Fraser on Fishing: I cashed in after raiding the bank at Swanswater

Apart from quality rainbow trout, the introduction of muscle-packed brown trout has begun and they are being trickle-stocked.

On a recent visit I watched Alasdair, the owner, stocking the main pond with some big beasties. I was only passing through on a flying visit but after watching some of the fish go in I was drawn hook, line and sinker into having a cast. It was cold and blustery and, not surprisingly, several anglers were calling it a day. However, as luck would have it, I managed to get a prime spot next to the dam wall. Although it was good for fishing it was difficult casting into the teeth of the wind.

Putting on a gold-headed Black Dancer meant I had a bit of weight to punch the line out with. After half an hour I was wondering if I had made a mistake venturing out into the cold with freezing water flowing through my hands. However, my efforts were to be rewarded with an arm-wrenching pull. This felt like a good fish as I struggled to hold it back from making its way out into the main basin. It felt like ages till I caught a glimpse of the 4lb+ rainbow as it surfaced and dived again. Eventually it tired and just as well as my arm was aching with the strain.