Cardrona Fishings – The Pools

This is at the upstream limit of the beat and is not really a formed pool as such, it is a uniform run which does hold fish, particularly towards to the right bank and down towards the golfers footbridge (fish tend to lie in the deeper channel down the right bank to just below the footbridge, where it begins to shallow out. It is worth a casual cast but not one to spend too much time working out.

Access: cross the river via the old railway bridge, follow the old railway line until you reach the golfer’s footbridge. Cross the bridge and Maggy’s Tail is the run which extends for around 60 yards from above the footbridge.

This is a classic fly fishing pool with a fast head, which begins to even out where the bushes begin on the opposite bank. Get in the water a little way below the footbridge and work your way down into this pool – it can be waded all the way down to the Kirkburn pool (the large slow pool where the river turns left). Be aware that there are power lines behind you on our bank although these should present no problems for the spey caster.

Fishes well with around 1’4″ – 1’10” on the gauge. Fish hold just to the right of the main stream in the upper part, and can lie just about anywhere as you progress to the more sedate water further down. Try a square cast with a mend to ensure your fly fishes at a good depth in the top third of the pool. Fish like to lie in against the bushes/willows at the lower part before it fans out into the Kirkburn Pool. If there is a lot of water pushing through (2′ – 4′ on the gauge) fish will run and rest very close into the right bank.

Access: cross the river via the old railway bridge, follow the old railway line until you reach the golfer’s footbridge. Cross the bridge and the Castlehaugh Cheek begins where the river turns right.

Access to the Kirkburn from the right bank is limited by riparian trees but the top end can be fished by a reasonably competent spey caster. Wading is not advised due to the bedrock and deep nature of this pool on our bank. It is a deep, slower pool and fish do lie here in good numbers, in the deeper water on the right bank. The pool, due its pace, can be fished in higher water and rods have had success with water up to 4′ on the gauge and even higher.

Access: This follows on from the Castlehaugh Cheek, as before, cross the river via the old railway bridge, follow the old railway line until you reach the golfer’s footbridge. Cross the bridge and the Kirkburn Pool begins below the Castlehaugh Cheek and where the Kirk Burn enters on our bank in the corner.

There are some fishable spots between the tail of the Kirkburn and the Rumbler but the presence of the two bridges and some bushes make it difficult to spend a lot of time here. Fish do lie in the nice deep pool above, under and below the roadbridge and it is always worth a cast, again with fish lying towards the right bank. Wading not advised due to rocks and depth.

The Rumbler is a classic holding pool, (apparently named after the “rumbling spout” which you can see coming out of the boulders on the opposite bank halfway down the pool). The pool changes considerable after big spates and is generally shallower in the middle section than it has been for some years. This pool can be divided into three, the top section being a fast bouldery run before it begins to turn right, a middle section where the boulder reinforcements start and which is subject to eddies and then the long straight section until the tail a few hundred yards downstream. Fish this long pool all the way down to the island, fish can lie just about anywhere, depending on levels. It can fish well in a variety of heights, ranging from 1′ right up to 3-4′. Square casts in the head will help fish the fly properly and at the correct depth. The top can be a bit tricky to wade but is easily fished from the bank. This fast water runs into a ‘pot’ where fish can often be seen to show. A cast close to (or under) the trees on the opposite bank will often cover fish. Fish can lie close to the right bank in higher water, which is really anything over 1′ 10″. Fish the fly under the last tree before the rock reinforcement begins, then just fish all the way down to the island, paying particular attention to the lies near the bushes on the opposite bank and also the undercut bank towards the tail. Wading is generally safe, though not really necessary.

Access: walk under the road bridge and the Rumbler Pool begins about 30-40 yards downstream and below a loose gravel island.

Access is difficult to Robbie’s Pot from the right bank due to conifers but it is worth a casual cast below the island. It is also worth wading onto the island (if water levels permit) and having a cast in the deep run/pot between the island and the left bank. Fish do lie in here. The island is slowly disappearing as the river continues to change at the tail of the Rumbler.

Access: as for the Rumbler, continue to below the island.

The Dirtpot has a nicely paced run which then slows and deepens into a very productive holding pool that fishes well with the fly. Wading is generally safe with a firm gravel bottom. Get in at the top where the trees end and work your way down and around the bend to the fallen willow. Speycasting, whilst not essential, is very useful. This pool fishes well in a variety of water heights, even up to 3′-4′. Fish tend to lie slightly towards the opposite bank. The tail of the Dirtpot, where the small stream enters on the opposite bank can be particularly good.

Access: from the Cardrona road bridge, cross the golf course and follow the line of conifers. Enter the wood and the Dirtpot is the pool sharp bend where the river turns right. This can also be accessed from the Leeburn Way parking area and will involve a 10-15 minute walk upstream.

The Craig Stream is a reasonably fast, even paced stream which holds good numbers of fish at most heights. There is no real need to wade, but if you do be aware of the bouldery nature of the bottom. Begin at the head and ensure your fly is well mended all the way down. It is worth covering just about all of the pool, fish do hold and run at just about anywhere. Fish can be observed running in from the fast water in the Nutwood and resting for a few moments in the tail, it is always worth paying particular attention to the tail on opposite sides of the pool, where fish tend to show.

Access: from the Cardrona shop car park, cross the golf course below the parking area and follow the contour of the village. Veer right at the bottom of the golf course, cross the course near the pond and the pool is about 60 yards downstream. This can also be accessed from the Leeburn Way parking area and will involve a 10 minute walk upstream.

The Nutwood Pool runs all the way down to the layby on the A72 on the opposite bank. It’s a long pool and it’s probably the favourite of most of the Syndicate owners, holding many fish from the head all the way down to the layby. The top of the Nutwood commences pretty much opposite where the paddock on the opposite bank ends and the road joins the river. The opposite bank is for the most part inaccessible and is tree-lined for most of the length of the pool. Most people get out at the tail where the pool shallows up a little way upstream of the layby. Fish lie all the way down this pool, pay attention to the opposite bank, particularly where the telegraph poles begin and fish this pool carefully and methodically. Again, this pool can fish well in a variety of heights up to and over 3′. At higher levels, ensure your fly fishes well on the dangle as many fish run up the right bank.

Access: from the Cardrona car park, cross the golf course and follow the contour of the village. Veer right at the bottom of the golf course, cross the course near the pond and the pool is about 150 yards downstream, where the river takes a gentle bend to the right. This can also be accessed from the Leeburn Way parking area and will involve a 5 minute walk upstream.

This is a surprisingly productive pool and one where syndicate members have had some notable successes. Enter the pool at the head, wading is generally safe, indeed a tentative wade of a yard or two from the bank is recommended so that you can fish this pool well. Ensure you cover the opposite bank, fish often take just us the fly begins to fish. Fish down to the white sign on the opposite bank, this is the lower limit of the beat.