What’s happening in the world of game-fishing
BRAGGING RIGHTS
This happy band are the Scottish national team who triumphed at the Autumn Loch Style International at the Lake of Menteith in September.
The Internationals, fished between teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the spring and autumn each year, are the top tier of competition trout fishing in the UK. Qualifying for the team is a big achievement; tactics are closely guarded secrets and the up to four days of practice sessions are taken hugely seriously. On match day, unseasonably warm water had put doubt in the mind of a few rods, yet most fish were caught in the top 2ft-3ft of water. Some 434 trout were landed by the 56 competitors, the Scots netting 158 to England’s 104, Ireland’s 100 and Wales a distant last with 72.
The individual winner was Scotland’s Ronnie Gilbert with 20 fish.
Exactly what tactics the Scots deployed was not divulged on the day, but team manager Derek Keenan later explained to T&S that most of the squad used a floating line with a 3ft midge tip, FABs on the point and combinations of Diawl Bachs and Buzzers on the droppers. Simple? Not quite. Derek added, “If you do get a pattern that works, make sure it’s not known.
A lot of the guys had slight variations that did well.” He added, “It was a great relief to win (for the first time since 2015) and the boys celebrated well into the night.” And they did so with their English, Welsh and Irish competitors.
“Everyone mingles,” said Derek. “It’s a friendly thing.” The four-nation Home International matches were first held in 1932, since when England has won 53 times, Scotland 41, Wales 22 and Ireland 15. The Spring 2024 match will be held on Lough Ennell in Ireland on May 24.
ANYTHING ON THE FLY
Evidence that fly-fishing for species other than trout and salmon is increasing in popularity was provided in September by the fourth annual Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival.
More than 140 anglers took part in theMonday-Sunday event at Chichester Harbour and Hayling Island in Hampshire.
Species caught included bass, golden grey and thick-lipped mullet, garfish, horse mackerel and even a sea-horse.
As well as competitions co-sponsored by Yeti and Fulling Mill, there were bass, mullet and kayak-fishing workshops, talks for beginners, a casting demonstration by Charles Jardine and safety advice. Orvis hosted a Saturday night beach party with the Lakedown Brewing Co and Delivita providing beer and pizzas.
Also in September, the Fluff Chuckers Facebook group held its multi-species event at Chew Valley Lake, where the quarry was brown and rainbow trout, perch and pike. Points were awarded for the different species caught. Some 59 pike were landed, 18 rainbow trout, one brownie but no perch. Some non-counting beautiful rudd were landed, too.
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