Dounreay Fly Fishing Association: Hawken's two beauties secure victory in final Boat League contest
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Dounreay Fly Fishing Association members returned to Loch Watten for the final round of their 2023 Boat League championship.
After moving to Loch Calder for the previous round at the end of July, they were pleased to see that the Watten water was much clearer over large areas and most of the weed had died back.
As boats were prepared for a 9.30am start, a light south-west wind was giving a nice ripple on the water and partial cloud cover raised hope of fly life with trout rising freely. The wind gradually went through west then to north-west by lines up at 4pm and the rain held off.
Opinions back at the boat berths were that it had been a difficult day, and this was confirmed at the Brown Trout Hotel weigh-in when only half of the 12 anglers had fish to be checked.
First to the scales was leader of the Boat League, Toby Bracey, with a 2 lb 6 oz specimen that would give him second place and 10 vital points. He had caught the trout late on in clear water at Lynegar using a DI 6 line and a Kate McLaren Muddler fly.
Second last to come forward, Robbie Hawken produced two beauties for 4lb 5.5 oz – his best one equalling Bracey’s 2 lb 6 oz fish. The pair of trout gave Hawken the Parry (2009) Trophy and 12 points, plus the best-fish bonus point as Bracey generously declared that Hawken's “looked a nicer one”.
Third place went to Neil Clyne with a 2lb 4 oz fish from the Skerries area that took a Green-Tailed Kate McLaren on an Intermediate line, giving him eight points.
Completing the top six were Peter Creasey with seven points for a 2 lbs 2 oz trout, Alex Donald, one for 1 lb 6.75 oz (six points), and Michael Skerrit (1 lb 6.5 oz and five points).
As all the members competing in the Boat League already had a zero points result, the best six results from seven events calculations were not required and Toby Bracey was declared the Boat League champion with 50 points.
The runner-up place went to Alex Donald on 41, with George Robertson third with 36. Next came William Plank (35) and Neil Clyne, James Simpson and David Cormack (all 33).
The club's final competition of the season is the Loch Caluim bank event on Saturday.
