Billy sticks it out all day for four fish
Rounds one and two of the Shetland Anglers Association boat league have been fished recently.
The first round saw 10 hardy anglers assembled at the Tingwall boat shed for the first boat league competition of the year. With last year’s winner Brian Watt moving down a level to fish in the Orkney boat league, the door was open for a new champion for 2009.
Conditions on the day were very poor with a near gale force southerly wind along with constant rain.
Most anglers concentrated their early efforts in the North Loch with varied success before switching into the South Loch.
Top bag on the day went to Steven Leask with four fish for 3lb 2oz taken on a DI3 line. Second was Frank Watt with two fish for 2lb 7oz, including the heaviest fish of the day at 1lb 9oz caught from the South Loch.
Josh Brush came third, also with two fish for 2lb 1oz, while other anglers who mastered the conditions were Peter Laurenson, Alan Smith, Billy Robertson, Billy Morrison and Jack Standring, all with one fish each. Failing to trouble the scales were Johnie “sleeps a lot” Laurenson and Stephen “moans a lot” Breivik.
Round two was fished on a very bright day, again with a blustery south wind, and most anglers struggled to put any early fish in their bags. Most boats were seen constantly shifting between the North and South Loch.
The exception to this fish searching was winner on the day Billy Morrison who stuck it out in the North Loch for the duration and took four fish for 3lb 4oz. In second place for a second week running was Frank Watt with three fish for 2lb 13oz, again having the heaviest fish at 1lb 4oz.
Third spot on the day went to Johnie Laurenson who proved if he keeps his rod horizontal to the loch instead of sleeping horizontal in the boat fish can be caught. His three fish weighed 2lb 8oz. Steven Leask and Peter Laurenson also gained valuable points.
Calamity of the day went to Frank Watt. After just losing a nice fish his next cast saw him hook the bottom. Then, while trying to manoeuvre the boat to release his four brand new flies, he wrapped his drogue around the propeller and snapped an oar trying to row ashore. Needless to say his flies are still at the bottom.
The next boat league competition takes place on Tingwall on Sunday 26th April from noon to 6pm.
