ANGLING

This cracker of a fly called the Variation Coch Zulu comes from the vice of Ayrshire tyer John Ferguson and is tied on a size 10 Partridge Sproat hook using black Semperfly Nano silk 18/0 – 30d.

The butt is UTC medium Pearl midge tinsel and the tail fluorescent red wool. The body is natural peacock herl, ribbed with small Hends tinsel, palmered with a furnace-cock saddle hackle.

Finish the pattern with a head hackle of Furnace hen and very small jungle cock cheeks.

Lots of big brownies featured in last week’s returns at East Lothian’s Markle Fishery, with Jackie Hay from Haddington topping the pile with one at 9lb 8oz on a Montana.

Jimmy Kerr (Haddington) took one for 8lb on a Mini Humungus, Allan Tulloch (Dalkeith) had a 7lb 8oz brown on a Blob, John Daly (Edinburgh) had a brown and a blue each weighing 5lb.

Boats are available at the Lake of Menteith from Monday to Friday throughout the winter months and those who have ventured out recently have done well down at the cages.

The most-popular method has been Bugs under the indicator around eight feet down, but on milder days some fish have been caught using a midge tip line with cormorants and Fabs.