All anglers dream of capturing the fish of a lifetime and to have its fulfilment acknowledged by the presentation of a prestigious trophy certainly adds to the achievement.
Mary Deakin from Lower Langford, Somerset, was fishing on the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders when she captured a monstrous salmon, weighing 31 pounds. In fact, this was only the second salmon she had ever caught, her first being a few years previously on the same beat and weighing only one pound.
The Malloch Trophy is a venerable award with a rich history and is organised by the Tay Rivers Trust. Historically, the trophy was awarded to the heaviest fish caught on the fly, but in recent years the criteria were widened – as the fish caught are returned to the river, exact weights are often unknown, so it is now awarded to the ‘best’ fly-caught salmon on a Scottish river.
Calum Innes, Chair of the Tay Rivers Trust, said: “Mary’s salmon was a wonderful achievement, with a great story. The handling of the fish after capture was exemplary and it was released to hopefully pass on its genetics to a future generation. Atlantic Salmon are an iconic species and a key indicator of the health of our rivers and environment. The Tay Rivers Trust is working on projects designed to enhance biodiversity in the Tay catchment, and the annual award of the Malloch trophy provides an opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon a very special fish.”
Mary Deakin said: “Tom Davis, the boatman on Lower Birgham beat who helped land the fish, submitted the entry to The Malloch Trophy, and I was absolutely thrilled when I was contacted to be told it was the winning fish for the 2023 season. My father has been a lifelong angler and I am very much a beginner, but I realise just how special this was. It was wonderful that my family could be with me for the presentation of the trophy on the riverbank where the fish was landed.”
Mary is the fourth woman to be awarded the Malloch Trophy since Lady Burnett was the first recipient of the trophy in 1972 for a 43-pound fish which was also caught on the River Tweed and she is in august company as the record salmon ever landed on rod and line was also caught by a female angler, Georgina Ballantine in 1922 with a 64-pound fish from the River Tay.
As the 2024 salmon fishing season draws to a close, the Tay Rivers Trust are seeking entries for salmon caught this year.

More information and entry details here: https://tayrivers.org/malloch-trophy .