Alan Brown off to a flyer at first Bass Rock Summer League meeting

The West Barns-based angler landed two fish for 50cm, defying horrendous weed to capture the fish on prawns.

Jimmy Green from Musselburgh was second and he also hooked two fish but they only measured 40cm.

And club debutant Nicky Brown was third with one fish for 30cm. The Dunbar-based fisherman, however, won the largest fish prize.

Barry McEwan from Port Seton was fourth with one fish for 18cm. All fish were returned.

The weather forecast suggested that there would be no rain but that was not the case and it rained for most of the three-hour session. The north-east wind did not help and neither did the tons of weed on the beach.

A venue for the second match will be confirmed on the club’s Facebook page on Sunday, May 23 and the club are always keen to see new members. Contact club officials via the Facebook page.

Off shore, Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth report great results last weekend. Included in the catch return was one by eight-year-old Leon Deacons.

He was on boat Sagittarius with his father Rab and landed a 5lb cod on a pink hokkie.

On shore now, Alex Fleming landed nine and lost four at Tweeddale Millennium and said of the fishery near Gifford: “Brilliant wee place.”

In Midlothian, Rosebery near Temple now have two boats operational and are now selling permits at Fishers in Penicuik. A bank day permit is £23 (OAP £15) and you can take three fish. A boat is £7 extra.

Nearby, Scott Wilkie enjoyed his day at Rosslynlee with 13 to the net on smokers and beetles.

Loganlea above Flotterstone is said to be “on fire” with hawthorn plus yellow owl, brown beetle and natural quill foam emerger patterns tempting trout.

Owner Karen Jack confirmed that one angler recently had 31 fish to the net in one session and another had 30 on the same day.

John Irvine also claimed a superb 8lb-plus Tiger trout and Karen said: “The water has been fishing very well and it has been since the start of the season.

“Dries are on now and that makes for good fishing. Hothead damsel and yellow dancer have been successful along with combinations including beetles, yellow owl emergers and daddy longlegs, but buzzers have their day as do diawl bach and lures.”

Glencorse boss Bill Taylor reports great fishing with James McCadam and Graham Dee among anglers landing double-figures . They fished a D3 line with a cormorant pattern and other flies doing well are yellow dancer, damsels and cat’s whisker with fast glass and Cortland blue lines also popular.

The water, which is boat only fishing, is full on Saturday, Sunday, closed Monday but also full Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and hosts a heat in the Scierra Pairs on Friday.

Over the hill at Harlaw, Scott Abbott continues to enjoy double-figure hauls. He had 18 on Tuesday and followed up with 28 on Thursday on the East Shore fishing a washing line with a 20ft leader, three cormorants on the droppers and a cat booby on the point. Scott has now totals 200 so far for this season.

Bruce Thomas had 14 on a cormorant and orange fab fished on a washing line and top other successful patterns recently have been buzzer, nymph and lures.

In West Lothian, newcomer Liam Wilson landed a fine 7lb fish on a yellow dancer while Dillon Johnston tempted a 9lb brown and 8lb rainbow.

On the bait pond, Dave Arnott was smiles better with five for nearly 17lb on powerbait.

Linlithgow Loch anglers have enjoyed mixed weather conditions which have affected catch returns.

The heavy rain caused the loch to colour but the water clarity has improved and anglers are reporting that takes have been more frequent. Several have been broken by aggressive fish.

Aberdour Angling Association landed 45lb 10oz of trout and Rosyth Civil Service netted 57lb. Midge tip lines with buzzer, blob, damsel, Montana and mini lures proved the best choice.

The Saturday Club landed 33lb of fish using hover lines or 6ft sink tip and mini lures. Priory Club from Glasgow, the Butcher Boys and the Scottish Deaf Fishing Club hooked into 82 fish using a variety of flies including yellow and orange blob, blue buzzers, snatchers and crunchers on mainly midge tip and floating lines. White lures on an intermediate line were also catching.

Bosses confirm that they continue to stock weekly and all areas of the loch are fishable with boats available for most days for full day or four-hour sessions. Evening sessions allow anglers to fish from approximately 4pm until dusk.

Into coarse fishing now and Stewart Ritchie won the second match of the Summer Series involving members of the Edinburgh and Lothians Coarse Angling Club.

It was fished on Alex’s Pond at Orchill Fishery and contested by 19 anglers. The weather was dry with little wind and an overnight temp of five degrees. Sadly, the roach did not come out to play

Ritchie extracted a great net of mostly chub weighing 30lbs 3oz for an easy win. Tony Ball was second with 10bs 7oz and netted had some good silvers to go with a big carp of 7lb 4oz.

Ian Sloss was third with 7lbs 5oz while new club member Dave Mullholland managed three chub weighing in at 5lbs 9oz.

Tommy Lauriston, a stalwart member, said: “It was a hard day. We hope for a better match next time (May 29)”.

Finally, head bailiff Sean Henderson had a great session at Eliburn in Livingston with six to the net including an 8lb carp and three tench.

On to retail, and the surge in interest in fishing has prompted Airflo to produce a fly fishing kit which retails at £79.99 and includes four-piece carbon fly rod, pre-loaded graphite fly reel, floating line and backing, protective rod tube, tapered mono leader, fly box and three flies and sunglasses.

Fishers of Penicuik have just received a supply and they also stock a kit by Greys which also include a four piece rod, graphite fly reel, fitted floating fly line, backing and leader and travel case for around £65.