Wormit Fishery Report – 24/12

Published on the 24 December 2025 by Greig Thomson

Open every day until (and including) 5th January 2026

Rod average: 5–6 fish per rod | Water temperature: ~6 °C | Winter tinge, excellent clarity | Fish active despite mild conditions | Open daily, dawn to dusk

Summary

Winter fishing is firmly underway at Wormit. The loch has shifted back to its winter norm, carrying a light, fish-friendly tinge rather than the gin-clear conditions of summer. From an angling perspective, this is a positive; fish are less wary and confidence levels are high.

The banks have been generally quiet, which is expected for the season. However, Saturday proved that the sport is there for the taking. Eight rods enjoyed near-perfect conditions, averaging five to six fish each, with the best rod landing seven. Quality remains high, with chunky, well-conditioned trout featuring heavily.

We remain open every day through to 5th Jan, including Christmas Day. This is a deliberate choice to allow anglers to escape the noise of the festive season and fish whenever suits them.

This past week has been a reminder that fishing doesn’t follow calendars, it follows conditions.

Despite the time of year, the fishery has been fishing steadily, with good winter sport when conditions line up, and one standout day on Saturday when eight rods were out in near-perfect winter conditions. Water clarity has now shifted firmly into its winter tinge, which in many ways fishes better than the gin-clear summer water. Fish feel safer, they move more freely, and crucially, they don’t see you before you see them.

Rod averages across the reporting period have sat around 6–7 fish per rod, and several proper chunky specimens mixed through the catches. There is no single “hot peg” at present; fish are spread throughout the loch and responding to confident fishing rather than static waiting.

Fish Behaviour & Tactics

Fish are active, higher in the water than you would expect for late December, and responding best to movement.

Washing-line setups continue to be the most consistent method, particularly:
- Floating line
- 3–4 ft midge tip
- Diawl Bachs on the droppers
Snakes have also been very effective when pulled with intent, particularly olive and black patterns. These are drawing aggressive follows and solid takes when fished confidently.
In calmer spells, fish are visibly moving in the surface film, particularly mid-morning through early afternoon. This activity is not random; fish are locked onto tiny naturals and smuts, and will chase when something moves through their feeding lane.

Depth-wise, most action is coming from the top 2–3 ft, even in colder air temperatures. This is highly unusual for late December and speaks directly to how mild the winter has been so far.

Standout Session – Lee Chisholm

Lee Chisholm enjoyed one of the standout days of the week and shared the following on his own timeline, which sums up the current fishing perfectly:

“Only gone and smashed my Brownie PB. I’ve no idea how big it is, maybe 3lb, but it’s definitely my biggest. When it’s the first fish of the day, you know you’re onto a good one. Eight fish landed, five lost, and constant action all day until the last two hours. Tried a host of setups, but the olive and black snake just smashed it. The weather was windy but manageable, and some of the takes were absolutely savage. I’m convinced I lost a couple of monsters too.”

This session mirrors what we are seeing across the loch: fish feeding hard, responding to movement, and hitting flies with confidence.

Water, Banks & Infrastructure

Water temperature is holding around 6 °C, which is high for late December.
Clarity is excellent with a winter tinge rather than summer transparency.
Banks remain soft due to the lack of a sustained frost. This limits vehicle access for heavier works.
The far-bank upgrade cannot progress properly until we get a hard frost to firm the ground. Until then, bringing machinery in would cause more damage than improvement.

The reality is that the seasons are not behaving normally. Fish are rising now more than they do on some calm spring days. Grass is still growing, and flowers are still in bloom. A proper hard frost would help both the fishery infrastructure and reset conditions more traditionally.

Weather Outlook & Daylight

Wednesday 24 December to Monday 5 January
(Tayside & Fife – Wormit area)

General pattern: Mild, Atlantic-driven weather continues with no prolonged freeze forecast. Expect generally settled but cloudy conditions through Christmas, shifting to improved brightness towards New Year.
Barometric pressure: Generally low and fluctuating (995–1005 hPa), typical of passing systems.
Angling tip: Expect fish to feed best during pressure stabilisation rather than sharp drops.

Daily Detail:

Wed 24 Dec: 7°C / 4°C – Dry start with clear spells, extensive low cloud developing later.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:37
Thu 25 Dec: 5°C / 2°C – Dry and chilly. Extensive cloud cover for eastern areas, keeping fish active.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:38
Fri 26 Dec: 8°C / 5°C – Settled but overcast with low cloud persisting. Ideally suited to surface sport.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:39
Sat 27 Dec: 7°C / 4°C – Largely cloudy morning, breaking up to clear spells by evening.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:40
Sun 28 Dec: 6°C / 3°C – Dry with patchy cloud and wintry sunshine. Cooler feel.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:41
Mon 29 Dec: 7°C / 4°C – Breezy with passing showers, mild south-westerly airflow.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:42
Tue 30 Dec: 6°C / 2°C – Brighter intervals and lighter winds. Good buzzer conditions.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:43
Wed 31 Dec: 7°C / 4°C – Overcast with light patchy rain clearing later.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:44
Thu 01 Jan: 5°C / 1°C – Crisp, bright start to the year. Light winds.
Sunrise 08:46 | Sunset 15:46
Fri 02 Jan: 8°C / 5°C – Milder Atlantic front pushing in. Breezy and damp.
Sunrise 08:45 | Sunset 15:47
Sat 03 Jan: 7°C / 4°C – Mixed sun and cloud, moderate breeze.
Sunrise 08:45 | Sunset 15:48
Sun 04 Jan: 6°C / 3°C – Settled, dry, excellent visibility.
Sunrise 08:45 | Sunset 15:50
Mon 05 Jan: Day length now increasing by approx. 15 minutes per week.
Sunrise 08:44 | Sunset 15:51

We are now on the right side of the Winter Solstice. Daylight gains are modest at first, but by late January the difference becomes noticeable.

Opening Arrangements – Important

The fishery is open every day, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

This is a deliberate operational decision, not a promotional one:

Angling pressure is naturally low at this time of year.
Daily opening allows rest days to occur organically.
It gives anglers flexibility to fish when it suits them best.
It avoids artificial congestion on “open” days.

Booking is mandatory.
Please do not turn up and start fishing without a booking, even if you are standing in the car park with the QR code in front of you.

Book online before fishing
If you do not use the internet, or genuinely cannot book online, phone or message me and I will process it manually.
Fishing without a booking causes problems and will be challenged.

Opening hours remain dawn to dusk, with rods capped at 12.

Vouchers & Beginner Sessions

Gift vouchers and beginner session vouchers have continued to sell steadily over the last few weeks, which is encouraging heading into the new year. These sessions remain a key part of introducing new anglers without adding unnecessary pressure to the main water.

Final Notes

If you are looking to fish over the next couple of weeks, this is an excellent time to do so. The loch is quiet, fish are active, and conditions reward anglers who fish thoughtfully rather than mechanically. Book online, fish dawn to dusk, and take advantage of the space and calm that this time of year offers.

Book online now at wormitfishery.co.uk or for group and beginner experience day enquiries call 07727 360428.