Financial strains force Connor to walk away from Kailzie water
Connor Newcombe has just enjoyed success in the Scottish National Fly Fishing League, made his debut for Scotland and celebrated his 30th birthday, but he has been forced to make a major business decision.
That is to step away from popular Kailzie Fisheries. The move has come after a lot of thought and after Newcombe has poured time, effort and money into trying to make the water near Peebles a success.
But he admitted: “The reality of running a small fishery is very different from the dream of owning one.”
Newcombe had ideas and ambitions when he took over and, looking back, he is proud of what he has achieved.
But he admitted: “Behind the scenes, it’s [running a small fishery] been incredibly challenging. The financial pressures, rising costs and constant responsibility of keeping everything going have slowly taken the enjoyment out of something I was once so passionate about.
“The sad reality is that passion alone doesn’t pay the bills and, while there’s certainly some sadness in leaving, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t also an enormous sense of relief.”
He added: “I’ve spent so much time trying to make something work that, financially, simply wasn’t giving enough back. Sometimes you’ve got to accept that no matter how much effort you put into something it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work.”
There have been pluses. They have included introducing youngsters to fishing for the first time, hosting the 2026 Tweed Trout Festival, and seeing incredible fish caught. Newcombe said he has also met “many wonderful people” along the way.
The plan is to keep the fishery open until the end of November, but, overall, he is worried about the future of stillwater fishing. “Having experienced first-hand what goes into running a small fishery, I do question how sustainable the industry is becoming,” said Newcombe. “For me, one of the biggest challenges has been the constant pressure to stock fish.
“There seems to be an expectation nowadays that anglers should be catching plenty of fish every time they visit. When the fishing slows down, the immediate assumption is often that there aren’t enough fish in the water. Anyone who understands fishing knows that simply isn’t always the case.
“Weather conditions, water temperatures, fishing pressure and natural fish behaviour all play a huge part in how well a water fishes.
“There were plenty of occasions at Kailzie when fish were present in good numbers, but conditions simply weren’t favourable.
“Unfortunately, as a fishery owner, you’re often left feeling that the only way to keep everyone happy is to introduce more fresh fish and, financially, that becomes incredibly difficult to sustain.
“I don’t blame anyone for wanting to catch fish, but I do think we’ve reached a point where expectations of stillwater fishing need to change.
“Fishing shouldn’t always be easy. Some of the most rewarding days are the ones where you have to work things out and earn your fish.
“The constant cycle of stocking to maintain catch rates, while trying to keep ticket prices affordable, is a difficult business model for smaller fisheries and, ultimately, it is one of the biggest reasons I’ve decided to walk away.”
Small stillwaters, like his, are Newcombe’s biggest concern. They are the places where so many anglers first picked up a fly rod, caught their first trout and developed a lifelong passion for the sport.
Newcombe added: “Now that I’ve got children of my own, I can only hope that things change and these fisheries are still around for them to enjoy in years to come. I’d hate to see the next generation lose those opportunities.”
Recently announcement membership plans for next year will no longer go ahead.
Newcombe is now looking forward to enjoying fly fishing again without the pressures of running a business and he confirmed: “My passion for the sport certainly hasn’t gone anywhere, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Meanwhile, the two-day Iain Reid Memorial Match takes place this weekend. Registration on Saturday and on Sunday is from 7.30am to 8.15am at the end car park at Kirkcaldy Esplanade.
There are 60 pegs available and fishing on Saturday (November 14) is from 9am to 1pm at Kirkcaldy and noon to 4pm at Leven on Sunday (November 15). This is a measure and return match with a minimum size limit of 15cm and bait restrictions are lugworm and mackerel.
Prizes are for first, second and third and there are also zone awards and one for the heaviest flat fish. Entry is £40 and this match counts towards the ASSO Sea League.
Contact David Dobbie on 07940 111729 or Alan Combe on 07872 899791 for details and the presentation is at the East Dock Bar, Leven KY8 3EQ.