Ledyatt boss planning to reopen if restrictions lifted

A Scottish trout fishery boss is making plans to reopen on Monday providing restrictions are lifted.

David Duff of Ledyatt Fishery near Coupar Angus will run at 50% capacity – he has 39 pegs – if permission is lifted and will have a maximum of 20 rods from 8am to 3pm and 20 rods from 4pm to close.

The office will be closed, there will be no hot food or drinks and among other restrictions are payment by card or Paypal only and a one-way system round the loch.

No fish will be weighed and industrial hand wipes and disposable gloves will be available.

He stressed that his message is to the local area, within 10 minutes of the fishery, as he does not wish to see anglers travelling long distances – and potential customers are asked to message the facility to book slots for either session.

Mr Duff, who has owned the fishery for four years, announced his plans on his website and Facebook and said: “There is no way I would risk the business which I have built over four years through sweat and blood or my customers by opening before restrictions are lifted. I will follow guidelines.

“I, however, have been closed for several weeks. Fisheries are not in receipt of a £10,000 grant and my income during that time has been zero.”

Mr Duff said that one of his customers who queued at a nationwide DIY shop for a tin of paint for three hours at the weekend had prompted him to go on social media with his plans.

But “aggressive” comments had been levelled at him within minutes of his post and he added: “People are becoming frustrated at not being able to fish so I felt it was important to tell customers that I was making plans to be ready for reopening.”