Walter Lennie Cup
STEWY LESLIE RETAINS WALTER LENNIE CUP
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Stewy Leslie wins trophy for second year running |
Warm, with light to calm winds, you would expect great things for an evening’s fly fishing in mid May in these conditions, only one problem, and its Hundland loch. Unfortunately it didn’t fish very well at all and left many anglers fishless and very disappointed. With little or no fly life, there were few rising fish to cover, which was the secret to success. Rowing to target individual rising fish was the only way to put fish in the bag, with an accurate cast and a small Hedgehog invariably bringing a response.
32 anglers turned out for the night on Hundland last Thursday the 21st. May, to fish the Walter Lennie Cup. The tic- tac from the boys who had fished it prior to that was encouraging, with some anglers taking quality fish, up to 2lb. Although boatmanship was to be commended on the night, with anglers keeping the revs down in the quiet conditions, I feel that the sheer numbers of craft on a small loch at one time puts the fish off. This and the flat calm spells curtailed sport for most anglers. There was an even spread of boats at the start, but after the first hour or so, there was continuous movement as anglers searched for feeding fish.
There are a few anglers who revel and excel in these conditions. Tidy presentation, accurate casting, and hard work on the oars are what helped Stewy Leslie to the winning basket on the night, with 5 fish for 3lb 3ozs, securing the Walter Lennie Cup for the second year running, once again, proof of that old adage, “horses for courses” .John Munson, in a hot vein of form at the moment, came closest, also with 5 fish, for 2lb 14ozs. Others who did well included Alan Craigie and Ian Hutcheon, with the rest of the field struggling to catch a measuring fish. At this point, I must apologise to Billy Thomson for forgetting to mention his Flashing Willie in last week’s report from Harray. His new fly pattern accounted for the heaviest fish of the season so far, a cracking trout of 2lb 6ozs. He was that miffed with the oversight that he caught the heaviest fish again this week on Hundland, a fine specimen of 1lb 8ozs, but this time on a Suspender Buzzer! There certainly seems to be a theme for Billy’s choice of fly but we won’t go there.
Stewy and John used similar tactics as far as fly selection went, with both catching most of their fish on small Bibio Hedgehogs. Other flies mentioned were Bibio muddler, Cormorants and Hutch’s Pennell. Line choice was slightly different, with Stewy on a floater and John on the Cameo line. There certainly were a few fish taken late on in the open water, but most fish were taken in the skerries and down the shores. One major talking point at the weigh in was the fall of Daddies which took place just as the sun went down, I kid you not. These terrestrials usually don’t show face till August and only if conditions allow, but I seen at least half a dozen flying by, as did numerous other anglers, strange days indeed.
It’s off to Stenness next, for the annual stint there.” It can’t be any worse than Hundland “, I hear you say, all those prepared to place a small wager on that can contact me through the usual channels.
KK
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