LOCH FAD AUTUMN DOUBLES 2009

The weekend of the 17th and 18th October 2009 saw the 12th Loch Fad Autumn Doubles competition being held in glorious autumn weather with virtually no wind. What a contrast to last year when the gale force winds ruined the second day. With 38 boats reserved for the competition many of the anglers started appearing for the event on the Friday for some practice, hoping to give themselves some advantage, which doesn’t always work.

With beautiful weather on Saturday morning it wasn’t long before fish were being caught with the average weight around 3-4 lbs and fighting very hard. Fish were coming off all around the north end and down as far as the Barnauld Burn on flies such as Yellow Dancer, Cormorants, Blobs, Green Bead Fritz and Cats Whiskers. Some very nice big fish were also being caught in the 10-12lb class with Kenny Miller from Airdrie catching the biggest fish on day one, weighing 12lbs 5ozs, narrowly beating Tommy Carol from Ireland with one of 12lbs 3ozs. The best boat on day one went to John Simpson and Martin Hamilton from Ayrshire with an amazing bag of 13 fish weighing 75lbs 1oz giving them a big lead for the trophy.

Once again Rothesay Golf Club hosted the meal on Saturday night where a raffle was held in aid of the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research. A superb total of £950 was raised and the anglers should be congratulated for their generosity. After the golf club the local pubs were treated to a total of 84 men and ladies determined to have too much fun for one night.

Sunday morning was dull but calm, much to the relief of many competitors. Only one nameless Irish angler was left in his car as he was very, very tired. Despite being slightly duller the fishing was a bit harder but some very nice fish were still being caught. Local angler Fraser McCartney took best fish day two with a lovely Rainbow weighing 12lbs 4ozs. Best boat day two went to Alex McEwan and Jock Kettles with 8 good fish for 37lbs 1oz. The total number of fish for the weekend was 281 weighing a cracking 1294lbs 6ozs, with 12 fish over 11lbs.

The final placings were as follows:
Sixth place - Peter Edge and John Morton from Aryshire with 59lbs 13oz;
Fifth place – local anglers John Miller and Fraser McCartney with 69lbs 2ozs;
Fourth place – Brian Stuart and Derek Dewar from Dundee with 71lbs 15ozs;
Third place – Duncan Ferguson and John Costello from Bonhill with 78lbs 5ozs;
Second place – John Simpson and Martin Hamilton from Ayrshire, who after a
cracking first day only managed a single fish on day two to give them a total of
79lbs 3ozs.
This years winners, who were last years runners-up, were Alex McEwan and Jock kettles from Ayrshire with a total of 84lbs 7ozs. They managed good bags of fish both days, which really does help!

There were three new prizes this year for 10th, 20th and last positions of a gallon of whisky which helped keep people interested even when they were not going to win the trophy. Tenth place went to James Ovens and Robert Ovens from Fife. Twentieth place went to Donald Hatten and Gordon Fisher from Fife and last place went to Tim Ryan from Birmingham and Lyndsay McFarlane from Rothesay.

Once again the weekend was very enjoyable, made all the better by some lovely weather for most of it. All those who contributed to the weekend deserve a big thanks including Wilma and the staff at the Golf Club, Chris Hartley and his team at Guide Flyfishing and to Norrie Mulholland for his super photos during the competition which will be on the web photo gallery . Click Here to Visit the Gallery