Fraser on fishing: Left playing catch-up at Stenhouse

What a difference a day makes. Only 24 hours earlier at Stenhouse Fishery it was a complete white-out with strong winds. However, the next day was like summer and our club was anxious to get out.

Derek Sibson of Penicuik with a 3lb rainbow taken on a Black Cormorant at Glencorse Reservoir

All the boats, with the exception of two, made for the head of the wind at the entrance to the fishery. Anchoring up it took a few minutes before the first rods started bending. I started out on a floater and single Hothead Damsel and persevered for the best part of an hour without so much as a pull.

One bank angler was pulling them nearly every second cast on some kind of lure. My boat partner discovered a method that worked and that was a Fab on a midge tip line fished static.

Being three fish to nil down it was time to change and it was the midge tip and Sunburst Fab that went on.

By now it was early afternoon and time was running out for me as others had bagged up and on catch and release. However, within an hour I managed four fishing diagonally across the ripple and letting it swing round in the wind. I have to say the fish were in excellent condition and took the flies with a venom, refused to be bullied into the net and had to be played out. What looked like being one of those days turned in to an excellent outing and I look forward to returning.