Top Rod Norman Irvine |
NORMAN IRVINE EXCELLS ON HUNDLAND LOCH
There’s no improvement in the weather required to encourage fly life and fish activity on the Orkney lochs. Nowhere else I know requires Factor 50 sun tan lotion and thermal underwear for an evenings fly fishing on Orkney, but 25 anglers were not deterred and fished for the Walter Lennie Cup last Thursday night on Hundland.
The lochs in Orkney are quite low for the time of year, with no substantial rainfall for weeks. The skerry strewn Hundland loch was more difficult to navigate with more submerged stones and rocks ready to clatter the outboard prop, so most, but not all anglers it must be said, kept the revs to a minimum while motoring about this shallow loch. The south end was favoured by many boats for the 6.30 pm start, but generally anglers set up shoreline drifts to avoid the banks of weed further out. There didn't seem to be much moving around as the night wore on which usually indicates anglers having a degree of success, the weigh in at 10.30pm would reveal all.
Best basket of the night and winning the Walter Lennie Cup was Norman Irvine with 11 fish for 8lb 6ozs, an outstanding result. Runner up with 9 fish for 7lb 14ozs was Ian Hutcheon, another good basket on what was a difficult night for many. Heaviest fish of the night was an absolute peach of a fish going 2lb 6ozs, bonniest fish I've seen in a while, weighed in by a delighted Jimmy Grant. Others who made inroads during the night included Thorfinn Muir with 7 for 6lb 7ozs, Brian Forman with 6 fir 5lb 4ozs and Alan McConnachie with 6 for 4lb 8ozs.
It was a night where Hedgehogs and Muddlers excelled, with Madeira, Claret and Fiery Brown hogs mentioned, as was the Green Peter Muddler and the Wee Westie.
As the competition came to a close, the sound of a cuckoo calling at the south end of the loch could be heard plainly, and for many anglers this pretty much summed up their state of mind following a tough night, but not to worry, its Swannay next Thursday night, lets hope it warms up as we move into June!
KK
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