Tommy Thomson Trophy
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GOOD SPORT IN THE EARLY MORNING ON HARRAY
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| The on form Ken Kennedy takes the honours on Harray |
A perfect morning greeted anglers for the 7am start on Harray last Saturday
morning, to fish the Tommy Thomson Trophy. Again, numbers were slightly
down at 27 fishers, with 3 of the regulars away competing in RBL Angling
Finals. North of the Ess Holms was apparently the place to be, with almost
every boat starting there. Nistaben was heavily populated, but that did
not last long as anglers found nothing doing in the first half hour.
The sparse Caenis hatch was decidedly localised, and where they were hatching
there was fish up, and where they were not, it was pretty much devoid of
fish. The Sword at the mouth of Merkister Bay was certainly in the former
category with John Munson taking 8 fish in the first half hour, Bochan was
a similar story, but both areas went right off when the gentle breeze rose
to a light wind. The majority of anglers then headed for the shores and
skerries as sport in the deep water drifts tailed off.
Two boats stayed in the open water and both probably fared better than most.
Stewart Wood and Malcolm Russell fished Pontooth/Josey’s and Jim Bews
and Kenny Adam fished Bankhead, a sign that the Caenis hatch has probably
pulled the fish off the shallows into open water , in these areas at least.
The other hotspots included Burrian, Peter Spence’s, Bochan, Ned’s,
Ballarat and Nistaben. Anglers reported an Olive hatch in Bochan at one
point, very late for the time of year.
The Tommy Thomson Trophy was awarded to Ken Kennedy, with 17 fish for 11lb
4 ozs. , very closely followed by cracking baskets from Stewart Wood with
17 for 10lb 15ozs, Kenny Adam with 18 for 10lb 5ozs and Willie Smith with
15 for 9lb 10ozs. There were a few fish over the pound about, the best of
them weighed in by Brian Foreman, a perfect specimen of a Harray trout at
1lb 6ozs.
Tactics were similar for just about all anglers, intermediate line and flies
you basically have confidence in. White Cat, Merkister Maid, Watty’s
Cat and other concoctions in basically black and green worked for some,
even in the shallow water, where others fished muddlers and wet flies to
good effect with Peach, Doobry, and Green Peter the best of the muddlers,
and the “Hairy” Bibio, Clan Chief and Coch Zulu mentioned in
the wets category. Good news in the fact that the water quality seems to
be improving, with the south end of the loch now very clear and the green
tint is decreasing daily north of the Ess Holms.
More good news this week came from the Scottish National semi final at Lintrathen
near Kirriemuir where local anglers Sandy McConnachie and Andrew Morgan
were successful and now go on to the Scottish National Final on the Lake
of Menteith in September, and a chance to win a Scottish cap in the Home
Internationals in 2009. OTFA Fisherman of the year 2007, Erlend Hutcheson
also qualifies for this match.
I was going to be appealing for the return of a well known angler, ghillie
and fly tier’s lost fly box in this weeks’ article but panic
over, it was found the next day in his clients tackle bag. I suspect it
was all the result of an extended lunch at the Merkister Hotel. Orkney has
become famous for its unique brand of jewellery, and one of our anglers
this week could have started a new fashion. Norman and Jim were fishing
down at Bankhead on Harray this week when Norman hooked some weeds, he pulled
and hauled and the flies eventually came pinging out of the water, straight
at Norman. He went to flick them away again but the tail fly, a brand new
Peach Muddler, unfortunately, was left
"Embedded in his right ear lobe.” What do you think of my new
earring”, says Norman, Jim thought that it was very fetching, with
the glow of the fluorescent peach highlighted by the evening’s setting
sun. Jim had a closer inspection and indicated that the barb of the hook
was right through the lobe, “Haud on a minute, I’ve a pair of
pliers in my bag. I could cut the barb off and it will come out no bother”,
says Jim. “Aye, that’ll be right, and waste a brand new Peach
muddler!” says Norm, a wiggle and a rive and the hook was duly removed.
Norman caught most of his fish with it in Saturdays’ competition!
KK
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