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Spinfish Angling Features
The Watch
Under new management The Watch is a different kettle of fish.
As I drove down the hill to The Watch an angler was landing a fish and trout
were bouncing around on the surface. In the distance I could see boats and a
car park with cars in it, in fact The Watch looked lively. What's up? As it
happens it is under new management and what a difference.
Bill Taylor, who runs the Tweeddale Millennium Fishery, has
negotiated the fishing rights to Watch Reservoir. I popped up not knowing
that Bill was in charge and was confused to see a lodge redecorated, 12
brand new Hebridean clinker built style boats and inside the lodge a well
appointed social space with facilities which had always been there but
unavailable to anglers.
What a difference. Watch is now a professionally run fishery with the kind of facilities you would expect from a modern trout fishing venue. Well stocked with brown, blue and off course rainbow trout in the 1.8 to 3lb range with a few larger fish we have a serious fishery in the Borders at last.
I was impressed with the level of commitment shown by Bill. Cash spent on
boats, the facilities and stock all bode well for Watch. It is a cracking
good venue, a hill loch beautifully situated in the Lammermuir Hills above
Longformacus near Duns.
It is going to be harder to fish than a fishery, great! At 120 acres Watch has room for boat and bank anglers and room for fish to be elusive which, I welcome with open arms. Watch will give you a good day out, you will have to work for your fish but it is well stocked so it will reward you for your effort.
The fish are fit, all that space to swim around in, with natural food available and depth to sink into, these fish will not be pussies. They will soon burn the flab off and put on muscle. A 2lb fish ripped line of my reel, cart wheeled about and did not come gently to my landing net and it had only been in Watch for a few weeks! Luv it.
The loch has a varied aquatic life for the fish to chose from and with
heather moorland all round offering an even greater choice of grub the
fish will have lots of choice - the angler will have to be more
analytical.
I stuck with the more traditional flies on my visit, Kate Mclaren, fine woman, did the business for me. Next time I will try the usual budgies and canaries used for rainbows on fisheries and I am sure they will be effective. Buzzers will undoubtedly do well as will daddies and hoppers with so many terrestrials about. What I am looking forward to is doing a bit of business on the top, I recon it will be a great venue on a summers evening.
As I left fish were moving, some very interesting fish, unfortunately there
is no evening session just now. From the 14th of June that will change and
fishing will continue to 10.30pm.
For bookings and further information call 01361 890331. I think you will enjoy this friendly fishery for it's fishing, it's natural setting and it's freshness away from the hustle of every day life.
For full information go to The Watch web site at www.watchfishery.co.uk.
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