Highland Park Trophy
Top rod Thorfinn Muir


 

SWANNAY ON TOP FORM FOR SEASON START

After what seemed to be a longer than normal close season, 29 happy flyfishermen set sail on Swannay at midday on Sunday for the first competition of the 2023 programme. Conditions were very favourable with cloud and a good SE breeze, in total contrast to the bright sun and cold northerly which we had been experiencing for days previously.
There was a good spread of boats at the start, with Heathery Shore, Loudenhill and about the Muckle Holm most popular. As the day wore on, drifts about the Jimmy Smith skerry and down to Loudenhill/Long Points area saw most of the boat pressure.
The 6pm weigh in was buzzing as it became obvious that Swannay had fished extremely well and that there were some excellent baskets taken. Top rod on the day was Thorfinn Muir, with an outstanding basket if 17 fish for 14lb 4ozs, to secure the Highland Park Trophy. No one else really came close, but runner up was Ian Hutcheon with 13 fish for 11lb 10ozs with some nice fish for his day. Others who excelled included, Norman Irvine with 13 for 10lb 2ozs, Colin Sutherland with 9 for 8lb 4ozs, which included the best fish of the day, going 1lb 9 1/2ozs winning the Gordon Grant Trophy.
Winning tactics were pretty standard with the DI5 Sweep being the line of choice for most of the top rods, and flies mentioned in dispatches dominated by the Ace of Spades, with the Naked Spur, Viva, Christmas Tree also working for some. The fish seemed to be holding quite high in the water, with many anglers commenting on the fact that they hooked fish either in the first few pulls of the retreive on the way down, or on the way up and on the hang. Thanks to the weigh in officials, Leslie Miller, Alan Craigie and Norman Irvine who do a great job.
It’s on to Harray next weekend, and anticipation is always high for the first competition there, lets hope the weather is conducive.
  KK

 

Date

30.04.2023

Venue

Swannay

Names

Fish

Lb oz

Points
MUIR THORFINN 17 14 Lb. 04 oz 16
HUTCHEON I 13 11 Lb. 10 oz 15
IRVINE N 13 10 Lb. 02½ oz 14
SUTHERLAND C 9 8 Lb. 04¾ oz 13
MCCONNACHIE A 11 8 Lb. 02½ oz 12
MCCONNACHIE S 10 7 Lb. 15¼ oz 11
GILLESPIE J 11 7 Lb. 13½ oz 10
FRITH M 9 6 Lb. 15¾ oz 9
RUSSELL M 10 6 Lb. 14¾ oz 8
GRANT J 9 6 Lb. 11½ oz 7
KENNEDY K 12 6 Lb. 10¼ oz 6
STANGER S 6 6 Lb. 00¼ oz 5
FOREMAN B 7 5 Lb. 15 oz 4
HARCUS J 6 5 Lb. 08½ oz 3
THOMAS BRIAN 7 5 Lb. 07½ oz 2
LESLIE S 6 4 Lb. 15¼ oz 1
MORGAN A 7 4 Lb. 14¾ oz 1
MILLER LESLIE 7 4 Lb. 14 oz 1
THOMPSON BRIAN 6 4 Lb. 13 oz 1
BALLANTYNE G 6 4 Lb. 07¾ oz 1
LEASK J 6 4 Lb. 02 oz 1
ADAMS J 5 4 Lb. 00 oz 1
MUNSON J 5 3 Lb. 14¼ oz 1
ADAM K 5 3 Lb. 13 oz 1
HARCUS M 3 2 Lb. 15½ oz 1
CRAIGIE A 3 1 Lb. 15¼ oz 1
BERTRUM D 2 1 Lb. 12 oz 1
BROWN G 2 1 Lb. 06½ oz 1
TULLOCH SCOTT 1 0 Lb. 10¾ oz 1
TULLOCH JOSH 1 0 Lb. 09½ oz 1
TULLOCH IAN 0 0 Lb. 00 oz 0
SWANNAY S 0 0 Lb. 00 oz 0
otals 215 167 Lb. 11½ oz 150