Today was the OrchillOrchill Loch Trout Fishery round of the Airflo World Bank Masters 2012 heats, and my first “proper” attempt at competitive fishing. ( I don’t count the Troutmasters fish off or last years MacMillan Big Fish events as proper competitions). After thinking it might be cancelled due to lack of entries I found out late on Thursday it was going ahead, so was up there for 9:00 and a 9:30 kick off.
There were though, in the event only six entrants, so not a big field, though some had come from quite a distance ( Dumfries and Ayr). The weather looked like it was going to be nice and Sunny, but it started with a strong and VERY cold west wind which turned to blow from the North in the afternoon. It was utterly freezing most of the day, worse than winter, and I almost expected to see icing rod rings!
This Rainbow jumps to escape the barbless hook but was safely coaxed to the net.
The South bank was set aside for the competition and anglers were put on a rotation that was to mean they fished a peg only once, 4 pegs, for 30 mins with a 5 minute break between, a stop for lunch then another 4 , 30 minute peg sessions in the afternoon. The way to rotate round was worked out a bit wrongly and so the anglers decided half way through to change the order we rotated to make it fairer otherwise we would have ended up fishing the same 4 pegs after lunch as in the morning! With everyone happy we kicked off, me up at the top corner and peg 5. I opened using a Cats Whiskers on point and a Snatcher on the dropper, a previously useful combination ( you were only allowed a two fly cast also!) but never touched a fish, after 15 minutes my neighbour, and eventual winner Malcolm Miller opened his scoring with his first fish. The competition wasn’t purely about catching the most fish, though that would help! The first fish on each peg got you 2 points, with any subsequent 4 fish a point each. If you got five you had to stop until the next move. So you got more points for all round consistency than just hammering a pod of fish on one peg.
what the hell!???
I had my first fly change and first cast with my Montana and Blob combo I had a knock. The fish kited round to the right of me and I could see it clearly in the water when it jumped. Or rather it never but I was attached to a fish that jumped….. what the hell!??? I had two fish on, both good-sized rainbows that clearly were not going to come in quietly together. I managed to land the top fish on the blob dropper, it had practically swallowed the fly, but the point fly was broken off. But at least 2 points in the bag and I had to remake my leader. Not too big a job as I had a three fly leader with only two flies so was able to cut off the end fly dropper and make this the point and move the dropper fly up one place.
Malcolm Miller lands a fish on his way to victory
Soon it was time to move and with no further knocks I was getting close to a fly change when as I dangled my flies a fish shot in and grabbed it almost at my feet and shot off! It was a decent fish and was soon subdued and netted to be released, two more points. Next cast the same thing happened but this time the fish did not stick. Pah.
After this I had a bit of a lull, a few knocks on my next peg but no fish, and on the end peg ( 13) I had two knocks one which almost ripped the rod from my hand, by this time I was on a Cats Whiskers again with an epoxy buzzer on the dropper. I then managed to get the CW caught in the only bush anywhere near me on my back cast over a fence, which had to be sacrificed as I could not get over the fence to get it back. Pah!
On sorting out my leader I realised that the epoxy buzzer was gone too, the big tug I had must have either broke the fly off or I had a crap knot: I suspect the latter! Pah!
Making what I reckon is the best cast I have ever made- I fired out all the line I had to hand and it fair whacked the reel, and into a slight headwind too!
After lunch and a chance to sort leaders out properly, I was back up the top end on peg 6 near the burn. Before lunch it had noticeably quietened on our bank and though a few anglers were consistently getting something on most pegs, there were less fish being caught. My first cast on a new Cats Whiskers and buzzer combo into by now a strengthening and turning head wind got me a knock but it did not feel properly hooked and indeed though I played it for a minute or so, it did eventually come off the barbless hook. Pah!
Next peg and another fly change and this time first cast with a cormorant and a Black and Green Nomad, and I had a fish on the Cormorant. Surprising as it’s a bit of a tatty fly but the fish seemed to like it here and at Menteith where I found it on the floor of a boat in the first place! Must be the Jungle Cock eyes!
So three fish landed, I was well short of the leaders, two anglers were on about 10 -12 fish each by lunch, though they had dropped a few too and their tactics did not seem dis-similar to mine.
Another fish comes to the net for a competitor from Ayr
Last but one peg I never had a touch then on the last peg now on a Black Cat, I had a fish, then another when I changed the dropper for a Pink Bunny Leach, I reckon that threw the fish into confusion and they felt obliged to have a go. Finally I had a third on this peg as the last 5 minute countdown started. Six fish in four hours of fishing, I have to say I am far from ashamed of, though it was nowhere near the 16 fish and 23 points of the winner Malcolm Miller, and runner-up Gavin Hill on 20 points. I think there were two fish in it all told. I have to say I thought Gavin was going to get it as he rarely seemed to be without a fish on the end of the line, though I think he lost a fair few, like we all did. The winner Malcolm did ring the changes through the day but got most of his fish on the Cats Whiskers too, and I think the runner-up Gavin used a damsel most of the day.
This Rainbow put up a spirited fight and took off as it seen the net. It was safely released.
So an enjoyable but very cold and windy day, I scored 10 points and came 5th ( of 6) but was not unhappy as I felt I fished as well as I could and had the right tactics, a few more lucky breaks and I would have been mid field. It was a very friendly event with a fair bit good humour and chat, I would do it again! (hope its warner next time though!) Good luck to Malcolm and Gavin if they go to the final at Elinor in May. Bring it home to Scotland!
