Willowgate trout fishery- fishing well after thaw

Willowgate trout fishery will be open for the spring on Wednesday 3rd March. A few people turned up for a cast today with most rods enjoying fighting 9 or 10 hard fighting winter rainbows. Winter tactics include fishing indicators and blobs and slow moving lures. Contact the fishery on 01738446546 for info.

 

 

Willowgate trout fishery- Amazing fishing action after ice has gone.

Willowgate trout fishery- Amazing action after the ice had thawed. A fish every cast for all the anglers. Cracking overwintered fish up to 9lb, fighting hard in the crystal clear water. The fishery will re-open on Wednesday 3rd March. Contact 01738 446546 for info.

 

 

 

 

Willowgate trout loch- ice breaking

February 27th 2010- The recent mild spell has helped us shift the ice. After a few hours work the fishery was 50% ice free. If the weather stays mild the fishery will re-open on Wednesday 3rd March. Contact 01738446546 for info.

 

 

Willowgate trout fishery- Aerial photos

Willowgate trout fishery- Amazing aerial photos of the Willowgate pond showing the ice. Thankfully rain is falling big time today so a thaw might well be on its way. Contact the fishery on 01738 446546 for an update.

Willowgate- under snow again!

Winter still has a grip on the weather at Willowgate.

 

 

Winter jobs and TV appearance

With the fishery still frozen due to the cold weather we have been able to get on with other jobs around the river. This is a slipway we are renovating in Newburgh, Fife. When our harbour and marina is up and running at Willowgate, customers will be able to launch there boats easily and travel to the Willowgate cafe for lunch.

 

 

 

A director and researcher from the bbc country tracks program were at Willowgate today. Filming will take place on Wednesday 17th March at Willowgate and at a few locations around the river. If you would like to book a table in the cafe that day contact the fishery on 01738446546.

 

Winter Willowgate patterns

Yellow dancer

 

Big Ugly (black and green, yellow and white)

 

Bloodworm patterns such as Apps bloodworm. Corixa

 

Black buzzers such as epoxy patterns and cdc's

 

Friday 19th February 2010- Willowgate trout loch. Some deadly early season Willowgate patterns. These are all available in out tackle shop. At present the loch is still frozen.

How does ice affect our trout?

 

 

Wednesday 17th February 2010- Willowagte fishery. We have a lot of anglers wondering how the ice affects our trout. It has been 8 full weeks since a line was cast in anger at Willowgate and in todays photos you can see it is still frozen. The ice itself is not really a problem to fish. This due to air being trapped within the ice which is released as it thaws and refreezes. The water temperature is currently around 2 degrees centigrade and the trouts metabolism is reduced. This means although the fish aren't feeding heavily they are not expending much energy so will be surviving fine. The otter, when it can get below the ice is still catching healthy trout.

Seals feeding on kelts

 

February 15th 2010- Willowgate fishery. Seals are busy feeding at the Willowgate salmon beat just now. There are many kelts dropping down the river this month and are easy pickings for these hungry carnivores. Grey seals like the one in the picture can eat 10kg of fish per day.

Willowgate- ice and swans

 

 

 

13th February 2010- Willowgate trout loch. With Perth still in the grips of the coldest winter on record even the wildlife has a tough time. As this pair prepare to start nesting they are keeping their territory closely guarded. As these photos show the fishery is still frozen. Please contact the fishery office on 01738446546 for updates on the pond.

Winter rainbows at Willowgate

 

 

12th February 2010- Willowgate trout loch. Ron Lusher with some big winter catches at Willowgate.

Willowgate cafe- Soup and a scone

 

11th February 2010. Willowgate trout fishery- A soup and scone from our menu at the Willowgate cafe. Freshly prepared soups on dailly. Scones baked every morning. Contact the cafe on 01738 446546 for more info.

Dazling sunshine at willowgate

 

 

Feruary 10th 2010- Willowgate trout loch. Dazling sunshine during the day just now in Perth, but very cold temperatures again at night time. After breaking up a lot of the ice yesterday the pond has refrozen. !!Spring will soon be here!!

Willowgate trout fishery- Ice breaking

 

February 9th 2010- Willowgate trout loch. Ally and Jed starting to break up the ice on willowgate.

Thaw starting at Willowgate

 

 

February 8th 2010- Willowgate trout pond. The recent mild weather has started a good thaw on willowgate. The ice breaking will start tomorrow morning. Hopefully if this mild weather continues for a few more days the fishery will be open for business soon. The cafe and shop are open as usual.

 

February 8th 2010- Willowgate trout pond. The willowgate cafe and shop. It was an overcast day with a raw breeze never too far away.