Dounreay Fly Fishing Association: Bracey claims KML Trophy after switch to Loch Calder
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The serene waters of Loch Watten were due to witness the annual Watten evening boat fishing competition last week, but nature had a different plan. The presence of blue-green algae rendered the loch unfit for the contest, forcing a swift relocation to Loch Calder.
The bright evening sun, the absence of cloud cover and the moderate easterly breeze posed a challenge for the 12 anglers as they prepared their boats for launching at 6pm on Wednesday.
After four hours of fishing, eight of the competitors had only a single fish to put on scales. Again, many of the caught fish failed to meet the minimum size requirement, necessitating their release back into the waters.
Toby Bracey and his boat partner Aivis Kreslins were last to arrive at the berth from far north of the loch for the weigh-in and to their surprise they took the first two places.
Toby’s basket consisted of three fish for 2lb 7oz, giving him the KML Trophy and 12 Boat League points plus a bonus point for the heaviest fish at 1lb 2oz. He had caught his fish on drifts along the north-west and north-east banks and his choice of tackle was Ghost Tip line paired with Kate McLaren Muddler fly.
Second place was taken by Aivis with a bag of three trout weighing 1lb 9oz. Like Toby, Aivis succeeded with the drifts along the north-west and north-east banks. He had utilised an intermediate Camo line with Sunburst Gosling fly to secure 10 points.
William Plank took third place with a single trout caught weighing 12oz from one of the north-west bays using a floating line with Daddy Long Legs fly. This secured him eight Boat League points.
To complete the top six, George Robertson had one for 10.75 oz and seven points, Alex Donald bagged one for 9.5 oz and six points and David Cormack’s single fish at 8.75 oz gave him five points.
Others weighing in were Ian Cannop, John Campbell, Neil Clyne and Kevin Imlach.
Toby Bracey is now leading the Boat League with 40 points, ahead of George Robertson (36), William Plank, Alex Donald (both 35), David Cormack and James Simpson (both 33).
The club’s next event is the Watten boat competition for the Parry Trophy 2009 on Saturday, August 19, given the conditions with algae improve.
