Tuesday June 11th 2024
Manager Derek Plenderleith. Picture by Nigel Duncan
Newlands Tweeddale Trout Fishery near Gifford has enjoyed a really encouraging start since it re-opened in mid-May.
Several hundred anglers have visited and reports have been excellent with bags over 50 recorded with many of over 20.
Fishermen have come from as far afield as Morpeth in Northumberland and also from all over the Lothians and Borders, with many from Edinburgh and nearby Midlothian.
And delighted manager, Derek Plenderleith, said he had received compliments about the condition of the fish and the surroundings.
Currently, two fly only ponds are open and the bait pond remains closed but Plenderleith said: “A number of anglers who fished the water prior to the seven-month closure have come back to have a cast or to see what we have done after reading or hearing about us in the papers and on local radio.
“We are delighted with the response and, currently, we are open seven days from 9am to 9pm.”
Plenderleith added: “Anglers are pleased with the quality of the fish and the state of the fishery in general, but we are continuing to develop the facility.”
One advance is that flies are now on sale in the registration area but, as yet, there is no tackle available to buy on-site.
The manager stressed: “This is a fly only facility and we have publicised that extensively, but we still get people coming up asking if we have bait an if our bait pond is open. We don’t have bait and the bait pond is not open.”
Patterns currently working at the water, formerly called Tweeddale Millennium, are buzzers, cats whisker, humongous, spiders and diawl bach and Plenderleith advised prospective anglers to consult the fishery Facebook page, which is regularly updated, for full details and to check the weather before travelling.
He added: “Please do not message for bookings as these can be missed. Our numbers are 01620 810526 or 07748 485647 and I am more than happy to provide all the information you need to fish here.”
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