CROWN FLY FISHERS
EARLSTON A.C. GRAYLING COMPETITION
Andrew Foggin reads the rules
In 1989 Earlston Angling Club and Loanhead Angling Club arranged a friendly bait orientated competition for grayling, fished on the River Tweed. The competition remained this way until 1999, when due to the growing popularity of bugging with heavy nymphs a fly section was added in 2000. The Lady of the Stream trophy for fly fishers was introduced in this year and forty anglers took part. Compare that to the seventy who took part in 2006 and you can see how this competition has grown as has the pusuit of grayling.
LADY OF THE STREAM WINNERS
2000 - DICK LOGAN (COLDSTREAM) 2001 - JAKE HARVEY (ST. BOSWELLS)
2002 - WILLIE RUSSEL (LURGAN N.I.) 2003 - JAKE HARVEY (ST. BOSWELLS)
2004 - PAUL DAVIDSON (ENGLAND) 2005 - GRANT GIBSON (ST. BOSWELLS)
2006 - MIKE ALLEN (GALASHIELDS) 2007 - JAKE HARVEY (ST. BOSWELLS)
2008 - DAVE WRIGHT (JEDBURGH)
Andrew with one from Lowwood
2006
Mike's got the bug.
Tweedbank's Mike Allan won the 20 th Earlston grayling Competition fished on the 14 th January on the Tweed . Mike, who owns the Border's Angling Centre saw off the competition's largest ever entry, 76 anglers, to clinch the Lady of the Stream trophy and a Grey's rod and reel supplied by the Border's Gun Room at St Boswells. What makes Mike's achievement even greater is that it is only a year since he took up fly fishing, or as the locals call it ‘bugging', for grayling. The field included experts from all the home nations, who had to deal with some tricky conditions, as heavy rainfall in the upper catchment overnight saw the rivers condition deteriorate rapidly during the first few hours of the competition. This resulted in the competition recording its lowest catches for four years with the 76 anglers catching, measuring then returning only 95 grayling, a drop of 165 fish from last year.
Mike's huge catch of ten fish from Melrose saw off Ireland 's 2002 winner Willie Russell who had eight fish from Dryburgh. Dreghorn's Stuart Wallace was third with eight fish from Leaderfoot and last year's winner Grant Gibson came home in fourth place, also with eight fish, from Dryburgh. Local rod Pete Robson caught the day's biggest fish with a 50cm monster caught at Makerston.
Earlston Angling Club secretary and competition organiser Andrew Foggin said: “The day was a great success and is only made possible by the permission we get from the riparian owners and local associations to fish on their stretches of river. Every year more anglers contact me to come and fish – such is the growing popularity of fly fishing for grayling. Yet again we were lucky with weather but unfortunately the rising water seemed to put the fish off the feed a wee bit. We receive a lot of support and special thanks goes to The Border Gun Room, The Border Angling Centre, and Tweedside Tackle for providing some great prizes for the day.”
2007
This seasons competition had to be moved to the River Leader as the Tweed was five feet above summer low and was unfishable. Heavy rain had stopped falling the night before the competition and at two feet up on the gauge the Leader was just about fishable. Earlston A.C. members had secured private beats at the last minute meaning that the whole of the river from Lauder downstream to Leadermouth could be used, it was then just a matter of seeing how many anglers would turn up to fish. As it was 46 hardy souls fished returning a total of 51 grayling a remarkable total considering conditions. Scott Mc Dade and Mark Munro both had grayling of 49cms, absolute crackers and the largest caught on the day. Jake Harvey won for the 3rd time with 7 fish, Robert Irvine was 2nd with 4 and Billy Davidson also had 4 in third place. Hugh Skeoch and Andy Foggin were 4th and 5th respectively with 3 fish.
The competition and raffle afterwards raised £400 which will be used for habitat improvements on the Leader this season.
Melrose and St Boswells angling clubs have been tagging Grayling recently, so if you catch one please take the tag number and report it's number and place of capture along with it's length and weight, if possible, to Kenny Galt at the Tweed Foundation on 01896 848277. Hopefully this research will help anglers and biologists alike find out a bit more about grayling populations, movements and growth rates.
Contact Andrew Foggin – 01896 848183 or 07970 697478.