Clarkson Day Outing
Published on 9th September 2026
CLARKSON OUTING 2026
Although it was the middle of the week before we had any idea of who would be involved in this years outing, we had 12 members duly turn up on the Sat am amid a stiff westerly breeze and rain showers to honour the passing of our “past hostess Ishbel” making the day all the more poignant.
We had the pleasure of welcoming away Brora members whom I will refer to as “ the Borthwick Boys” who make regular trips north to fish the loch and indeed had a very successful week, landing a 19lb salmon and many good sized sea-trout and finnock.
We used the four boats moored in Gordonbush Bay and boat 3 in the middle loch and tried to keep to sheltered drifts out of the wind until early afternoon when things calmed down enough to broaden the search area and found a bit more action.
Altogether we recorded 15 Brownies, two making nine points on the measure sticks, 3 finnock and 1 sea-trout @ 14 points to Dornoch boat member Bill Rose. No salmon were recorded, but Ian Miller had a brief encounter with one.
Andy Grant, one of the Borthwick team had the most points 32, and won the Clarkson Trophy with only brownies, finnock and sea-trout being the eligible species. Runner up with 28 points was David Curran. The best boat team were “the Borthwick” team in Brora boat 3. David’s Brora 2 boat was runner up.
As a separate aside, Ghilles associated with the Golspie AC, had donated a new shield prize to what we described last year as “ the Perch Hunter” following Sandy Dorian’s 3 perch on the same cast in season 2024 and last year’s Graeme Cargill. This years recipient is Graham Taylor (part of the Borthwick team) with 4. All in all not a bad week for the “ Borthwick Boys”
It was very fitting that at the end of the day we had June Ross and her husband to welcome us back.
June being Ishbel’s close friend and a regular in the handing out of tea/coffee etc with Ishbel, when boats were being put out or taken in at the end of a season plus the inevitable box of home made shortbread and a wee dram.
June presented the liquid prizes and trophies, although the trophies were retained for engraving purposes.
This is the last year that I’ll be organising The Clarkson Outing and look forward to some other angling club member taking over. The original requirements for this day out was a mix of Brora, Golspie and Dornoch members in the boats available and for it being a very social outing and not a competition as such. A chance for members to share experiences and “ The Craic”
I would fully endorse that these parameters are kept for the future.
Tight lines to you all for the rest of the season
Michael Banks
