Cramond Angling Club

A handy bit of information showing the Tide Times and Heights for 2010 (March – Oct) is available here

NOT A NORMAL CLUB OUTING – AND THERE WAS NO FISH

On a very sleety and cold February (2010) afternoon, Mike, Fen and I went on a tour of East Calder Sewage Treatment Works to find out more about what is discharged into the River.

We were very warmly welcomed at the works by Veolia Regional Operations Manager, Simon Wigglesworth.  Simon gave us a guided tour of the works and explained how the mixed sewage surface and foul water sewage is treated, separated and processed before being discharged at the outfall into the River Almond.

The sewage, by the time it reaches the outfall, has gone on a complicated journey through endless routes of pipe-work into chamber after chamber – attacked by bacteria – grit, sludge, phosphorus, fat and water separated, ammonia removed -  finally passing through sand filters to leave the site cleaner than it went in.  In fact due to the type of contract Veolia have, the waste is cleaner than SEPA requires.

Whilst the weather was not pleasant, the amount of the rain demonstrated the problem when the capacity of 724 litres/second (2600 cubic metres /hr.) of incoming sewage is exceeded by a large amount of large of rainfall.  This excess passes through 6mm screens and is then held in storm water storage tanks to be treated later. Each tank holds in excess of 2000 cubic metres. The regular flow passes on to the full treatment plant, having solids (6mm screens) and grit removed at the inlet. The storm water storage tanks have a settling effect and sludge is collected and treated later in the process. The retention time in the tank allows solids to settle. Once the tanks are full the settled overflow passes to the River, which by the sheer nature of the heavy flow, should already be in flood, increasing the dilution. Not ideal, but we have to remember that without the plants’ treated water the River Almond could well be no more than a burn.

All recovered sludge is transported elsewhere for further treatment: grit and solids are sent to landfill.

So what did we learn:-

The site is well managed and has made a significant investment to improve the operation, £1.6m to be exact, increasing the plant capacity from 550 litres/second (2009) to 724 litres / second.

The vast majority of the water entering the River Almond has been thoroughly processed.  However an amount of untreated, screened and settled, effluent is discharged in heavy weather – but should be dilute and the river should be in flood due to the rain fall.

There are certain liquids and chemicals that the Works (which is there to treat sewerage) cannot get rid of effectively – anionic detergents (in washing and dishwasher powder), oil and grease (including cooking), paint etc.  Some things which go in the top end come out the bottom end.

So when considering the effect on the River Almond, the Works appear to be doing their duty to ensure that the outflow is as good a quality as possible.  We might want look at our own actions in respect of what we put into the sewer system to ensure we are doing as much as we can.

We didn’t catch any fish but did get a very welcome cup of coffee after our tour. 

Many thanks to Simon for his time and hospitality.

Alison Brooks

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

The story started in the middle of a short summer night, in the heart of one of Edinburgh’s popular students area, Marchmont. It was quite a dark night, and quite damp too. I was in my flat, lighting up a Camping Gaz camping light, preparing for a trip out onto our back garden. Worms, I need some worms for the fishing tomorrow.

It was my first month of salmon fishing. I was so into salmon fishing that I was prepared to do just about anything for a salmon! I have learned that you can use worms to fish the salmon. So that was the idea. I need some worms.

So, after lighting up the camping light, I realized that I would need some sort of digging apparatus so that I can dig the garden for the worms. Being in a student flat, there was a slim chance to find a shovel, or a spade. I went into the store room in our kitchen hoping to find something, but it was fruitless. Failing to find a shovel or a spade, I had to settle for the next best thing, a big wooden spoon from the kitchen drawer. It was long, big, strong and looked like a small shovel/spade and more importantly, it would do the job.

Anyway, to cut the story short, my improvised shovel/spade did a good job. About twenty garden worms would be enough for me. The shovel did not survive the whole session, the handle broke. It was 12.30 by the time I got back to our 3rd floor Marchmont flat, time to go to bed; early start tomorrow.

6.am I was waiting for the 41, right in the middle of Marchmont Crescent. The bus was on-time. I was carrying a 9 foot 9 weight fly rod (which I bought specifically for salmon fishing – but no success yet) and a 6 foot spinning rod, a tiny rod compared to what other rods used by salmon fisherman. I was heading to river Almond, in Cramond. The last stop in Cramond is just 5 minute away from the river. A quick walk, straight to the Waterfall pool (I saw a salmon caught there a couple of weeks before).

The water was high; and a bit coloured too. There was another fisherman in the pool at that time. He must be a keen fisherman too. Only keen fisherman would wake up before 6am on Saturday morning. I did my angler’s hand gestures of “hello”, “how many fish?” and “have you seen any?” to the fisherman, and he replied (also by using the angler’ hand gestures and signs) “oh, hello there”, “none” and “nothing”. Those were my interpretations anyway. To those who wondered why hand signals were much preferred to the normal vocal communication method, it was because the sound of the waterfall during the high water was deafening. You really have to shout even when the person is within a couple of metres away from you.

Anyway, I took my time tackling up. No fly fishing today as the water was high. It had to be the worms, the Marchmont garden worms. A very simple setup, a weight and a single hook. Nothing else. I attached 2 juicy looking Marchmont garden worms and made my way closer to the waterfall. Slowly I walked. You can actually walk pretty close to the waterfall if you knew the water well. The other fisherman was having a cigarette break. He was fishing with worms too. He was on the left and I was standing in the middle of the pool.

Looking up to the waterfall pool on Cramond Angling Club water.

I cast the bait to the right hand side of the waterfall (if you are facing the waterfall). The weight which I used was not that heavy, so the fast water from the waterfall was bouncing the worms along the current. This was good as I thought it would be better than fishing at one spot. To be honest I had no idea what would it be like if a salmon decided to take the worms. I had never done this before. I was casting the bait to a few different spots to cover the water.

Fishing the waterfall pool.

It must have been after the 10th cast when I realized that I had some fish on the end of my line. I did not feel any take or pull or anything. I was just reeling in the bait and out of nowhere, and there was the fish. The other fisherman saw this and finished up his cigarette break and came close to me. He mentioned to me that it was a salmon. That was that! As soon as he mentioned the “S” word, I started to panic and again, my knees starting to shake again. The fish did a few runs in the pool before coming to the surface. “Nice fish, nice fish”, said the fisherman. I was really hoping that he would not say anything about the fish, as this would make me even more nervous.

He offered to net the fish for me, which I agreed with. After a few more runs the fish started to come closer and closer to me. And when it was close enough to the other fisherman, he netter the fish. “My first salmon”, I told him. “Well done” he said to me.

A salmon of around 7 lbs. My very first salmon. Happy, I was very happy. I sent a quick message to my father just to let him know. I was a bit puzzled to why would this salmon grabbed the worms, and what was it that I did to get this fish? Will I be able to do this again? But those didn’t matter as I was like on top of the world with my first ever salmon.

I stayed fishing till the end of the day with nothing else caught. One salmon, the very first salmon was good enough for me. I had a big feast with all my flatmates that week and it was tasty!