| Glendarroch Loch |
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| Fish off the dam
Glendarroch Loch is a picturesque estate lake and sister water to Craighlaw Loch, just across the road. It’s a shallow, weedy water, which is highly productive with large numbers of roach, rudd, perch and skimmers providing most of the sport. A few decent carp in the 8-9 lb bracket, some bream up to 5 lb and the occasional crucian carp have been introduced over the years. Tench also figure strongly with dozens of fish in the 2-3 lb bracket. Catches of up to 70 tench have been recorded at a sitting and the top bait is sweetcorn. The water has a maximum depth of six feet and some 12 swims have been cut out from the heavy weed. Most of the swims have platforms making fishing comfortable. Pole and waggler tactics are the most productive methods, fishing with sweetcorn, caster or maggot on the hook. A small amount of groundbait will hold fish in the swim. The pegs off the dam wall are the most popular. |
The right route
From Newton Stewart take the A75 towards Stranraer and after about seven miles, turn left onto the B733 heading towards Wigtown. Follow the road for a few hundred yards and turn left opposite the estate gates. Follow this track for a couple of hundred yards down to the fishery. Factfile
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| Torwood House Hotel Lakes |
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| Evenings are best
Set within the picturesque grounds of Torwood House Hotel, there are three poois all stocked as mixed fisheries. One of the pools has a good reputation as a top tench fishery. This water once produced the former Scottish tench record which stood at 7 lb 4 oz. There is also a 16 peg specimen pool which holds some big carp to around 20 lb. The other pool is used for growing on fish for future stocks and is a good place for match fishing practice. The two main pools are surrounded with features and cover about 1.5 acres. The water is dark and peaty and has depths from two feet down to ten feet. Being fairly weed free all three waters can be tackled with a light approach on either the pole or waggler. These pools have suffered little pressure and respond well to good old fashioned baits like bread and corn. Fishing into the evening can bring great rewards. |
The right route
Leave Newton Stewart on the A75 heading towards Stranraer. Follow the road for 6.5 miles and turn right at the sign for Three Lochs Caravan Park. Follow the road on for three miles to the junction and then turn left. Three miles further on you will come to the signs for Torwood House Hotel. Fact file
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| River Clyde, Glasgow Green, Strathclyde. |
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| Free fishing
The Glasgow Green stretch of the River Clyde runs for approximately 1.5 miles downstream from Shawfield bridge to the boating club and the fishing is free. The river averages 60 yards wide and around 14 feet deep with a flow greatly affected by the tidal lock gates. Sport is dominated by the large shoals of dace which average three to eight ounces. The best catches are taken from August throu.gh to October when anglers fishing this stretch can expect to catch fish from every peg. There is also a good number of skimmers and the odd perch to target. Eels are also present and good catches can be made on the pole and caster. A nine to 10 metre pole is the main method on this venue, using just a flick tip and fishing to hand. When targeting the skimmers and eels a light elastic is advised. Hemp in groundbait acts as a good fish holding mix but you will need to fish small, hard balls on a little and often basis. |
The right route
From central Glasgow follow the road through to the People’s Palace and the river. Factfile
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| Morton Pond, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Stoctland. |
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| Claim your Tench Mission here
Morton Pond is a picturesque estate lake of around 1.5 acres, stocked almost exclusively with tench. Superb sport can be enjoyed in an idyllic setting on this productive water, which has seen catches of 100lb plus recorded. The average stamp of fish in this water is around the 4lb mark with odd bigger ones. The lake is shallow with average depths between three and four feet. In winter it is very clear and should be approached with caution. Fishing at dawn and dusk bring the best results. The fishery suffers little pressure and the tench will readily accept a variety of baits. Sweetcorn and maggot are two of the best choices along with bread and worm. Float fishing with a pole or waggler are the main methods, fishing fine with light tackle. Use a small amount of groundbait to tempt fish into your swim. Top pegs on the venue tend to be those nearest to the entrance gate. |
The right route
Leave Dumfries on the A76(T) heading towards Cumnock. At Carronbridge bear right onto the A702 and follow the road for approximately 1.25 miles. Turn right and follow the signs for Morton Castle. The pond is located one mile further along this road. Factfile
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