Allandale will re-open in mid-February after installation of new toilet block for disabled

Popular Allandale Tarn is closed until mid-February to allow the building of a new toilet block which will be suitable for disabled anglers.

And bosses are taking the opportunity to tidy-up the fishery which is next door to the Five Sisters Zoo at West Calder.

Iona Allan said that the mid-February re-opening was subject to the weather, but she plans to open the fishery gates at 8am with fishing from 9am to 4pm. She added: “There are plenty of fish in the water to provide good sport.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Youth Fly Fishing team host a fund-raiser at Drumtassie near Blackridge on Sunday, March 8 (arrive for 8.15am). The cost is £30 per angler and there are prizes for the first, second and third places. Lunch is provided.

The Scottish Ladies Fly Fishing team are also hosting a fund-raiser at Drumtassie on Sunday, April 19 and the cost is £30 per angler.

Lunch is provided and there is a raffle.

Liz McLellan, one of the

organisers, said it was to raise funds to host the Home Internationals at the Lake of Menteith near Stirling on May 28.

Organisers, she added, are also looking for boatmen to drive the boat (if required), set up the drifts, record catches and keep catch cards safe.

Meanwhile, an update on the Scierra Pairs, one of Britain’s biggest fly fishing events.

The date for Glencorse is Sunday, July 19 and, owner Bill Taylor claims that for the third year in a row, it is the first venue in Scotland to be fully-booked.

Stenhouse Fishery near Burntisland on Saturday, March 21 is also fully-booked and so is Raith Lake who host two days on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19.

The other Scottish dates are Lake of Menteith on Sunday, April 26, Harelaw near Glasgow on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 and Black Loch near Limerigg on Sunday, June 28. The final is at Lynn Brenig in Wales, which is rated one of the best top-of-the-water fisheries in Britain, on Sunday, August 30.

Finally, an online hub called Fishing Around the Forth has been launched on social media. There you can find out what river fishing is available around the Forth. Included in the list are the Almond, Forth, Esk and Tyne.

This is a not-for-profit project developed by the Forth Rivers Trust and Forth District Salmon Fishery Board in conjunction with angling clubs.