Fraser on Fishing: Competition for the Boyle Trophy was simply red-hot

Now in its third year the Peter Boyle Memorial Trophy is still going strong. The six-man team event has always been a close-run match held in good spirits and this year was no exception.

Teams from the Lothians and Fife descended on Markle fishery to battle it out for the trophy. The bag limit was set at three fish and the team with the best overall weight would lift the title. Mayfield, the holders, have won it for the past two years but it was always a close decision.

This year's winners Rainbow A/C From Fife had several good fish up to double figures in their limit and were going to be a hard act to beat. Both ponds were utilised and I have to say that the smaller of the two fished the better on the day. Personally I struggled to keep fish on as I dropped four on the first peg and I was cursing my luck as they were good fish. My best pattern and it was the most successful of all the teams was a Hot Head Damsel fished on a floating or intermediate line. I did manage to get my limit but only by perseverance and they had to be the smallest of all the fish in the weigh-ins.

George Burns from West Lothian won the heaviest fish at 10lb which again fell to a Damsel. The management must be applauded for the quality of the fish as they provided excellent sport and fought well.