Anyone planning to come out fishing at Allandale Tarn Fisheries this Winter, if you are driving avoid the route down through Polbeth village which leads you down that tight bend & over the wee bridge. It can be deceptively icy!.. Come in via West Calder or even the back roads via Gavieside farm or the Five Sisters route, always safer & quieter!..

Tight lines wherever you manage to wet a line this Winter folks!
*Iona @ The Tarn*

Winter report as of 06/12/2011
The Tarn is still open for fishing & given the sleaty rain tonight, it'll still be ice free tomorrow too!
Best tactics this morning was a single, skinny black buzzer fished of the floating line with a figure of 8 retrieve, keeping it high in the water. Fishing in the afternoon was harder going, with the few anglers remaining opting for lures. Still picking up some nice fish though!
And as the old saying goes, "it ain't over 'til it's over". The last half hour fished it's socks off. I'm told a fish a cast at times, with Mr Burns tempting 6 of his days haul in this short space of time alone. The bung method was favoured at this point as the winds had dropped away to a flat, cool calm. Lures particularly doing the business!..
The separate Bait pool was frozen over this morning, but the milder weather this evening may help ensure that it re opens for fishing in the next day or so. If you're in any doupt about whether we are still ice free or not, just give us a call on (01506)873073 to double check!.

Tight lines this Winter folks!

*Iona @ The Tarn*

You're not wrong there Iona.

The only car accident I've had was coming down that hill through the estate in Polbeth on the first cold day in November 2009. Was only doing about 25mph. The main roads were wet with white bits on the verges. The road through the estate also seemed wet... I later discovered it was ice. A car pulled out of a junction on the right, around a parked car on the right taking her onto my side of the road. I had to brake sharpish-like and ended up skidding slowly into the rear of a car parked... opposite the junction. The owner came out and said "oh no, not again"!!! Happily, minimal damage, and nobody hurt, but still put a dent in my no claims bonus and fair spoiled my day.

And then the fishery was frozen and I couldn't fish! I should have called you to check before travelling. Live and learn.

Winter fishing report as of 07/12/2011
Hi Shpeil, yeah the Polbeth village road isn't great at the best of times as it's a continual slope & the drains are often choked out & over flowing right down to the tight bend.

Angling/ice fishing report:
Hi all, the bait pool is ice free once again & open for fishing! The Tarn is also ice free, but banks on the sheltered side are still covered in icy snow, so a tad colder on the old feet!
Tactics varied a bit today, with most anglers automatically opting for lures due to the weather conditions. Most soon realised that the fish were actually cruising higher in the water again today & so even a size 12 peacock & blue wet spider hammered a few nice fish just under the surface!.. A black pearly rabbit was favoured by those who were trying to keep warm by pulling faster, but a long draw retrieve or figure of 8 did the job too, particulalry for fishing smaller patterns like skinny buzzers!

As the temperatures are constantly altering, if you're in any doupt about whether we are still ice free or not, just give us a call on (01506)873073 to double check!.

Tight lines folks!
*Iona @ The Tarn*