Watten finale for Dounreay anglers
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DOUNREAY Fly Fishing Association completed its 2012 championship on Saturday when 13 members fished for the Parry Trophy on Loch Watten.
With two of the leading six in the points table on holiday or working, there was a chance of a late change in the team to take on Shetland next year as well as two places in the Highland Federation team at stake.
When the anglers arrived at the loch, conditions were not promising but a light south-east breeze materialised to give a nice wave on the water. The sky had also started to cloud over but the trout stayed down as natural flies were few and far between. Later in the day, the wind veered round from the north west with occasional strong gusts.
The lack of surface activity seemed to suit Toby Bracey who landed five trout weighing 6.66 lbs to take his sixth win of the season. This gave him the Parry Trophy and 20 more championship points.
Alan Porteous had a frustrating day, watching good fish follow his flies only to turn away. He did manage to hook six smaller trout in the Railway Bay area for 4.39 lbs to secure the 17 points he needed for second place.
Ian Cannop is returning to form and he caught four fish weighing 4.37 lbs to take third place, worth 15 points. Jan Hughes recorded another top six placing with five trout for 4.04 lbs, giving him 14 pts for fourth place while Evan Park had his best result of the year – his four fish for 3.61 lbs netting him fifth place and 13 points.
Bill Robertson had two trout for sixth place (12 points) but the best one at 1.98 lbs gave him two extra points for best fish of the day. Denis MacIntosh and Toby Bracey had the next heaviest at 1.83 and 1.81lbs respectively.
Also weighing in were Peter Creasey, Kevin Porteous, Neil Clyne, John Campbell and John Briskham.
The results and final championship positions declared in the Brown Trout Hotel showed that Bracey had increased his already unbeatable championship lead. His final total after winning six of the seven rounds he fished is 137 points – a new club record.
Jan Hughes took second spot with 91 points. Bill Robertson and Peter Creasey tied on 79 but on a countback of best results the former took third place. Despite missing the final round, Tony Chalmers and Alex Donald managed to retain their top six places.
The first three qualify for the team to fish in the Highland Federation championship next year while the top six get to fish the inter-club event in Shetland. Trophies and awards will be presented at the club’s AGM in November.
