Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF AYRSHIRE FISHING COMPETITION

On Sunday 21 Sep 08, the Ayrshire Brethren travelled to Jericho Loch at Lockerbriggs to fish the inter Provincial Fly Fishing Competition. Expectations were high as we tackled up and awaited instructions from organiser Bro Charlie Auldman. We trundled off to our various pegs and battle began at 10am. Pegs 3-4 or beats as they call them in Dumfries did not fish well in the morning, pegs 1-2 on right hand side seemed to be fishing better. Lunch 12.30-1.00pm, the usual comments, it is too bright and there was too much algae, their rising to far oot, ah canny cast fur the trees,ah huvnae had nothing but dead water in front of me all morning. However, with spirits high we commenced our second assault upon the fish at Jericho, alas our endeavours were in vain although we had no blanks, the weight was sad and doleful. Ayrshire weighed in 37lbs 14oz, Dumfries 40lbs 2oz and Galloway 32lbs. 1st Dumfries 2nd Ayrshire 3rd Galloway Heaviest fish and winner of the sweep was Bro John Anderson No 11 Ayrshire and 4th overall Bro John Hodge PM No 11. Our sincere thanks to PGM Dumfries Bro John O Green and his good lady for presenting the prizes and to Bro Charlie Auldman and the lads at Jericho for organizing the competition.

The Open Pairs fishing competition was held on 7 September 2008 at Boreland Fishery, Cumnock. Thirty four brethren and friends fished for the honours. The weather was overcast with a cold north wind, which seemed to put the fish down a bit, sink tips and intermediate lines were to be the order of the day with the fly fishers. The bait fishers were taking fish on the bottom and on the bubble floats; Bro. David Kirk MK0 almost lost his record of fastest bag up time by Bro. Richard Allan on the bait caught five fish in the first hour. This is only Bro Richard’s second time out fishing, beginners luck? The fish were coming slowly on the fly pond, however this was not so for Bro. Bill Boe on his first peg he landed 3 fish one of which was a cracking 9lbs 14½ oz. When word spread of Bill’s big fish, it put pressure on the rest of us, especially Bill’s partner Bro. John Porter who was struggling but patience and perseverance won the day with some friendly encouragement he caught four fish. Our sincere thanks to Bro. Robert Howatson for sponsoring the competition, to Bro. Neville Clarke and Bro William Steele for helping give out the prizes, to the brethren who brought raffle prizes and to the boys at Borland fishery who helped out on the day. 118 fish caught for 369lbs 7½oz. 1st – Bro. Bill Boe No.290 9fish 27lbs 13½ oz, Bro. John Porter PM No.556. 2nd – Bro. Alan Fowler MK0 10fish 24lbs 7oz, Bro Richard Allan MK0 3rd – Bro. Brian Bell No.505 10fish 23lbs 7½oz, Mr Colin Gardner. Heaviest fish – Bro. Bill Boe 9lbs 14oz.

On Sunday 3 August 2008 was held the fly or bait competition at Borland Fishery. 27 Brethren attended and 70 fish were landed for 168 lbs. The morning started out fine but the rain drifted in about 1030 however it did not last. By 1100 the sun put his hat on and that was us for the rest of the day. Some Brethren bagged up early. Bro Davie Kirk on peg 21 caught his 5 fish in ¾ of an hour. Bro Bill Boe also bagged up before lunch and did a fair bit of crowing during lunch. The lads on the bit of bait were having success as well with 3 full bags. Our oldest fisher Bro Hugh Paton caught 5 fish for 12 lbs & ½ oz and was just short of the prizes. Our thanks to PGL of Kilwinning for their sponsorship and to the PGM of Kilwinning Bro David Bloomfield for presenting the prizes and to all the Brethren who brought raffles. The competition raised £159.The Results 1^st on fly Bro David Kirk No.0 5fish 12lbs 11oz, 2^nd on fly Bro Bill Boe No.290 12lbs 3oz, 3^rd on bait Bro Jo Savage No.0 5 fish 12 lbs 3 oz and Heaviest fish Bro Tom Stewart No.0 3lbs 9½ oz. Best Visitor was Mr Joe Morrison

Sunday July 13 2008, we held the Auld Codgers Fly or Bait Competition at Boreland Fishery, Cumnock. 26 brethren and friends attended and caught 79 fish. The weather was kind bur for some the fish did not cooperate so the "Apri" fishing started early. Brother David Kirk of The Mother Lodge was once again the first to bag up, a clear winner of the "Apri" fishing with Brother David Murray of St John No.22 a close second. The fishy stories started early which Brother David Kirk won with his old friend fishing with "Horse Hair Casts" -- no Contest. Some of our older brethren, and active fisherman, competed -- Brother Hugh Paton, Past PGSW, a sprightly 86 years young and last year's winner of the Bait, Brother David McKie of Lodge St James No.135, a very active 80 year old Fly Fisher. Our thanks to our PGM, Brother Archie Chalmers for attending and presenting the Trophies; Brother James Smillie for sponsoring the trophies; Brother Joe Timmins and Brother Bill Dykes for the rolls and sausage and Big Willie Menzies for the cooking. Our thanks also to the boys of Boreland Fishery and especially the brethren for their support. The winners were 1st (Fly) Bro. John Brown RWM of Lodge St John No.22 with 5 fish weighing 13lbs 12 oz. 1st (Bait) Bro. Tom Stewart of Lodge Mother Kilwinning with 5 fish weighing 14 lbs. The Auld Codgers Day is a fun day and all who attended certainly enjoyed their day of fellowship and fishing.

On Sunday 18 May 2008 the Fly Fishing Competition of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire was held at Boreland Fishery, Cumnock. This is a superb venue and enjoyed by the members of the fishing fraternity. Sunday was a glorious day, ideal for fishing. 37 rods were in play and at the end of the competition a total of 125 fish were weighed in. Total weight being 331lbs. The Winners were (1) Heaviest Bag - Brother William Beattie, Lodge St Thomas No.433, with five fish weighing 15lbs 3 ounces; (2) Brother A. McCrea, Lodge Mother Kilwinning, with five fish weighing 14lbs 2.5 ounces; (3) Brother Billy Boe, Lodge Dalry Blair No.290 also with five fish weighing 14lbs 1 ounce. The Single Heaviest Fish Prize went to Brother Jim Dempster, Lodge Irvine St Andrew No.149, weighing 4lb 1 ounce. Prize for Best Visitor was won by Mr John Brown of Ayr with five fish weighing 12lbs 8 ounces. The event was once again arranged and organised by Brother William Dykes who thanked everyone who had taken part. It had been a very successful day, for sport and for friendship. He thanked the two Sponsors of the day, Brother Jim Smillie PM Lodge Coila St Andrew No. 1334 for the Trophies and Brother Joe Baird PM Lodge Thistle No.127 for the Liquid Prizes that went with the Trophies. The RWPGM presented the Prizes and thanked everyone for their support towards the PGL of Ayrshire. The event raised £284 for PGL funds. Many thanks to all who took part and assisted in raising this tremendous amount.


On a cold wet and rainy 16 of Sept at Boreland fishery Cumnock, the Ayrshire Brethren took on the Brethren of Dumfries and Galloway Province and won the inter Provincial Fly Fishing competition. 1st Bro Alex McRae Mother Kilwinning No 0, 2nd Bro Roddy Dalgleish St Barnabas No 230, 3rd Bro David Kirk WSW Mother Kilwinning No 0. The heaviest fish went to Bro Eddy Cowan at 6Lbs 2 Oz. 24 Brethren fished and 73 fish were taken. Our sincere thanks to those die hard brethren who braved the elements to support this competition and to the lads at Boreland Fishery for their hospitality. We went home tired and wet but not hungry, Big Willie's burgers went down a treat.

The Open Pairs Fly or Bait fishing was held Boreland fishery Cumnock on 2 Sep 2007. 42 brethren and friends fished and landed 132 fish. The day was overcast with some light rain, however the fish were on the take. This made a big difference as they attacked the water with zeal and anticipation as nine anglers weighed in with full bags. 1st Bro John Hodge PM St John Maybole No.11and Bro Jim McPheator PM St David Mauchline No.133 with 10 fish for 23lbs15oz, 2nd Bro John Brown RWM St John Kilmarnock No.22 and Bro Ray Parker St James Tarbolton No.135 with 10 fish for 22lbs 15oz, 3rd Bro David Penny Royal Arch West Kilbride No.314 and Mr Bill Muir with 10 fish for 22lbs 1oz The heaviest fish went to Bro Jim McPheator PM St David Mauchline No.133 at 3lbs 15oz Our thanks to the sponsor Bro Bobby Howitson of St James Newton-upon-Ayr No.125 and Bro John H Ralston IPPG Master who attended and presented the prizes. The competition raised £332 for charity.

The Auld Codgers Fun Day was held at Spring Water Fishery on 15 July. 19 Brethren fished and 33 fish were taken. The weather was kind with a light wind and slight cloud cover. Many of the brethren took up fly fishing which we do with great gusto. Many fish were caught in the fishing lodge that day and the banter was to a very high standard. 1st on Bait was Bro Hugh Paton PM PPGSW, St Clement Kilmarnock No 202. 1st on Fly was Bro Joe Pettigrew, St John Kilmarnock No 22.Thanks to the sponsors Bro Roddy McClean PM Thistle Stewarton No 127 and Bro Bill Dykes Coila St Andrew No 1334. The Fly competition was held at Craufurland on 20 May2007. 40 Brethren fished and 58 fish were caught. 1st was Bro David Strachan PM PPGSW Burns St Mary Hurlford No 505, 2nd Bro Bill Boe Dalry Blair No 290 3rd Bro Scot Crawford Beith St Johns No 157. Heaviest fish went to Bro William Cuthbert St John Maybole No 11. A great response from the Brethren which raised £373 for charity. Many thanks to our sponsors. The Mother Lodge Kilwinning No 0 and Bro. Joe Baird PM Thistle Stewarton No 127.

The winners of the open fly or bait competition held at Springwater fishery on 5 August 2007. 33 Brethren fished the competition and 33 fish were taken. The weather was terrible with persistent heavy rain which resulted in poor catches for all, however the diehards fished through to take the honours.

1st Bro Tom Fulton St James Kilwinning Tarbolton No 135. 2nd Bro Brian Bell Burns St Mary Hurlford No 505. 3rd Bro David Kirk Mother Kilwinning No 0. Heaviest fish Bro David Kirk Mother Kilwinning No 0. Our sincere thanks must go to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kilwinning for their sponsorship and to their Provincial Grand Master Bro David Wilson who braved the bad weather and presented the prizes along with IPPG Master Bro John H. Ralston. The competition raised the sum of £244.78.