Fraser on fishing: Ice broken in the shallows

IT WAS a club outing to Bangour fishery near Dechmont at the weekend, but conditions were far from ideal as management had been out early morning breaking the ice in sub-zero temperatures, writes STUART FRASER.
By STUART FRASER
Published 6th Apr 2013, 13:04 BST

The dam wall area normally produces the good early catches but with the exception of one or possibly two rods bending it was surprisingly quiet.

I managed to grab a platform on the far bank opposite the lodge and went through all the usual lures in attempt to get something the fish would like, to no avail. Further down, in the shallower water, rods were starting to bend steadily. Most were on fast glass lines and using buzzers or blobs. A platform became available and I duly moved further down. It was a case of casting out and retrieving at as slow a pace as possible.

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This was completely different water as offers and takes were ten to the dozen, but a different matter trying to get them to stay on. Takes were savage and when I did get one to stay on it went absolutely berserk, tossing and turning trying to slip the hook. The quality of the fish is stunning and management is to be congratulated. I managed to get my bag limit before the cold descended again and, on leaving, fish were starting to rise and I was amazed at just how many were showing.