There’s a first time for everything.

I’ve not been out much recently, but last week I had a very enjoyable session with two local lads who have caught the species hunting bug, Luca and Luke. They were both keen to visit a couple of my favourite spots to target two freshwater micro species. Meeting up about an hour before sunset, we headed to the pond in Inverleith Park to kick things of by catching a load of three spined stickleback. There were enormous numbers of them present and fishing tiny pieces of maggot on tanago hooks we spent an while catching one after another. Between the three of us we must have caught over a hundred by the time we headed to my favourite bullhead spot on the Water of Leith. It was also the first time Luca and Luke had caught the species, so it was nice to witness that. Nothing beats the feeling of catching a new species!

The humble three spined stickleback. As far as I’m aware, it’s the only species of fish in Inverleith Pond and it’s thriving in there!

There were plenty of males in breeding colouration amongst the ravenous shoals. 

After a short walk, we were at the shallow rocky edge of the Water of Leith. Turning on our head torches, we began scanning the bottom for our target. Almost immediately, we spotted a few bullhead sitting motionless in gaps between the rocks and dangling a piece of maggot in front of them, we all quickly caught a few. Again, they were Luca and Luke’s first ever. After catching a few small specimens, I spotted a much larger individual and focused my attention on catching that. It was quite stubborn initially, refusing to move at first, but eventually it got fed up of the maggot being twitched around in front of it and ate it. 

At just shy of 10cm, this bullhead was a bit of a beast!

After a while, it started raining and having caught what we were after, we called it a night. Catching these two species is very easy, but it still was nice to help Luca and Luke catch their first three spined stickleback and bullhead. They’re both keen to catch a few more new species over the summer, so I dare say more opportunities to help them do so will come along over the coming months. 

Tight lines, Scott.