Midnight Cup
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Top rod John Munson |
DOUBLE HEADER LAST WEEKEND ON BOARDHOUSE AND HARRAY
Last Saturday evening, 25 anglers gathered at Boardhouse for the Midnight Cup. Reports had been very positive with some good fish coming off in the days previous, but with wind forecast, would this enigmatic loch produce the goods.
It was quite an even split of boats for the 6pm start, with the Tufta Shore and Barony end being most favoured, some were on the shores, others choosing to try the wide blue yonder. There was little repositioning after the first hour indicating that action was being found. As the night wore on, the wind changed quite dramatically spoiling productive drifts and at around 10.30pm it whipped up causing boats to bail out and find shelter in the west shore, it was windy until the death.
Winner of the Midnight Cup with a superb bag of fish was John Munson, weighing in 16 fish for 13lb 9ozs, who fished the corner at Tufta and down the shore to the Pumphouse. A close runner up spot was filled by Ken Kennedy, who also had 16 fish, but just short with a weight of 13lb 6ozs, out off the Tufta Shore being his hotspot. Others who had an enjoyable evening included Malcolm Russell with 12 for 9lb 6ozs, Stewy Leslie with 10 for 8lb 11ozs and Jimmy Grant with 9 for 8lb 4ozs. The heaviest fish was a cracker going 2lb 3ozs, caught by Mike Frith.
Hogs of various patterns were the flies of choice for most anglers, with Fiery Brown Merky Midas working well for John, Ken and Malcolm on intermediate lines. Madeira and various other coloured hogs worked for some, and White Cat worked well for Jimmy Grant. The wind never dropped to Caenis level so there wasn’t much success with twiddly stuff apart from a few caught on suspender buzzers. Anglers dispersed quickly following the weigh in as there was a 10 am start in the morning on Harray to prepare for.
Sunday morning and true to form of late, a windy day ahead on Harray, it’s been tiresome this season so far. 18 anglers set off into the teeth of a strong north westerly with most heading for some shelter up the loch. Biggings, Merky Bay, Horeshoe and Pontooth were all favoured, with some anglers fishing the deep water and many fishing the shores and skerries. The day was going to become even more challenging when the sun broke through, increasing the wind speed by another 5 mph, as it does. It did drop for the last hour, but by then most anglers had lost the will, a very tough day for most but not all.
The Walter Leask Cup was won by Erlend Hutchison with a great effort with 10 fish for 7lb 15ozs, fishing the fast sinking DI7 successfully up at Biggings, Sword area of Merky Bay. Runner up Alan McConnachie also fished Biggings and Nistaben with the DI5 Sweep, netting 7 fish for 6lb 14ozs. Jim Harcus with 9 for 6lb 11ozs and Andrew Morgan with 7 fish for 6lb 9ozs bucked the trend, sharing the boat and fishing the shores and drop offs, as did Ken Kennedy with 6 for 4lb 14ozs. Heaviest fish was a belter, going 2lb 3ozs to a delighted John Leask.
Flies mentioned at the weigh in by those successful included, Hulk, Naked Spur, Erlends Cat and Merky Maid on the black lines, and Fiery Brown Merky Midas, UV Orange, and Black Hedgehogs for those fishing the shallower water.
A respite for a couple of weeks now, then it’s another double header to accommodate postponed competitions, surely we will be due some more benign weather conditions by then.
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