19/11/2011 - Pumpherston Pond

South Bank looking East

Time - 14.00 - 15.30

Water - Quite clear, very weedy
Where - All accessible points

Weather - Mild, slight breeze

Methods - Maggots, float
Total - 1
Species - Perch
Size - 7 inch

The recent advent of full time employment combined with the time of year and reducing hours of light have contributed to limited (no) opportunities to wet a hook resulting in about six weeks of frustration. Finally I was able to grab a wee sesh at Pumpherston Pond, having considered trying the F&C canal at Kilsyth or Falkirk. Best chance of avoiding a blank tipped me towards Pumphy where the Perch are usually most accommodating and there is always the chance of the odd surprise.


On arrival I was pleased that the weather was pleasant enough without too much wind, as Pumphy is reasonably open. First inspections though showed the pond to be choking with weed (too much weed, what an unusual complaint). This seemed to be the case for as far as I could see out before the reflection took over even around to the golf green which had no such problem this time last year. Will need to bring a rake and a rope the next time to dig out a swim.


There was the usual amount of litter for this venue. This wee pond has bags of potential yet seems to be used as a litter bin by many of the locals. And as is so often the case, a lot of the litter was from Anglers. I suppose one good thing about the litter of other anglers is at least you can get an insight into their methods and quarry as there was an empty pack of Sprats, so obviously, someone must have been after Esox Lucius at some point recently. While I was setting up and absorbing this, I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woods behind me, alas, it was too shy to let me get a photo, but a bonus sighting nevertheless.

Fish of the month so far (from a shortlist of 1)

So I dropped some mag's into a hole in the weed off the brick 'pier'. No action. So I scouted around the bank a bit more. It was apparent I was going to have my work cut out due to the profusion of aquatic growth.


On the bridge next to the green, there was an open channel of water out through the weed and I noticed around half a dozen fish gliding away from me, most probably Perca. The golf course has big scary signs up now prohibiting fishing. So, applying common sense, seeing that there were no golfers on that or any adjacent holes and being unable to fish anywhere else, I chucked my hooked mags and a sprinkling more out into the channel. Nothing for 2 or 3 casts. I then inadvertently used the 'Perch Inducement Method' that seems to work on the tiddlers in Eliburn. I'd cast out, but due to discrepancy between where the float & bait hit the water, the float was over the channel, but the mag's would fall onto weed. So after I'd cast and the mag's had had time to drop, I suspected they may not have fallen to their intended suspended depth and gave a little pull to dislodge them. If maggots are suspended and there are Perch about, often a small tug, imparting a little 'artificial' movement to the mags seems to angry up the Perch and induce a take. As soon as I'd adjusted the bait, the float went under and I was delighted to be in to my first fish of the day/month.
However, there were two sets of golfers coming into range so I made sure I was well out their way and this meant leaving what appeared to be about the only fishable bit of the pond. I had a dip along the south bank casting as far as my set-up would allow hoping to get past the weed I could see, but I was generally getting entangled and so the sesh petered out to an inevitable end.


With some daylight left I decided to have a wee look at the weir on the Almond at East Calder. I've seen prolific amounts of fish trying to clear the weir here before, although in early October if my memory serves me correctly. There hadn't been much in the way of rain or high water recently, so I wasn't really expecting any migratories, but you never know.

The weir at East Calder.

The river was at normal enough height, not low, not high. Before too long there had been a few jumpers. Most if not all were Brownies, mostly about 8 inches with one or two being no bigger than 12 inches. It is quite likely that I was viewing repeat jumpers, so if I say I saw 25 jumps, I reckon half of those were the same fish on more than one occasion. Although not paying full attention, most jumps were taking place in my wee corner. I only noticed one fish jump at the far side of the fish ladder. I'll include some video I took below once on my pc.

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.

23/09/11 - North Esk

Time - 14.00-14.45 & 16.30-18.45

Water - About +10cm
Where - Dalmore Tunnel Bridge - Dalmore Mill & Above Weir at Mavisbank to about 1/2 mile downstream

Weather - Fair, a bit breezy with a hint of a chill

12 inch radge

Methods - Size 3 mepp
Total - 6
Species - Brown Trout
Size - 8.5-12 inch

First session at Dalmore started nicely with a follow and semi take by a nice fish under the Tunnel Bridge. No smaller than 12 inch. Then connected with the 12 incher which went mad jumping out the water three times and wrapping itself up in the line a bit. Managed to get it in and back without much trouble. No more luck on this stretch and had agreed to pick up B to try elsewhere.

Decided on the Mavisbank/Polton stretch behind Loanhead. B got a bite and lost one above the weir in the 7-8 inch bracket. I managed to extract a 9.5 incher below the weir. We then worked down the right bank initially. I took an 8 incher from a steep banked spot before we decided to head up and across and down the left bank.

9.5 inch

At the first (very) nice spot with a metal structure lying down the near side, I covered it for a few bites and three more fish all at or around 9 inch. Once done, headed down to B to find him in the process of unhooking a lovely 12 incher he'd taken at a wall pool with a nice run into it.

Access wasn't always easy from there down and we stopped at the first house.


As you can see from the two photos, a stark example of the difference in markings and colouration of the same species. Location, time of year, size, diet and probably sex all have a bearing on the appearance. You could be forgiven if you thought they were different species.

22/09/11 - North Esk

17.5 inch

Time - 18.15-19.35

Water - Up about 10cm, nice peaty colour
Where - Bridge Pool at Tunnel Entrance to Dalmore Mill

Weather - Fair

Methods - Size 2 silver & 3 silver Mepp with blue spots
Total - 4
Species - Brown Trout
Size - 10.75-17.5 inch

12 incher

I'd had a quick blast the previous day but the water was a bit too high and cloudy and no interest was registered. With a rainless day and information from further downstream that the river was in great condition, I headed for a quick evening session on the Auchendinny stretch and connected with four stotters. First up was an 11.5 incher. A few minutes later a 10.75 incher. Next cast a 12 incher, a lovely fish. Then, after a spell of calm after all the fish and interest, BANG, a 17.5 incher attacked the mepp and set off downstream with me in hot pursuit. A heck of a battle mostly fought in the rapids. I nearly had it and lost it a couple of times before finally being able to grab it and dive onto the overgrown bank. Four trout only, average length = 12.8125 inch!!! Delighted. Subsequently lost my size 3 mepp on the bottom just as dusk turned to dark.

The 'smaller' fish were all in excellent nick and carrying some chubiness. The bigger fish was a lot slimmer. While I wasn't sure what my all time Esk record was and had it provisionally at 12.5 inch, this is certainly the biggest brownie I've either caught or seen caught in the Esk.

11.5 incher