Simpson wins Rusty Cup as Dounreay fly fishers endure tough day at Loch Calder
A dozen weary Dounreay Fly Fishing Association members returned to the Loch Calder dam car park last Saturday afternoon after a hard day bankfishing.
As the anglers had signed on for the 9.30am start of the first competition of 2025, a light southerly wind and some cloud cover seemed promising. However, by lines up at 4pm many had struggled to put a few fish in their bag and the quality of the trout was poorer than in 2024 with none over 1 lb.
Following his success last year, James Simpson spent most of the day fishing north of the dam using a six-foot slow sink tip line with Norski Lad, Quasi Modo and Bibio snatcher flies. With this set up he managed to net 11 trout weighing 5 lbs 6 oz to win the Rusty Cup and 12 Bank League points.
To complete his day, James also took the bonus point for best fish of the day at 14 oz.
Only half an ounce separated first and second places when Kevin lmlach also weighed in 11 trout, but the scales pointer stopped on 5 lbs 5.5 oz giving him 10 points. He had fished along the south end and then down the west bank as far as the New Bay with Dunkeld, Loch Ordie, Bibio and green tailed Black Zulu flies on a Midge tip line.
The final double-figure basket came from Calder veteran Tony Chalmers – his 10 fish for 4 lbs 4.5 oz were worth 8 points and third place. He had covered much of the west bank north of the New Bay with clan chief, Bibio and yellow tailed Kate Mclaren flies on his trusty Wake Saver line.
The top six were completed by Toby Bracey (7 for 3 lbs 9.5 oz), Robbie Hawken (6 for 3 lbs 3.25 oz) and Aivis Kreslins (5 for 2 lbs 10 oz). Others weighing in were Neil Clyne, Alex Donald, John Campbell and Peter Creasey.
DFFA’s next event is the first Boat League competition on Loch Watten on Saturday, May 10.