Published: Tuesday, 1st June, 2010 9:40am

Good catch provides encouragement at reservoir

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With seven rainbows in less than an hour at Loch, Stock & Barrels, Fife's fly fishing experience at the Stenhouse Trout Fishery beside the A909 Burntisland to Cowdenbeath road, it didn't take much for Cowdenbeath catcher George Stein (see photograph of George with one of his fish) to sing the praises of the 45-acre former reservoir.

"What a nugget of gold right here on our doorstep," he said, "with the quality of the sport and the fish a credit to everyone involved here.

"I opted to catch and return but if I had taken home a full bag of four I would be surprised if it had weighed in at less than 12 lbs. Lovely place, lovely fish, lovely time!"

Also last weekend Kinross-shire based Tullibole Angling Club whose members come from as far afield as Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Oakley, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and South Queensferry, thoroughly enjoyed their time on the water taking 17 fish for a total of 41 lbs 10 oz.

With each of the fish averaging around 2.5 lbs they were all well pleased with their visit and everyone at the loch is looking forward to welcoming their club back later in the season.

Four workmates from Alex Ferguson Recovery in Cowdenbeath - John Pasieka from Dalgety Bay, George McEwan from Edinburgh, Simon King and Ian Waplington, both from Cowdenbeath - also enjoyed their time on the water last Sunday.

Others who fished with varying degrees of success last week included Brian Kelly and Chris Yorke from Aberdour, angling tutor Willie Young from Dunfermline (5 brown and 6 rainbow on catch and return), James Hyndman from Thornton (taking 3 rainbows, all over 3 lbs, and 2 rainbows and a brownie returned), and Bob Muirhead from Kirkcaldy.

"We are so pleased that the upturn in the weather has seen even more successful visits to Loch, Stock & Barrels," added Stenhouse's John Low, "and with more and more club visits on the cards in coming weeks we hope that the sun will continue to shine and the fish continue to rise as a result of the warmer water."

Once again last week many of the fish succumbed to the charms of Yellow Dancers although the traditionals too were having their moments.