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ERLEND HUTCHISON WINS ANY LOCH AND FISHERMAN OF THE YEAR
IN STYLE
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| A delighted Erlend after his superb performance |
The Alan Finlay Trophy is presented for winning the “Any Loch”
Competition, but this year, a combination of strong winds and poor fishing
conditions meant that the entire entry fished Harray. This removed a bit
of the usual drama and doubt that exists when anglers are spread across
the lochs. There were reports of excellent baskets of trout taken on Swannay
and Hundland on the Friday, but the bright sun on Saturday morning put paid
to any alternatives to Harray, which itself was still fishing very well.
There was plenty of practise went in before this competition as the contest
for places in the top 12 were red hot, with most anglers saying very little
before the day, hoping to get that wee edge over their fellow anglers. It
turns out that there were two successful methods of catching trout, on the
deep water drifts with fast sinking lines and intermediates and mini lures,
or drifting onto and of the backs of skerries with hedgehogs and wets.
For any Harray competition this year, the ante post favourite has always
been Erlend Hutchison, and once again he proved the bookies right, lifting
the Alan Finlay Cup with another exceptional basket from Nistaben/Biggings.
It was a close call with Sandy McConnachie, Norman Irvine and Ken Kennedy
going very close, all weighing in tremendous bags of trout. Heaviest fish
was weighed in by Willie Smith at 1lb 2ozs. Most of the top rods fished
the North end of the loch with sinking lines and mini lures. Other good
areas were Ess Holms, Hutch’s Buoy, Ola Gories and Lochside. Fly patterns
which were successful on the day were the usual Black Cat, White Cat, Norski
Lad and this years top pattern on Harray, the Merkister Maid, with some
anglers fishing 2 or 3 of them on the same cast!
The weigh in at the Merkister Hotel was a very exciting, tense affair as
it was soon apparent that there had been some changes in fortune for some
anglers and that it would bring joy for some and bitter disappointment for
others. One thing was never in doubt and that was the fact that Erlend Hutchison
was pronounced Fisherman of the Year following a record breaking season
from him, an exceptional angling performance, particularly on Harray. The
league table shows that there was only one major change in the top 6 from
the last few weeks, and that was Andrew Morgan had overhauled Malcolm Russell
for the last spot in the team to fish Inter County and Fulling Mill. Jim
Bews came with a late run and claimed 12 position and the last place in
the 2nd team. Ken Kennedy and boat partner Stewy Leslie finished 2nd and
3rd respectively, and represent the OTFA at the Scottish National Qualifiers
next year. There are still some exciting angling events to come before the
end of the season. Next weekend sees the F and D Simpson Trophy fished on
Harray on Saturday, an event organised by John Munson at the Merkister Hotel,
with some tremendous prizes on offer on the day, see local press for details.
The OTFA are running a Junior Fishing Competition on Kirbister Loch on Sunday
the 2nd with prizes in each of two age groups. Fishing is from 2pm to 5pm
with the weigh in at the old pumping station. You do not need to be a member
of the OTFA to participate and names should be submitted to lists at Kirkwall
and Stromness Secondary schools. The Scottish National Final is fished on
the Lake of Menteith on Saturday 8th of September and Orkney has 3 anglers
flying the flag. The best wishes of all their fellow anglers go out to Ian
Hutcheon, Malcolm Russell and Erlend Hutchison in their quest for a Scottish
cap in 2008.
KK
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