IT’S ALL OVER FOR ANOTHER SEASON
Alan Findlay Cup
The final OTFA competition for 2024 was fished between 10.00am and 4.00pm on Saturday 31st August with the twenty-two competitors having a choice of venue for this ‘any loch’ event. The weather was reasonably kind for a change, with sunshine and a light to moderate wind from the south south east. With three of the current top six away to fish another competition at the Lake of Menteith this same weekend ‘Fisherman of the Year’ and a couple of top six places were still up for grabs.
Stuart Leslie was the only person who could overtake his normal boat partner, Ken Kennedy, to claim top spot for 2024, but he had to win to do so. Stuart, who fished Harray Loch, came very close, but Ken, who was one of the missing anglers, was acclaimed ‘Fisherman of the Year’ in his absence. Congratulations to Ken who has fished consistently well in what has been a difficult season.
Most anglers chose to fish Harray Loch, which has been notoriously difficult all year, but a few did venture to the ‘brown water’ lochs. Andrew Morgan secured the Alan Findlay Cup with 11 fish for 8lb 2.25oz from Harray Loch, very good angling under these conditions. Andrew fished a Fast Glass line and did best with Orange Hedgehogs in Nistaben Bay.
Other notable catches were 6 for 6lb 3.75oz to Stuart Leslie and 5 for 4lb 4.25oz to both Leslie Miller and Thorfinn Muir, who also fished together today. Jimmy Grant was one of those who fished Hundland. The fishing was difficult there also but Jimmy’s two late fish included the heaviest fish of the day, and the season overall, an absolute belter going 2lb 12.5oz.
Final League placings are based on an anglers best ten points from the seasons fourteen competitions with a system in place to decide who gets the higher placing when there is a tie on points. This year we had no less than five ties on corrected points.
The Zawadzki Cup is awarded to the junior angler who has weighed-in the heaviest aggregate of fish taken by a junior member fishing in the seasons competitions but can only be won twice by any angler. Josh Tulloch had the top weight this year once again, but he has also been top for the last two years, so this year it goes to Sigurd Swanney. Well done, Sigurd. With competitor numbers falling year on year, we need to do more to encourage more youngsters to get involved. Ian Tulloch has certainly done more than any other member towards this cause, regularly arriving at competitions with his grand children and young Sigurd.
So ends what has been a frustrating competition season, with numerous cancellations due to extreme weather, and our main loch, Harray, out of sorts for much of the season.
Hopefully the weather gods will be kinder next year.
Tightlines for the remainder of the season
IH
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Any Loch Winner Andrew Morgan |
Fly Fisherman Of The Year Ken Kennedy |
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