspenders (slow retrieve just under surface)
💡 Angler Reminders & Etiquette
- Rubbish: Please take all litter home or use the car park bin – keeping Wormit spotless is everyone’s responsibility.
- Fish care: Barbless or debarbed hooks only. Keep fish wet, handle with care, and release quickly. Photos in the net are preferred.
- Cabin check: Please double-check the cabin is locked when you leave – thank you to Brian Sutherland for ensuring it was secure on Saturday.
- Feature opportunity: Want to be featured in our next report? Send your catches, photos, and a short note about your day via email or text – include flies used and tactics that worked.
- Group bookings & tuition: We’ve have guests from Edinburgh, Australia, and international bookings before and around Christmas and New Year – plenty of space for corporate days, beginners’ sessions, and group outings. If you’d prefer to book by phone, just give us a call.
📢 Call to Action
The loch is fishing beautifully, with trout feeding hard, water crystal clear, and generally mild conditions forecast to continue. With selective feeding keeping things tactical and those willing to experiment consistently landing double figures, there’s no better time to get your rod on the water.
🎣 Book online now at wormitfishery.co.uk or for group and beginner experience day enquiries call 07727 360428.
Dawn to dusk fishing, limited to 12 rods so you have plenty room to move about – the way it should be.
💳 Season Pass – £500 for 25 visits (£20/session)
🎁 Gift Vouchers Available
Tight lines,
Greig – Wormit Trout Fishery
