Spring 2022 - SANACC

All areas of the Scottish mainland were well represented in the team that travelled to Ireland for the Spring International on Lough Melvin.  They arrived at their hotel in Bundoran on the Monday night and following a briefing that evening they were set for three days of practice before match day on the Friday.  You can almost guarantee with fishing that no two days are ever the same and each of the four days set the team a different challenge.  Tuesday was bright, breezy and warm with plenty of suncream required. Wednesday was wet, cold and windy and tested waterproofs to the limit with a rough ride across the rollers at the end of the session to get back to the harbour.  Thursday was a mix of the two previous days to bring an end to the practice with minds being focused on match day when big winds were forecast.

Ireland did a great job of organising the international week and the Scottish team wish to thank all the boatmen who looked after them on the water and the members of the Garrison Lough Melvin Angling Association who dealt with the parking and catering at the pier.

On the day Ireland ran out worthy winners with 36 fish and 8 of their team in the top 20 as individuals.  Scotland were second with 31 fish and 6 of the team in the top 20.  Wales were third with 21 fish and England were fourth with 18 fish.  Top individual rod was Dennis Goulding of Ireland with 7 fish followed closely by Scotland's Kevin McCabe who had 6 fish.  Top rod for England was Tony Baldwin with 3 fish and top for Wales was Ben Evans with 5 fish.  The longest fish of the day measured 33.4 cms and was caught by Scotland's Toby Bracey.

Kevin was drawn with Robbie Crichton of Ireland and opted for Robbie to control the boat.  They started off drifting from the schoolhouse area out over open water but when that didn't produce for them they moved to the top end and fished the shallower water.  

Gregor was drawn with Ben Race of England and they tossed to decide on the position on the boat.  Gregor won the toss and chose to go to the point of the boat.  They discussed their preferences of where to fish and agreed on a plan for the day.

They started off at Garrison and during the morning Ben took 2 fish and Gregor took 1.  After lunch they moved to the schoolhouse area where Gregor took 3 to finish on four.  Ben finished on 2.

Martin was drawn with Welsh captain, Tudor Owen.  He won the toss and after a discussion on where they should go they agreed on the areas they wanted to cover.  

They started drifting out from the schoolhouse area and when that didn't work they moved down to drift the point of ross/white stones/garrison area where Martin took one.  From there they went back over to the schoolhouse area and Martin picked up his second.  After that they went over to bilberry where Martin picked up his third fish.  At the end of the session Martin had 3 and Tudor had 1.  

Grant was drawn with Ashley Davis of England.  He lost the toss and had the engine end of the boat.  They started off at the schoolhouse area then drifted from rooskie all the way across the lough.  Grant picked up 1 about 11am.  Ashley picked up 1 after lunch and Grant got his second about 3pm.  They moved to the Garrison area to try there but that didn't work and they went back to rooskie where Grant picked up his third.  Grant finished with 3 and Ashley had 2.

Keith was drawn with Dennis Goulding of Ireland and lost the toss.  Dennis opted to go to the bays and shallower water at the top end of the lough where they fished around the boulders and margins.  Dennis picked up 2 fairly quickly and Keith took 1.  Dennis went on to pick up another 5 and Keith had 2.  

Later in the day they moved out to open water but that didn't work for them and by the end of the session Dennis had 7 fish and won the Brown Bowl as the top individual.  Keith finished with 3.