Fishing: A reel test on Glencorse

I was really looking forward to opening day on Glencorse RSV fishery near Penicuik. However, it proved a day to forgot for all the wrong reasons.

Setting up early I discovered I’d left my reels in the house. Well things were only to get worse from there on in with broken rod, broken outboard, and a long row back in due to battery dying. On the up side I went out with a di-5 line on an old reel and a single Damsel on a long leader. Knowing prior to our going out that the fishery was very heavily stocked I felt sure I would catch eventually.

Despite pleasant weather on land it was perishing out on the water and fishing was slow to begin with. As the sun rose and put a bit of heat in the water the fish came to life. Looking round rods were bending in front of the lodge and up where the road comes down to the water’s edge. Management cannot be faulted on the size and quality of the fish as some of the returns were stunning. Fish of 3lb up to just under double figures were common place.

I decided to go up water and was rewarded with a good fish of just less than 4lb on the Damsel fished almost static. The fish were all close in and when they could be tempted the sport was hard and frantic. When the weather improves this will be a fantastic venue.