World's best anglers come to Scotland to battle it out for fly fishing title
Jun 5 2009 By Arnot McWhinnie
THE best anglers in the world will take over a small village near Loch Lomond tomorrow (06/06/2009) as they prepare for a three-day battle to decide who is the true lord of the flies.
Drymen, a few miles north of Glasgow, will play host to 27 teams of competitors as the prestigious World Fly Fishing Championships come to Scotland for the first time.
Anglers from as far afield as Japan, Australia, the US and South Africa will parade down the picturesque village's main street, led by skirling pipers and schoolchildren carrying their national flags.
The Scottish Anglers National Association, the ruling body of game fishing in the country, won the honour of staging the world championships after proving they could organise major events by successfully hosting the European championships on Islay.
Now Scotland will be showcasing its superb fishing and stunning scenery to anglers from over the world. Tomorrow's ceremony, opened by the Duke of Montrose, a patron of the world event, is the culmination of 12 months of careful planning by association officials.
The event will begin with the Olympic statement, with competitors pledging to uphold the traditions of the Olympic ideal, and to maintain the International Federation of Sport Fly-Fishing's tradition of fair play and sportsmanship. Many of the 27 teams have been in Scotland for weeks to familiarise themselves with the type of waters they will be fishing in the individual and team events.
Last year's championships in New Zealand were a clean sweep for the Czech Republic. They took gold in the team event and Czech angler Martin Deoz landed the title of world champion fly-fisher.
Teams competing this year are Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the US andWales.
The action starts on Monday as competitors pit their wits against wild brown trout, grayling and powerful rainbow trout on some of Scotland's most beautiful lochs and rivers.
On the fast-flowing Tay, near Stanley in Perthshire, they may even hook a powerful salmon or sea trout.
The other venues are equally picturesque and rich in fish - the Lake of Menteith, Loch Awe, Carron Valley Reservoir and the world's most famous fishery, Loch Leven.
It is home to a special population of beautiful brown trout, which are held in such high esteem that they are used to stock rivers, lakes and fisheries from Tasmania to the Himalayas.
The Daily Record, which publishes Scotland's oldest and most widely-read angling page every Friday, were delighted to be asked to become a major sponsor.
They are joined byVisit Scotland and the Glengoyne Distillery, a few miles from Drymen, which is producing 350 special bottles of its 10-year-old single malt to present to competitors.
Glengoyne Single Malt will also be used in the ancient tradition of "Toasting the water" at Lake of Menteith to celebrate the beginning of the championships.
The association's international organiser, Dr Neil McCarry, who helped to bring the world championships to Scotland, said: "We feel sure they will not only be a true test of angling skills but also an unforgettable experience for everyone.
"It will give anglers from all over the world the opportunity to experience the wonderful fishing, scenery and hospitality that Scotland has to offer."
Because competitors are from all over the globe, and some fish all over the world, special bio-security measures have been put in place to prevent the introduction of any diseases, parasites, alien plants or animals which could damage our water systems and wildlife.
The use of felt-soled boots or waders is strictly forbidden to prevent the spread of gyrodactylus salaris, a parasite which has devastated salmon, sea trout and brown trout stocks in some parts of Scandinavia.
The anglers were also asked to thoroughly dry and disinfect all their equipment, footwear and clothing before using them here.
By the same token, although Scotland is fortunate not to suffer from any major problems, they have been told to carry out the same measures when they return home.
The world championships end with a gala dinner on Thursday at Drymen's Buchanan Arms Hotel, attended by MSP Richard Lochhead and the Duke of Montrose, when the winners will step on to a podium Olympic-style to be presented with their medals while their national anthems are played.
HOT RODS ARE HOME HEROES
Five of Scotland's top flyfishermen, all with impressive international records at home and abroad, have been picked to represent their country. They are - DONALD FORBES, a 59-year-old Glasgow salesman, started fishing when he was five. He has won the Scottish Club Championships twice.
Calum Crosbie, a 46-year-old selfemployed builder from Newton Stewart, has had seven home internationals loch caps since 2001.
Simon Cocker, 46, a mechanical engineer from Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, will be fishing in his fourth World Championships. He was 24th in 2004.
James Litster, 38, a mature student from Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, is a former Scottish team captain and the 2004 Daily Record Champion of Champions.
Scottish team manager is machine operator George Mackenzie, 61, of Alexandria, Dunbartonshire.
Davie Chalmers, 46, of Glenrothes, is a safety officer with 10 home international loch caps, two river and three Commonwealth fly-fishing caps and one world cap.
Non-fishing captain Derick Logan, 51, of Coldstream, Berwickshire, is the most capped river fishing internationalist in Britain.
The top Venues Carron Valley The River Carron reservoir is one of the most scenic trout fisheries in Scotland. The loch offers fly-fishing for rainbow trout and wild and stocked brown trout.
Loch Awe This is one of the most picturesque of Scotland's lochs. It is the longest freshwater loch in the country and offers anglers the opportunity to fish for the native wild brown trout in breathtaking surroundings. RIVER TAY THE 120-mile river is the longest in Scotland and internationally famous for its Atlantic salmon fishing. It is one of the best salmon rivers in Britain and anglers come to it from all over the world.
Lake Of Menteith Set in the Trossachs amid magnificent scenery, where the Highlands meet the Lowlands, the 700-acre lake is regarded by many to be the best location for fly-fishing for rainbow and brown trout in central Scotland. It is famous for the quality of its rainbow trout and fishes well all though the year.
Loch Leven The queen of the trout waters, this is Scotland's most famous trout-fishing loch and Loch Leven brown trout have been introduced to waters all over the world.
Championshipfacts. There must be the same number competitors in each boat.. While fishing, anglers must sit on the fitted seats but may cushion of a maximum depth of 10. Acompetitor may stand only while netting a controller must remove the hook, revive the release it, taking care not to damage it.. Only in the mouth area count.. Only one fly rod, not 12ft long, may be used at one time.. Competitors points for each fish and 20 points per centimetre
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1 comment:
Nice fishing destination. Bookmarked and saved!
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