Opening Day 1999
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The official opening ceremony for the salmon
fishing season on the River Tay is held in
Kenmore on January 15th each year. There has
been an opening party in Kenmore since the
turn of the century. The event always has
a good following. In 1999 there were over
300 people present as well as radio and TV
crews. The event is now sponsored by "Hello!"
Magazine with assistance from "Mitchells
of Pitlochry", "Normark" "Westcars"
and "Dewars".
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Opening Ceremony
Festivities began at 9.00
am with a gathering of rods in the square
and the Boars Head. A good few drams were
passed out courtesy of Dewars so as to ensure
that the day went with a swing.
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Anglers then assembled in
the village square and a few words of wisdom given
by Mr Mike Smith from the Tay District Salmon
Fisheries Board |
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Dewars kindly provided a
few drams to wet our appetites. |
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| At 9.30 the piper then lead
the procession to the river bank. The traditional
blessing was then given by casting a quaich of
whisky over the boat. Some anglers consider this
a waste, but this year the salmon seemed to appreciate
it! The ceremony was conducted by Rob Wainwright
of Scotland Rugby Union fame. |
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Fishing
Rods were then invited to
fish the Kenmore, Point and Bolfracks Beats.
To accommodate the large number of rods on
opening day, and to give everyone a cast,
fishing is according to gentleman's rules.
Rods are asked to leave a good space between
themselves and to take two steps between casts,
joining a pool at the head.
More
fishing pictures.
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Kenmore Trophy
The Kenmore Trophy is awarded
to the angler who takes the largest bag (greatest
weight) of salmon on the Opening Day anywhere
on the Tay System.
 In
1999 the trophy was won by Mr Jim Mundell who
took a fine fish of 17lb 4oz. Jim caught the fish
on a zebra toby with his second cast. Jim had
already decided to return any fish he caught,
but was persuaded by the crowd to keep it as it
was the first fish of the day - and it was on
telly! Some anglers questioned the freshness of
the fish, but subsequent scale analysis showed
that it was indeed a good clean spring fish, having
been in the water for some 6 weeks. The lucky
angler received £500 of tackle from Mitchells
of Pitlochry whilst the ghillie received a gallon
of whisky from Dewars. Congratulations to Jim
who is pictured left with Barbara McTaggart.
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Water conditions on the rest
of the river were high and coloured. Most
beats gave up fishing by midday. But, at Kenmore
fishing continued until dark The Hello! party
must be congratulated for their persistence
and commiserations to Nick Baird who lost
another good fish on the Ford and to Forest
Dixon who also lost a smaller fish on the
Hotel Pool. For the record only one other
fish was reported on opening day, a 16.5 lber
from Stobhall caught by Mr Jim Millar.
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Activities during the Day
During the day there was a
tackle exhibition in the Reading Rooms in
the Square. Ally Gowans demonstrated the new
range of Normark rods on the Chinese pool.
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Evening Events
In the evening there was a firework
display and a choir outside the Kenmore Hotel,
followed by a gala
dinner at the Kenmore Hotel attended by
dignitaries, celebrities and local folks celebrating
in the normal Scottish fashion!
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