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Top Rod Ken Kennedy |
HARRAY BACK ON FORM FOR FERRYLOUPERS TROPHY
The OTFA fly fishing competition programme continues to buck the trend of dwindling numbers and interest in such like fishing clubs and organisations. A remarkable 34 anglers participated in the Ferryloupers Trophy last night on Harray, a testament to the friendly, inclusive and welcoming nature of our club and it’s members.
Sunshine and a brisk SE wind, which was a big change from the NW wind we have had for weeks, greeted anglers for the 6.30pm start. The water quality had obviously improved dramatically and was now near gin clear, as you would expect for the time of year. It had clearly impacted on the fishing as there were as many boats starting off south of the Ess Holms, with Lochside, Bochan, and the south point of Ballarat popular. There was even one boat which held back and sneaked up the Roadshore just above the site, but there covert actions didn’t pay many dividends as they were out with the rest of us in the open water before long. Others headed for Merkister Bay and the open water off Biggings. As per usual, the improvements in the water quality brought the deep water and sunk line fishing in to play, but there were still plenty fish to be had on the stones. The other factor was the temperature, it was extremely cold for the time of year, especially after the sun went down. As the night wore on, an increasing number of boats seemed to gather off Bochan, but some found fish difficult to contact there as well.
A “half baked” plan following a night out on the loch on the previous evening saw Ken Kennedy and Stewy Leslie starting out off Bochan, all on the strength of catching a few fish on the way in, but sometimes it pays to follow your gut feeling, and so it was a winning basket of 11 fish for 9lb 3ozs which was good enough for Ken to take top spot. Jim Harcus was a close second with a similar 11 fish, for 9lb. Others who cracked it included James Bews, also with 11 for 8lb 14ozs, Stewy Leslie with 9 for 8lb 5ozs and Ian Hutcheon with 8 for 6lb 15ozs. Best fish of the night was a nice one which went 1lb 12ozs, caught by Brian Forman. With it being the Ferryloupers Trophy, the aggregate for both Ferryloupers and Local teams is averaged by the number in the team, so the 22 Ferryloupers averaged 3lb 6ozs, and the Locals averaged 4lb 7ozs, so Jim Harcus wins the Ferryloupers Trophy, congratulations!
Speaking to many of the anglers after the weigh in, who fished sinking lines in various parts of the loch, it was very interesting to hear how different tactics worked in different areas. It would appear that in Bochan, the fish were high in the water and the successful tactics was to pull fast with a DI7 Sweep, whilst further back near Lochside, you had to get your flies right down, using the fastest sinking DI8. Up at Biggings, a slower retrieve with the DI7 worked, especially later on when the sun went down, which was bizarre, as most other anglers saw sport cease completely about then.
Jim Harcus found success on top of the water with Hedgehogs as did others, with Madeira, Munchkin, and Claret popular. The boys lashing out the sinking lines found the standard mini lures doing the business, with Erlend’s Cat, Hulks, Boris, and Cod and Chips quoted for most. I was standing in the queue for the weigh in next to young Sigurd who had 3 nice fish in his basin, I enquired as to what fly he caught them on, and after moment or two he replied, “a wee claret thing”, he’s picking up the competition fishing quickly.
Back to Harray next week, I doubt much will change now, it’s great to see the loch at full throttle again.
KK
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