SANACC National Heat Harray Loch 2026

Top Rods Stewy Leslie, Sandy McConnachie and Stephen Breivik

SANACC SCOTTISH QUALIFIER, HEAT 8, HARRAY 17th MAY.

Two days of gales prior to the heat had a detrimental effect on Harray’s water quality, but it still produced a remarkable return.
There was a very respectable entry of 27 for this heat, with anglers travelling from Shetland, Caithness, and Buckie and the OTFA who run the heat for SANACC really appreciate the support. All boats headed north at the 10am start, with many travelling the length of the loch to Decca and Bankhead, and others dropping in on their preferred drifts on the day. The wind had come out of the north overnight, to a southerly, a factor in the slow start for many. As the day wore on, it was noticeable that some boats were making big shifts to new water, a sign that things weren’t going to plan. After lunch the wind softened, even calm in places, and this produced a good hatch of midge and fall of Fever flies, stirring the fish to feed. Many anglers, in the right place took great advantage of the pods of rising fish. Time for the weigh in at 5pm and it was immediately apparent that it would take a good basket of fish to qualify.
Top rod on the day,by a fair margin, was Stewy Leslie, OTFA Stromness, with 16 fish fir 12lb 13 1/2ozs, the match was fished to catch and release after 6 fish with 3/4lb added for each additional fish. Sandy McConnachie, OTFA Kirkwall, was runner up with 11 fish for 9lb 11ozs with Stephen Breivik, Shetland AA, in third spot with 11 fish for 9lb. Stephen had the heaviest fish of the day with a cracker at 2lb 1 1/2ozs. The other successful anglers were, Erlend Hutchison, James Bews, Frank Watt, John Munson, Ken Kennedy, Ian Hutcheon, Gary Ballantyne, and Brian Foreman, who all go forward to their respective semi finals next month.
A big shout out to all members who helped out on the day, Malcolm Russell and Alan Craigie were out on the water doing fly checks etc, and Malcolm, Norman Irvine and Leslie Miller officiated at the weigh in. Tight lines to all the qualifiers in the next round.
  KK