Trout in the city

[@mikef6114]

Lovely video. Much enjoyed! I used to fish the WOL and caught wild brownies in the Roseburn to Dean Village stretch. That was over 40 years ago. Even got a salmon in the Almond at Cramond. Great memories! Must go back there. Thanks for the memories!

[@Afoolandhistackle]

Thanks. It’s such a lovely river. I’ve always loved it ever since the first cleanup in the 70s when they stocked it with rainbows.

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

last time I visited Edinburgh we stayed in Stockbridge, about 2 minutes walk away from the water of Leith. I didn't take my fishing tackle!! that's a mistake I won't be repeating! I wouldn't mind betting your big black muddler would tempt a much bigger brownie from a darker hole in the gloaming! Good to see your stuff out there again, Ben 👍

[@Afoolandhistackle]

I'm sure I replied to this before! Maybe I forgot to hit the reply button. Funnily enough, I did try a heavy nymph, euro-nymphing style, in an area of small waterfalls and deeper pools, and got an almighty pull from something decent, but didn't connect with it. That's something I'll definitely be trying again. I'd definitely recommend you take your rods next time you go up.

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

last time I visited Edinburgh we stayed in Stockbridge, about 2 minutes walk away from the water of Leith. I didn't take my fishing tackle! (a fool without his tackle) that's a mistake I won't be repeating! I wouldn't mind betting your big black muddler would tempt a much bigger brownie from a darker hole in the gloaming! Good to see your stuff out there again, Ben 👍

[@Afoolandhistackle]

Definitely worth taking your tackle, though do remember to organise a free permit beforehand. Funnily enough, in one of the spots briefly shown, where there are a series of small waterfalls and pools, I tried euro nymphing with a big heavy fly and I did get a BIG pull. Sadly I didn't manage to hook it. Next time though, next time...

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

@@Afoolandhistackle my local river is very similar, anything over half a pound is a decent fish (on fly) but I'm getting odd bigger ones with a small streamer lure, stripped back smartly faster than the current. hooked something that felt more like a salmon for 3 seconds last night ....

[@angusmcangus7914]

Happy memories! That’s where I started fly-fishing in the 1960s.

[@Afoolandhistackle]

It was the 70s for me.

[@angusmcangus7914]

@@Afoolandhistackle I fished in Dean Village a few times but mostly I used to take the bus from St Andrew’s Square to Balerno on the edge of the city and fish up to Harlaw reservoir. There were no rainbows and I don’t remember it being stocked in those days. A half-pounder was a prize, a three-quarter pounder the fish of the season and they all went home for supper.

[@garyjohnson4778]

Ben, the first fish looked like a wild trout, but the second looked like a stockie. Great little spot.

[@Afoolandhistackle]

It is a lovely little river. I will return. Very happy to think the first fish I caught was wild.

[@pauldalgleish6523]

Hi Ben, lovely to see you on my local river! I get out almost every day as I live around 30 metres from the river. Thought I’d mention that the council stopped stocking the river a couple of years ago so anything you caught was definitely wild 😁 Glad you enjoyed your day!

[@Afoolandhistackle]

It's a lovely river. I've always been very fond of it. I'm going to try and fish it again this year if I can. I might try the Roseburn stretch for a bit of variety.

[@colgoldson2139]

What a great river Ben , it's nice to fish small urban rivers. It's not fishing unless your catching trees and vegetation...... Was that a Gormley figure in the river ? Another great for thank you.

[@Afoolandhistackle]

Thanks Col. Yes, it is pretty lovely. So different from when I was a kid. That is indeed a Gormley. There were fish rising at its feet, but they were too smart for me.

[@Taz6688]

Lovely little setup you have, looks like it's balanced outfit just right for a small stream, always nice to spend some time fishing, especially when it brings back childhood memories.

[@Afoolandhistackle]

Thanks! It's a lovely little Sage 4wt and fishes beautifully. If money were no object though, I'd get a 3wt version for little rivers like this where you don't need much distance and you're sheltered from the wind for the most part.

[@craigleith100]

Great vid btw this is my river I’ll have you know 😉👍🏼💙🎣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Afoolandhistackle]

It’s a lovely river. Such a beautiful wild space to be running through the middle of a city. I’ve always loved it from when I was a kid.

[@craigleith100]

@@Afoolandhistackle Aye it’s lovely hard to believe you’re in the city centre sometimes it’s funny the amount of people that pass when I’m fishing & ask if there’s fish in it 😂😂😂 Tight lines pal ✌🏼💙👍🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@johndingwall1210]

The W.O.L. hasn't been stocked for a good few years now it is all wild trout thesedays. The River Almond is well worth fishing as well .

[@Afoolandhistackle]

That’s good to know. There were plenty of fish rising in the Stockbridge stretch, so it’s clearly got plenty of fish in it. It’s definitely a whole different river from when I was a kid fishing it.

[@johndingwall1210]

@@Afoolandhistackle yes totally different thesedays. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust do a fantastic job of looking after the river and riverside . Little gem of a river I should give it a cast more often than I do . The W.O.L. is often described as a " Silver thread in a ribbon of green " which I think is quite appropriate. There are a few quite substantial wild brownies in it , difficult to tempt though.

[@Afoolandhistackle]

@@johndingwall1210 A bit further upstream from this video, I briefly hooked something much bigger at the head of a deep pool just below a little waterfall, using a heavy Euro style nymph. Sadly it fell off, but I know there are bigger fish to be caught. I'd also like to catch something on a dry at some point.