Catch & Release Competition

Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust
'Catch & Release' Competition

Download your entry form here (248kb pdf)

Fish of the Season 2013

The 2013 freshwater fishing season is now underway; however, the weather that has persisted since the opening of the brown trout season on March 15 till mid-April has deterred many anglers from venturing out. Nevertheless, several good brown trout catches have been made from Lochs on Lewis and Harris.

April Fish of the Month
Murdo Macaulay from Laxdale is the April Fish of the Month winner. Murdo and his fishing companion, Toby Reynolds, spent a blustery Friday, April 19, spinning small Mepps lures in several lochs on the Tolsta moor area of Lewis. Between them they landed five quality brown trout in total, all of which were returned, with the heaviest being a well-conditioned, heavily spotted, 2lb specimen.

March Fish of the Month
The first entry received for the 2013 Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust 'Catch & Release' competition was from D.A. Stewart on behalf of his wife, Christine, who landed and returned a well-conditioned 2lb-8oz brown trout whilst spinning in a remote hill loch on Lewis during March 31. In the past Christine has usually kept fish of 1lb or more, however, on this occasion she decided to release the fish. Well done Christine on releasing such a lovely trout and congratulations on winning the March 'Fish of the Month' trophy along with a tackle voucher for £75. Christine's March entry will be forwarded for the 'Fish of the Season', which will be judged in early November.
Apparently D.A's tuition and encouragement has helped Christine to become the angler she now is. I suppose these thoughts will give him some comfort since she constantly out fishes him!




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

Fishing in the Hebrides
'Fish of the Season' trophy

Fishing in the Hebrides
A 2lb brown trout being returned. This trout was caught on a Mepps lure by Murdo Macaulay during an April visit to the Tolsta moor lochs.

Fishing in the Hebrides
Christine Stewart about to release a 2lb-8oz brown trout.







With thanks to our sponsors


Sportsworld logo

Soval

Grimersta logo

Scottish Salmon Company logo

Abhainn Dearg Distillery


Gazette logo

Stornoway AA logo

Stag Bakeries

Lochdiving logo

...and supporters

Fisheries: Barvas Estate, Borve Lodge Estate, Finsbay Fishings, Laxadale Lochs, Soval Estate.

Angling clubs: Carason Angling Club, Fideach Angling Club, Gress Angling Association, South Uist Angling Club.

Businesses & organisations:

Individuals: Matthew Crampton, David Kelly, Donnie Maciver, Adrian Medley, Campbell Samson, Louise Scott, Robert Angus Scott, Simon Scott, Tony Smith.


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.