| COMPETITION PROGRAMME | LEADERBOARD |
Merkister Cup
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Top rod Jim Harcus |
SOME SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT ON HARRAY FOR MERKISTER CUP.
The penultimate competition of the season was held on Harray on Saturday, fishing for the Merkister Cup. Those out scouting about on previous days hadn’t found many fish, but a cooling NW wind and cloud could only help.
The vast majority of the boats headed north of the Ess Holms, this purely down to water quality in the south end of the loch where visibility was very poor in places caused by an algae bloom. Merkister Bay was stowed out at the 11am start, with many boats choosing to stick it out there all day. Bankhead, Kirkness and Biggings also had boats on station for most of the day. The wind never really dropped any, and it was quite lumpy at times, but conditions were favourable for most of the day.
It was an exceptional basket which ultimately won on the day, with Jim Harcus weighing in 10 fish for 8lb, to secure the Merkister Cup, with runner up, Brian Foreman also well ahead with 9 fish for 6lb 12ozs. Heaviest fish came out of Merky Bay, weighed in by Ian Hutcheon, a beauty at 1lb 10ozs. Others who found a few included Andrew Morgan with 7 for 6lb 5ozs, Norman Irvine with 7 for 6lb 2ozs and Sandy McConnachie with 8 for 6lb 1oz. This result has Sandy with an unassailable lead in the race for Fisherman of the Year, and this will be formally announced following next weeks Any Loch Competition which wraps up the competitive season.
It was location rather than tactics which won the day I think, with both Jim Harcus and Brian Foreman fishing at Scarrataing and Decca, where there was probably the cleanest water in the loch, where big burns run in to keep the water quality good. The difference between Bankhead and Merkister Bay was even very noticeable. Hopefully the water quality throughout the loch will improve going in to the backend. Meanwhile, I suspect there could be a lot of prospecting around the other lochs this week, in search of the promised land, tight lines,
KK
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