Thanks be to cod as winter league starts

Mike and Chris Horn’s Winter Heaviest Cod League, popular with East Coast anglers, is scheduled to start today, incorporating seven sweepstakes on Saturday nights.
Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth reported good sport last weekend with a ling of 11lb 12oz being landed.Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth reported good sport last weekend with a ling of 11lb 12oz being landed.
Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth reported good sport last weekend with a ling of 11lb 12oz being landed.

The venue is Carnoustie to Ferryden Lighthouse and the league entry is £10 for payable on or prior to any event.

Anglers can join at first or sixth match or anytime in between and there is a £15 entry fee for every match with £5 going to heaviest fish and the matches could towards the Penn Sea League.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The opening event is from 15.00 to 20.00 with registration between 13.30 and 14.00 at the Victoria Car Park, Arbroath, which is essentially the promenade that leads to the walk along Arbroath cliffs. Anglers all depart at 14.00.

The follow-up events are Saturday, November 14 (fishing 15.30-20.30, registration 14.00-14.30 at the Victoria Car park, all depart at 14.30), Saturday, November 21 (fishing 15.00-20.00, registration 13.30-14.00 at the Victoria Car Park, all depart 14.00); Saturday, December 5 (fishing 15.00-20.00, registration 13.30-14.00 at the Victoria Car Park, all depart 14.00).

Times for Saturday, January 15, 2021, Saturday, January 22 and Saturday, February 13 have still to be confirmed but the weigh-in is at the Victoria Car Park. It closes one hour after the match is finished and anglers must be in the queue by then.

Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers (SFSA) rules apply including minimum landing size limits and there is a five-yard rule with one rod and three hooks maximum.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Joint organiser Chris Horn from Kirkcaldy said: "The dates are subject to change depending on Government guidelines."

Call/message Chris on 07872 944807 for details.

Meanwhile, Bill Taylor, the owner of Glencorse, has confirmed there are no spaces left for the Scierra Pairs heat at his water on Sunday, August 1, 2021.

Nearby, the winter competition is underway at Rosslynlee and day one was tough in a strong wind but lures, snakes, bibio and spider were among the favoured patterns.

Jamie Mcleary landed the heaviest fish. He bagged four and returned another seven with a double rainbow included.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Robin Scott returned nine while Tam Preston bagged four and returned five as did John Newton. The next event is on Sunday, November 29.

Meanwhile, the Bass Rock Shore Angling League continues its winter series on Wednesday with the venue and times being confirmed on their Facebook page tomorrow (Sunday).

Dale McCallum is now only two points behind early pace-setter Barry McEwan in the title race having landed two fish for 5lb 6oz in the fourth round from Skateraw to Cove.

Stuart Fairbairn was second with three fish for 2lb 2oz and Alan Brown third with one fish for 1lb 9oz, one ounce ahead of Ryan Smith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McEwan, who did not fish the last match, has 20 points with Brown third on 14, Fairbairn fourth two points back and James Ogilvie fifth on ten points.

Elsewhere, Derek Anderson of Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth reports good sport last weekend with a ling of 11lb 12oz being landed. He is continuing to run eight-hour trips at weekends through the winter, weather permitting.

Finally, to coarse fishing and Chris Bolton won the Rod and Reel Only Cup run by Edinburgh and Lothians Coarse Angling Club at Orchill near Auchterarder, but he left it late.

Eight members contested the second running of the competition which was held on the Inner Snake on a terrific Autumnal day, no overnight frost, overcast and with next to no wind at all. Perfect for a days fishing, if only the fish had thought so too.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris had one fish at about 15.00 - one hour from the end of the five-hour match - which tipped the scales at 7lb 8oz and it was enough to give him victory for the second year running.

Stewart Ritchie was second with 4lb 9oz and Heather Lauriston third with 4lb 8oz. The remainder failed to weigh in.

The latest Open event run by members was won by Tommy Lauriston with 6lb 4oz made up of three carp of around 1lb 5oz and silvers, four ounces ahead of Tony Ball and Frank Smith who both posted weights of 6lb on a day of mixed weather conditions.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our sports coverage with a digital sports subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.