Owen Cook (Kelty) and Blaine O’Donnell (Cumbernauld) won the Glencorse heat of the Fastmail Pairs, one of Britain’s leading fly fishing competitions, but they were pushed hard by Peebles duo, Nathan Johnston and Scott Mathieson.
The top pair had eight fish weighing 24lb 10oz, but they were first to be back in harbour, arriving by 12.40 after a start time of 9am.
And it could have been sooner as they had fish in the bag but could not find the eighth. It arrived and their time bonus upped their total weight to 31lb 6oz.
Johnston and Mathieson hooked into 29lb 2oz of fish but only earned a time bonus of 1lb as they did not finish until 15.24.
Third were Dave Moody and Jeff McDonald, both from Norham in Northumberland, near Berwick, and they totalled 24lb 4oz in fish but earned time bonuses as they were back in harbour by 14.25 taking their total weight to 27lb 4oz.
Anglers were particularly successful in an area named Kirkton Bay and the trio were the only anglers to reach the target of eight fish. They qualified for the final later this year.
Pre-event favourites, Jock Kettles (Bonnyrigg) and Mike Connet (Edinburgh), had seven fish to finish fourth with 26lb.
It was a tough day for most boats but O’Donnell, who won the recent Allandale Tarn heat in the Scottish Stillwater Bank Championship but failed in the final, said they had a good morning and a sticky afternoon session.
Six or seven fish arrived early but the final one proved stubborn for the pair but they persevered with a floating line and FAB and buzzer patterns, hitting fish at between three and four feet. Other results: David Wright (St Boswells) and Dougie Scott (Earlston) 22lb 6oz; Stevie Whitehead, formerly of Mayfield near Dalkeith but now from Jedburgh, (fishing alone) 21lb 14oz; Russell Dickson (Prestonpans) and Scott Mitchell (Pencaitland) 15lb; Colin Moffat (Nairn) and Wilie Jacobson (Nairn) 12lb; Dave Carr (Jedburgh) and Cody Heard (Jedburgh) 10lb; Eck Moffat (Bonnyrigg) and Andy Hamlyn (Roslin) 6lb 9oz.
DOUBLE ACT: Owen Cook (left) and Blaine O’Donnell awaiting the result at Glencorse. Picture by Nigel Duncan
THANKS MATE: Scott Mathieson (left) and Nathan Johnston celebrate. Picture Nigel Duncan
IN THE BAG: Stevie Whitehead makes sure his catch is weighed correctly. Picture Nigel Duncan
FOCUSED: Jock Kettles (left) and his partner, Mike Connet (second left), watch closely as their catch is weighed by Glencorse owner, Kenny Knox. Watching are Eck Moffat 9Bonnyrigg) and Andy Hamlyn (Roslin). Picture Nigel Duncan
