Cramond Angling Club

Click on the link below to obtain a printable fishing log to assist season ticket holders  filling in the mandatory annual catch return which has to be submitted before the 14th of November

My Fishing Log

Materials

materials used for tapered leaders

In this instance I am using Drennan Double strength in 6lb,4lb and 2.8lb,(It is important to use the same brand and breed throughout as diameters may differ)  and a 2 ft section to the braided loop of Maxima Ultra green 8lb.this is a matter of preference as I like  the stretch and suppleness of the 2.8lb Drennan.Others may prefer flourocarbon/co-polymer and if so grinner or double grinner knots may have to be used.The finished leader will be about 9ft excluding the Maxima section at the braided loop.This suits my river set up but should be adapted to anything up to 20ft and increased breaking strains for loch fishing.I like to seal the knots with a 2 part superglue system which is waterproof, normal superglue will do if it is waterproof.I find “Knotsure” far to syrupy and leaves a blob on the Knot which is both unsightly and makes the leader less aerodynamic When I say seal with glue i mean minuscule amounts The two part system is ideal as it is watery and the activator sets it(you dont end up with a blob five times the size of the knot)

Insert 2ft of 8lb mono through braid with a tucked blood Knot,wet knot pull and seal with glue.

Reducing the number of turns to 5 and applying glue makes for a neater join

On opposite end form 5 turn loop wet, pull and seal with glue.(This section remains on line permanently)

Take a 4ft section of 2.8lb a 2.5ft section of 4lb and a 2.5ft section of 6lb and join together using 5 turn double blood knots,wet pull and seal

If a dropper is required on the 2.8 lb section make a smple 5 turn loop knot,wet ,pull and seal(remember to increase the tip 2.8lb section to allow for dropper length).

I am keen on long droppers about 8 inches but its a personal thing

Store the leader on a rig.They can be tensioned and this saves the fine mono being kinked on a cast card,fine tippet keeps its memory.Make a few up in the comfort of your home for a speedy leader change.Attach leader to Maxima section with a simple loop to loop connection.Do not store in bright sunlight as the leader will become brittle and easily snap.

Remember to regularly degrease the leader as fine mono has difficulty breaking the surface tension and is a real give-away when fishing “dry”(or you would be as well using the string in the knot demo)

The tools needed

Seal end with superglue to avoid water penetrating core and turning line into a sink tip this must be done if a welded loop has been cut off

Once seal has set feed braid onto flyline with about 3″ of braid covering tip of line

Using mono tread through loop and then through plastic sleeve and grip tightly to close braided loop.Slide plastic sleeve up to loop and push up firmly(only necessary if sleeves supplied loose)

Push plastic sleeve up line untill the frayed end of braid is covered

Apply a SMALL amount of superglue to end of plastic sleeve. Capillary action will carry the glue up the sleeve

Gently pull and allow to set.

Job finished.

If using clear loops on a light line a few turns of flou tying silk(in contrast to the line) can be wound around braid before applying plastic sleeve to obtain a sight indicator

The River Almond offers anglers the opportunity to fish for wild brown trout within the city boundary.  Many techniques and tackle set ups can be adopted and, as ever in angling, many people have their own personal preferences.  The following is not intended as a definitive guide to fly fishing but purely as an insight into my own approach and may be of help to any visiting angler or beginner.

Tackle

You can use any fly rod from 7’6″ 3wt to 9′ 5/6 wt with floating lines to suit.  Smaller rods can be advantageous due to the tree canopy and bushes which line many parts of the riverbank.  My personal preference is a  7’6″ 3wt set up coupled with a wtf4 or dt3.  I like to travel light and don’t carry a bag.  I manage to carry my kit in the pockets of my waterproof/shirt or wader pockets.

In addition to a rod and a couple of lines, I also carry a small box of mixed dries,wets and nymphs from size 16 up to 12.  I pre tie my tapered leaders on rigs to keep them straight and also carry some 2.8lb d/s mono and 3lb sub surface.  Gink and degreasant (washing up liquid) are also an essential accessory, as are de-barbing forceps/scissors.

To complete the outfit a small pack of fuse wire, which can be fed into the braided leader loop when nymph fishing turns the floater into a sinktip, a Monomaster for waste monofilament and small river net.

Lightweight river outfit

Waders

Waders will make fishing the river more enjoyable as many of the best fish holding pools and runs are inaccessible from the bank.  Thigh,waist or chest are a personal choice ,as are neoprane/rubber/nylon or breathable.  Expensive top of the range breathable will shred as easily on the brambles on Beat 3 as a budget pair.  For this reason I use a pair of old waist waders which have seen better days.  A wading stick or adapted stick cut from a tree is an essential piece of kit if you are new to the river as there are many deep holes especially close in to the banks.  There are also many shin height submerged boulders on Beat 2 and I have often taken a tumble in the dusk.

Flies

Olives tend to hatch mid morning and sporadically through the day and early evening with no distinct time pattern.  April, May and June is probably best for dry fly and early evening in late July and Aug.

pic by Pete Hill

There is an an abundance of sub surface feeding on the Almond as the following picture will illustrate, and in midsummer, when the river is low and clear, the nymph is king

Kick Sample. Pic by Pete Hill

Over the past few seasons the dozen flies that have proved most successful for me are, Greenwell Spider, Cruncher, Dry Greenwell, Iron Blue Dun, Partridge and Orange, F Fly, Snipe and Purple, P.T.N, G.R.H.E, Foam Beetle, Black Spider and Invicta.

Foam Beetle

Cruncher

Snipe and Purple

Technique

As previously mentioned, wading gives the angler a distinct advantage but it is important to remember that many fish lie close into the bank.  A modified roll or catapult cast from the bank will often produce results before plunging in (this is where the shorter rods have the advantage under the tree canopy).

Dries tend to work best in April/May/June with sporadic rises early evening in late July/August and September.  Due to the fact that many parts of the river are silty or covered in silt holding weed in midsummer an upstream approach will often pay dividends.  Stand in the river just up from the Cramond Brig , move your feet and observe the silt that washes down.  It looks as if a churn of milk has been poured into the river.

Nymphs are king in mid summer when the water is clear and low with the induced take method in the deeper pools often proving deadly.  It is also surprising how very shallow runs hold trout.  Early evening to dusk is without doubt the best time to fish the river in summer, and some good sport can be had targeting the risers with the dry fly.

The fish are easily spooked, and if covered three times with no response its best to change fly size/mono diameter and move on to the next riser.   Odds are he won’t come up for a while.  In late summer sea trout often run up the river.  If the pools go dead its a good sign the silver ones have displaced the browns.  (This is where the 7’6″ 3wt is a distinct disadvantage).

Above all its just for fun and observing the Kingfishers, Kestral, Deer and other assorted wildlife can be as rewarding as catching fish.  The Cramond Angling Club supports a “catch and release” policy and de-barbing hooks will greatly assist conserving fish stocks.  River Almond browns are far to pretty to tap on the head.

Beat 2 Mid summer brown to a greenwell cruncher

Monomaster can be obtained from here www.monomaster.co.uk

Millar H  Laing