Leeanne Aitchison created Drumtassie Trout Fishery from nothing thanks to hard work and a vision.
Now the popular, 18-month-old venue regularly welcomes anglers from as far afield as East Lothian, Fife, Stirling, Clackmannan and Glasgow.
One of the main attractions is the number and quality of the fish in the fly and bait ponds which are over 20-feet deep in places.
And the record so far is a 22lb rainbow landed by Martin O’Hara and Jocky Weir holds the mark for the best brown trout caught at the 18-month-old fishery. It weighed in at a hefty 20lbs.
A number of anglers are also enticed by the £2 sweep for a tagged tiger trout and the pot is currently standing at £400.
This week the thermometer was in single figures but the number of anglers on site was impressive, well into double-figures. And they were catching.
Drumtassie is near Blackridge in West Lothian and has a cosy cabin which now boasts and all-day breakfast for a fiver.
Pies and hot, filled rolls are also on offer and there are plenty of hot drinks, snacks and fishing tackle to satisfy.
Current timings are 8am to 6pm with 24-hour, fishing on Friday and Saturday night. Overnight fishing will return on weekdays if the weather gets warmer to cater for shift workers.
Contact: Leeanne Aitchison
E: jump123412345@outlook.com
Address: Heights Road, Blackridge, West Lothian EH48 3SW
T: 07939 249481
Open: daily 8am to 6pm and 24-hours on Friday and Saturday night.
Car park: around 60 cars
Species: brown trout, rainbow trout, golden trout and tiger trout
Basic prices: £10 all day catch and release (£8 for senior citizens) or six hours for £20 with unlimited fish in the bait pond until the end of January. Children fish free with a paying adult.
Equipment: rods and reels available free
Catching methods: fly pond and bait pond
Pegs: 17 in the fly pond and unlimited in the bait pond
Boats: none
Bait: maggots and powerbait available
Tackle: hooks, line, flies and floats plus a selection of spinners are available in the tackle shop
Outings: talk to Leeanne about group rates
On-site facilities: toilets for men and women and disabled
Floodlights: for night fishing
Bothy: well-heated with tables and seating
Food: a selection of home-made steak pies and filled rolls and now an all-day breakfast for £5 with seven items.
Coaching: available on request
Disabled access: car park is next to the ponds and the area is flat so no problems getting to the pegs which are wheelchair ready
Regulars: from East Lothian, Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, Midlothian and Clackmannan
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