Paul Peacock was the talk of Drumtassie after landing a record-breaking rainbow trout at the popular Lothians fishery, smashing his own record in the process.
The Whitburn-based angler landed a 24lb-plus fish and that is over four pounds more than the previous record set by Paul last year.
A green worm tied by a friend temped the fish and the weight was verified by a member of staff and seven other fishermen at the water near Blackridge, West Lothian.
It was just after lunch that Paul’s rod bent with the fish on the tree side of the original fly pond near a water outlet at the busy fishery. Conditions were cold with a west wind and the temperature was around 9C.
The capture was his fourth in a total haul of seven hooked during his day ticket at Drumtassie and Paul, who works in the Aldi supermarket warehouse at Junction4 of the M8, was on the water with a catch and release permit.
The massive fish was unhooked, photographed and then popped back into the lake without being handled as per the rules of the fishery. It weighed in at 24lbs 6oz and the previous record was 20lbs 4oz trapped by Paul last year.
The 30-year-old angler, who gets married next year, admitted: “I was fishing near the outlet at the trees on the original lake at Drumtassie and the fish took the point fly not the one on the dropped.
“I’ve used it before with great success at Drumtassie but when it took I felt a big tug and then it dived and tore across the lake.
“Neighbouring anglers lifted their rods out as I played the fish and it took around 15 minutes to get it into the net. My wrist is sore now.”
The fish was trapped on a midge tip line with a 10lbs leader and netted by his cousin Darren Cuthbert of Armadale who was fishing nearby.
Paul said: “I take pictures of all my fish but this is my best by far. My dad fishes but his best is around 3lbs. I was amazed at the size and so were anglers around me, but I believe there are bigger trout in there.”
He’s a regular at Drumtassie and said: “I was one of the first people to visit the place when it was open and I come as often as I can. It’s a really well-run and friendly place and they make great stovies.
“It was my day off but it is back to work on Saturday for seven days so there won’t be any fishing next week.”
Leeanne Aitchison, manager of the fishery, said that despite the weather sizeable trout were being caught with specimens from upwards of 9lbs with some topping 17lbs.
She added: “The pictures do not do the fish justice but it is without doubt the heaviest fish ever caught in so well done to Paul.”
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