| COMPETITION PROGRAMME | LEADERBOARD |
Any Loch
SWANNAY TURNS UP TRUMPS IN “ANY LOCH” FINALE.
The fly fishing competition season was brought to a close on Saturday, with 25 anglers spread across the west mainland lochs, fishing for the Alan Findlay Cup. A complete change in wind direction, basically from north to south overnight, and bright sun were going to make the angling very tricky, as the results showed.
It was very interesting to see that there were boats on all the main lochs, 3 on Swannay, 4 on Hundland, 2 on Boardhouse and the remainder on Harray, indicative of how testing the angling had become lately. The bush telegraph was very quiet in the week before, with anglers trying to find an edge on a particular venue, but the weather, once again, probably bombed out any advantage gained. It was a case of you pay your money and you take your chance.
It turned out that Swannay was marginally the most productive, with all six anglers there taking good points. Top rod on the day was Ken Kennedy with 6 fish for 4lb 7ozs, to secure the Alan Findlay Cup, runner up Sandy McConnachie almost made it the perfect end to an incredible season for him with 3 for 3lb 13ozs, including the heaviest fish of the day, going 2lb 3ozs, a cracker from Hundland. Others who had a good day included, Stewy Leslie with 5 fish for 3lb 11ozs, Malcolm Russell with 5 for 3lb 9ozs, and Raymond Miller had 6 for 3lb 7ozs.
Daddies and hedgehogs worked for the Swannay contingent, while on Hundland, it was more traditional fare with notably, the Blue Zulu taking Sandy’s best fish. It would be fair to say that Boardhouse and Harray didn’t fish at all on the day.
Thanks must go to the weigh in officials who played a sterling part in proceedings on the day, and for the season as a whole, thanks to Norman Irvine, Alan Craigie, Leslie Miller and all who stepped in when required. A mention must also be made of the immaculate condition of all the OTFA sites, kept spick and span all year by Iain Tulloch, great job!
In summing up, it was undoubtedly Sandy McConnachie’s year, right from the start in May until the final day, Sandy was there or thereabouts, finishing well ahead of the field with some tremendous results along the way, with the Fisherman of the Year Trophy richly deserved. The Intercounty team for 2026 is, in order of finishing in the league is Sandy, Ian Hutcheon, Norman Irvine, Ken Kennedy, Alan McConnachie and Stewy Leslie, congratulations to all. It’s not all about winning, and also worthy of congratulations were Stewy Flett and Stephen Pattinson, with some great results in their first year fishing the fly league, no doubt each a force to be reckoned with in the future.
There is still some important fishing to be done, with Sandy McConnachie, Jim Adams and James Bews taking their place at the Scottish National Final on the 20th September at the Lake of Menteith, with an International cap up for grabs, tight lines. Locally, we have the Final Fling on Harray, Saturday the 6th September, names to Andrew Morgan before the 29th August, £5 entry.
KK
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Any Loch Winner Ken Kennedy |
Fly Fisherman Of The Year Sandy McConnachie |
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