03/10/11 - North Esk

Time - 18.00 - 19.00

Water - Around 10cm up, coloured nicely
Where - Railway Tunnel Bridge - Dalmore Weir

Weather - OK

Methods - Size 3 mepp
Total - 1
Species - Brown Trout
Size - 10.5 inch

An excellent image above of the overnight rise in water level according to the Dalmore gauge on the North Esk.  While an excellent resource, I've only recently discovered this specific water level indicator. On the few occasions since discovering it that I've been able to match it to my own actual observed conditions, I'd say that it is accurate at recording water levels, bit the times it claims to represent are a bit out. I'll be more specific once I've had time to do a bit more matching up of data and observations.

From Dalmore Tunnel looking west along the Old Railway

The boost in water attracted me out. Auchendinny was the direction. After an unsuccesful stint at the bridge, walked through the tunnel to the old mill site to find it's been fenced off since my last visit. So back up to the bridge, into the water and a traipse downstream. However, as I was crossing at the foot of the bridge pool, I chucked the spinner directly upstream. This is the tactic that has brought me my only two fish to date from this pool and first cast I was into another. Notable that they don't sniff the mepp in other directions but can't help themselves when its heading straight downstream.

10.5 inch

Afterwards there was a little toil for no reward. Nothing doing at all in the weir pool and the impending darkness ended proceedings.

01/10/11 - South Medwin Water

Biggest Hill Pool

Time - 18.00 - 19.00

Water - Crystal clear, not low, but not high either
Where - Parked at the farm track ford & fished upstream in the hill pools, then a quick shot at and above the humpback bridge

Weather - Windy, drizzly

Methods - Size 3 mepp
Total - 3
Species - Brown Trout
Size - 6.5-8.5 inches

6.5 inch

With time running out in the trout season, I made my way to Dunsyre to see what was on offer. Initially drove thru the village and along the farm track to the weir. The track is becoming difficult to pass and an off roader would be well advised next time I attempt the mission. Had a quick thrash in the weir pool, but nothing showed itself in a favourable looking spot.

First 8.5 incher

Moved upstream in the increasing drizzle doubting my decision to persevere. En route witnessed at least a thousand geese, maybe as much as five thousand or so, migrating in their V formations, in half a dozen or so groups. Took some footage, but in the grey drizzle and at the height they were at, not really worth adding the clip on here. Tried my luck in one or two small runs, the burn is pretty small this far upstream with no success. At the first decent pool I connected with a 6.5 incher, resplendent in a real buttery brown colouring and flapping about like the wild burn brownie it was. An absolutely excellent wee fish and suddenly everything was worthwhile again.

Best saved til last

At the next and biggest pool, prospects looked outstanding. After a couple of missed taps, I managed to get my second fish, marked and coloured exactly as the first fish. However on closer inspection, there was a problem with its tail. At first I assumed it had been nibbled a bit, and that may have been the case. But it was probably some sort of fungus/wasting type infection. Otherwise the fish was lovely.

The very next cast I hit the jackpot again with another 8.5 incher, this time without any problems. Fish of the day to top things off. If these are the fish that make their way downstream and into the Clyde, then the Clyde is a lucky river indeed.

With the rain and potential for lying water in mind, I made my way back to the car to get back along the farm track before things got too slippy and puddles got too deep at the risk of becoming stranded.

At the humpback bridge, I had a wee peer to see what, if anything was happening. Upstream there is a shallowish pool which slopes right into shallows before running under the bridge. At the tail of that pool, there must have been 8-12, 7-9 inchers lying which were spooked by my silhouette and made themselves noticeable as they made for cover in the deeper current. I fished from the bridge up for a few small pools and runs, but generally the pools were too small. Nevertheless I did manage a couple of half decent bites.

Last stop was the pool immediately below the bridge. I opted to fish upstream into it from the right bank. I was tapped a couple of times when casting right into the inflow but was unable to make them count and called it a day after a right good covering.

30/09/11 - Union Canal

Dangerous business

Time - 17.00 - 18.00

Water - Cloudyish, quite like coffee
Where - M9 trunk road basin

Weather - Dull and breezy

Methods - Worm/float & pike lure
Total - 0


Whilst still awaiting ultimate success at this excellent looking spot, I had a hankering after some worm action. So with a tub of worms I set off in search of a Perch or whatever else would take the bait. Whilst chucking the worm out I also pursued a pike with my £9.99 pike lure. There was a fair amount of  leaf litter and suchlike so I was often catching leaves and grass with the spinner. And thats about as exciting as the lure report goes.

The worm had just as much (or as little) action. Was hoping for an angry perch to get involved, but not to be. There were the odd bubble or two, although I'd strongly suspect they were simply gas bubbles. But there was some activity in the surface from really small fish, flapping or semi-rising. Despite being very sure the limited commotion was from fish, I was unable in the light & reflection to see and/or ID these little blighters.

25/09/11 - North Esk

Time - 18.00 - 19.00

Water - Up a little bit and still a bit of colour, but right back down towards standard level
Where - Dalmore Tunnel Bridge Pool and downstream.

Weather - A bit muggy

Methods - Size 3 mepp
Total - 1
Species - Brown Trout

Size - 8.5 inch


Conditions a lot less favourable for the spinner due to relaxing water levels. But that didn't stop me hoping for biggies. I did manage a few taps and eventually briefly extracted this lovely wee scrapper from its home.


I fished downstream from the previously most downstream pool I'd fished. At the very foot of the Dalmore site there is a long crescent of a pool. I crossed upstream so I was on the right bank. Despite it looking excellent, I had no luck until the second part of the pool which has a small run in to a deeper section that runs alongside a wall on the left bank. I caught my solitary fish at the run in. Although it was well worth its photo, I decided to photograph it as I suspected it might be the only victim of the day. And so it turned out.


Below here, there were another couple of likely looking spots, but nothing else came to play before I had to retrace my steps prior to darkness o'clock.