Young Hagen Patterson was absolutely delighted with this well-proportioned, 8lb Atlantic salmon caught on the afternoon of the 20th - August 2008.

He told us "After fishing most of Mid - Nithsdale for salmon I decided a trip down to Carnsalloch. I fished the Bluffs for more than 2 hours and only saw 2 grilse splashing at the neck of the pool. I tried to entice them with every fly in the box.

I had heard good reports up at the Top Boards so I headed up at 2.00pm, only to see Grilse splashing the water heavily.

Having fished the flats through once I gave it another try, only this time I felt a sudden thud on one of my own designed, tied shrimps - “HAGEN’S HOTSPOT SPICE”. I had hooked my first ever salmon. It gave a fair scrap of 10 minutes to land but every minute was worth it!"