Alex retains President’s Quaich in DFFA Boat League opener
Dounreay Fly Fishing Association opened its Boat League series on Saturday when an all-day competition on Loch Watten saw 19 members fish for the President’s Quaich.
This was the best entry for some years, with new member James Elliot taking part in his first DFFA event.
A new club rule allowing 15 minutes of steaming prior to the start of fishing allowed the 10 boats to spread out by the 9.30am start. The steady southwest wind gave some nice long drifts but the sight of boats starting to move around soon indicated that trout were hard to find.
The light wind then became variable in direction before settling from the southwest again.
Following lines up at 4pm the weigh-in took place at the Brown Trout Hotel. There was an average of one fish per angler brought forward, with Alex Donald placing six of them on the scales for a total of 7 lb 1.25 oz to retain the President’s Quaich and score 19 league points.
He had fished mainly from the Oldhall berths towards Sandy Point and over to the Red Shed areas using a DI 5 Sweep line with Dennis the Menace, Clan Chief and Ian Swanson Sparkler flies.
For second place and 17 points, Robbie Hawken had fished the Red Shed area then south to the Willows before working his way back along the Laid side to the berths at Oldhall. Using a DI 5 Sweep line with Black Cat, Hulk and Norski Lad flies, he caught two trout weighing 3lb 10 oz and received 17 points.
Aivis Kreslins had a frustrating time as numerous fish were only nibbling at his flies and by 3.50pm he was resigned to a blank day. A sudden commotion near the boat saw a 2 lb 7 oz trout grab a self-tied Silver Butcher fly on his line, giving him 15 points for third place plus the bonus point for best fish.
The rest of the top six were Kevin Imlach with one for 2lb 2 oz and 14 points; Billy Thomson, one at 1lb 14.25 oz and 13 points; and Peter Creasy, one at 1 lb 13.25 oz and 12 points. Others weighing in were Toby Bracey, David Cormack, Ian Cannop, George Robertson, Tony Chalmers, Neil Clyne and Bill Robertson.
Alex Donald’s weekend finished on an even higher note as he received a call inviting him to stand in for a late call-off from the Scotland angling team to fish in the Spring Home International on Rutland Water, near Leicester. This meant travelling to central Scotland early the next day to catch the team bus for a week of practice and competition.