I was visiting my dad in the Scottish Borders yesterday and we decided to have a cast after tea. we decided to try out Clerklands fishery near Selkirk.

We duly arrived and couldn't believe the number of fish moving all over the lake. The place was alive with fish on top of the water. We tackled up with floating lines as there was no need to try anything else.

The first hour was so frustrating. Almost every cast was made over moving fish yet we failed to arouse any interest. It was only when pulling my flies back quickly did a trout follow but not take. Frequent changes of fly resulted in my first fish on a diawl bach, a fish of around 2 pounds. Things were looking up. I lost another much bigger fish after it took me to the backing and jumped over the other side of the lake.

My cast was now a claret hopper; PTN and DB. This combination started to get some interest and I had fish following me all over the place with big bow waves following but not taking. exciting fishing but few hookups. The fish did not want the flies fished slowly, perhaps they were outside the taking depth. another fish hooked, this time about 6 pounds was hooked and after taking me to the backing 3 times was safely released to fight another day. There were some real "pigs" moving but we didn't hook any. A further 8 fish (lost count) and about 50 or follows later we packed up and went home.
This was the first time this year when I've seen any sort of surface activity which was almost constant throughout the evening. The manager Wullie Foster says it's like this every evening and hardly anybody fishes late on, most anglers packing up at about 5 or 6 o'clock.

Great 3 hours fishing with some cracking trout and all for £12.

Highly recommended.

Thanks for your post; Very good to read on a monday...first thing back at the desk. The week just started to look better.

cheers!