Edinburgh Winter Shore League underway at ‘reliable’ Newhaven
Once again, Newhaven (East) produced. A total of 170 fish were counted by the 24 anglers who cast a line in the first leg of the Edinburgh Winter Shore League, and nobody blanked.
Among the fish landed was a 64cm dogfish tempted by Lindsay Bell, and a special mention should go to Carson Anderson, who is bidding to win the inaugural Scotland under-16 title, who finished second in this event. The Eyemouth-based teenager landed 15 fish for 388 points but was beaten by Edinburgh angler Chris Cooper, who had 17 fish for 606 points. Third was Mike Kyle (Easthouses) with 14 fish for 382 points.
Ian Campbell, the organiser, said: “The venue, once again, showed its reliability with some cracking numbers of codling up to 59cm, a couple of 60cm-plus dogfish and even a short spined sea scorpion.”
The league, sponsored by the Edinburgh Angling Centre, The Fishing Megastore and Cox & Rawle, consists of six matches with the best five scores counting, and it rolls onto Newhaven (West) on Friday, October 30 with registration from 6.15pm to 6.30pm at Western Harbour Breakwater (EH6 6PA) and fishing from 7pm to 10pm.
Other matches are at Portobello Beach, west and east, and Marine Esplanade at Seafield.
A talented teenager featured in the top three in the fourth round of the winter league run by the Bass Rock Shore Angling League. Niko Millar from North Berwick, another youngster aiming to become Scotland’s under-16 champion, tempted four fish for 91cm to finish with 13 points and come second at Seacliffe Beach.
Craig Ogilvie (North Berwick) won with six fish for 136cm and 15 points, while his father James (Haddington), the club secretary, was third with three fish for 76cm and 11 points. Jimmy Green (Musselburgh) was fourth with two fish for 58cm and nine points. Green hooked the longest fish of 35cm. The next match is on Wednesday, October 28 at a venue to be confirmed later. Non-members are always welcome.
Looking ahead, Allan Saunders has confirmed that the third Arbroath Winter Open is on Saturday, November 21, and there is a first prize of £1,400. This is a cod only match with cash prizes down to fifth position, and table prizes are for anglers who finish from sixth to tenth place.
Registration is at the Victoria Park car park in Arbroath (DD11 5TB) from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, and all anglers will leave together. Boundaries are from Carnoustie to Ferryden. Fishing is from 3pm to 9pm and the rules are one rod with a maximum of two hooks. The weigh-in is from 9pm to 10pm.
For the record, high tide is 11.32am and low tide 5.19pm, and the minimum size of cod to be brought to the scales is 40cm.
For details call Allan on 07717 925959, Jason on 07407 294692, Willie 07540 440715, Daniel on 07949 794827 or Stewart 07759 379978.
Around local stillwater fisheries now and Kenny Knox, owner of Glencorse Trout Fishery above Flotterstone, hopes to remain open for the rest of October, and possibly longer, depending on the weather.
Allandale Tarn boss Iona Allan has been glueing her fingers together on a regular basis making bungs, a popular method at her and other fisheries, and she is open from 9am to 5pm from Wednesday to Sunday. They are closed Monday and Tuesday.
Morton Fishings have been allowing bank fishing at weekends and Sandy Mabon, the owner, said this hasn’t been done in the past few years but, hopefully, the method will take out a lot of old stock. Bag checks are in operation.
Further into West Lothian, a fine 12lb rainbow was hooked by David Carruthers at Bowden Springs near Linlithgow. A reminder that bait fishing is not allowed there; it is fly fishing only on the two ponds.
Leeanne Aitchison, manager at Drumtassie, said that her fly and bait ponds have been topped up and she reminded anglers that it is £20 to fish all day on a catch-and-release basis until February 2027. Six hours with a three-fish limit on the bait pond is £25, also until February. Latest catch returns show that Eric Gibson had ten on a green egg.
In East Lothian, Newlands Fishery boss Derek Plendereleith reports that Chris Kerr (Tranent) was top rod with 14 fish, with Bob Cockburn (Duns) and Bobby Boyd (Dalkeith) next best with ten each. FAB, beetle, buzzer and daddies have proved among the best patterns.
Speaking of fly patterns, Cramond Angling Club host the first of what they hope will be regular fly-tying nights. Ron Harvey, who was a regular when the Edinburgh Fly Tyers Club was functioning, said that those interested can bring their own materials and equipment, but some would be available for beginners. The date is Tuesday, October 27 at 7.30pm at Cramond Boat Club.
Further afield, Lake of Menteith Fisheries confirm that a Scottish Select beat the Army Veterans. Stewart Inglis was top rod with 11 fish. They stage the Scottish Open on Saturday, with 70 top anglers scheduled to take part.