Trout fisherman Chris Melville went from a low to a high in the space of 24 hours.
The 44-year-old chef phoned his partner on Saturday night only to be told that he was working.
But the Fife Council worker decided to go solo in the Scierra Pairs which carries the biggest prize fund in Britain fly fishing.
And the brave decision was rewarded when the fly fisherman from Colinsburgh in East Fife qualified for the Grand Final in England in August.
And he was the fastest to land eight fish at Glencorse Reservoir near Edinburgh in one of the Scottish heats. Chris cast off at 9.30am with the rest of the fleet of ten boats.
And he was back onshore with a bag of eight fish weighing over 21lbs by 10.47am. Chris also lost three fish during his short time on the water.
He was the second qualifier at the much-photographed Midlothian-based reservoir in the Pentland Hills.
And Chris said: “It’s my first time fishing Glencorse this year and my third time in all.
“I didn’t qualify last year and I phoned my partner on Saturday to arrange a pick-up time and he said he was working.
“I decided to go it alone and glad I did. The bonus was that I could go where I wanted on the reservoir.”
He obviously picked the best spot in overcast, tricky conditions with a chill west wind just behind the island at the bottom end of the extensive water and he earned a number of bonus points for his quick finish.
His father Robert, aged 70, from Pittenweem and his 60-year-old brother Allan from Anstruther also competed and they landed a bag of 23lbs 4oz.
The heat-winning pair were Alloa-based dentist Paul Boyle and his partner, award-winning pie maker Davie Stewart from Port of Menteith.
The were back in the harbour by 1.30pm with eight fish totalling 27lbs and they also landed the biggest fish of the day, a hard-fighting eight-pounder.
Second boat home featured Scottish international anglers Andy Dunn from Kilmarnock and Willie Leach from Falkirk.
They totalled 20lbs and 4oz with their haul of eight hard-fighting fish and they docked at 11.32. They were third overall.
Organiser Phil Dixon said it was the first time in his knowledge that a single angler had taken part in the event.
And he said that the average fish caught was among the highest in the rive-year history of the competition.
RESULTS: Paul Boyle and Davie Stewart, eight fish for 27lbs; Alan Melville and Robert Melville, eight fish for 23lbs 4oz; Shug Shaw and Stevie Cowan, eight fish for 23lbs 3oz; Chris Melville, eight fish for 21lbs; Kenny Hope and James Hope eight fish for 21lbs 2oz; Graham Steele and Kenny Dickins, eight fish for 20lbs 7oz; Andy Dunn and Willie Leach, eight fish for 20lbs 4oz; Allan McLachlan and Murray Hunter, eight fish for 19lbs 2oz; Gil Farid and Gary Blane, four fish for 11lbs 4oz; Eck Moffat and Stevie Whitehead 0
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