Another Sexyloops Scottish Gathering....... 2012 was one of the best so far, we had guys from Latvia, Hungary, Australia and Canada this year and also from just about every corner of the UK.
Weather was grim at times, snow, wind, rain and the occasional bit of sunshine but for Upper Donside in May it was about as good as can be expected.
Weekend started off on Thursday with a few hours of unsuccessful trouting and a lot of beer. Hamish I took out Matt Howell who had travelled from Oz to be here out to try and get him a salmon, tall order on the upper river at this time. Day started off well with a nice trout hooked on a gold cascade, now I'd not usually count a trout caught on salmon gear but it was a stunning fish.
Not long after we did hook up with a salmon which unfortunately managed to throw the hook after a few minutes and a good bit of time in the air.
Shit happens!!
Saturday was the first of the casting days and actually started very early
about 1AM.
Few pics from Saturday.....
Mike whacking out a line, did a not bad job with the DHD for someone that doesn't do salmon rods
Stefan & Peter Kovacks in full throw
Bombay Bad Boy prepares to launch the DHD
Irvine having a chuck with my saltwater outfit, don't think it'll be too long before he builds a 12wt
Results for Saturday round one......
1 Paul Arden
2 Matthew Howell
3 Stefan Siikavaara
4 Mike Heritage
5 Ben Dixon
6 Peter Kovacs
7 Michael "bad boy" Buchan
8 Trev
9 Andrew Parker
10 Pete Vicaris
11 Simon Beaudoin
12 Mark Surtees / Mike Barrio
14 Martin Flery
15 Anna Viklun
Outfits were....
15' Mackenzie shooting head rod with 65 gram 70' head on 30lb Varivas.
MSX 9' #6 with Barrio GT125 prototype
TCR 590 with Barrio GT 125 prototype
1 Paul Arden
2 Matthew Howell
3 Ben Dixon
4 Stefan Siikavaara
5 Mike Heritage
6 Peter Kovacs
7 Michael "bad boy" Buchan / Trevor Bourne
8 Mark Surtees
9 Andrew Parker / Pete Vicaris
10 Mike Barrio
11 Simon Beaudoin
12 Martin Flery
13 Anna Viklund
Outfits were.....
Orvis Access 907 TF with Barrio GT 125 prototype A
Orvis Access 907 TF with Barrio GT 125 Prototype B
Ovis Zero Gravity 909 TF with #9 Bass line
Some big distances thrown there and over all a very good standard of casting, it is great to see how everyones' distance creeps up year on year
Prizes were kindly donated Mike Barrio - Barrio Fly Lines (caps & flylines), Stefan Sikavaara - MSX tackle (906 rod), Orvis - Encounter Reels and these were presented at on Saturday night. All qualified instructors were eliminated from the rankings and prizes were given to those who remained.
Sunday saw a rather hungover start for all, there was a bit of sharing of tips, twatting of rods and general playing around before the obligatory shoot out.
Bad boy Buchan in action
Kev sends out a nice loop with the SLX
Kev "bonding" with my 12wt saltwater outfit (check out the grimace), I'm going to make you one of those heads Kev as you seem to like it so much
Sundays distances
Outfits were....
Round one
Orvis Access 912 TF with 36g floating shooting head
Sage z Axis 765 with MED #5
Orvis Access 907TF with Barrio GT125 prototype B #7
Orvis Access 909TF with Orvis #9 Bass line
TCR5 with Barrio GT125 prototype B #5line
Barrio 903 with Barrio GT140 #3line
Round one was into a head wind, very difficult conditions!
Round 2
Orvis Access 912 TF with 36g floating shooting head
Orvis Access 907TF with Barrio SLX #7
Orvis Access 907TF with Barrio GT125 prototype B #7
Again, some cracking casts in both rounds.
Top weekend and I'm already looking forward to 2013, hopefully some more of the local guys can make next year. I've a few more pics that I will post over the coming days.
Cheers
Ben