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Centenary fly fishing festival weekend proves to be a roaring success
Everything went in the anglers’ favour last weekend with perfect
weather conditions and Harray loch fishing its socks off. The Festival weekend
had been in the planning for some time and although there were the odd hitch
to contend with, it was heralded as an unqualified success by both local
and especially visiting guest anglers.
On Saturday, following a very enjoyable get together at the Merkister Hotel
on Friday night, where 100 specially grown on trout from the OTFA’s
hatchery at Wideford were released to mark the occasion, 74 anglers weighed
in following an enjoyable day on Harray. A mixed bag weather wise, with
calm and humid conditions in the morning changing to windier, very wet conditions
for the last couple of hours of the afternoon. Boats were spread the length
and breadth of the loch, fishing both in the shallows and the deeper, open
water drifts. Top individual rods for the day were Ken Kennedy for the locals
with 11 fish, and heaviest basket for the guests was Edinburgh's top tackle
dealer Jimmy McBride who boated 12 fish. The whole weekend was fished to
a catch and release policy. Jimmy fished dries mainly in the Josey’s
and Esselmont areas with Orange Elk Hair Sedge his top pattern and Ken fished
a mix of dries and wets with Hares Ear Shipmans and Olive Dabbler his best
flies and fishing at Lochside and Clay Face. Top pairing on the day was
Andrew Morgan and Jimmy McBride There were many more good baskets taken
with the trout feeding heavily on Caenis and Cow Dung. Following the weigh
in, a splendid barbecue, courtesy of John Leask and friends was enjoyed
by all. Much needed liquid refreshment was administered by staff from the
Merkister Hotel.
Incredibly, Sunday’s angling surpassed the previous day and everyone
enjoyed some memorable fishing with Harray showing why it is widely regarded
as the top wild brown trout fishery in Europe. The north end of the loch
fished marginally better for most, with the top basket of the day coming
from Tenston where Kevin Muir took 15 fish on Hoppers and Foreman’s
Favourite, with the guests top rod, Davy Malcolm from Perth also taking
his fish on the the top with Hedgehogs in Merkister Bay. Top boat pairing
for Sunday was Stewy Leslie and Wyn Pocock from Llanelli. The overall best
aggregates over the weekend were Stewy Leslie for the locals and Jimmy McBride
for the guests.
The buffet and presentation of prizes held in the Girnel in Kirkwall finished
of the weekend. The buffet was an outstanding testament to Orkneys’
fresh, local produce and beautifully presented by Clinton Rendall and staff.
The prizewinners over the weekend received engraved glasses as mementoes
and event organisers Andrew Morgan, Stewy Leslie and Malcolm Russell thanked
all those who contributed to the weekend’s success, especially John
Leask, the Merkister Hotel, Charlie Kemp of Orkney Builders, Billy Sinclair,
Clinton Rendall, Highland Park and Orkney Brewery. Celebrations went on
into the night with everyone unanimously voting the weekend as a roaring
success and an honour to be there taking part.
Ken Kennedy
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Mable Miller,Georgie Kent and George Skea release the tagged hatchery fish |
Perfect hatchery trout ready for release |
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Top individual rods for day one were Ken Kennedy and Jimmy McBride |
Malcolm and Stewy organise the weigh inn |
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Members and guests enjoy the social evening in the Girnel |
Top local angler for day two Kevin Muir |
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Wyn Pocock was top boat with Stewy Leslie |
Mike Low and Raymond Miller at the Ess Holmes |
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The OTFA site on Harry |
Becalmed at the start of day one |
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Perth angler Dave Malcolm had a superb day in Merkister Bay on hedgehogs |
Day two weigh inn |