Stuart Fraser: Leadburn has emerged as a winter wonderland

After the big thaw I managed to steal away to Leadburn Manor, our sponsors, for some quality time.

I was quite surprised to see how well the place had progressed over the winter months. With a new caf up and running well and the place taking shape I was eager to get out and try the fishing. Although still partly frozen at the bottom end it was very inviting and I decided to fish all the way round.

Moving every 20 minutes I managed to connect into a lot of fish. Surprisingly they were taking the fly on a fairly fast figure of eight retrieve the fly was incidental; as they were taking black and green as well as the usual lures. I took rainbow after rainbow up to 6lb in weight but could not tempt one of the huge brown trout introduced at the back end of the year.

Still, they will come on in their own good time and hopefully I will return to get one. I would have to say that the road side fished better than the high bank but that was probably due to the sun reaching there first to warm the water a bit.

The takes were savage which surprised me as I was thinking they it would be tail nipping and lethargic. It shows they have over wintered well and looking and feeling in perfect condition. Well worth a cast and possibly, just possibly you may just land that fish of a lifetime.