26/02/2013 - Pumpherston Pond

In all it's glory

Time - 1615-1745
Weather - A balmy 5 or 6 degrees, no wind
Water - Clear, still
Method - Worm & maggot
Total - 1
Species - Perch, 8.75 inch

Having swithered between Pumphy and Torness for my previous soiree, I took advantage of the improvement in the weather to check out the 2013 version of Pumpherston Pond.

Waiting on a bite

Half of it's bank is effectively the adjacent golf course and there is no doubt what takes priority. Needless to say its not the anglers. But I hoped the time of year might mean the course was quiet enough for me to be able to fish as much as possible and that's how it turned out.

I chucked out two floats, one suspending some maggots which have taken some half decent (for me) Perch in the past and a worm on the other rod.

I'm led to believe that if Perch are present, a worm is almost cheating, but I've yet to catch anything at all ever on a worm. Can only persevere.

This shows how pleasant Pumphy Pond can and should be

About this time last year I tried Pumphy, but the water was clogged with weed and difficult to fish. On arrival I was delighted to see that this wasn't the case this year, further, the water was as clear as I've seen it. The only problem with this, is the amount of litter and detritus that the good people of Pumpherston feel they must scatter here, is on full display. For an amenity with such potential, and doing not bad despite its current level of disrepair, it is obviously very undervalued and left to fend for itself. I can't help think the golf club miss a trick here (I understand it's on their land).

A right fatty

Although smaller than the nearby Eliburn, this venue would benefit from a good clear out and the construction of a few pegs/marks to fish from. They could easily be shielded from incoming golf balls and the greenkeeping staff could surely act as bailiffs and go round a couple of times a day taking a fiver from the fishers just like the members do at Eliburn in a system that seems to work fine. With a little bit of stocking, say some Roach, Gudgeon, Bream or Rudd to compliment the Perch, Pike and Tench already there I think it would be a nice little top up of funds for the golf club in a time when every penny is a prisoner. But what do I know, all I'm suggesting is the owners maintain it to somewhere near it's full potential, maximise it's profit, and provide an excellent little venue for locals to walk, fish, spot some wildlife or just feed the ducks. That said, I am not blind to the litter that some less enlightened anglers discard doing themselves and those of us who obey the country code a great disservice.

Straying back to fishing it turned out to be one of those unusual days that seem to happen more than they should, namely one bite - one fish. After a good half hour of nothing at all, a couple of yoof arrived and began fishing on the brick pier. Claiming past Pike and Tench to 4lb kept my optimism afloat. Whilst semi-expecting a Perch, there is also the hope of a rogue Tench picking up my bait. As always, can only but try.

Bait and prey

After about an hour, having cast around a lot more than usual, my maggot float finally began to show signs of interest before disappearing altogether. A nice tubby Perch was soon hauled onto the bank. Although I couldn't quite make it stretch to 9 inches, it was still most welcome.

I kept on until dusk before packing up and heading back to the car. By the time I did it must have been getting back down to zero and I was delighted to get a heat back in me.

21/02/2013 - Torness

Lunar landscape

Time - 1515-1715
Weather - Windy, grey, increasingly chilly
Water - Choppy, cloudy
Method - LRF and lure
Total - 1
Species - Blenny

While we've not had as severe a winter as the last couple of years, nevertheless it's been pretty dreich. Due to a mixture of uninviting weather and other commitments I'd taken a relatively lengthy sabbatical from my piscine pursuits but as we entered February the compunction to get out and amongst the fish was growing to really itchy proportions.

Fishing on the moon

As the weather wasn't very welcoming, conditions and therefore prospects at this time of the year are not so good. If I was to venture out I'd want to also do my best to guarantee a fish. This left me with three options as far as I could see. The first one was ruled out on a time basis. I'd back myself to succeed at Eliburn but prefer to spend at least a half day there. Today I only had a couple of hours at best in the run up to darkness. That left either Torness/Dunbar to pursue any little blighters like Blennies, Gobies or Sea Scorpions (or indeed anything else willing to chomp my hook), or Pumpherston Pond where I have a decent record with the Perch.

Rock pool

I opted for Torness as the tide would be out allowing me access to the usual tried and tested pools, gaps and holes where the alluringly aggressive little fish frequent.

On arrival I couldn't believe my situation. Thinking I had both my main fishing bag, which generally holds all my kit and my carry bag which I fill with trip specific stuff, I found I'd left the latter at home. All my rockpool kit (hooks, Isome, weights etc) were miles away. I had all my lures and offshore kit and scrabbled through it all working out what to do.

'Patterned' barnacles

I managed to find a solitary hook small enough, three split shot weights (2 required) and then had to fashion a piece of Isome/Gulp type wormy lure from the tail of one of lures I did have. Well I was good until the first line break then I'd have to be content with an almost inevitable blank chucking lures out into the sea itself.

There is always the anticipation when approaching rock pools that there might be a one-off inhabitant, whether it be a flatfish or something a bit more 'exotic'. Alas I tried all the pools at the inflow and couldn't even tempt a show of interest, never mind spot something more exciting.

Random barnacles

After a while of zero action I became distracted with the rocks themselves and some of the life and characteristics I'd noticed on previous visits. A better camera than my phone would have done things more justice, not to mention a more skilled photographer. Some of the rock, which I expect has been eaten away by the limpets and barnacles and suchlike looks almost lunar in it's appearance.

But you don't catch many fish when your line isn't in the water. Very aware I was yet to get off the mark for 2013 I made for the outflow area a bit further along the coast.

Yellow lichen on black rocks

This time I had more success. There were some shows of interest which assured me that, as I suspected, my makeshift approach was still more than sufficient. I have to say the attitude of these wee fish when something is dropped into their vicinity is most endearing. It's as if anything entering their domain is showing the most disrespectful gall just dropping into their patch. If they are there, they're out like a shot. Sometimes stopping short of the lure/bait for a quick inspection before engulfing it, sometimes not even pausing before they gulp it down.

Limpet & Barnacles

Winkles

The first fish of the year soon arrived in the shape of a half decent Blenny. It's colouration shows up quite nicely in the photo (considering the general grimness of the day).

A keen eye will see my improvised 'worm'. I'm still without my polarised specs, so am not able to see under the water as easily as in the past, plus the late-ish hour meant it was getting increasingly difficult to watch the lure under the water and/or see any approaches from the defenders of the rocky crevices. Also, as it was an improvised lure, I could hardly see it once it submerged.

I explored around most of the exposed reef before setting up a lure and chucking a few casts into the outflow in the hope of something bigger. But the swell was quite large, dusk was drawing in as was the cold and as I was on my own, the safety situation wasn't exactly improving and so I called it a day.

First fish of the year

29/02/2012 - Eliburn

Time - 1430 - 1545
Water - Inflow clear, clouding up into the main water
Where - Next to inflow bridge
Weather - Dull but OK & improving
Method - Float, maggots, 18 inches down
Total - 6

14.5 inch Ide

Without much time on my hands I opted for a single rod assault and headed for the top end where I can guarantee interest.

Not too long before my arrival, someone had obviously been feeding ducks as there was a lot of bread on the surface, but no ducks around. However there were two or three carp in the 3-5lb range sooking and swirling at it on the surface which was encouraging for starters. Unfortunately I didn't have any bread with me.

14 inch Ide

First cast my float disappeared and I was into a decent Ide of about 16-17 inch. I was toying with how to land it as my net was still folded and after a minute or so, as I tried to set up my net it escaped.

Continuing with the method of casting and then dropping some mags over the float area was proving successful. A couple of foot or so down you could see the fish hoovering up the maggots on the drop and the float was disappearing often enough. The first fish to be banked was a 14.5 inch Ide, soon followed by a 14 incher.

As the fish began to wise up - more phantom bites were increasing as the fish gobbled then spat the mags before I could strike - I increased the amount of maggots from 2 or 3 up to full beard. Although still attracting interest from the Ide, I connected with a couple of Perch. The first was just under 5 inch and the next a veritable Eliburn monster of 6 whole inches.

I'm pretty well versed in what Eliburn holds and have caught or seen most species. On maggot and float alone I've connected with Carp, Barbel, Tench, Rudd, Hybrid, Ide, Gudgeon, Roach & Bream. However, as far as I know, I'm yet to encounter a Chub. Having never encountered them anywhere else either, I have no experience of them to use as a marker. It is my suspicion that I have caught Chub amongst hauls of Ide, but just not been aware of it at the time. I've been told they have unmistakably big mouths, but, considering the variety I've hooked, I'm very surprised I haven't even caught a Chub by accident. Most unlikely. Needless to say, now I'm aware of this I've been paying special attention to all 'Ide' I catch.

There was still a fair bit of interest in general although I was casting a bit further and wider. My next two fish were smaller than the first two Ide, but quite interesting in the old Ide/Chub debate.

Fish Five, 13.5 inches

Fishes One & Two I characterise thus: A deeper, rounder 'breamier' shape as is apparent in the photos. Quite rough to the touch when dealing with them on the bank and quite a thuddy fight without many or any runs.

The last two fish were different enough to arouse my suspicions, whilst being similar enough to allow my doubt and confusion to rumble on.

As soon as I hooked them, at a further distance than I'd caught my earlier two Ide, I noticed a difference in the fight. I suspected they were Roach as they were much flittier, a bit stronger though not heavier and making runs. Once banked I noticed their scales to be relatively larger and noticeably continuing up round and over the back of the fish. They were more slender and very slimy to touch. However the colouration was as good as identical both on the body and the reddishness of the fins. Fish Five was 13.5 inches and Fish Six was 12 inches.

So for the time being I'll continue to call the last two Ide until I determine the differences for sure, or catch a Chub which shows itself to be completely different from the Ide I've been taking.

19/02/2012 - Cockenzie

Elaborate & brooding wind break

Time - 15.30-16.45
Water - Halfway between high & low tide
Where - Warm water outflow & North Harbour wall
Weather - Breezy and not too warm
Method - Spoon
Total - 0 (zilch)

A quickish hour or so on a mainly investigatory expedition. A couple of boys on the sea side of the bridge over the outflow appeared to be bait fishing with set lines. Another dude on my side using a rubber sandeel under a float on lightish tackle and my good self with a blue/silver spoon. All without success.

Cockenzie Harbour

There was a cormorant coming and going suggesting the presence of something worthwhile. The guy I spoke to had only restarted fishing last year but had been told that the odd bass is taken when they come near to the warm water in the power station outflow.

Otherwise, in June-July a bit of orthodox Mackerel bashing can provide a bit of fun.

With no success at the outflow, I tried the harbour entrance for 10 minutes but the tide was well on it's way out and nothing registered.