Brothers win the Bemersyde Junior Trophy

Jacob and Finlay Ellis are this year's joint winners of the junior Bemersyde Trophy with their first ever salmon caught on Tweedswood beat. 

Jacob (13) caught his salmon on June 2nd, weighing 11.5lbs, using a small sunray variant tied by his dad, Phil Ellis. Armed with his first pair of waders purchased from Borders Gunroom, Jacob quickly put into practice the new casts he had learned from his dad earlier in the week. Checking on his progress, Phil watched the sunray fly skate across the pool followed by a 11.5lb fish, it was a shock to them both when he hooked into it and dad was on hand to net it.  

Finlay (8) caught his first salmon, a 5lb silver fish, whilst fishing from the boat with his brother Jacob on October 25th. Fishing a single handed rod with a floating line his dad was giving him a lesson on the roll cast. Whilst letting the fly drift past the boat chatting to his dad the salmon rose and took the fly, again much to dads surprise as he was only letting him have a go at casting.

Playing the fish under instruction from Phil, he turned round in the boat seat and said “Dad I’ve got this myself” Leaving Phil to smile, whilst rowing the boat to the bank and net it. The fly used was a Calvin Shrimp, created by the legendary fly tyer Ross Macdonald who named it after his own son Calvin.

The Bemersyde Adult and Junior Trophy grew out of Lord and Lady Haig’s wish to promote fishing on the River Tweed. The annual fishing lunch and presentation have become a staple of the Bemersyde calendar with guests in attendance from across the borders.

Support the Tweed Foundation and TweedStart Annual Auction Here.