John Jackson has plans to improve the fishing at Tweeddale Millennium Fishery in East Lothian.
Jackson from Stoneyburn in West Lothian takes over the lease for the popular water near Gifford in March.
He replaces long-time owner Bill Taylor from Edinburgh, who is concentrating on Glencorse Reservoir near Flotterstone in the Pentland Hills.
His manager Scott Donaldson from Currie, Midlothian, has been
at the fishery for over a decade and has recently established a dog walking business.
John – known to all regular fishermen as Jacko – has fresh ideas for the fishery which has three pools, two for fly fishing and one for bait.
The water held the Scottish record for a rainbow trout of 33lbs 7oz and Tweeddale is open to the public and clubs and bookings for the new season are being taken on 07494474979 or 01620810009.
Jacko, a keen fisherman, knows the water well and is currently one of the leaders in Tweeddale’s Winter League along with John Clark and Gerry Martin. That finishes on March 9.
He explained: “I was a machinist and was made redundant but had been making regular trips to Tweeddale to fish when I lived in the Berwick area so I know the water.”
On his plans for the future, Jacko added: “I plan to improve the tackle shop and I’ll have a boat for hire as in the summer the fish congregate in the middle of the big lake and are difficult to get to from the bank.
“Overall, sometimes Tweeddale fishes out of its skin and another day it is different.
“So, you never know, but we have some good double-figure fish in here and I guess the best will be over 18lbs.”
He added: “Buzzers work all year, black and silver regularly prove to be the best, but the fish sometimes go for red and green.
“Blobs and FABs also work but some days damsels are best. It all depends on the day.”
Current owner Bill Taylor said: “Jacko is taking over the lease from March and has some good ideas for the fishery. I will always be there to assist him if he has any issues, but I am concentrating on Glencorse Reservoir.”
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