just wondering if anyone on the forums fishes any stretches of the almond in west lothian but not as far as crammond. i fished it alot last season but no fish and im just wondering what flies are best for this river and as far as im concerned i done everything right.

6ft 5# rod with 3.2 bs brown leader fishing small size 12/14 flies and never had as much as a bite

i have taken into consideration its my location on the river but ive fished most places local to me and have heard of catch reports from the same areas i fish

cheers in advance for any advice

Mark

Hi Mark,

It's not an easy river to fish - especially lower down near Cramond. There are plenty of fish there, just very educated and very spooky.

All the usual flies have worked for me (GRHE and PTN, both beaded and unbeaded; bug*ers; trad wets; grey duster; olive para duns; greenwell's spider and dry). The key is in the approach: very delicate, with careful presentation and a minimum of disturbance.

However, if you want an unparralleled introduction to the river and the best approaches, PM Millar Laing ('Peter Ross' on here) and ask for advice.

Best of luck,

Matt

cheers mate i will do

doesnt help that last year something happened and a factory up near murieston poured loads of pollution into it and fish were seen dead floating the surface

Very sad.

But the fishing was still very good through Livingston village right through last season.

And try the stretch upstream from the Clifton aqueduct - beautiful and full of fish.

aye Mark full of fish is the Almond and i think it is true to say the upper Almond presents a better chance of a really good specimen.I also think it is true to say for some strange reason they are more easily caught up there.
As Matt rightly points out on C.A.C controlled sections the fish are a tad wary but with a bit of perseverance some fine specimens up to 3lbs were caught last season.
I can recall the incident regarding pollution and thankfully sepa delt with it very promptly. Our regular kicksampling sessions confirmed there was no long term damage to the aquaculture of the river. Up your neck of the woods w.l.a.a. control the river and Douglas is your main man. The web site is West Lothian Angling Association | Promoting angling throughout West Lothian lower Almond from Kirkliston to the shore is Cramond Angling Club

pm me your e mail address and i will bombard you with reading material specific to the river.

all the following fish were returned unharmed (C.A.C has a total catch and release policy for all Salmonoids as of 2012)








Regards Millar

__________________
BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

some of those are belters
id be happy catching a 1/2lbs fish as i havent experienced catching a wild river trout yet.

there is no permit controlled area where i am, i mainly go to the country park stretch but this season im going to try different places where its quiter rather than the places dogs swim and children throw rocks in

cheers guys
Mark

Millar thats cheatin'
2 of them is sea troots!
regards
bert

Aye Bert, the middle two are indeed sea troots....but wild fish, and mighty fine examples too. In fairness a brown of around a pound is considered a good fish and finnock (which are plentiful) of around the pound mark are great fun.
There are some big broons lurking in the river and we are constantly trying to devise ways of enticing them. The consensus of opinion seems to be size 20 dries or the opposite sculpins

__________________
BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

Greenwells spider (14 or 16) on stretch at civic centre does for me!
regards
bert

Aye a man after my own heart.....I can manage to tie that size onto my tippet
One guy exclusively uses 20 and 22 dries and does exceptionally well. I cant tie the patterns nor see them on the water.
Greenwell cruncher for me and size 14 pearly Invictas

__________________
BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD