Fishing: Markle trout put up real fierce scrap for the Tadpole

IT may have been cold, grey and wet but it was great to get out in the elements again and cast a line.

Despite most of the other fisheries still being ice-bound, Markle was frost free and the fish were rising.

When we arrived, we were surprised to see so many anglers there so early.

I set up with a midge-tip line, long leader and a Yellow Dancer but this met with little success.

Moving to the far end, in the shallows, the trout were active on the surface but nobody had any luck coaxing them to take.

After an hour or so I made for the dam wall and changed to a small black Tadpole and got into a fish, first cast.

Fishing deep and slow, the take was subtle, but what a scrap the trout put up.

In an hour or two, I picked up another couple of fish before the cold set in again.

Other anglers were having some success with Bloodworm permutations and some big fish put in appearances.

Most of the takes were on the drop and not on the retrieve. Slow-to-static retrieves were the most consistent fish takers.