Paul Young drops his hook into a man-made fishery brimming with rainbow trout in an ideal location

PICTURE a man-made lake, stocked with brilliantly coloured, full-finned rainbows 12 pounds and over, and head of natural brown trout up to four pounds. Add to that tench, carp, and bright red-finned perch, some reaching more than three pounds, and you would think you had found the perfect fishery.

Set it gently in a sheltered valley among mature trees in the north-east of Scotland, near Old Deer in Aberdeenshire, and you have Pitfour Lake at Saplinbrae House Hotel.

The lake was once part of an estate owned by the Ferguson family. It was bought in the early eighteenth-century by James Ferguson, passed through the hands of six Ferguson lairds, and at one time extended to more than 30,000 acres from the mouth of the Ugie westwards to New Deer.

The most kenspeckle of the Fergusons was perhaps the fifth Laird, Admiral George. He was a typical Regency buck, an irresistible combination of charm, courtesy, improvidence, and daring. The Pitfour parties were legendary, the dancing and gambling being the talk of the neighbourhood.

He spent money at an alarming rate on gardens, fountains, an observatory and even a racecourse. The Greek-style bath house is still extant . . . it was rumoured that George kept his crocodiles in there . . . as is the Gothic ruin that was actually built as a ruin. Aye, they knew how to build their ruins in those days.

Unfortunately, George's extravagance outweighed his income and the estate fell into disrepair.

Nowadays, it is around 400 acres and its fortunes have been revived by the loving care of Bill and Dorothy Adam.

The fishery, I think uniquely, is divided into a facility for both game and coarse anglers. The main 30-acre lake has 10 casting platforms and seven boats for the trout fishers and beyond, in the backwaters behind the two bridges, one of which was modelled on the bridge of the Serpentine, is the coarse fishery.

Any perch taken on the fly on the main lake, are transferred to this for the benefit of the coarse anglers. So, in one day, you might like to spend a morning for the trout and an afternoon for tench, carp, and perch. It is believed to be the most northerly water to hold tench and carp.

It was on a mild, bright day that Bill Adam and I moved out on to the water. There had been rain the previous day, and as the loch is stream fed, there was a bit of colour in the water.

The small fish were on the surface, but Bill reckoned that a gold-head pheasant-tail nymph might just get a couple of feet down to where the bigger fish were cruising.

There was an occasional fish moving, but the water was pretty calm and it was difficult to cover a rise without spooking the trout. So, a long line was the answer with a slow figure- of-eight retrieve. I find it difficult to resist the temptation to work a fly quickly but I managed and it was well worth the effort.

The first fish that took me actually came towards the boat, so the initial indication of the take was the line slackening. I lifted the rod and there was an explosion in the water.

These Pitfour rainbows are strong fighters and this one was as much out of the water as in it. A beautifully marked, full-tailed fish came to the net and I was able to snick the hook out and received a face-wash as it made off into the depths.

We browsed the shoreline near the man-made ruin and took several fish each; all strong and sporting.

Bill suggested I try for perch as the evening shadows lengthened and I spent a wonderful final hour with a small float and a worm-taking fish well over the pound. What a handsome fish a big perch is.

Splendidly barred with crimson fins shining in the low evening sun and that pugnacious jaw and erect spiny dorsal fin that seems to say ``Don't meddle with me''.

This is an excellent water for both bank or boat angler and it is the policy of the fishery to limit the numbers to those 10 bank rods and the seven boats to maintain the peace and tranquility of Pitfour.

A day permit for four fish will cost #16, a half day for three fish comes in at #12 and a boat is #6 for a day or session. You might just want to fish an evening and that is #10 for two fish.

Bill will allow catch and release if he is sure the hook barb is flattened and the angler is careful with the fish, otherwise you should buy another permit.

The coarse fishery is #8 a rod per day and remember, that is for perch, tench and carp, if you can catch them.

Bookings can be made on 10771 623515 and if you want a comfortable evening after your day on the water, try a night at Saplinbrae House Hotel, built in 1756 as a Dower House for the estate. Ring the same number and you will be assured of the best of service and a super night.

And it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Bill or Dorothy might just be there to celebrate the joys of your day with you.