Midlothian men help Scotland to gold in Spring fly fishing international
Two Midlothian men were in Scotland’s men’s fly fishing team which convincingly won the Spring International against England, Wales and Ireland to continue a recent run of successes.
Skipper Kevin McCabe (Change FF AC) and William Davidson (Black Bull FFC) were in the team which hooked into 199 fish, 45 ahead of second-placed England with Ireland on 114 and hosts, Wales, on 112.
Team manager was Derek Keenan (Greenock IBM Freshwater AC) and McCabe said that to top the podium at a water away from home takes a real effort.
The match was staged at Llyn Trawsfynydd, a 1,200 acre artificial reservoir in Snowdonia, built, originally, for hydroelectric power, and Scotland certainly powered home to another outstanding result.
The 14-strong team also comprised Neil Anderson (Monikie AC), Peter Auchterlonie (Greys Menteith Ospreys), Peter Cameron (Househillmuir FF), Campbell Cree (Firecats), Gregor Fleming and Joseph Wood (Snowbee Albacats), Robert Gibson, Adam King and Brad Gair (Balfron Piscatorials), Tyler Hay (Tartan Tyers), Willie Leach (Cghange FF AC), Martin McCafferty (Future FF).
McCabe stressed that this was a team effort as they successfully defended the title and the gold was achieved despite difficult pre-match conditions. One of the practice days was cancelled and other days were windy and cold.
Match-day was warm but windy but Scotland’s experienced line-up, with Auchterlonie the most experienced with 20 caps, and McCabe, who now has 18 caps, worked together with the other dozen members to come up with a plan.
The group also decided to go with ten flies, no more, and tied 450 flies in one day, ones they thought would do the business and they included dial back and booby mosaic.
Anglers are allowed four flies and the Tartan Team used a long leader. The best sections were Home Bay and the top right in the extensive reservoir which had adjacent rocks.
McCabe added: “We really had to work for it and it was hard graft, very difficult, but our experience counted and we stuck to the tactics we agreed on using only ten flies.
“We went there to win and we treated the event like a business.” They certainly did the business in Wales.