Nigel Duncan on fishing: Edinburgh angler in squad to face fancied Wales fisherman

The Scotland manager, Brian Quinn, is determined to do all he can to help the team

David Harrington from Edinburgh has been named as one of six anglers in the Scottish team for the Bank International later this month, but they face tough opposition and the Welsh team includes one of Britain's best-known fishermen.

Hywel Morgan is a world champion fly caster and a regular at fishing showsaround the country. Indeed, the consultant to Wishaw-based tackle manufacturer, Daiwa, was one of the headliners at the recent Open Weekend hosted by Glasgow Angling Centre. Morgan has competed for his country on a numberof occasions, and the Welsh also have a strong team manager in Matthew Pate,a regular presenter on YouTube.

Scotland's manager, Brian Quinn, is determined to do all he can to help the team – who qualified through six heats, a semi-final and then final – land gold on their own patch.

Only Graeme Lynch, Scotland's captain, has previous international experience. The angler from Beith is joined by debutants Mark Hopkins from Hamilton, Kyle Courtney (Ayrshire), Peter Cowie (Peterhead) and Michael Ward (Johnstone) and Harrington. Steven Craig (Fraserburgh) is travelling reserve for the event on Wednesday, March 25 at New Haylie Trout Fishery in Largs.

The Scotland manager, Brian Quinn, is determined to do all he can to help the team

Meanwhile, East Lothian-based Keith Logan of Heriot AC took the Champion of Champions title for the second time in two years, beating 59 other competitors on the day at the Lake of Menteith. The angler from Gifford qualified as one of the top six fishermen from each of the ten Saturday heats of the Scottish Club Championship, and there were concerned faces as competitors saw the strength of the westerly wind that was pushing the waves onto the beach when they arrived.

Fortunately, the wind moderated and, by early afternoon, conditions were near-perfect. The anglers took full advantage netting 339 trout for 729lb 13.4oz. Six fish brought to the scales were over 4lb, with the heaviest being 5lb 8oz.

Logan hooked 12 fish for 28lb and he started fishing over the shallow water markers where he picked up fish on a FAB and two cormorants on a 12ft tip line. When the wind dropped he moved to The Cages area where he took the remainder of his fish on dry flies.

Second with 13 trout for 25lb 11.6oz was Greig Davie from Leslie in Fife, representing Albacats. He took his fish in The Cages area where he was fishing two boobies on a Di5. Third with 12 trout for 24lb 7.7oz was the Scotland team manager, Derek Keenan of Saltire FF, who led the Scottish team to an overwhelming victory in the Autumn international at the Lake of Menteith in September. He started at Shear Point but quickly moved to the Lochend area and fished cormorant on a midge tip line. He later switched to dry flies.

Locally, at Allandale Tarn, fishing is now until 6pm daily except Tuesday when they are closed. At Millhall near Polmont, anglers have been enjoying success on lures, notably black or dark coloured.

The fish were deeper in the water when the rain was heavy, but came up much closer to the surface when it eased off or stopped.

R Whitelaw returned eight fish on a black lure, J Appleton recorded seven fish on lures and diawl bachs. D Harvey returned a rainbow estimated well into double-figures and fishery secretary Bill Sutherland returned 15 fish, mainly on damsel and Ally McCoist patterns.

Sea fishing now and Portobello Beach is the venue for the first round of the Edinburgh Shore League winter series which runs from this month to December.

The first leg is on October 27 and fishing on all legs is from 7pm to 10pm, with registration from 6pm to 6.15pm. Leg one registration is at Tumbles Car Park, EH15 1DR. Leg two is at Newhaven's Western Harbour on November 3 and registration is at Western Harbour Way, EH6 6PG. Newhaven also hosts the third leg on November 17 with registration at Western Harbour Place, EH6 6NG. The entrants return to Portobello for leg four on November 24, with registration at Promenade View, EH15 2ES. Marine Esplanade is the venue for leg five and the sat nav location is EH6 7DP. It's the same place for the penultimate round on December 22, with the final leg at Newhaven on December 29, with registration at Western Harbour Way, EH6 6PG.

The best five scores will count and entry for each match will be £10 and it is pre-book only. Prizes are sponsored by the Edinburgh Angling Centre/Fishing Megastore with vouchers valued at £100, £60 and £40 for the top three anglers. Tackle manufacturer, Cox and Rawle, are providing vouchers to the value of £50, £30 and £20. Ian Campbell, the organiser and also manager of the Edinburgh Angling Centre, said that the matches have been registered with the Penn Sea League.

Elsewhere, Iain Reid's two-day Memorial Match is confirmed for November 4 and 5. The Saturday session is from 10am to 2pm at Kirkcaldy and the second from 11am to 3pm at Leven. Contact David Dobbie on 07940 111729 or Alan Combe on 07872 899791.

Registration for both days is from 8am to 9.30am and the end car park at Kirkcaldy Promenade and there are 50 pegs available.

Lugworm and mackerel are the only baits allowed and there are prizes for the first, second, third and fourth and the heaviest flat fish. Entry is £40 and that is for the two days and Penn Sea League points are on offer.

The annual cod league is co-hosted by Mike Horn, president of the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers (SFSA), and his son Chris, who were both part of the gold medal winning team in the Home International in Wales earlier this year, and details have now been confirmed.

The first leg of five will be on Saturday, November 18, with other legs on Saturday, December 2, Saturday, January 13, Saturday, January 20 and Saturday, February 3.

The venue is Carnoustie to Ferryden Lighthouse and entry is £10 and fishing in the first leg is between 15.30 and 20.30 with registration from 14.00 to 14.30 at the Victoria Car Park, Arbroath. All leave at 14.30.

Fishing in the second leg is from 17.00 to 22.00 and registration is also at the Victoria Car Park. All leave at 16.00. Times for the rest of the legs will be confirmed later and SFSA rules apply.

Meanwhile, Stewart Falconer and Allan Saunders are organising the Arbroath Winter Cod Open on October 28 with fishing from 3pm to 9pm and registration at Victoria Car Park, Arbroath from 2pm to 2.15pm. Boundaries are from Carnoustie to Ferryden. Weigh in is 9pm to 10pm and it is one rod and three hooks maximum.

The three heaviest bags and heaviest fish are among the prizes and high tide is 14.40 (5.44 metres) with low tide 20.37 (1.04 metres). Call Falconer on 07759 379978 or Saunders on 07387 655760 for details.