Dear Club Secretary
CLUB BOOKINGS NOW AVAILABLE AT COBBINSHAW RESERVOIR, BY WEST CALDER
I am writing on behalf of Cobbinshaw Angling Association to let you know that club bookings are available on Cobbinshaw Reservoir with effect from season 2025 as part of a recently introduced Day Membership scheme which only applies to clubs.
The Reservoir is located south of West Calder, and is accessed by a side road near Woolford Cottages. The post code is EH55 8LQ.
We stock the loch weekly with rainbow trout averaging 2 pounds, plus local cage-reared fish up to 5 pounds as the season progresses. We have a Facebook page that provides further information on facilities and recent catches that you can view for latest information - the Facebook reference is: Cobbinshaw Angling 1905
We also have a limited range of refreshments for sale at the loch, including various soft drinks and mineral water, plus a selection of crisps, nuts, and biscuits. Membership details on how to join Cobbinshaw are available on request from the fishery staff, and on our website at cobbinshawaa.co.uk
There is currently no restriction on the number of bookings a club can make. However total club bookings will be restricted to around 30 per season, partly to ensure that there is plenty of fishing available to members, but also to keep the fishing fresh for visiting clubs.
A summary of prices, sessions, booking arrangements and associated fishing rules are attached below .
If your club wishes to book any outings at Cobbinshaw please get back in touch with dates and boat numbers etc.
Kind regards
Andrew
AW Anderson
Secretary
CAA Ltd
Mob: 07913 241012
Loch Phone: 01501 785208
Email: CobbinshawAnglingAssoc@gmail.com
COBBINSHAW ANGLING ASSOCIATION: CLUB BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS AND FISHING RULES
General booking arrangements
Club bookings are available from 1 April to 31 October inclusive, excluding Tuesdays and Thursdays as these are the busiest days for our members.
All bookings should be confirmed in writing with the secretary of Cobbinshaw Angling Association by email or letter, providing a formal contact address. Where possible a telephone contact should also be provided as this will enable the fishery staff to let you know of any last minute weather issues affecting the day of fishing.
Boats and sessions
We have a fleet of Coulam 16ft boats, all fitted with 4HP engines and equipped with drogues and landing nets. Personal nets and drogues can be used. There is also a Coulam 16 ft wheelie boat available for wheel chair users that must be booked in advance should it be required.
A maximum of 10 boats will be available to clubs on any given day [except Tuesdays and Thursday when there will be no club bookings]. There is some flexibility on the maximum number of boats available where a club member is also a Cobbinshaw member.
There is no limit on the number of outings a club can book, but only one club booking will be allowed per day.
Clubs have the option of one of three sessions:
- a day session from 9am until 5 pm, costing £32 per angler; or
- an evening session from 3pm [or 4 pm] to closing time, costing £32 per angler; or
- a flexible session of 7 hours within the normal day from 9am until closing time, exact times to be agreed when booking
The above prices assume a minimum of 2 anglers to a boat [max 3]. Where a club has an odd number of anglers attending and a single angler boat is required, the cost will remain at £32. Where more than 1 single angler boat is required, the cost will be £40 per angler.
Cobbinshaw members of any club will pay the applicable membership rate - not the club rate.
The fishing charge includes a Day Membership fee.
Payment and cancellation arrangements
Payment for bookings should preferably be made at least one week in advance via a bank transfer, but it can be made on the day by arrangement with the Cobbinshaw Secretary [contact details below].
Cancellations notified a week in advance of the booking will not be charged. Cancellations made less than a week from the booking may be charged.
Any applicable refunds on bookings (e.g. cancellation due to high winds) will be made via a bank transfer - generally within 10 days of notification of cancellation - or by arrangement with the Cobbinshaw Secretary.
Cobbinshaw Angling Association: Club fishing rules
Fly fishing only by traditional method of fly rod and fly line. Anglers can only fish one rod at a time.
Kill limit is 4 fish per angler, then C&R. Barbless or de-barbed hooks are compulsory when fishing C&R.
Returned fish should be released as quickly as possible, preferably by keeping the net in the water. If the fish has to be brought into the boat please unhook and release as quickly as possible.
Maximum hook size is 1 inch. Maximum double is size 12. Tandem flies, treble hooks and stainless steel hooks are not allowed.
No trolling or back drifting allowed. No bait, spinning or hand lines.
All pike and other coarse fish must be returned quickly and safely to the water
Maximum of 3 to a boat, all of whom may fish.
Boats must stay at least 30 feet from the cages and banks, including dam and causeway. Access to the cage structure is not allowed except in an emergency or by agreement with fishery staff.
No anchoring or mooring allowed.
No tampering with nets, drogues or other equipment in the boat.
No smoking or naked flames allowed at the stern of the boat due to fire risk.
Anglers are expected to keep boats and facilities clean and tidy after use, and should take all rubbish and waste home with them, especially waste nylon as it can clog pumps and kill wild birds and animals.
General safety
The fishery staff have the right to refuse to allow an angler to fish if in their opinion he / she is incapable of safely conducting themselves on the water.
An emergency whistle and life ring with rope attached [to help recover anyone in the water] is stowed beneath the forward seat of the double-skinned boats or in a separate box on the newer boats, for use in an emergency.
Personal lifejackets must be worn at all times. We do not supply lifejackets: there are a few that can be borrowed if an angler forgets to bring one, but availability is not guaranteed. Anglers will not be allowed to fish without a lifejacket.
Personal boat seats are permitted but used at an angler’s own risk. Clamp style seats are not permitted on the forward seat of the double skinned boats.
Boat fishing will not be allowed when the steady wind speed exceeds 20mph. The Keepers will either cancel fishing or re-call boats that are currently fishing in those conditions, so be alert at all times to any signals from the Keepers or other anglers to return to the harbour (e.g. in response to an emergency Klaxon, hand signals or mobile phone calls).
In the event of a thunderstorm all boats must return to the harbour area as soon as possible, making sure that fishing rods are placed horizontal to the gunnel and not sticking up in the air. Fishing can be resumed when the storm passes.
The fishery staff have basic first aid training. There is a First Aid Kit plus towels and dry clothing in the cabin, should either be required. A defibrillator is also available in the public area behind the main shed.
All anglers have a duty of care for their own and other’s safety when fishing. Not all risks can be identified and mitigated, so please take care.
The following safety guidance is available at the loch and online on our website, and should be read before fishing.
- ANGLER RISK ASSESSMENT
- BOAT SAFETY GUIDELINES
- GUIDANCE ON USE OF LIFE JACKETS AND RECOVERING SOMEONE FROM THE WATER
- BOAT ETIQUETTE GUIDANCE
Contact details
AW Anderson
Secretary
On behalf of CAA Ltd
Fishery Phone: 01501 785208
Sec Mobile: 07913 241012