Simpson leading the way in Boat League after Toftingall competition
Members of Dounreay Fly Fishing Association held their second 2025 Bank League competition on Loch Toftingall last Saturday, by permission of Pieter Hovig, with 10 signing in for a 9.30am start.
With a west wind blowing across the loch towards the Boat House, the anglers were soon spread out in search of keeping-size trout among the numerous small fish. Following the recent dry weather the water level was low enough to allow one intrepid member to wade all the way across the loch.
By lines up at 4pm, hordes of hungry midges were waiting at the Boat House so the weigh-in was carried out as quickly as possible and first to the scales was James Simpson with 13 trout weighing 7 lb 0.5 oz. This secured the Bloody Foreigner Trophy, donated by Mr Hovig, and 10 Boat League points.
James had fished the south bank and south-east corner using a Midge Tip line and self-tied mayfly imitations.
Tony Chalmers had fished the north-east corner and down the east bank for the second-place bag of six for 3lb 6 oz and eight points. He had also used a Midge Tip line but with Clan Chief and Olive Sedge Hog flies.
A bonus for Tony was seeing a white-tailed eagle quite close to where he was fishing.
Third place (six points) fell to Alex Donald with five for 2 lb 8.5 oz, caught on Half Hog mayfly imitations and Dennis the Menace Half Hog flies attached to another Midge Tip line.
Completing the top six were Kevin Imlach with five for 2 lb 2 oz and five points, Toby Bracey, two for 1 lb 0.5 oz (four points), and Michael Skerritt, sixth with two for 15 oz (three points).
Also weighing in were Neil Clyne and Robbie Hawken. The bonus point for the best fish went to Tony Chalmers for a 13.75 oz trout.
With two competitions completed, James Simpson has 23 Boat League points with Tony Chalmers second on 17 and Kevin Imlach third on 15.
DFFA’s next event is the Evening All Lochs on Friday, May 30.