South Mainland 7-5-22
Eleven flyfishers rocked up at the Tingwall Boat Shed last Saturday morning for round 2 of the S.A.A. Fly Bank League. As well as chasing valuable league points anglers also had the added incentive of the Antares Trophy being up for grabs.
There was early work for competition secretary Billy Reid after Tony Li suggested that he might try fishing with five or six flies on his cast. As one wag pointed out this would have been more like setting up for “going to da piltocks!” The rule book was consulted and it was pointed out to the over enthusiastic Li that “only four points are allowed on a cast.”
There was soon more controversy to deal with as another angler, also painted with the “over enthusiastic” brush, Leslie Barclay, parked his car well down the road and certainly outwith the confines of the Tingwall Boat Shed car park. As the same wag pointed out this meant that Leslie was “nearly halfway to Spiggie before the competition even started!” Competitors are reminded of the competition rule which clearly states that “no angler may leave the designated competition starting point before given the signal to do so by the competition secretary.”
What a difference a fortnight makes and anglers were able to enjoy a beautiful flat calm Shetland Spring morning, lounging in the sunshine and exchanging trooty news and in vogue fly patterns as they awaited the 1015 starting gun.
With the news that one of Shetland’s flagship lochs Spiggie had come on line, nearly all the competitor’s vehicles headed down the Tingwall valley toward the Deep South. In a moment of contrition the offending Barclay, obviously realising the error of his ways, had the good grace to let everyone else past before setting off himself. One of the more cynical competitors wondered if Leslie had just forgotten to close his boot!
Despite the poor angling conditions of blazing sun and cold Northwest breeze the mighty Spiggie certainly didn’t disappoint and come the 1740 weigh it was clear that some excellent baskets of fish had been forthcoming.
Taking first place and the Antares Trophy at a relative canter was undisputed Spiggie master Frank Watt. His fantastic basket of 31 fish for 20 lb, 10 ¼ oz. might just put him in line for even more silverware come the end of the season. Frank had scored with an “Olive Cruncher.” Frank’s bag also contained the heaviest trout of the day at 1 lb, 10 ½ oz.
Runner up was Billy Reid with another excellent basket of 19 fish for14 lb 4 ¾ oz. Third spot went to Mark Sandison also with 19 for 12 lb, 1 ¾ oz. Reid’s top fly was a “Gold Muddler” while Sandison had stuck with his favourite “Olive Tadpole.”
Other successful anglers were Peter Laurenson, Ian Reid, Tony Li, Bobby Irvine, Leslie Barclay and Harry Sandison.
Top tactics on the day for most anglers were sinking lines in various densities.
With two league competitions having been fished this leaves the league as follows.
Eleven flyfishers rocked up at the Tingwall Boat Shed last Saturday morning for round 2 of the S.A.A. Fly Bank League. As well as chasing valuable league points anglers also had the added incentive of the Antares Trophy being up for grabs.
There was early work for competition secretary Billy Reid after Tony Li suggested that he might try fishing with five or six flies on his cast. As one wag pointed out this would have been more like setting up for “going to da piltocks!” The rule book was consulted and it was pointed out to the over enthusiastic Li that “only four points are allowed on a cast.”
There was soon more controversy to deal with as another angler, also painted with the “over enthusiastic” brush, Leslie Barclay, parked his car well down the road and certainly outwith the confines of the Tingwall Boat Shed car park. As the same wag pointed out this meant that Leslie was “nearly halfway to Spiggie before the competition even started!” Competitors are reminded of the competition rule which clearly states that “no angler may leave the designated competition starting point before given the signal to do so by the competition secretary.”
What a difference a fortnight makes and anglers were able to enjoy a beautiful flat calm Shetland Spring morning, lounging in the sunshine and exchanging trooty news and in vogue fly patterns as they awaited the 1015 starting gun.
With the news that one of Shetland’s flagship lochs Spiggie had come on line, nearly all the competitor’s vehicles headed down the Tingwall valley toward the Deep South. In a moment of contrition the offending Barclay, obviously realising the error of his ways, had the good grace to let everyone else past before setting off himself. One of the more cynical competitors wondered if Leslie had just forgotten to close his boot!
Despite the poor angling conditions of blazing sun and cold Northwest breeze the mighty Spiggie certainly didn’t disappoint and come the 1740 weigh it was clear that some excellent baskets of fish had been forthcoming.
Taking first place and the Antares Trophy at a relative canter was undisputed Spiggie master Frank Watt. His fantastic basket of 31 fish for 20 lb, 10 ¼ oz. might just put him in line for even more silverware come the end of the season. Frank had scored with an “Olive Cruncher.” Frank’s bag also contained the heaviest trout of the day at 1 lb, 10 ½ oz.
Runner up was Billy Reid with another excellent basket of 19 fish for14 lb 4 ¾ oz. Third spot went to Mark Sandison also with 19 for 12 lb, 1 ¾ oz. Reid’s top fly was a “Gold Muddler” while Sandison had stuck with his favourite “Olive Tadpole.”
Other successful anglers were Peter Laurenson, Ian Reid, Tony Li, Bobby Irvine, Leslie Barclay and Harry Sandison.
Top tactics on the day for most anglers were sinking lines in various densities.
With two league competitions having been fished this leaves the league as follows.
There was a moment of panic at the weigh in for Whalsay man Ian Reid. Ian’s long term mentor Harry Sandison had retired early leaving instructions with Ian that he had left his fish inside the blue boat at the Tingwall boat park. Imagine Reid’s horror when he realised that there was not one but three blue boats in the boat park and that Harry’s fish could not be found in any of them! Luckily the quick thinking Ian realised that this was some sort of rite of passage test set by Harry and the trout was located in the solitary green boat! Phew!
The bank league now takes a break until Thursday 2nd June when flyfishers will meet at the Bixter Graveyard at 1805 to fish the West Side lochs.
Competition junkies need not despair however as the much anticipated 2022 Trout festival will take place from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st May. Full details can be found on the Shetland Anglers Association website.
Trout Festival 2022 - Shetland Anglers Association (shetlandtrout.co.uk)
In other news the annual Pottinger Benston Trophy was held last Thursday evening on a dirty night of wind and rain. Five hardy souls ventured forth on the dour Benston. The trophy was won by the on fire Frank Watt who can do no wrong at the moment with four fish for 3 lb 3oz. Well done Frank!
The bank league now takes a break until Thursday 2nd June when flyfishers will meet at the Bixter Graveyard at 1805 to fish the West Side lochs.
Competition junkies need not despair however as the much anticipated 2022 Trout festival will take place from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st May. Full details can be found on the Shetland Anglers Association website.
Trout Festival 2022 - Shetland Anglers Association (shetlandtrout.co.uk)
In other news the annual Pottinger Benston Trophy was held last Thursday evening on a dirty night of wind and rain. Five hardy souls ventured forth on the dour Benston. The trophy was won by the on fire Frank Watt who can do no wrong at the moment with four fish for 3 lb 3oz. Well done Frank!
Benston 5-5-22. L to R. Greig Anderson, Frank Watt, Mark Sandison, Bobby Irvine, Tony Li.
Central Mainland & Shetland Times Trophy 23-4-22
The second last Saturday in April, a chilly North East wind, new born lambs cowering in the corners of parks and the temperature struggling to reach double figures. It could only mean one thing! Yes you’ve guessed it – the first Shetland Anglers Association Fly bank competition of the year. The only thing missing was snow showers!
Nine optimistic and hardy flyfishers checked in at the Tingwall shed for the new 1015 start. Very conspicuous by their absence were veteran campaigners Harry Sandison and Dave Wright. As another stalwart veteran suggested however the duo were probably feeling the cold on such a chilly April morning!
Normally the first competition of the season is an opportunity for anglers to show off and compare new tackle and accessories purchased over the close season. Most of the talk however seemed to centre around old leaky waders and the inconvenience and misery of cold wet trousers and long johns! Hard times! The exception was the dapper Derek Titheradge who was resplendent in a deluxe pair of specially shortened neoprene waders. This confirmed the old angling adage: “Any fool can get cold and wet but it takes brains to stay warm and dry!”
Leslie Barclay did produce a brand new mini telescope which he intended to use to spy on fellow competitors. The rule book was hastily consulted by competition Billy Reid. However no ruling could be found regarding the use of such a device and Leslie’s telescope was deemed to be legal. There were a few raised eyebrows at this decision.
With the Baltic conditions most anglers confessed that they would be delighted to put a single trout in their bag. One bright spark suggested that a draw could take place for the final positions and then everyone could go home and spend the afternoon with their feet up in front of the fire! Hope springs eternal though and the 1015 start saw our nine bold boys excited as ever and champing at the bit to get going.
Competitors had a choice of all the main lochs in the Central Mainland from Petta Water, Sand Water and Benston in the North down through the mighty Girlsta to the lochs in the Tingwall Valley and South to the Sandy Loch, Trebister and Brindister. Most of these waters would see some action over the course of the day. As well as valuable league points, as an added incentive the beautiful “Shetland Times Trophy” was also up for grabs.
Despite having 14 lochs to choose from old adversaries Leslie Barclay and Mark Sandison still managed to get in a tangle while sprinting to their favourite fishy spot in Asta. Luckily Barclay had the good sense to back down and the potentially powderkeg situation didn’t escalate!
A hard afternoon’s angling then ensued with some anglers fishing several locations in search of that elusive fish whereas others elected to stick it out in one venue.
At the 1740 weigh in it transpired that the initial gloomy predictions had been off the mark with eight out of the nine competitors managing to weigh in fish.
Taking first place and the Shetland Times trophy was Mark Sandison with ten trout for 8 lb, 3 ¼ oz. taken mainly on a “Pearly White Cat.” In a post match interview a delighted Sandison admitted that his successful tactic was to target the fish which were following the model yachts as the Model Yacht Club held it’s weekly sailing regatta. He went on to pay tribute to ex mentor and intercounty fly fisherman, turned model yacht champion, Ian Couper, who had met Sandison on the bank half way through the afternoon and passed on some “fishy luck” to his former pupil.
Runner up with a fantastic basket of four fish for 7 lb, 4 ¾ oz from the difficult Benston was Frank Watt. Frank’s basket contained a beauty going 2 lb, 9 ¼ oz which fell to a “Hulk.” This monster has set an early high bar for the heaviest trout of the year trophy.
In third place was the evergreen Bobby Irvine with five from Sand Water for 3 lb, 6 ½ oz. Bobby had scored with a “Pink Tailed Loch Ordy.”
Other anglers gaining points were Ian Reid, Tony Li, Billy Reid, Greig Anderson and Leslie Barclay.
The next bank competition is the “Pottinger Benston Trophy” which takes place on Thursday 5th May with an 1805 check in at the Benston boat park. This is followed by round two of the Bank League on Saturday 7th May with a 1015 check in at the Tingwall shed where anglers will also be competing for the “Antares Trophy.” Let’s hope it’s warmed up a bit by then!
The second last Saturday in April, a chilly North East wind, new born lambs cowering in the corners of parks and the temperature struggling to reach double figures. It could only mean one thing! Yes you’ve guessed it – the first Shetland Anglers Association Fly bank competition of the year. The only thing missing was snow showers!
Nine optimistic and hardy flyfishers checked in at the Tingwall shed for the new 1015 start. Very conspicuous by their absence were veteran campaigners Harry Sandison and Dave Wright. As another stalwart veteran suggested however the duo were probably feeling the cold on such a chilly April morning!
Normally the first competition of the season is an opportunity for anglers to show off and compare new tackle and accessories purchased over the close season. Most of the talk however seemed to centre around old leaky waders and the inconvenience and misery of cold wet trousers and long johns! Hard times! The exception was the dapper Derek Titheradge who was resplendent in a deluxe pair of specially shortened neoprene waders. This confirmed the old angling adage: “Any fool can get cold and wet but it takes brains to stay warm and dry!”
Leslie Barclay did produce a brand new mini telescope which he intended to use to spy on fellow competitors. The rule book was hastily consulted by competition Billy Reid. However no ruling could be found regarding the use of such a device and Leslie’s telescope was deemed to be legal. There were a few raised eyebrows at this decision.
With the Baltic conditions most anglers confessed that they would be delighted to put a single trout in their bag. One bright spark suggested that a draw could take place for the final positions and then everyone could go home and spend the afternoon with their feet up in front of the fire! Hope springs eternal though and the 1015 start saw our nine bold boys excited as ever and champing at the bit to get going.
Competitors had a choice of all the main lochs in the Central Mainland from Petta Water, Sand Water and Benston in the North down through the mighty Girlsta to the lochs in the Tingwall Valley and South to the Sandy Loch, Trebister and Brindister. Most of these waters would see some action over the course of the day. As well as valuable league points, as an added incentive the beautiful “Shetland Times Trophy” was also up for grabs.
Despite having 14 lochs to choose from old adversaries Leslie Barclay and Mark Sandison still managed to get in a tangle while sprinting to their favourite fishy spot in Asta. Luckily Barclay had the good sense to back down and the potentially powderkeg situation didn’t escalate!
A hard afternoon’s angling then ensued with some anglers fishing several locations in search of that elusive fish whereas others elected to stick it out in one venue.
At the 1740 weigh in it transpired that the initial gloomy predictions had been off the mark with eight out of the nine competitors managing to weigh in fish.
Taking first place and the Shetland Times trophy was Mark Sandison with ten trout for 8 lb, 3 ¼ oz. taken mainly on a “Pearly White Cat.” In a post match interview a delighted Sandison admitted that his successful tactic was to target the fish which were following the model yachts as the Model Yacht Club held it’s weekly sailing regatta. He went on to pay tribute to ex mentor and intercounty fly fisherman, turned model yacht champion, Ian Couper, who had met Sandison on the bank half way through the afternoon and passed on some “fishy luck” to his former pupil.
Runner up with a fantastic basket of four fish for 7 lb, 4 ¾ oz from the difficult Benston was Frank Watt. Frank’s basket contained a beauty going 2 lb, 9 ¼ oz which fell to a “Hulk.” This monster has set an early high bar for the heaviest trout of the year trophy.
In third place was the evergreen Bobby Irvine with five from Sand Water for 3 lb, 6 ½ oz. Bobby had scored with a “Pink Tailed Loch Ordy.”
Other anglers gaining points were Ian Reid, Tony Li, Billy Reid, Greig Anderson and Leslie Barclay.
The next bank competition is the “Pottinger Benston Trophy” which takes place on Thursday 5th May with an 1805 check in at the Benston boat park. This is followed by round two of the Bank League on Saturday 7th May with a 1015 check in at the Tingwall shed where anglers will also be competing for the “Antares Trophy.” Let’s hope it’s warmed up a bit by then!
