Loch Fad Doubles 2008

LOTS OF WIND AT THE DOUBLES

The eleventh Loch Fad Autumn Doubles fly fishing competition was held over the weekend of 18^th and 19^th October 2008, with a forecast of strong to gale force winds.  We have been very lucky with the weather for this competition over the years but this year wasn’t so good.

Friday saw the first of the competitors practising and some good fish were caught including a fish of 9lbs 8ozs landed by Donald Hatten from Fife.  The north end of the loch seemed to produce the most fish so that’s where most of the anglers started on Saturday morning.  The weather was wet and windy.  Not as bad as forecast but still a bit uncomfortable although it did mellow out a bit as the day went on. 

A total of 68 competitors caught 24 fish for 612lb 12ozs.  The prize for the biggest fish on day one went to Alex McEwan from Ochiltree with a cracker of 10lbs 12ozs on a Tadpole.  The Best Boat Day One prize went to Robin Smith and Laurie Taylor from Airdrie/Bothwell, who managed to catch 17 fish between them.  Lots of different flies were catching including Yellow Zonkers, Black Fritz, Dancers, Cats, Sparklers, Clan Chief, Damsels and very many other colours and combinations of colours!

As usual it was off to Rothesay Golf Club for our competition meal which was the usual high standard once again, served up by the very patient staff.  A raffle in aid of Cancer charities was held after the meal which raised a total of £848. Once again the anglers surpassed themselves with their generosity and they are due a big thanks especially Sam Montgomery who “bought the tie” this year, well done to you all.

Nearly everyone made the start on the Sunday, but the weather was horrible.  Very strong winds from the southwest made it very uncomfortable and difficult to cast.  Lines round propellers, drogues round propellers, a fly in the head and a very short swim all added to the entertainment but some fish were caught!  The weather just got worse and by one o’clock a fair number of anglers had given up.  With the threat of the ferries going off, the bulk of the remaining anglers came in around two o’clock, but some die-hards stayed till the end.  A total of 50 fish for 136lbs 7ozs were caught, not a patch on the previous day but not too bad considering the weather.  The biggest fish on day two went to John Chambers from Ireland and weighed 9lbs.  The Best Boat Day Two went to John Chambers and Jimmy Brown from Ireland with 5 fish for 30lbs 15ozs, including fish of 8lbs 9ozs, 8lbs 12ozs and 9lbs.

The total number of fish for the weekend was 294, for a total weight of 749lbs 3ozs, a few less than last year but still a good total considering the weather.

The overall placings were as follows:  sixth place went to Kenny Miller and William

Simpson from Airdrie with 30lb 14ozs.  Fifth place went to last years winners, Jim Jack and Danny Bryce from West Lothian with 36lbs 7ozs.  Fourth went to John Simpson and Martin Hamilton from Ayrshire weighing in 40lbs 5ozs.  In third place, also third last year, were Robin Smith and Laurie Taylor from Airdrie/Bothwell with 44lbs 3ozs.   Runners Up spot went to Alex McEwan and John Kettles from Ayrshire with 58lbs 14ozs and the winners this year were Irish pair John Chambers and Jimmy Brown who managed good bags of fish on both days to weigh in a total of 60lbs 3ozs. 

Although the weather spoiled it a bit, everyone seemed to enjoy their weekend which is as much a social gathering as it is a fishing competition.

All the usual suspects are to be thanked once again for the continued support and donations they gave, including Wilma and the staff at the golf club, Chris Hartley and his team at Guide Flyfishing and Norrie Mulholland for his action shots of the competitors, which will be on our web photo gallery, www.lochfad.com.

LOCH FAD AUTUMN DOUBLES 2008

OVERALL PLACINGS

A Month where trout fishing can be difficult, and that was the case. There were however one or two really good catches including 18 fish to a Bellshill trio weighing up to 7lbs. Most of the fish caught were in the 2 to 3lb class. The best fish on bait, 8lbs and fly, 5lbs 13ozs.With all the wind and rain, the water quality had been good for the time of year.

Best flies were Damsels, Blobs, Kate McLaren, and Yellow Dancer. The numbers of fish in the loch should build up over the Summer to give good fishing for the Autumn.

Sunday 6^th July

Mr Fraser and Miss Fiona McCartney from Rothesay, 4 fish = 12lbs 8ozs plus one fish returned, Fly

Saturday 17^th May

Mr Rodgerson from Glasgow, 10 fish = 18lbs, Bait

Mr Colquhoun from Fife, 6 fish = 13lbs, Bait

Sunday 27^th April

Mr Fisher from Wishaw, 6 fish = 16lbs, Orange and Yellow Boobies

Mr John Lynch from Glasgow, 6 fish = 13lbs, Sweetcorn and Maggot

Bobby Brown from Shotts, 3 fish = 12lbs 12ozs including one @ 7lbs 4ozs, Bait

Sunday 20^th April

Mr Fisher from Wishaw, 10 fish = 16lbs 8ozs, Boobies, Maggots

Friday 18^th April

Mr Swinburn (2 anglers) from Blantyre, 9 fish = 20lbs, Spinning

Thursday 17^th April

Mr Harrison (2 anglers) from Alnwick, 1 fish = 27lbs 12ozs, Bait (Boathouse)

Monday 14^th April

Mr Harrison (2 anglers) from Alnwick, 15 fish = 40lbs including one @ 6lbs, Bait (Boathouse)

25th March 2008 LOCH FAD BACK ON FORM

Despite the cold north wind at the weekend, Loch Fad managed to fish well with a bit of spring sunshine giving a more pleasant feel to the weather. Loch Fad gets a fair bit of shelter from the north wind with the dam and wooded hills around it.

Some good bags were caught including ten fish to Barry Ward of Dumbarton mostly on a Red Shrimp fly. Paul Gallagher of Cleland Angling Club had ten fish for 20lbs 10ozs, while club mate Brian Spencer had seven for 23lbs 14ozs with nearly all of their fish caught on Damsels and Blobs. Peter Hart, also of Cleland Angling Club fished bait and had ten fish for 17lbs 11ozs on Sunday and six fish on Saturday for 19lbs 6ozs, including the best fish for the weekend at 9lbs 2ozs.

Local angler, John Miller, had an excellent day with nine fish on Sunday for 20lbs mostly caught on a Hot Head Damsel. Chris Tritschler also had a good late afternoons fishing with five trout on the fly from the shore. Martin Deighan also fishing the shore had six to his rod.

Black Zonkers, Black/Green Fritz and Damsels caught a lot of fish as did the maggots and worms of the bait fishers, quite a dramatic improvement in just a few days.

Saturday 1^st March

Mr B Ward from Dumbarton, 2 fish = 13lbs including one @ 10lbs 4ozs, Damsel

Mr W Riddicks from Ayr, 5 fish = 12lbs 2ozs, Blobs, Dancers