Fishing: Lothians trio gather their sea legs as they aim to win Mull of Galloway Angling event

George Wood, left, with Les McBride, centre, and Tony Voss (with conger eel) on HellRaiser 3

But the Edinburgh angler and his team are determined to improve on that in the sold-out, 40-boat festival from June 21 to 23.

It is billed as Scotland’s ultimate species hunt and Les, who owns a busy cobblers shop in Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, plus George, who also comes from the Capital, and Tony from Fife, bagged 19 different species in a ten-hour marathon last time.

The second-placed team had 21 different species and the winner 24 but HellRaiser 3 is primed and ready for the competition, one of the premier small boat events of the season.

Les, who is also UK agent for the Norwegian sea fishing camp, Sandland Brygge, 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle, said: “The competition was cut to one day because of the weather last season and it was a tough, ten-hour day, but we did well and we are naturally looking to do better this time. It’s a well-run event attracting some quality anglers.”

There is, however, still time to enter the Mull of Galloway Kayak Event on June 29 and 30 with full details on Facebook along with an entry form.

Elsewhere, Scotland’s women’s fly fishing team finished a disappointing third in the Home Internationals.

The 12-strong team totalled 19 fish on a day in which the home side England triumphed with 56 fish. Ireland were second with 28 fish with Scotland one fish in front of fourth-placed Wales.

Liz McLellan from Armadale, one of the Scotland team, said: “Well done to England, they had the method on the day.

Scotland had prepared well, going down early to practice, but the weather on the training days included high winds and heavy rain. On cpmpetiton day there were blue skies and little wind.

Jane Wright, Scotland’s former team manager, topped the tartan team’s catch list with six fish and Liz said: “We can’t makes excuses, we just did not get it right on the day.”

The women are now launching their fundraisers for next season and the first one is at Beecraigs Loch in the Bathgate Hills on Sunday. June 23. There are nine boats available and the cost is £30 per angler and the entry fee includes lunch. There are prizes for first, second and third and there is a raffle.

A total of 24 anglers will contest the popular Kingdom of Fife Fly Fishing Championship at Stenhouse Fishery near Burntisland today.

And Glencorse Reservoir near Flotterstone is preparing for the sold-out heat of the Scierra Pairs tomorrow from 10am.

Bruce Hope, chairman of West Lothian Angling Association, said water levels in their nine-mile stretch have been low but clear and producing good sport with trout up to 1.5lb being caught using light gear. Olive patterns have been best on size 14 to 18 hooks.

Permits are being snapped up but are still available priced at £15 for the season.

Bruce said: “It’s an all-species permit for the whole summer and you can’t beat it.” Permit outlets include Glasgow Angling Centre at Granton, Tangles at Broxburn and Orvis in Edinburgh or the club website on http://www.wlaa.org.uk/

Darrin Ferguson landed 62lb 5oz of fish to win the latest round of the Saturday League hosted by Edinburgh and Lothians Coarse Angling Club.

The forecast for Orchill, Perthshire, indicated it would be a wet and blustery day and Geoff Lowe said that it turned out to be anything but.

There was hardly a ripple on the water and only the odd shower from noon onwards.

Within minutes of the all in, rods started bending and anglers thought they were on for a good day. Everything died quickly except for Darrin on Peg 19.

His haul was almost enough to cover the weight of all other anglers combined.

Results: Darrin Ferguson 62lb 5oz; Bill Bright 10lb 10oz; Heather Lauriston 10lb 07oz; Ian Sloss 9lb 15oz; Roz Cassidy 9lb; Chris Bolton 8lb 9oz; Peter McCrossan 8lb 8oz; Colin Lavery 6lb 4oz; Tommy Lauriston 5lb 10oz; Geoff Lowe 5lb 6oz; Sandra Anderson 2lb 11oz.