Trout fishing for most local rivers officially opens on Thursday, March 15 and anglers can’t wait to get out there.
Permits for the Almond and Tweed, among others, are available at various outlets including Fishers at Penicuik and Orvis at Hope Street in Edinburgh, just off Charlotte Square. Edinburgh Angling Centre also has permits for various rivers.
Meanwhile, West Lothian Angling Association report healthy interest in their permits which are available online or through their website.
The committee look after eight miles of the river from Livingston to south of Newbridge.
From there Cramond Angling Club take over and they offer four beats and eight miles of (mostly) double bank fishing.
Season ticket and day tickets are available and the Cramond stretch is particularly useful for those who travel with public transport.
Getting to the river is not difficult as bus route Service 41, operated by Lothian Buses, runs from South West Edinburgh via city centre down to Cramond.
For fishermen in East Edinburgh then the River Esk is handy and permits are available from Musselburgh and District Angling Society. Ace Bike Co behind the Brunton Hall is one outlet.
Meanwhile, anglers who enjoy fishing the Water of Leith from Balerno to the shore have to wait until Sunday, 1 April.
Permits are essential to ensure that anglers know the rules and regulations and comply with them when fishing the river.
This, say Edinburgh Council, helps to maintain the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
The river is no longer stocked with trout and the council relies on anglers to uphold and promote the catch and return policy.
Permits are available at the Water of Leith Centre or at Balerno Post Office as well as Orvis.
And we’ve just heard from Bill Taylor that popular Glencorse Reservoir plans to open on Saturday, 24 March (weather permitting).
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