It’s been a great year for West Lothian Angling Association in spite of Covid-19

Permits for 2021 season are available now from Fishing Around the Forth (www.fishforth.co.uk) and the price has been frozen at £15 for the season.

Scot Muir, the association's secretary, stressed that the ticket holder can still take two youngsters aged under 16 onto the water with an adult ticket.

He added: "Anglers must use barbless hooks and we are 100 per cent catch and release. Spinning is permitted but conditions are printed on permits."

Returns from last season online indicate that ten salmon, 25 sea trout and 207 brown trout were netted and he added: "The whole river has fished well with the Almondell Country Park and Livingston Village areas proving popular.

"In early season, spider patterns do well with black spider and partridge and orange are up there as favourites.

"On dry flies, you won't go wrong with grey duster, griffiths gnat, Adams and a few Fflys in your box.

"Bugs, including black magic, gold head hare lug and prince nymphs can also tempt and in late summer nights have a few sedge patterns ready.

"For the high water, many swear by a woolly bugger, black or white."

He said it was too early to say how effective the Howden Rock Ramp has been due to the Mid Calder weir still presenting a significant barrier to fish migration.

None of the surveys carried out in the waters above the weir produced any salmon parr and work is planned to begin in the first or second quarter of 2021 to address the barrier (weir) at Mid Calder.

The on-going work at Limefield Falls in Polbeth, he said, is designed to allow access for all fish species to vital spawning habitat in the headwaters complementing all of the other work done on the main stem of the river.

In normal years, the club host a monthly fly tying evening and Scot said: "It will return only once restrictions allow it to happen and people are comfortable to come back."

Onto still waters and Allandale Tarn boss Iona Allan reports some great recent returns on her popular fishery next to the Zoo at West Calder.

On the fly, a number of resident brown trout have been making an appearance. Kate McLaren variants and nymph patterns have been working their charms on these beauties.

She added: "The (rain)bows and tigers continue to be taking a variety of patterns, depending on weather conditions. Generally a floating line works best for all species with most fish hooked in the top 2.5ft.

"On colder days pink or red aps or larger colourful ecstasy patterns have been working best.

"However, on the surprisingly milder days, we seem to be having for this time of year, darker colours of spiders, beetles, shipmans and olive damsel variants have been tempting the fish best.

"Catch rates among anglers have been as variable, with some hooking a few one day when it's flat clam, then racking up 30 plus the next day, the only notable difference, being a wee ripple on the water."

Rosslynlee near Penicuik has also been fishing will with regular Rab Amos landing a fine trout around 13lb and catches of up to double-figures have been recorded at Bowden Springs near Linlithgow. Drumtassie near Blackridge also remains open along with Markle near East Linton and Tweeddale at Gifford but it is always best to check opening times with each fishery before making the trip as times change during the holiday period.

At sea, Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth will not sail again until late January following the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

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.