Background: This was not an ideal day for fishing. The temperature gauge on the car registered 1C and I twice skidded on black ice en route, a bad start.
On arrival, the sleety snow kicked in and, within minutes, it had almost blacked out the already grey sky.
A wicked west wind whipped it over popular Rosslynlee Trout Fishery and six hardy anglers continued to defy nature as they attempted to hook one of the 1,000-plus, hard-fighting trout.
Rosslynlee is now under new ownership and Mark and Nicola Perfect who can’t control the maverick nature of the Scottish climate.
However, they can control the future of the fishery and they have ambitious plans to encourage more anglers to visit.
Rosslynlee is easy to find, on the left, just minutes from Rosewell, and on the busy A6094 road.
There was a warm welcome from Andy and Jock who were confident that even with the poor weather anglers would interest fish.
They were so right. After two switches of pattern and around 20 minutes on the water, I was into a 4lb blue, a stunning looking fish.
It snapped on a pattern suggested by Nobbie, a fellow-fly tyer who, like me, attends a regular evening event during the winter at Fishers well-appointed tackle shop in Penicuik.
I invested in the green flash and olive marabou and tied the pattern on returning home.
It was therefore gratifying to feel a tug with my second cast and you can’t get a more solid endorsement of the sport available at the 5.25 acre fishery near Penicuik than catching quality trout.
The blue was slipped back into the water without handling and with the minimum of fuss to fight another day thanks to a new rule at Rosslynlee. Now you can use nets to land fish.
It’s a move which has been universally welcomed by a number of anglers I’ve spoken to recently and I look forward to hearing about other moves to increase the box-office at Rosslynlee.
Contact: Andy or Jock
E: info@rosslyntroutfishery.co.uk
Address: Newbigginghill by Penicuik EH26 8QF
T: 01968 679606
Open: seven days: winter 9am to 4pm; summer: 9am to 9pm (gates open 8.15am)
Car parking: 30
Species: Brown, rainbow and blue trout
Basic prices: eight hours, kill four fish: £27; eight hours catch and release £16
Age limit: 16 and over but under-16 welcome with an adult
Rod hire: equipment including rods, reels and line is available and a moderate cost
Catching method: fly but no blobs
Pegs: 30
Boats: two for hire
Platform fishing only with one disabled platform only yards from the car park
Toilets: male and female and disabled
Outings: welcomed and apply to Andy or Jock on 01968 679606
On-site facilities: bothy with log fire also equipped with sitting area plus a table and chairs for food consumption. A microwave is available to heat food
Snacks: cold and hot drinks available along with snacks
Tackle: flies available for purchase
Favoured patters: daddy, muddler, dancers, buzzers (red), Mayfly and sedge among others
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