Local angling associations join up to offer reduced cost fishing on the River Almond

Fishing is from the Forth estuary to Livingston

The river Almond at Mid Calder. Picture: Nigel Duncan Media

TWO local angling associations have come together to offer cut-price access to one of the most popular rivers in the Lothians.

Anglers who sign up now will be able to fish on the River Almond from the Forth Estuary to Livingston with a £10 deduction on the cost of a joint ticket.

An adult ticket is £35 for Cramond Angling Club (CAC) and £15 for West Lothian Angling Association (WLAA), but Joe Arndt, secretary of CAC, explained that if you pay £15 to WLAA then you would pay £25 to CAC or if you pay £35 to CAC then you pay £5 to WLAA which works out at £40 for 16 miles of fishing.

Bruce Hope, chairman of WLAA, said both clubs are keen to promote junior angling, and adults taking up the offer will also be allowed one junior permit (under-16) free of charge and thereafter at £5 for the other water.

Anglers apply for membership of their home club, including any junior memberships, and they will be issued with a unique number which can then be used to apply to the other club for the discounted permit or permits.

Applications can be made with a cheque/postal order/bank transfer and a stamped self-addressed envelope to either Memberships Cramond Angling Club, 22 Parkgrove Loan, Edinburgh EH47QX or Memberships WLAA, 8 Cunnigar Hill View, Mid Calder, Livingston EH530SG.

The offer provides permits anglers to fish the other club’s water but does not confer full voting membership of that club and either club retains a right of refusal.

Members will be bound by the rules of whichever club water anglers are fishing at the time and both organisations urged fishermen to familiarise themselves fully before travelling.

Permit holders are required to carry photographic identification in addition to the permits and will have to leave the river if requested by Bailiffs of either club or the Forth Rivers Trust.

Proof of age is required for junior permits.

Joe said: “Both clubs hope anglers take advantage to try out new waters and enhance their experience of the river.”

Meanwhile, Andy Anderson is scheduled to demonstrate tying skinny black cormorant patterns to Edinburgh Fly Dressers at Currie Bowling Club on Wednesday (7.30pm). New members are welcome to attend.

Elsewhere, the 43rd Amble Open with a prize fund of around £6,000 takes place tomorrow and is expected to attract around 400 competitors.

The event, which last year saw anglers from as far afield as Scarborough, Whitby, York, Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness competing, is fished in conjunction with the Penn Sea League. Fishing is from 9am to 1pm.

The entry fee is £12 for all classes and there is with the competition headquarters and registration at The Radcliffe Club, Amble, from 7am. The post code is NE65 ORA.

Details are on the Amble club’s website.

The Scottish Federation of Sea Angling have confirmed an open league and the entry fee will be a one-off £20.

Each angler will count their top four results from the selected matches. In the event of a tie, the next best result will act as a tie break.

All matches will be Penn points counters and the dates are March 28, Spring Open, Riverside Drive, Dundee (lugworm and mackerel only); May 17, SFSA Open, St Cyrus, near Montrose; June 6 and 7, Two-Day Open Riverside Drive, Dundee; August 23, Clyde and West Open, Greenock Esplanade; September 20, Erskine Open; October 11, Flounder Championship, Lunan Bay, between Arbroath and Montrose; November 7 and 8, Ian Reid Memorial, Leven, Fife, November 22, Bass Rock Open, Ravensheugh Beach, East Lothian.