2016 National Final
National
Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championship
2016
Sponsored by Ridgeline UK
Frozen North Flyfishing and 7plus7 Construction
Jimmy McBride receiving the National Trophy and a Ridgeline Monsoon Smock
from Nigel Winkle of sponsors Ridgeline UK
The 2016 National Championship came to a conclusion with the final at the Lake of Menteith on Saturday 10th September. 391 anglers entered the competition which started in April and continued through heats and semi-finals at Carron Valley Fishery, the Loch of Harray, Lintrathen Reservoir, Loch Leven and the Lake of Menteith which reduced that number to the 60 anglers who contested the final.
The Championship was sponsored for the fourth year by Ridgeline UK who provided the winner with a Ridgeline Monsoon Smock. The second received a Ridgeline Torrent Jacket, the third a Ridgeline Pintail Explorer and the captor of the heaviest fish a Ridgeline Grizzly Jacket. Ridgeline also provided their Igloo Tops for all of the semi-final winners. The fly measures used throughout the competition were sponsored by 7 Plus 7 Construction while the Lake of Menteith provided commemorative bottles of beer to all the boatmen in the final and to the winners of the heats and semis held there. This year Frozen North Fly Fishing provided a packet of their gel fritz for each of the competitors.
The SANACC Committee wish to thank all of the sponsors along with Stuart Marshall who piped the competitors off at the start of the final; Wendy and Wilson Mitchell who provided the buffet; Ian and Eleanor Campbell who recorded the weigh-in, the staff at all of the venues who were helpful and patient throughout the year and of the course the 30 boatmen who gave up their time to ensure that we had a successful final.
The day started off bright with a light westerly breeze and very little cloud and as the boats set off about 80% of them made for the Cages, Stable Point, Malling Shore and Plantation areas with the rest going to International Bay, Road Shore, Butts, Gap and Sams Point. The breeze picked up throughout the day and almost all of the competitors were struggling to connect with fish and by mid afternoon the average bag was about 2 or 3. Conditions improved around 3.30pm when some thicker cloud covered the sun and more fish were seen to be moving.
photo left:
second placed Neil Anderson
receiving his Ridgeline Torrent Jacket
from Nigel Winkle of sponsors Ridgeline UK
At the half way point there 16 boats in Cages Bay with more drifting from the Malling Shore to Stable Point and others drifting over the deeper water on the lodge side of squirrel island. As the boats returned to the shore at 5.30pm there many concerned faces as the competitors discussed their day and tried to work out how many fish would be needed to get in the top twenty that were guaranteed a place in the 2017 teams that would represent Scotland at Chew and Menteith.
The last two hours of the final had proved once again to be the turning point for many competitors who managed to capitalise on the willingness of the trout to feed and the total trout caught by the 60 finalists was 301 for 660lbs 12.5ozs. The competition was fished on partial catch and release basis with the the first three fish being retained and an allowance of 2lbs awarded for each returned fish. The heaviest fish to be brought to the scales weighed 3lbs 10.1ozs and was caught by Gilmerton FFC angler Greg McLaren.
This was never going to be an easy final and out of the 60 anglers there were 3 previous National Champions; 5 Brown Bowl winners and 38 internationalists.
Top rod and the 2016 Scottish National Champion was Jimmy McBride (top photo) of The Heriot AC with 11 fish for 22lbs 6.1ozs. Jimmy's boat partner, Paul Sharp of Leven Fly Casters, took the last qualifying place in 20th position with 6 fish for 12lbs 11.4ozs
photo right:
third placed Paul Garner
receiving his Ridgeline Pintail Jacket
from Nigel Winkle of sponsors Ridgeline UK
Neil Anderson of Monikie AC was second with 10 fish for 22lbs 3.7ozs. Neil also qualified for the Scottish team at the 2015 National final and is in the team heading to Wales later in September for the Autumn International.
In third place with 11 fish for 21lbs 15.1ozs was Paul Garner of Alba Orvis FF. Paul also came very close in the 2014 National final when he was second and as happened this year he had the same number of trout as the winner but lost out on weight. Paul's boat partner, Dave Carr of Tweed Valley Tanglers, also qualified for the international teams with his 6 fish for 14lbs 14.5ozs which put him in 16th spot.
photo left:
Greg McLaren receiving the Dundee Salver
and a Ridgeline Grizzly Jacket from
Nigel Winkle for catching the heaviest fish.
photo right:
piper Stuart Marshal
The six semi-final winners receiving their Ridgeline Igloo Tops from Nigel Winkle of sponsors Ridgeline UK
left to rightL Ally Middlemass, Allan Mclachlan, Sandy McConnachie, Nigel Winkle, Jimmy McBride, Colin McGlone and David Moore
