ANGLIAN WATER AIRFLO INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING FINAL 2011

The AWAI Final was held at Rutland Water on the 4th and 5th of October, with two teams from the OTFA making the long trek south. OTFA Kirkwall receives an invite to the Final each year, and OTFA Stromness had fished Scottish qualifiers and final to take their place alongside some of the top competition teams and anglers in Europe.
Conditions both overhead and water wise were definitely not conducive to good fishing in the practise days, with temperatures of 33 degrees centigrade and brilliant sunshine compounding a period of poor water quality due to a brown algae bloom, putting the fish right off. These conditions improved on the match days, with a drastic drop in temperature and cloud cover improving catches, but the hot weather rendered the practise sessions virtually useless, this, and the fact that the aerators in the main basin were turned off the night before the match started, making a marked difference in how that area fished.
The results after Day 1 found OTFA Stromness in mid table, following a good team performance, with an excellent chance of taking the Overseas Trophy from the current holders Team Belgium, who had a poor day, as had OTFA Kirkwall. Local team Seighford Sharks were top of the list with Welsh Hawks, England Youth and Nymphomaniacs close behind.
Day 2, and the wind had increased to almost gale force, making life difficult for everyone, in fact at 3pm, the boats were cleared out of the Main Basin for safety reasons, with one boat ending up shipwrecked on the dam wall. OTFA Kirkwall had a better day bringing them up into the mid table positions, and OTFA Stromness had another steady day but unfortunately fell 2 fish short of the Overseas Cup with the Irish team, The Emerald Islanders successful. The top 3 places  were very close and it was Welsh Hawks who won the Silver Salver, overtaking Seighford Sharks who were second, with Nymphomaniacs 3rd.
All in all, a tough week, but the Orkney teams once again showed that they are deserving of their place at this prestigious event. Putting two teams to the final put additional strain on the the club finances, but once again we are indebted to, and greatly appreciative of the local businesses who continue to support us.
       KK

OTFA Kirkwall

OTFA Stromness