Competitions reports for 2018 -
reports in REVERSE ORDER
A MIXED CATCH AT LOCH BRORA
16 members from the Brora, Dornoch & Golspie angling clubs meet at Loch Brora for the annual Clarkson Outing to make up six mixed boat teams, to fish for, what proved to be dour and fussy trout and salmon. Weather conditions were as good as could be expected, but fish were difficult to catch.
As Ishbel Clarkson said “ I forgot to tell the fish we were coming.
Overall, everyone enjoyed the day afloat with good “craic” and banter thrown in.
The main winners were; Lenny Mackay with six brownies giving him a points total of 31, securing the Clarkson Cup and the prize for the most fish to a single rod. Michael Banks was runner-up with 5 fish for 29 points. The best boat points total was by the Brora 3 team comprising of I Clarkson, I Miller and M Banks with 40 points with runners-up S Price and J Campbell in Brora 2 boat on 38.
Best fish of the day was caught by B Rose in the Dornoch boat at 13 points.
The outcome would have been much different had Murdo Ballantyne landed a very active, fresh salmon in the Killin Narrows.
As always it was a pleasure in having Ishbel Clarkson with us, and as last year, showed us guys how to catch fish, this time on the dap.
We rounded off the day at Brora Golf Clubhouse with the presentation of prizes and being well fed and watered by Laura and her staff.
Photogragh at the foot of this page.
STAN TUER EVENING BANK OUTING JULY 6th 2018
The nine members present for the final evening outing this year, faced a fresh westerly breeze which changed right round to a more south easterly direction fairly quickly and with the recent spell of sunny and bright weather, reality soon sunk in that this would not be an easy night for catching fish. And so it proved.
We were pleasantly surprised and pleased to have our French club member Gerard join us regulars, in landing seven fish, weighing-in at 7lb 12ozs with Don Mackay and Ian Miller leading the way with two fish each and one each for Bill Rose, Norman Dunsire and yours truly MB.
Overal winner and leading from the first night was Don Mackay with seven fish weighing-in at 11lb 1oz and securing the Stan Tuer Tankard.
Runner-up was Michael Banks with Willie Sutherland third.
The heaviest fish recorded over the three nights and winning the Willie Skinner Preist went to Michael Banks with a fish of 2lb 11ozs.
Next came Bill Hives 2lb 6ozs and Don Mackay 2lb 5ozs.
The prize winners will receive their trophies at the next
I would like to thank all those who took part over the three evenings and to quote Willie Sutherland who said “OK, there’s a prize on offer but surely these evenings are all about the “craic”, the banter and a chance to catch-up with everyone, catch fish and enjoy the fishing in good company”.
Enjoy the rest of the season and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Michael Banks
STAN TUER EVENING BANK OUTING JUNE 1st 2018
Who ever said that fishing a newly stocked water would be easy peasy, that they would take any fly that was put in front of them, should have joined us up at Lannsaidh for the second night.
Admittedly, conditions were not the best, having had days of bright sunny weather beforehand and on the night we had the flashes and bangs of a thunder storm further over west in the Bonar/Ardgay area.
Again, another good turnout of fifteen members and apart from our Sec/Trea Richard who had four fish, and refrained from entering them into the weigh-in (as he said himself “he did the stocking two days earlier and knew where the fish were) fish were hard to come by. Even the osprey struggled to get a fish.
Best on the night with two fish weighing in at 3lb 1oz was yours truly MB.
Best fish of the night at 2lb 6ozs was weighed-in by Bill Hives.
Overall seven fish were recorded for a total weight of 8lb 14ozs.
Don Mackay still leads the proceedings overall, with five fish at 8lb 9ozs.
Don’t be discouraged by Don’s total as any member getting a good basket on the final evening in July could change things dramatically, just like last year.
Hope to see you all again next month. Yours etc Michael Banks
STAN TUER EVENING BANK OUTING
I was delighted to see such a large turnout of members at our first outing of the season, with many of us having a trout rod in their hands for the first time this year. Faced with a fairly stiff s/s/west breeze, limiting to a certain extent, where one could be comfortable in casting a line, it was in the more exposed areas where fish were caught.
For the sixteen members present, 16 fish were recorded with Don Mackay’s four fish limit weighing-in at 7lb 13ozs. Three of his fish were over 2lb each, his biggest being an over wintered beauty at 2lb 5ozs. Not to be outdone the heaviest fish of the evening was caught by yours truly and weighed-in at 2lb 11ozs making his two fish total at 4lb 3ozs. Willie Sutherland’s two fish weighed-in at 3lb 13ozs putting him in third place. Things may well have been different yet again this year when a really good fish was lost. This time it was Ian Miller’s heartache.
As I have said, I am grateful to all those who came, but somewhat peeved by those who had to retire early due to the wetting effect of Lannsaidh’s cold water and the chilly air temperatures.
Ironic in a way, that by the time we had all packed up ready for home, the wind had dropped to a whisper and fish were starting to show all over the loch.
My thanks particularly to Richard Dickenson for highlighting the club’s activities and reminders sent out by email and the web site and to Bill Rose for regularly stocking the loch to make these evening outings a delight for some. Also, not forgetting those who made the commitment to pay for the three nights up front.
Hope to see you all again next month. Yours etc Michael Banks
