Fishing – evening permits available at Harlaw and Threipmuir

Evening permits will be available this season at Harlaw and Threipmuir Reservoirs, two miles south of Balerno.

Malleny Angling Club administer the reservoirs in the Pentland Hills and they have also launched a bid to attract more youngsters to the sport.

Fishing begins for the summer on April 1 and Jim McComb, the head bailiff, said the water levels are now up.

He added: “We will be stocking fish before the first day of the season and carry on stocking throughout the year.”

The 2019 prices are £20 for a day ticket killing three fish, a day ticket on a catch and release basis is £15, an evening ticket killing two fish is £15 and an evening session on catch and release is £10.

McComb said: “We have thought about this (evening fishing) for a number of years and we see there was a market for that, guys coming up after their shift at night and who coming up for the night.

“Why should they pay £20 for two hours fishing? We hope that catch and release fishing for a tenner in the evening will encourage more people to come up.

“We also hope to attract young anglers. You can bring a one youngster with you on the ticket. The number of fish you catch will be between the pair of you but, because of health and safety, we want one-on-one for safety reasons.

“If you are bringing up two youngsters you will have to bring another adult.”

Meanwhile, 12-acre Clubbiedean above Colinton open their season with an open day on Saturday, March 16 with a trophy for the top rod. They offer fly fishing from boats and bait fishing from the bank.

Morton Fishings near Livingston open for the season on Friday at 2017 prices. The 23-acre fishery will then be open every day from 8.30am to dusk. This weekend they are only open on Saturday and Sunday.

Remember trout fishing begins on The Almond and other local rivers on March 15. The Water of Leith season starts on April 1.

Finally, at sea, Aquamarine Charters of Eyemouth have been out and boss Derek Anderson said that fishing was fair for time of year at Spittal Hirst with the best angler hooking nine keepers and four fish were lost to seals.

Sagittarius, incidentally, has a new man at the helm called Ronnie, a former trawler skipper and keen angler, and this is first full-time season with the charter company.