Chalmers lands Hovig trophy at Loch Toftingall
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DOUNREAY Fly Fishing Association’s members were pleasantly surprised when they arrived at Loch Toftingall last Saturday morning (by kind permission of Peter Hovig) to find the water was nice and clear following the previous week’s typical May Gobs weather. The water in the loch can become cloudy as sediment is stirred up in windy conditions but the surrounding trees and some rain had probably helped to keep it settled.
As the 12 anglers spread out around the loch at 9.30am, a light west-north-west wind gave quite calm conditions along the west bank and it was fine to see some mayfly hatching and trout feeding on them. The wind gradually swung to settle from the north by lines up at 4pm and some showers occurred during the day.
As the weary dozen gathered for the lochside weigh-in they had to move up to the nearby car park to escape the dreaded midges waiting for them at the boathouse. Thankfully, midges don’t like travelling over water so they didn’t bother the anglers while they were fishing well out from the bank in the shallow loch.
Tony Chalmers had fished the full length of the east bank before returning with a basket of seven trout weighing 4 lbs 8.25 oz. This secured the Bloody Foreigner Trophy (donated by Mr Hovig) and 20 championship points for Tony, who also collected the two bonus points for best fish with one at exactly one pound.
He had used his trusty Wake Saver line with Loch Ordie, Bibio Hedgehog and Olive Hedgehog flies to record only his second win in this event since winning the club’s first competition for the BF Trophy on Toftingall in 1998.
For second place and 17 points, Toby Bracey had caught fish while wading his favourite “beat” near the middle of the loch. His bag of five for 3 lbs 3.5 oz was caught using a seven-foot Midge Tip line with Kate MacLaren and Black Cormorant flies.
Dave Kinghorn spent the day wading deep off the midpoint of the west bank where he netted eight trout for 3 lbs 2.25 oz and third place (15pts). The fish came courtesy of a floating line with small Black Bumble variant, Olive Nymph and Olive Half Hog flies.
Fourth place (14 pts) fell to Alex Donald with four for two pounds, fifth (13 pts) to Bill Robertson who had three for 1lb 9.5 oz, and Ian Cannop completed the top six with 3 for 1 lb 6.5 oz and 12 points.
Three more members, Peter Creasey, Neil Clyne and Angus MacDonald, also weighed in and picked up what may prove to be valuable points as the season progresses.
After two events, the Bank League is led by Alex Donald on 36 points followed by Toby Bracey on 32 and Tony Chalmers on 31. The leading six is completed by Bill Robertson (24), Ian Cannop and Neil Clyne (both 22).
DFFA’s next event is an evening All Lochs boat competition on Friday, May 31.
