The Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust "Catch & Release" freshwater fish of the season competition is now into its fifth year and has proved to be a highly successful and popular event for both visiting and local anglers. Each season has produced many magnificent entries and 2009 was no exception.

The following are the winning monthly entries from which the judges had to choose the overall "Fish of the Season" winner:

April winner - Ben Macaulay with several brown trout in the 10oz - 1lb range from Loch an Eilean Liath, Lewis

May winner - Bob Adams with a 5½lb brown trout from Loch West Ollay, South Uist

June winner - Stuart Busby with a 6lb brown trout from a Uist machair loch

August winner - Matt Stewart's 5¾lb sea trout from Loch Fada, South Uist

September winner - Adrian Medley's 8lb sea trout from Loch Fada, South Uist

October winner - Campbell Samson's 8½lb sea trout from Loch Fada, South Uist

All the above monthly winners were worthy of winning the 2009 "Fish of the Season" trophy which made choosing the overall winner very difficult due to the high standard of fish entered. However, as I'm sure you'll all agree, this competition is aimed at encouraging a new generation of anglers to return fish, which is why several of the judges decided that 6 year old Ben Macaulay's April entry was the overall winner.

Ben, who lives in Laxdale on the Isle of Lewis, has been guided by his father Murdo's sensible attitude to catch and release, learning from an early age about why he needn't kill every fish that he catches (if only more anglers would show the same restraint!). This was confirmed during Ben's first angling trip of the 2009 season to loch an Eilean Liath on Friday 10th April, when he and his dad landed seven well conditioned brown trout in the 10oz - 1lb class during a four hour session. All seven fish were caught on a small silver Mepps spinner and all were returned, bar three, which were bleeding heavily and would not have survived.

Ben, who has become extremely proficient with the spinning rod, hopes to progress to fly fishing during 2010. Hopefully, his "Fish of the Season" gift vouchers will help him toward purchasing a fly fishing outfit.

People who are interested in taking up the sport of freshwater angling for trout, sea trout and salmon, as well as experienced anglers, would do well to learn from Ben's sensible attitude to angling.

The award was presented by Fisheries Trust Biologist, David Kelly, who said: 'It's very encouraging to see such a young winner of this competition. Catch & Release is a great way to promote sustainable angling practices to both local and visiting anglers.'

Well done Ben for winning the "Catch & Release" fish of the season trophy for 2009 along with £450.00 worth of tackle vouchers. By winning the April monthly trophy and "Fish of the Season", Ben amassed a grand total of £525.00 worth of tackle vouchers.

We would like to thank all our supporters and sponsors that made this "Catch & Release" competition possible. Without their contributions this successful event would never have got off the ground: Abhainn Dearg Distillery; Grimersta Estate; Lewis Crofters Ltd; Lighthouse Caledonia Ltd; Scottish Co-operative; Sportsworld Ltd; Stag Bakeries Ltd; Stornoway Angling Association and Stornoway Gazette Group.

Donnie Maciver
Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust

Catch and release guidelines

A free video covers everything you should know about handling and returning fish in the proper manner, including tips like wetting your hands before you handle the fish, using knotless mesh landing nets, etc. Presented by Paul Young it is well worth watching and can be obtained from:

Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust
The Sawmill
Marybank
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
Tel/fax: 01851 703434

Fisheries Research Services
Marine Laboratory
PO Box 101,
Victoria Road,
Aberdeen, AB11 9DB
Tel: 01224 876544
Fax: 01224 295511
Web: www.marlab.ac.uk

Ben Macaulay, with-his dad Murdo (R), receiving the Catch & Release Fish of the Season trophy from David Kelly, OHFT Biologist.

April winner: 6 year old Ben Macaulay releasing a nice brown trout.

May winner: Bob Adams about to return a 5lb-8oz loch West Ollay (South Uist) brown trout.

June winner: Stuart Busby returning a brown trout estimated at 6lb to a Uist loch. The fish was taken on a size 10 bushy black pennell on Tuesday June 2nd.

August winner: Matt Stewart releasing a 5lb-12oz sea trout to Loch Fada (South Uist) on August 24th.

September winner: A fresh-run 8lb sea trout about to be returned. The magnificent fish was caught on Loch Fada (South Uist) by Adrian Medley on September 30th.

October winner: Campbell Samson about to release an 8lb - 8oz hen sea trout that he caught on October 14th from loch Fada, South Uist.

'Fish of the Season' trophy.

With thanks to our sponsors

...and supporters

Fisheries: Borve Lodge Estate, Garynahine Estate, North Uist Estate, Obbe Fishery, Scaliscro Lodge Estate, South Uist Estate, Soval Estate

Angling clubs: Carloway Angling Club, Charrasan Angling Club, Soval Angling Association

Businesses & organisations: Borrodale Hotel, Donald Macrury Electrical, Lewis Builders Limited, Lochboisdale Hotel

Individuals: James Barlow, Paul Buitendijk, Jason Laing, Debbie Millar, Anne Marie Maciver, Donnie Maciver, Gordon Mackenzie, Peter Ratcliffe, Katherine Ross, Louise Scott, Robert Angus Scott, Simon Scott

Competition rules

The competition will run on a monthly basis from the 15th March until 31st October.
All entries must be on an official Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust 'Fish of the month' entry form.
The competition is only open to salmon, sea trout and brown trout caught in the Outer Hebrides.
Fish may be caught by fly, lure or bait.
All entries must be witnessed, submitted with photographic evidence and by the latest the 2nd day of the following month.
All entries may be submitted to the Stornoway Gazette Office, Sportsworld or directly to the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust.
The monthly winner will be decided by a panel of 5 judges, their decision is final.
Prizes will be awarded as Fishing Tackle Vouchers and are not cash redeemable.
Each 'Fish of the month' winner will receive a £75 tackle voucher and a small trophy.
The 'Fish of the season' winner will receive a £450 tackle voucher and the main competition trophy.
Each 'Fish of the month' winner will be entered for the 'Fish of the season' competition.
Winners will be notified by telephone.
There will be a photograph of the winner taken with a sponsor representative and will feature in the Stornoway Gazette, FishHebrides website and will also be displayed by Sportsworld.
The competition is not open to any of the judges or their families.

Catch & release competition

Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust'Catch & Release' Competition

Fish of the Season Winner 2009