May Anderson talked about her excitement surrounding her first cap for Scotland and of her ambition to help more young women compete for their country in the Scottish Ladies Fly Fishing team.
She is one of a number of younger women determined to make the Tartan team into a real force and they are making an impact on social media.
Raising the profile of the team is key, according to May, better known as Maisie May, one of the best-known names in trout fishing in Central Scotland, as the women desperately seek sponsorship to travel to international matches.
She runs immaculate Burnhouse Lochan which is stocked with rainbow, blue, brown and tiger trout up to 20lb and popular with anglers from the East and West as it is 45 minutes from west Edinburgh and 25 minutes from central Glasgow plus 15 minutes from Stirling.
Maisy said is special for her that fishermen from Ireland and Wales are taking the time and trouble to travel to the popular Bonnybridge fishing spot to cast a line in the three-acre water near Bonnybridge.
It is open every day except Tuesday and Thursday.
Owning a fishery was one of her childhood dreams, so was competing for Scotland, and she has achieved them both in the last few years.
Now, she hopes to encourage others and Maisy said: “Burnhouse is beautiful and I came here for the first time after moving through from Lanark and I fell in love with it. I knew I had to have it.
“After lockdown I pursued the owners to see if I could get the lease on it and I did. I have been fishing since I was five years old and I have come from a family of fishers. At the weekends, it was either my dad had to babysit me or take me out fishing.
“He basically just gave me a rod and told me to watch and it was the best way to learn, fishing in tough conditions, and I have never looked back. I recently made my debut for Scotland which was unbelievable.
“When I was in primary school the kids wanted to be air hostesses or hairdressers but I wanted to own a fishery and fish for my country. I have achieved that. There are not a lot of people can say they have done that.”
She added: “There is a lot of recognition for the men’s team but nobody really knows about the Scottish ladies team and our aim is to encourage women women to experience fishing for Scotland and we need to get our name out there.
“It costs us a lot of money to represent our country and we get no sponsorship what so ever so everything comes out of our own pockets. If we can get our name out there then we may attract sponsorship.”
Looking back, Maisy said that she has put in a lot of work to convert the fishery into what it is today, and she said: “I don’t think my back will every recover but it has been worth it, it is one of the most beautiful fisheries that you will find. You have got to give it (the fishery) a go, it is a hidden gem.”
There are 24 pegs including two disabled pegs at the moment but she is reworking the platforms to make more available for wheelchairs as well as building a café. Maisy is very well known for the quality of her food. I can endorse that.
Burnhouse Lochan Fishery, Burnhouse Farm, Bonnybridge FK4 2HH: telephone 07949 220511: burnhouse-fishery.co.uk
PICTURE: A section of Burnhouse Lochan by Nigel Duncan
BURNHOUSE LOCHAN in the sun by Alex Rose
BURNHOUSE LOCHAN: view from the registration area along the loch. Picture Alex Rose
A popular corner at Burnhouse Lochan. Picture by Alex Rose
YOUR HOST at Burnhouse Lochan, May Anderson, known as Maisy May. Picture by Alex Rose
Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.
