Autumn 2024 - SANACC

At the Autumn International Fly Fishing Match held at Llyn Clywedog on Thursday 12th September 2024 the Scottish team, managed by by Derek Keenan and captained by Kevin McCabe, produced a historic victory after forging clear of England, Ireland and Wales.  Scotland had taken the gold medals at the autumn match at the Lake of Menteith in September 2023 and at the spring match at Lough Ennell in May 2024 and the pressure was on to keep the run going at Llyn Clywedog and make it three in a row.

The weather hadn't been kind to the competitors during the practice days with a mixed bag of conditions.  At times the sun was out for long periods sending the fish deeper only to be followed by torrential rain and hailstones that put the temperature into single figures.  The wind blew up at times producing difficult squally conditions and on the day before the match the wind strength made it difficult to fish some areas.  Russell Owen and his team at Llyn Clywedog kept the whole event running efficiently throughout the week with reliable boats and outboards and a good head of fish.

It took a team effort through the practice days and the match day to get the end result with Derek Keenan and Kevin McCabe orchestrating the practice sessions and debriefs.  By match day however it was apparent that all four countries had identified the same areas and methods and a close match was expected.  The match itself was fished to a two fish kill with 2lb being awarded for each returned fish.

The match got off to a perfect start for Scotland when their Joseph Wood was seen to be into a fish straight away just off of the pier area while most boats were only just heading to their chosen start points. Joseph caught steadily through the session and finished with 17 fish which put him in 10th overall in the individual standings.

At the end of the match, as the boats returned to the pier area, the competitors reported their catches to their team managers and when the Scotland management heard that Robert Reilly of Ireland had 26 fish and that Richard Denney of England had 22 fish their confidence was ebbing away. Confidence rose again when Scotland's Tyler Hay reported he had 27 fish closely followed by Thomas McMillan with 21 fish and then Ronnie Gilbert and Ben Robertson who had 20 each.  When Michael Low came in and reported taking 35 fish it was apparent that Scotland were going to be hard to beat.

England were first to the scales and recorded 159 fish for 326lbs 13ozs which eventually put them in second place.  Ireland went next and had 127 fish for 263lbs 9ozs which put them in third.  Scotland weighed-in the gold medal score with 236 fish for 484lbs 11ozs.  Wales were in fourth place with 105 fish for 219lbs 7ozs.

The winning margins of 77 fish and 157lbs 14ozs are the largest ever in the history of the internationals and the Scotland catch of 236 fish for 484lbs 11ozs is the also the largest ever.

photo: Kevin McCabe receiving the Team trophy and captain's badge from Paul Angell IFFA President

The top individual rod overall was Michael Low of Scotland with 35 fish for 70lbs 4ozs.   This is the largest individual catch since 1950 and is probably the largest ever.  Top rod for Ireland was Robert Reilly with 26 fish.  Top rod for England was Richard Denney with 22 fish and top rod for Wales was Nigel Worvell with 16 fish.

This was an outstanding team effort from Scotland throughout the practice sessions and match day with six of the team finishing in the top ten individual standings.

Michael Low top individual rod.

Michael was drawn with Richard Slater of England who won the toss and opted to head for the northern most end of the reservoir.  Michael started with two boobies and a cormorant on a di7 and took a fish on his third cast.  He picked away steadily and had 14 in the morning before it quietened down.  

Tyler Hay - 2nd overall

Tyler was drawn with Stephen Browne of Ireland and on winning the toss he opted to go to Bigger Bay.  He started on a booby basher and picked up three there but finding it slow they moved to the cages area.

Tyler changed to the bung and picked away steadily in the cages area and picked up 24 there to give him 27 in total.  Stephen finished on 15.

Thomas McMillan - 5th overall

Thomas was drawn with Donal Forrest of Ireland.  Thomas won the toss and opted to go to Bigger Bay.  He set up with the bung and took a fish on first cast.  He had thirteen of his fish at Bigger.

After 2pm they moved to the jetty area.  Thomas stayed on the bung and picked up another eight fish there to finish on 21.  Donal finished on 5.

Ben Robertson - 7th overall

Ben was drawn with Joe Ferguson of Ireland and having won the toss he opted to start in the cages area.  Ben started off on the booby basher and was taking fish steadily until it slowed down.

They stayed in the cages area and a change to the bung kept things going.  At the end of the day Ben had twenty fish.  Joe finished on six.