Bracey goes clear after 10-trout haul
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After having to postpone the scheduled All Lochs event on May 5 due to bad weather, club members were delighted to get some fishing last Saturday when they travelled to the secluded Loch Toftingall for a bank competition, courtesy of Peter Hovig.
The weather had improved compared to early May but the cool easterly wind and bright sunshine on arrival at 10am held out little hope of seeing free-rising fish.
However, along the more sheltered east and south banks some of the 13 competitors did see quite a number of rising trout, but when (or if) caught many were undersized.
The anglers were soon spread around the loch, with all areas receiving attention at some time during the day – even out near the middle where a couple of the braver ones were seen trying their luck. Casting at the east side was tricky at times with the wind swirling through the surrounding trees from various directions, but conditions were more constant at the other side.
Bracey covered most of the east and south banks plus some deep wading into the centre and it paid off with a nice basket of 10 trout for 5.91lb. This gave him 20 championship points and the Bloody Foreigner Trophy donated by Mr Hovig.
He caught most of his fish (including one at 1.48lb) on a long-tipped Ghost line using self-tied Red Tag and peacock Cormorant Muddler flies.
Denis MacIntosh stuck to the south and west banks for his second place (17 points) basket of five for 3.15lb, catching most of them on a Kevin Porteous-tied Green Muddler using a floating line.
On one of his infrequent competition outings, Dick Bolton weighed in just two trout but at 2.84lb but they were enough for third place and 15 points with the larger at 1.52lb giving him two extra points for best fish. He had used a sinking line with Blue Zulu and Black Pennel flies along the west bank.
Rob Hawken and Jan Hughes tied for fourth place (14 points) on 2.34lb – Rob weighed in four fish and Jan put five on the scales, while a 1lb trout five minutes before lines up at 4pm turned a probable 11th place into sixth (13 points) for Bill Robertson, his two trout making 1.54lb.
Completing the list of those weighing in were Evan Park, John Briskham, Neil Clyne, Peter Creasey and John Tunnah.
After two rounds, Bracey has a comfortable championship lead on 40 points with Rob Hawken second on 28 and Bill Robertson on 25. They are followed by Neil Clyne on 21, Alex Donald 19 and John Briskham and Peter Creasey equal on 18 for sixth place.
DFFA’s next event is an evening All Lochs competition on Friday, June 1.
