Hi guys,

Just posting up to see who was at Carron at the weekend and what you think of what happened on the Second day of the event. Also, does anyone have any further information about what still water we're meant to be fishing for the second day of the nationals?
Just to clear it up for people who don't know.. The National competition to get into next years Scottish Junior team was PARTLY held at the weekend and on the Sunday it was decided that the competitors could not go out and fish as the weather was supposedly too rough to fish and was meant to get worse as the day progressed (even all-though it calmed down, to near perfect fishing conditions in the morning but weather did get worse in the afternoon). So the competitors had 2 options to choose from as we were not able to fish, choices were:
1. Stand by the first days (Saturday) results
2. Fish at a still water at a later date to finish, and decide next years team.

So the parents were called in and asked what they thought and the parents said they did not want there children fishing from the bank and the majority decided to go with Saturdays results. However this was ignored and the boys who were in the competition were asked to vote for what they wanted from the above 2 options. The result came to 12 for option 1 and 12 for option 2......
So now for the second day of the Nationals the boys are meant to be fishing a still water FROM THE BANK to decide next years team. We are meant to be fishing a still water from the bank to decide the fate of next years team even although next years international match will be held at Grafham water (i think) and the team members shall be fishing from boats in England in 2010.
My personal thoughts on the matter is that option 1 should have been chosen as many boys from last years team (many of which have been in the team for 2 years) cannot make, or shall not go to the next trip. I also feel this was the wrong decision as many boys had caught fish and had good bags and were definitely going into next years team IF option 1 was chosen. And not to mention there was a competitor who caught far more than any of the other boys and he is too old to fish for next years team and was going for the National top rod/brown bowl. I think most of the parents were extremely annoyed with this result as were the competitors who caught fish on Saturday.

I want to make it clear i am not slating the national team, i am only posting this up to see what peoples opinions on this matter is and if there is any further information to the next day of the competition. I myself have been in the team for 2 years and this would have been my third. I had second biggest bag yesterday so i am less than pleased with what was decided today. And lets hope that the parents of any boys who caught fish yesterday who don't get into the team for next year don't kick up at the still water, even all though they would be entitled to! ALL thoughts and opinions are welcome, if i have missed anything out please feel free too add to this thread.

Thanks, much lav

Ross.

It's been scheduled to be held over two days so it makes sense to re-organise the second day. You've said you have a good bag, are you scared of loosing your place? Any decent angler can catch from boat and bank.
One of the options was to fish Swanswater, a fishery you have previously said you were too good for. As long as you remember your casts this time you should be fine.
To be perfectly honest you seem like a spoilt little boy who's scared of being outfished at a small fishery, even though it shouldn't be hard for you to get your limit, your an international fisher after all.
What about the Junior team members who didn't catch on Saturday? Do you not care about them? They're your fellow team-mates after all.
You said all opinions are welcome, well here's what i think.

Qoute “if i have missed anything out please feel free too add to this thread”

You missed the most important part out and that’s the fact that by late morning / lunchtime and through most of the afternoon the conditions were extremely bad and definitely unsafe. To emphasise the point we had two bank anglers who gave up midway through the session as even they found they were getting knocked over by the waves. We also had two chains snap from the jetty with the force of the boats being battered against it.

I took the decision to cancel based on three forecasts all stating more or less the same, which was that the wind was to build and peak early to mid afternoon. As it turned out these forecasts were all accurate and I’m in no doubt whatsoever the correct decision was made not to allow boats out.

Granted when you were in the car park in the morning conditions were near perfect however it was quite literally the calm before the storm.

Due to our height and the funnelling effect of the valley we tend to get affected by wind more than most however it also assists in maintaining first class water quality and therefore a healthier environment for the fish.

The decision was correct even if experienced anglers were to be the only ones on the water. As you are well aware we had a considerable number of children competing and I for one was not prepared to put their lives in danger.

It is not in my interest to cancel boats without good reason given the amount of revenue we lose when doing so however the safety of our customers is paramount.

Fraser McGowan

I am only asking for peoples opinions to see what the think. Yes fraser, i agree with your choice to not fish. It was very windy!

"One of the options was to fish Swanswater, a fishery you have previously said you were too good for" When did i say that? Swanswater is a local fishery and i have been fishing it for years. I was up yesterday!!!! I like swanswater and always have, sorry but who are you bravo75?
"Do you not care about them" - Ofcourse i do, But only 2 people in the team did not catch and i think there was only 11 people who caught alltogether, am i right? So there would be 2 places left for the team so these 2 individuals could take them spots!

I am not here to get hit with abuse, i am not here to "extract the urine" haha. All i want to hear is what people want to say about this as i am sure there will be mixed thoughts and feelings.

Cheers,

I was disappointed when we were told that the nationals would be moved to a still water, i know the conditions were bad , but i went down to north third after we were told "not fishing", there was two boats out and the conditions down there weren't that bad, i reckon we could have moved it too there on Sunday. Does anyone know were we will be fishing to decide it ?

Thanks Chris,

Aye chris, we shouldav just went to north third. Its a boat venue after all. Am gonna have a chat with Andy and see where were going. Try and persuade him to move it to a boat water!!!

i actually think its fairer if we have it over 2 days now that i think about it (even though im sitting in the team if it was saturdays results), if we cant catch fish at a fishery then i dont think we deserve to be part of the team anyway.

at first i was dissapointed that we wern't aloud out but its frasers priority to make sure that we are all safe no mater what. nothing we can do to change the decision and bring on the fishery for a good old stockie bash !

Nicky Batchelor

Yeah nicky that makes sense. I'm cool with whatever happens, was frustrated with stuff last night but thinking about it its much fairer. Need to know where it is were fishing, hope its Swans or Orchill

Heard new venue is middleton near largs,pray for a good peg!,also heard carron valley offered boats for this weekend which were refused by the match organisers ?.

Im just throwing a little in here as I think that alot of all this nationals comps be it junior or senior,do favour central belt and largs is even further down the road.How are junior anglers expected to travel from highlands and islands and far north ,where there is many good young anglers ,its a joke in my opinion and it would be far better for central locations to be used where all can get too.
Its not hard to choose a venue and surely they dont have to all be in the same place all the time.Leven,mentieth,carron,butterstone just ato name a few and as for bank stillwaters why largs rather than perth area which cuts down costs and can be viable for most to have a chance to represent their country otherwise the same anglers will always get through.
Im all for young anglers and they all deserve a chance from all of Scotland.
Costs have to be taken into account .

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Kevin