Salmon Fishing Scotland Malloch Trophy winner for 2014.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Malloch Trophy winner for 2014.

This was the press release for the Fishpal Malloch Trophy winner for 2014. Congratulations to Wayne Longstaff and the Tweed for producing such a superb spring fish. Hopefully the Tay will figure in 2015.

2014 winner of Scotland’s most prestigious angling award, the greatest honour in British gamefishing, announced.

The 2014 winner of the FishPal Malloch Trophy – for one of the largest salmon caught by an angler on a fly and safely returned during the year in Scottish waters – has been announced. The successful angler is Wayne Longstaff of Teesside for a fine spring salmon caught on the River Tweed.

Mr Longstaff, on being told of the decision of the FishPal Malloch Trophy Committee on December 17th, commented: “I have been salmon fishing for ten years now and this was my biggest fish to date by a long way. This ‘fish of a lifetime’ was superbly shaped, in prime condition and sea-liced. It swam off strongly after we had taken a very quick photograph”.

Mr Longstaff’s salmon, accurately weighed at 33 lb with a length of 45 inches, was landed on May 5 in the Cottage Stream pool on the Hendersyde beat of the River Tweed, before being carefully released back into the river. To be eligible for the trophy a fish must be caught on a fly in a sportsmanlike manner and be returned to the water.

The fish was caught on a Hardy Elite rod with a Hardy 2000 reel, a Mach 55 sink-tip fly line and a Pot-Bellied Pig fly. The fish was weighed in a weigh-net by Hendersyde head boatman John Kitchingham. The accuracy of the weigh-net was subsequently verified by keen angler John Taylor of Wylie Butchers in Kelso using 33 lb of meat!

At the FishPal Malloch Trophy Committee meeting on December 17th several possible contenders were considered. Mr Longstaff’s entry, which fulfilled the relevant criteria including best evidence, was endorsed as the winner for 2014. His name will be engraved on the Tay Foundation’s trophy, joining an illustrious list of previous winners which stretches back four decades. He will also receive a replica Malloch Trophy, a £250 FishPal Voucher, a Mackenzie DTX rod and a place on Scott Mackenzie’s Spey Casting Masterclass course.

The runner-up is Gordon Smith of Buckie for a heavy salmon caught in October on the Birse beat of the River Dee.

John Wood, Chairman of the Tay Foundation and a member of the FishPal Malloch Committee, commented: “I am delighted that this year’s winning entry is for a spring salmon, which for many salmon anglers are the most prized of all fish. Unfortunately runs of spring salmon have over the last few decades seen a disproportionate decline and they need as much protection as possible. The safe release of Mr Longstaff’s magnificent fish illustrates the commitment by the great majority of anglers to conserving spring salmon”.

Mark Cockburn, CEO of sponsors FishPal, said: “2014 has been a disappointing season for salmon fishers across the North Atlantic. That said, with salmon angling there is always the possibility that the next cast will produce the fish of a lifetime. Our congratulations go to Wayne Longstaff for fulfilling this dream”.

Robert Rattray, Secretary of the FishPal Malloch Trophy, added: “This season was the first since the Committee widened the criteria for deciding the annual winner. It is now not necessarily awarded for the largest fish although this remains an important consideration. Other factors such as the time of year of capture, the condition of the fish and how it is handled – in line with best catch and release practice – are also taken into account”.

Fishing Salmon River, Salmon River, Fishing for Salmon, salmon Fishing Alaska, Fishing Alaska, Fly Fishing Salmon, Fly Fishing, Salmon Fishing Report, Trout Fishing, King Salmon Fishing, Salmon Fishing Forum, Salmon Fishing Scotland, Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland, River Tay Scotland, Scottish Salmon, Salmon Rivers Scotland, Fishing Tackle Scotland, Salmon Fishing Flies, Fly Fishing Flies.