Inverness trout league seeks new competitors
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Club vice-president Billy Orrock (left) presents prizes for the heaviest fish to Stewart Dickie.
INCREASED demand is hoped for the third annual Winter Trout League when entrants are sought later this summer.
The event, run by Inverness Angling Club, has gone from strength to strength since starting in 2009.
It attracted 32 participants this year compared with 22 in the inaugural competition and runs from October to May.
“Hopefully there will be more people in the league next year,” said the club’s membership secretary Alan Scott, who is also one of the league’s organisers.
“Around August and September we will be putting out entry forms and hopefully more and more club members will be encouraged to take part.
“We organised it because the salmon season closes on 15th October and doesn’t open until 1st February so the Winter Trout League gives club anglers a chance to fish together or individually over the winter.
“It helps to breed good communications and companionship in the club through fishing. Most of us go for the session in groups of 10 to 12 at a time and it is good craic.”
Participants fish one five-hour session each month throughout the season.
They keep their two heaviest catches and the angler with the highest cumulative weight for their fish earns a prize.
Phillip Enfield won the league trophy and a Daiwa Wilderness XT trout rod, reel and line, sponsored by Inverness tackle dealers Graham and Company, after the final round last Saturday with a total of 33lbs 15oz of fish.
Runner-up was Ross Anderson with a total bag of 29lbs 15oz, winning a £50 tackle voucher sponsored by Achagour Fishery and a Snowbee fly line.
Only 15 participants braved the cold and blustery conditions of the final session last weekend.
“Some of the anglers weren’t able to fish throughout, which is unfortunate, but that’s the way it goes,” Mr Scott said.
“The weather affected us in December and some people weren’t able to get up early enough in December to miss the ice but that happens at all fisheries.
“There is a skill in finding out where the fish are. Depending on the weather, they could be feeding near the surface or in cold weather they could be right down at the bottom. So we have to find out where the fish are feeding before we can catch them.”
Stewart Dickie won the trophy for the heaviest fish of the season and a Prestige rod and line sponsored by international tackle manufacturers Snowbee.
He landed a rainbow trout weighting 2lb 10oz. It was a feat replicated by runner-up Peter Easton, who won a £60 voucher donated by Neil Fraser of Bellfield Enterprises and a Snowbee fly line.
Tom Paterson also caught a fish of the same weight so the winning order was decided by drawing their names from a hat.
Last year’s winner scooped the prize with a fish weighing over 7lbs.
“That was an exceptional catch,” Mr Scott commented.
“Obviously fish that have been in there for a while are feeding and growing and getting bigger. Frankly, a 2lb fish can give you a better fight than a 7lb fish at times.”
Congratulating all the competitors, club vice-president Billy Orrock described the league as a great innovation for bringing members together in friendly competition over the close season.
On behalf of the club, he thanked Achagour Fishery operators Stewart Mackintosh and his daughter Cindy for their help and hospitality.
