SANACC

123rd Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship
Sponsored by Ridgeline UK
Final - Lake of Menteith
Saturday 12th September 2015

The 2015 Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Champion is Stuart Marklow of Loanhead & District AC. Stuart had 12 fish for 26lbs 3.8ozs and just pipped the 2010 National Champion and 2011 Champion of Champions winner, Peter Auchterlonie of Menteith Ospreys, who also had 12 fish but with a weight of 25lbs 9.6ozs. Close behind in third was the 2013 Champion of Champions winner John Buchanan of Newton Mearns FF who had 11 fish for 23lbs 1.6ozs.

A forecast suggesting that winds of 28mph gusting to 40mph could hit the Lake of Menteith in the morning of the National final followed by constant torrential rain throughout the afternoon gave cause for concern that the final would have to be cancelled. The wind did come from the southeast as forecast but fortunately it never reached the forecast strength and the competition went ahead as scheduled. The boats set off in light rain and although it rained for most of the day it was not as heavy as expected. It was however cold for most of the day. About mid afternoon the wind moved round to the southwest and as it dropped to a light breeze the clouds lifted, the temperature rose and the competitors started catching in ernest. It wasn't to last for long as the wind soon picked up again and the rain came back.

photo:
Stuart Marklow is presented with
the National Trophy by
Beth Johnston of Ridgeline UK

No final is ever easy to win but with the winners of six of the last eight Nationals (Ronnie Gilbert - 2014 and 2008; Kevin McCabe - 2013; Ronnie Glass - 2011; Peter Auchterlonie - 2010 and Alex McEwan - 2007) and eleven of the 2015 International teams lining up it looked like 2015 would be particularly hard. Boats headed for all parts of the Lake at the off and within the first couple of hours there were boats criss crossing the water as the competitors searched for fish. The trout were not for giving themselves up and many anglers struggled.

The competition was fished on a partial catch and release basis with the first three trout being retained and 2lb awarded for each fish caught and returned. Heavy fish were capped at 4lb and there were several 4lb plus fish and two over 5lb. The heaviest fish brought to the scales weighed 5lbs 13.8ozs and was caught by Kinross AC angler Ally Middlemas.


photo:
Ally Middlemas is presented
with the Dundee Salver
by Beth Johnston of Ridgeline UK


As the competitors weighed-in there were plenty of anxious faces. The top 18 were guaranteed a place in the 2016 International teams and it was tight. Two competitors weighed-in 12 trout. There was one bag of 11 and one of 10. Five competitors had 9 fish; two had 8 fish; thirteen had 7 fish; eleven had 6 fish and seven had 5 fish. Team manager, Gus Shepherd, had 7 fish for 14lbs 15ozs which put him in 17th place but he gave up his place as an angler in the teams and the long journey from Orkney proved worthwhile for Andrew Morgan of Merkister FF who had 7 fish for 14lbs 13.4ozs and finished in 19th position and secured the last guaranteed team spot. Not only had Ally Middlemass caught a fish over 5lbs he had also taken two other large trout and his 5 fish for 14lb 14.4ozs put him in 18th position.

In 6th place with 9 fish for 20lbs 7.2ozs was Ben Robertson of West Lothian FD. This was only the second time that Ben had entered the National and in his first attempt in 2014 he also made the final and on that occasion he was 29th. Allan Gamble of RAF Fish Hawks was 5th with 9 fish for 20lbs 10.8ozs. Allan was in an International team in 2012. In 4th place was Graeme Lynch of Beith St Inans AC with 10 fish for 21lbs 7.6ozs. This was first time that Graeme had entered the National. What a way to start.

In 3rd place with 11 fish for 23lbs 1.6ozs was John Buchanan. John has had 13 caps for Scotland and has twice won the Brown Bowl.
In 2nd with 12 fish for 25lbs 9.6ozs was Peter Auchterlonie. Peter has also had 13 caps for Scotland (will be 14 after the Autumn International) and he has also won the Brown Bowl twice.

In 1st place with 12 fish for 26lbs 3.8ozs was Stuart Marklow of Loanhead & District AC. Stuart entered the National in 2014 for the first time and made it to the final that year and finished 58th.

A total of 360 fish were caught which with the 2lb allowance for returned fish gave a total weight of 804lbs 5.6ozs. The best boatman was Chris Harkess who boated for Stuart Marklow and Kevin Andrews who between them netted 19 trout.

photo left:
Chris Harkess is presented with a
bottle of Malt by Beth Johnston of Ridgeline UK

photo right:
semi final winners being presented with their
Ridgeline Igloo Tops by Beth Johnston
George Whyte, Donald McGregor (Beth Johnston)
Wullie Leach, Peter Auchterlonie and Scott Aitken

The SANACC Committee wish to thank Ridgeline UK for their third year of sponsoring the National Championship. We also wish to thank Glencorse Reservoir and 7plus7 Construction for providing the hook measures. The Committee also wish to thank the 31 boatmen who gave up their time to boat in the final; Wendy and Wilson Mitchell who did the buffet; Eleanor and Ian Campbell who recorded the weigh-in; Stuart Marshall who piped off the match and Quint, Douglas and Elma at the Lake for their help and patience.

Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship
Sponsored by Ridgeline UK
Semi Final No 6 Lake of Menteith 3rd July 2015


The last of the semi finals was held at the Lake of Menteith on 3rd July on a blistering hot day. There was hardly a cloud in the sky and very little breeze for most of the day making conditions difficult. A good breeze got up late in the day which did little more than cool the competitors.

George Whyte of St Fillans & Lochearn AA and Andrew Smart of CSSA (Rosyth) were drawn together and between them they worked out what was required. They headed for the Cages and later moved to the Malling Shore before returning to the Cages. Between them they had 14 fish of which 12 were taken at the Cages. They both dropped numerous trout but their tactic of fishing fabs on midge tip lines was the answer on a difficult day. George was the top rod with 7 trout for 15lb 4oz closely followed by Andrew in second with 7 trout for 14lb 15.6oz.

photo:
Andrew Smart, George Whyte and Andrew Morgan

Andrew Morgan of Merkister FF was third with 6 trout for 13lb 15.4 oz and Alan Steven of FAF was fourth with 7 trout for 13lb 13.4oz. Andrew took his trout at Sandy Bay and Lochend where he was fishing fabs and blobs on a floater.

It was a good day for the Orkney clubs with four of their competitors, Andrew Morgan, James Grant, James Bews and Sandy McConnachie qualifying for the final

Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship
Sponsored by Ridgeline UK
Semi Final No 5
Carron Valley - 2nd July 2015

Carron had been fishing its socks off all week with many of the competitors reporting that they had been having double figure bags of quality browns and rainbows during their practice days. However heavy rain the night before the semi final appeared to have upset the trout and many competitors struggled on match day.

photo:
Sean, Scott and David

Some did however master the conditions and local angler, Scott Aitken, of Tartan Tyers FF came out on top with 15 trout for 13lb 13oz. Scott stuck to dries and took his fish in Burnhouse Bay. Close up in second was Sean McCaffrey of North Shetland FF who also had 15 trout but with the slightly lesser weight of 13lb 7.5oz. Sean took his fish on black hoppers in Carron Bay. North Shetland FF also provided the third placed competitor as their David McMillan snr landed 10 trout for 10lb 9oz. David took his fish on dries and black hoppers in Burnhouse Bay and at the Willows.

The top 10 competitors qualified for the final and the cut-off weight was 3lb 12oz.

The last of the semi finals is at the Lake of Menteith on Friday 3rd July.

Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship
Sponsored by Ridgeline UK
Semi Final No 4
Lake of Menteith 26th June 2015


The day started off with rain and light winds which continued for most of the morning, as the day progressed the rain got heavier and the wind strengthened, 47 anglers took part and when the boats went out all the boats bar one headed for Malling, sandy bay and cages areas.

279 trout for 602lbs 7.2 oz were caught and the top 16 rods went through to the final, heaviest fish on the day was caught by Neil Chalmers from Orkney and weighed 4lb 7.8oz he also had another at 4lbs.

Top rod was Peter Auchterlonie with 14 fish for 29lb 12oz he was fishing in cages with fabs and boobies on a fast glass in cages, 2nd was James Fairlie with 14 fish for 28lbs 11oz also on fabs and boobies on a fast glass in cages,

3rd was Kevin Andrews with 11 fish for 22lb 14.4oz fishing a floater with yellow owls on the Malling shore and sandy bay, the cut off was 16lbs 3oz.

photo:
Kevin, Peter and James

Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship
Sponsored by Ridgeline UK
Semi Final No 3 - Leven 19th June


The semi final at Leven was fished in a strong south westerly wind which like the previous semi at Carron was distinctly cold. Nine anglers contested this semi with the top three going through to the final. Heavy fish were capped at 2lb 8oz and 1lb 4oz was awarded for each returned trout. There were three fish over 2lb 8oz. A total of 22fish for 22lb 7.375oz were caught.

Top rod was local angler Donal McGregor of Kinross AC with 6 trout for 5lb 9.875oz. Donald took his fish between the mid and north buoy on a kate and viva on a Di7. In second was Michael Thomson of Butcher Boy AC with 3 trout for 4lb 1oz. Michael was in the same boat as Donald and took his fish on snatchers fished on a Di7. Third place went to another local angler, Ally Middlemas of Kinross AC with 2 trout for 3lb 2.25oz. Ally fished in the area around the mid buoy and took his trout on a kate and a viva on a Di7.

photo:
Michael, Donald and Ally

Semi Final No 2
Carron - 19th June

Winter returned as our qualifiers headed to Carron for the second of the semi finals. There were 37 anglers at this event and they were faced with a cold westerly wind which was not quite as strong as the forecast but still strong enough to make conditions difficult. Fish had been located at various areas during the days before and at the off there were boats heading to almost every known Carron drift.

A total of 118 trout for 129lb 9oz were caught and with the top 12 going through to the final a minimum weight of 4lb 5oz was required. Three fish were retained with anglers then going onto catch and release and at the weigh-in the heavier fish were capped at 2lb and 1lb was awarded for each returned fish. Numerous trout were hooked and lost during the day by most anglers.

The best fish of the day was a stunning rainbow weighing 6lb 14.5oz which was caught by Bridge of Allan 7 6AC competitor Peter Shepherd. Peter caught it on a pheasant tail fished on a floating line at the top dam.

Top rod was Wullie Leach of Falkirk Municipal with 9 trout for 8lb 14oz. Most of Wullie's fish were taken on hoppers fished on a floating line at Burnhouse Bay and Puddock Bay with a couple taken near thend of the session at the dam on a di5

Gus Shepherd of IBM AC was second with 6 fish for 8lb 2.5oz and Michael Low of Crieff AC was third with 7 fish for 7lb 15oz. Michael tool all his fish at Burnhouse Bay and the Willows where he was fishing an orange palmer and a black seals fur thing on a slow glass.

Photo:
Peter Shepherd