It’s a family affair for Leeanne, the wee lassie from Drumtassie - Nigel Duncan
The diggers moved into Drumtassie around a decade ago and began to create a fishery. Three lakes were dug over an 18-month period and left to settle for six months. Fast forward to today and the fishery, near Blackridge, is one of the most popular in Central Scotland.
Indeed, anglers, including 96-year-old David McDonald, believe it is one of the friendliest angling venues he has come across in over 80 years of fishing. Praise indeed for the fishery which has just celebrated its ninth birthday.
The transformation from open ground, in the shadow of giant wind turbines, to the current facility on Heights Road (at EH48 3SW) has taken a great deal of effort.
Initially, there were two fly ponds and then the bait pond was created. Now, all the ponds are busy seven days of the week, with fishing allowed from 7am to dusk.
The water, named after the Drumtassie Burn at the back of the fishery, is re-stocked regularly and anglers come from all over Scotland, and beyond, to cast a line.
Leeanne Aitchison, the fishery manager, recalled the early days and stressed that she did not pick up a spade during the construction work. She was the cook, a key role none the less.
The effort has been rewarded and she thanked everybody who has fished at the venue since day one, many of whom are now regulars.
Drumtassie built their clientele slowly, starting with an advertising campaign on Facebook. There was confusion, as many anglers thought the Drumtassie fishery was “up north”, but, eventually, the word spread.
Anglers soon got hooked and attendance spiralled, until Covid. Then it slumped, but Leanne said: “After Covid they all came back. We now have loads of regulars and lots of new people come and try us as well.
“Since opening, we have had anglers here from as far afield as New York, believe it or not. David McDonald, one of our regulars, is 96, and we have people coming here three times a week.”
Drumtassie is not, admittedly, easy to find on a first visit, even with Sat Nav. A key is to keep your wits about you and to look for direction signs on trees on the road in from Armadale or Linlithgow. Leanne admitted: “Yes, people get lost, but they learn quickly.”
Once there, fishing is good currently and bosses re-stock regularly. What’s more, the busy water, which produces sizeable catch returns, is spring-fed.
Leanne praised the anglers who have fished the water so far, saying: “They have supported us, shared laughs and made memories.
“They have all helped keep our doors open, through the good times and the bad times. Here’s to many more years to come, more fishing, more memories, more laughs and plenty more fish.”
One of the many regulars was Kenneth Harper who, sadly, died recently. He did not want a funeral, instead he wanted his ashes scattered at the fishery, and a bench to be installed in his memory. That is why the fishery are organising a goodbye competition on Saturday, September 12, which is fully subscribed.
Kenneth fished from a wheelchair and Leeanne said: “Kenneth fished with us since we opened. He lived in Rosyth and was here three or four times a week. Everybody was best friends with him and Drumtassie was his favourite place.”
Reflecting, she admitted that nine years is a long time, but they have flown by. She said: “Things have changed. When we first opened it was hard for the first couple of years, but it is all like a big family now.”
Talking of family, her daughter Chanelle manages the nearby coarse fishery which started with three lakes and has now added a Match Pond, a Canal Pond and a new water which is under construction. Mum said: “She is doing really well there, but the main focus for me is the trout pond, and a wee reminder to anglers, it is barbless hooks only on the fly pond.”
Prices are four hours £20, six hours £23, and all day £25, catch and release from 7am to closing time. Kill tickets are four hours, two fish, £25, six hours three fish £30, eight hours four fish £35.
Asked if there are any future plans, she said: “No, but we are doing our clean-up now, ready for the winter.”
On to sea fishing and Jimmy Green, who won the summer league, continued his fine form by winning the first leg of the winter league organised by the Bass Rock Shore Angling League based in East Lothian.
He hooked into 11 fish for a measure of 234cm and the Musselburgh-based angler won comfortably.
Second was teenager Niko Millar Jun (North Berwick) with seven fish for 202cm and third was Steven Rowcliffe (Prestonpans) with five fish for 186cm. He landed the longest fish of 57cm. Barry McEwan (Port Seton) was fourth with four fish for 146cm.
The next leg is on Wednesday, September 16 and the venue will be confirmed this weekend.