Bangour Trout Fishery was built as a water supply for a former village hospital. It was stocked with brown trout to keep the water pure and senior staff were allowed to fish there.
When the hospital closed the water was syndicated but it is now under the ownership of Karen and Jason Smith.
The award-winning fishery aims to provide anglers with a complete fishing package and the well-maintained venue is over 700 feet above sea level and lies in the south-east part of Bathgate Hills near Livingston and 17 miles from Edinburgh.
Hard-fighting rainbow, brown, blue and tiger trout are in the 12.5 acre loch of which 7.5 acres of water, which is around 16ft deep in places, is maintained for fly fishing.
There are 16 million gallons of water in the reservoir which is stocked on a regular basis and there are 28 pegs and two piers which are wheelchair accessible and positioned only yards from the sizeable car park.
An informal club operates at the fishery and members organise matches and outings.
FACTFILE:
Fishery contacts: Karen and Jason Smith
Address: Bangour Trout Fishery, Bangour Reservoir near Dechmont, West Lothian EH52 6GU
Telephone: 01506 811335
Web: www.bangourtroutfishery.com
E: bangourtroutfishery@gmail.com or info@bangourtroutfishery.com
Open: six days (closed Monaday)
Times: 8.30am to 5pm
Car park: for around 30 cars
Directions: take Junction 3 from the M8 motorway, head for Broxburn then Dechmont and at the east end of Dechmont you will find a signpost for the fishery. From Linlithgow follow the signs for The Beecraigs Restaurant, head past Beecraigs Loch and out of the Country Park and at South Mains Farm follow the signs for Dechmont. This will take you right past the fishery.
Species: brown, rainbow, blue and tiger trout (stocked regularly)
Basic prices: eight hours, keep first four fish then C&R £27; six hours, keep first three fish then C&R £23; four hours, keep first two fish then C&R £20. Catch are release only tickets: 8hrs £17, 6hrs £15 and 4hrs £13
Concessions: £3 discount for over 65 on weekdays only and tickets are also available for adult and child, instructors and students or for couples sharing a rod and platform.
Age limit: under-16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Rod hire: no
Catching method: fly only
Pegs: maximum 28
Boats: none
Outings: call Karen or Jason on 01506 811335
Bookings: Karen and Jason are happy to take bookings up to a year in advance or on the day you are planning to fish subject to availability
On-site food: pot noodles, chocolate and cans of juice plus free coffee and tea
On-site fishing equipment: including hooks, line, flies, reels and tippet material plus some fly tying material
Bothy: superbly comfortable with microwave for heating up snacks plus tea and coffee making facilities and a sink
Toilets: five-star facility
Rules (catch and release) fish must not be removed from the water or handled and barbless or debarbed hooks only and they must pass a snag test.
Leader of 6lb minimum and maximum hook size is 8 with a maximum of one hook per fly and 20 inches between flies. No flickers, boobies, tandems, snakes or static lures.
Fishing only from numbers platforms or from dam seat boxes and use nets provided by the fishery. All brown trout must be returned. No alcohol and do dogs and music/radio on personal headphones only
Coaching: available on request
Winter fishing from November 3 (dependent on weather conditions): 8.30am to 1pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday’s (November- March)
Bangour Fishing Club contact Gerry King on 07896 467042
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