Loch Shin is place for anglers
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The prestigious annual Clynelish Wild Brown Trout Challenge Competition was held on Loch Shin last weekend.
This used to be the Caithness and Sutherland Trout Angling Competition, known as CASTAG, which went the rounds of various lochs, but has now been renamed and centred annually on Loch Shin, which has the facilities and enough boats to accommodate it.
The competition is sponsored by Clynelish Distillery in Brora who donate generous amounts of malt whisky in prizes for the different categories of competition and this is backed up by handsome engraved Glencairn Crystal decanters and glasses bought by the club.
There were 21 experienced anglers competing from across Scotland for these much sought after prizes, from as far south as Ayrshire, and eleven boats were on the loch.
In the angling world, to win this particular Challenge is the most coveted ambition, and the Lairg Club are delighted to act as hosts.
The winners were: 1 Arthur MacDonald, Kinlochleven, 2 Donnie MacBeth, Fort William, 3 Hamish Chisholm, Invergordon. Heaviest fish (Saturday) – 1 Arthur MacDonald, Kinlochleven, 2 Jim Hopper, Kinross, 3 Ali McGillivray, Fort William. Heaviest fish (Sunday) – 1 Davie MacGregor, Maryburgh, 2 (equal) Dennis Cahill, Invergordon and Bobby Watson, Ardross, Ayrshire.
The best boat prize went to Gary Gardiner and Donnie MacBeth, both Kinlochleven, and the booby prize for the least fish caught went to Alan Brown from Port Seton.
Conditions on the loch on Saturday were very wet, although it had been the better of the two days for fishing, as on Sunday there was very little wind and the fish were not rising the same.
The competitions and the whole weekend was much enjoyed by the visitors who commended the excellent hospitality and catering provided by Lairg Angling Club.
