The Board

With a long length of line hanging straight on the ‘dangle’, he lifted the rod, switched the angle of the line and belted out a huge cast, with the 4/0 double iron landing just above the rising fish. As the fly began to swing, the line jumped tight as the salmon intercepted the 2” double. ..................

There would be no switching of the line involved and the cast would simply be executed straight downstream alongside a measuring board, which had been specially constructed for the event. Using a 21ft rod, Grant’s main competitor took his turn from the suspended boat and with a colossal effort, roll cast the great distance of 56 yards. One by one, each remaining competitor took his turn until finally Grant was rowed out to the suspended casting platform. With his trusty bonnet turned back to front (his trademark), he stripped the entire fly line from his reel and made the first of his allocated casts with his 21ft ‘Grant’s Vibration’. It would be fair to say that not only did he win, but he blew the competition clean out the water. His longest cast was officially registered at a staggering 65 yards and was his longest ever recorded cast. What makes his achievement that day on the River Ness so unbelievable was he lifted the entire 65 yards clear from the water and returned it onto the dangle without shooting a single inch of fly line on the forward delivery – pure genius!