Thursday 18 November 2010

Draycote re-opening in 2011

I heard today that Draycote will be open again in 2011 and they will be looking for someone to take on the lease. The repairs haven't even been started yet, the car park will not be available and you will not be able to drive around bank fishing. However at least it will be open again and the lease states they have to stock 35k fish so it should fish well again too. I have also found the invitation to tender for the lease if anyone is interested.

http://hallscommercial.agencypilot.com/store/documents/other/192+1670.pdf

2lb Grayling for Phil

The digs were magic! we stayed at the Bateman Arms in Shobham and I would highly recommend it. We sat infront of the open fire having a chat about fishing with a few local ales, a hearty meal and friendly locals. Perfect!

We woke up the following morning and it was raining, intermittently hard but consistent. It was going to be a damp day. After a good fry up we headed out to the Leam beat on the Arrow that we had already booked and once again it was a great stretch as it ran between two weir's and meandered through, beech and alder woods, scrub and farmland.

Not quite as picturesque as yesterday but it had great variety to the fishing with many more pools to go at. Our first walk in and there was another otter, amazing. It was just on the far bank no more that 20 metres away and we stood and watched as it ducked and dived and played under the bush for a good five minutes. It's worth going just for that.

Phil found himself a nice bend and settled in. I on the other hand was a little nomadic and worked my way up the bank. It wasn't long and i heard Phil shout and he was into one on a gold head hares ear. It was about three quarters of a pound and with renewed confidence he persevered on and it paid off with another grayling this time much better and was measured at 42 cm - a little over 2lb. What a fantastic fish and a magic achievement on a damp day.

He had found a pocket of fish and the right depth and could have fished there all day. I on the other hand was impatient and continued my exploration up to the start of the beat fishing a short while in each pool i came across. Even though it had rained continuously and we were a little damp by now it was still great to watch you line come down stream with that anticipation.

Phil now had moved upstream to a second bend and had a brownie first chuck and then another grayling over a pound. He obviously was doing something right and had had brilliant day with 3 grayling, one over 2lb and a couple of brownies returned.

Although I never saw any fish in the flesh as I was always somewhere else so I am going to have to check the time stamp on the photos just to make sure!!

I had tried my heart out but with no success so my first grayling on the fly will have to wait for another day.

I am sure it will be worth waiting for!

Wednesday 17 November 2010

My first Grayling please?

Following our success earlier in the year we decided to cut down on the travelling and have a couple of days on the River Arrow this time. It was a personal challenge to catch my first Grayling on the fly.

We arrived at Arrow Mill and it was a clear day but with low hanging mist and frost on the ground, crisp and fresh you could call it. The scenery couldn't be better with the Arrow meandering through the farmland and orchard and passing the old mill that must have stood for the last 400 years. It was a step back in time.



With our first walk to the top of the beat we disturbed a mother otter and a cub. A quick slash and dive downstream was followed with a few cries from the far bank with the cub checking where she had gone. fantastic! We worked back up stream and it was a pleasure to fish.

The fishing was hard with the river running a little fast at a time when you wanted to fish slow and deep but we persevered and it was a pleasure exploring and taking some spooky photos in the mist.



By mid afternoon there was a steady flow of sailing boats drifting downstream as the dark olives must have been hatching where the sun was out upstream.


We only saw what we thought were 3 fish rise though and I felt I needed a break and went off to explore the water insects. Bloody typical! as this was just the 15 minutes when they decided to take and Phil and Steve were into fish at almost the same time. Steve's was around half pound but just short of a pound Phil's was the best of the day. What a great fish, sleek and silver with with that distinctive dorsal fin.

I rushed back up and kept fishing but to no avail. Never mind it was easy fishing, learned a bit more, great company in a wonderful place. What more could you ask for?

My first Grayling please?

Saturday 9 October 2010

Lights and fog horns needed!

It was that misty on Pitsford this morning that I was bracing myself for the lights to come out of the mist and that eerie noise of a foghorn going off in front of me. It didn't lift till lunchtime either and while there were a few fish about they weren't particularly feeding.

Phil had the first fish on a hopper in front of the cliffs a really nice 2lb brownie but we had hardly seen a fish rise. Feeling a bit more confident that there were a few fish around I decided to try and locate some rainbows. I set up a di5, cat boobie, blob and a cormorant and was sure I would locate a rainbow or two.

A we drifted off the rocks by the cliffs all went tight and after a good fight managed to slip the net under another good brownie. It's like they have their own diary, it's October now lads lets get out and feed!!

My second pull was just as the flies hit the surface and second pull and he was on. This time though he pulled back and screamed off the reel. With his dorsal in the air wallowing on the surface I new I had a good fish. When he was returned he must have been 4 and three quarters. I managed one more but then the fish went very quiet and we only had pulls after that.

I was aching now as the cold was taking hold and pleased to get in the warm and give up in front of the telly!

The Elinor Jinx

No reflection on Elinor, Ed or the way it is run but just my amazing regularity to find it either easy or hard. Yes and today it was hard for me and easy for others.

While I think congratulations to Ed, Dave Currie and Nick Dunn who made it too the England team this year from Chew. Especially to Dave who like me has being trying for a number of years and come so close on a number of occasions. Excellent!

On a day with hardly a cloud in the sky I started on the river bank and had a good number of fish rising in front of me. They were taking small green buzzers but i didn't seem to have any small enough. I went on a size 16 klink and then started to have action and even had a fish on and lost it, great sport! As the rising fish slowed and the hatch was over I headed off for a walk around Titchmarsh.

When I got back Phil still hadn't caught but there were quite a few catching off the Dam so we both muscled into the corner by the trees. We managed a few takes but still no fish. They were taking on Damsels, daddies and hares ears, but not for me.

Another sit down in the sun to reflect and sense a cold coming on and we called it a day.

Sunday 5 September 2010

BOS take the TW Walker Trophy

The Barclays/Bank of Scotland match is always the highlight of my year combining superb venues, fierce friendly competition and great company. This year was no exception.

I was drawn with Derek Sibson a Scottish international and competitor in many of the team competitions around the UK. I was looking forward to a few fish.

As we set off from the boat dock it is always mayhem. The boats need to be pushed off the shore backwards wrestling with strange and temperamental motors. Simon and Ralph skillfully avoid a collision.


It was cloudy and flat calm. At least we were half way to some decent weather and hopefully they would be wanting the naturals. I started on a slow glass so that i didn't disturb the surface but still kept in the top two foot. I had a black hopper booby on the point, a black cruncher on the middle and a fiery brown hopper on the top dropper.

We started just off the dead tree in international bay and I took a fish really early on my black cruncher and then took another but lost it at the net, that was going to make it a harder day than I had planned. Derek was fishing the same line but was on lures including blobs, boobies and cormorants. Two different styles but as the day was to go on his would be more productive. He put a cat booby on the point and never looked back. As we slowly drifted into the corner the fish started to chase the booby or cormorants across the top, it was great fishing - even for me watching. I held on to his shirt tails and we even had a double hook up - good job we took two nets! Just before lunch we were in the corner of the bay and two fish in 3 or 4 casts and Derek had his 5 fish limit - Good Angling!

We headed back to the lodge for lunch and a catch up with the others who had also managed to find a few fish. The most fish seemed to have been caught between hotel bay and the cages. Our catches were not better but perhaps more consistent than the Scots so it was all in the balance. Phil had a great morning with 4 fish as had Paul Williams but Mike had only one, plenty of time yet!

The afternoon was altogether different as by now the sun had burnt off the cloud and it was clear and flat calm, a grueller! I persevered for the afternoon around the dead tree. I managed one fish fairly quick and just waiting for the last. After takes and lost fish it was one of those days.

Derek on the other hand showed his class and every now and again got motivated to fish rather that taking phone calls and every time caught fish on whatever he set up, very impressive,

We decided to move to loch end and as the ripple got up a little the fish were moving. RIGHT THAT's IT! On went three cormorants and within a few minutes my last fish was in the net, Phew!

As the boats started to arrive back at the lodge it was closer than I had thought and all the boats were within one fish of each other but Derek Purves and John Tulloch had bagged up and I guessed this might make the difference. I don't think even BOB THE BUILDER could fix it for Barclays to win today!!


We did indeed get pipped by 40 fish to 46 or 94lb to 103lb. Derek and John did make a difference but also ably supported with limits from Kenny, Mikey and Derek. The Jammy git Mike himself managed to take the best boat trophy with Kenny after bagging up in the afternoon. Derek purves presents the trophy.


We finished off the trip with a visit to Balmaha on the banks of Loch Lomond and to sus out maybe another days fishing in the future.

Mentieth, a picture postcard



Menteith looked fantastic with dramatic mountains, rolling fields, green trees and blue skies. All the history and mystery of Mary Queen of scots being imprisoned on one of the islands in inchmahone castle just added to the atmosphere. The boats were primed ready but with clear skies it was ok for sun tans but not great for fishing.

Fishing with mike we quickly got into practice mode searching the water for shoals of fish and looking for those killing methods and a plan for tomorrow. We found fish from hotel bay around to the cages and beyond. We also found them from loch end all around through international bay and back to the lodge. How come the midlands waters can't have this spread of fish?

The fish were well up in the top couple of feet and we settled on a the midge tip although the floater and slow glass were in reserve. We felt as though they didn't want a colourful fly and focused on black or brown. We were preferring hoppers, crunchers, cormorant booby or a black tadpole all retrieved with a slow figure of 8 even static

Mike managed to catch a couple of fish on a black tadpole - his only one, and when it got stuck on a rock later in the day there was only one answer. He would have to walk on water to retrieve it!! No surprise to me!



I expected that it would cloud over tomorrow so i would focus on naturals first and get my fish as quick as I could. The Barclays team talk followed in the evening and Ralph had great sport on a cruncher and Ross on a Gold head hopper (Yuck). So with the info I had and few beers to settle me down - just medicinal! The plan was set for the match against the Bank of scotland tomorrow.

Smiling Teith

On our way to fish against Bank of Scotland Mike, john, phil and I stopped off at Callander for the night. There was no water in the rivers and the Lenny was out of action but against some previous advice and the thought we wouldn't catch anything we took a rod on the town water of the River Teith for the afternoon and fortunately lady luck was smiling on us.

We parked in the car park on the river and in the town. It felt awkward fishing with an audience but most were on holiday so I guess it all added to the authenticity of the town. While Compo, Foggy and Clegg sat eating their lunch I tackled up. An 8ft four weight and a size 14 black klinkhammer were all I needed and was soon into rising salmon parr. It was good fun getting a rise to the fly and I suspect it was a little large for the small fish however I was happy being selective.



I managed a small brownie from the side of the river bridge and it amazing what good sport it is on a light outfit. We moved along to the Salmon pool and it was great to see Salmon leaping every few minutes. The water was deeper here and smaller fish were constantly rising. I put a long cast out and a fish rose and took the flyn magic. It fought well but was extremely surprised that it was a chub of about half a pound. Having spoken to a few people since they didn't think they were this far up in Scotland but the evidence is below.




I managed another trout and chub and it ended a very pleasant start to the week in a great setting. We went back a little later for the evening rise which didn't happen and after getting naffed off with being bitten by midges we retired to the pub to tie flies for the following day.



Sunday 29 August 2010

Hat catcher

It was blowing a gale on Pitsford today and not very pleasant at all. You could hardly control your line let alone your hat and when a gust of wind struck just as I turned my head - my hat was in the water and floating away. I didn't realise the extent of Phil's fishing abilities but after 3 or 4 casts he had the hat hooked and in the net - thanks Phil!


As for the proper fishing well there's not much to say really after drifting around all morning we managed just one take between us and I managed a decent 2 pounder from the edge of the weed banks just of rigby's point. It took a tecquila booby bobbling around on the surface.

Heres hoping for better fishing this week.

Saturday 21 August 2010

last minute call up

Sunday morning and I was just thinking of what to do for the day and the phone went. Mike had lost his partner for the day so an offer to fish Pitsford from the boat - magic!

I started as i left off at Grafham fishing the washing line and was really hoping that Daiwl backs or snatchers would start working. An early fish on the tequila booby proved me wrong but at least I was catching. The fish seemed to have all moved off the Dam and were heading towards the narrows - the key was to fish in the middle of no where out of Brixworth bay and across to the Pines.

The fish started to come up in the water as the day went on. There were pockets of fish but those were moving around. Mike put on a woofta booby and was then catching great. It was like fishing muddlers bubbling through the waves and the big bow wave behind - great sport.

The difference for me was when I changed to a slow glass with a woofta booby on the point and a tequila FAB on the top dropper with a hopper in the middle. I this it eliminated any line disturbance and all three flies were on the surface.

I never looked back and had some great sport.

Wednesday 4 August 2010

The Floating line

The MNTFA put in two teams for the Inter Club Floating line competition at the weekend and I made up one of the places.

Congratulations to a team from Invicta who won on the day. It was a hard day as the fish were very tightly shoaled and difficult to catch. Having said that as usual 3 people managed to bag up but with 5 fish I must have been up there shouting.

My partner was Ystlyn Smith from GWFFA and although he had not done much competition fishing before he was good company and did great with 3 fish and above average on the day.

We managed to find a very small shoal between the nature reserve and L buoy and with 5 drifts over a tight shoal we managed 5 fish. With 3 fish too on one of the last drifts of the day off W buoy, it was hard going for the rest of the day.

I was using a washing line with a tequila booby on the point and two diawl bachs on the droppers. It was like fishing a dry fly as they came up and took the booby off the top - shocking!

With Ash, Powie and John in the team too we managed 10 fish between us but no prizes!

Wednesday 21 July 2010

The Arrow

Just for a change Steve, Phil and i decided to have a day on the river. After scanning through the "Wye and Usk passport" there was some great fishing to be had and we settled on the River Arrow in the village of Erdisland near Leominster. It was a mile beat with of both banks of upstream fishing for wild brownies and grayling.

I am not sure what I was expecting but we walked to the start of the beat up to our chests in wet grasses and when there we still couldn't find an easy route through the trees into the river. I guess I was hoping for some open grassy banks but that's reservoir softies for you!

I wanted to fish the dry but hadn't seen any fish rising but Steve had and I took his word and started with the klink. 10 minutes in I walked up a gravel spit and a fish rose, I cast at it and it took but nothing there, i lifted off and put it perfect again and this time the splash it was on, it was going to be a good day!

Yes so it wasn't a whopper and looked like it had been held in my fingers too long but it was a very welcome salmon Parr.

There weren't many rising at all but I had decided to use as much stealth as I could so just settled back and watched. There was just one fish rising under the trees on the far bank but it was too far away. I had a number of casts but couldn't get close. I shifted my position so i could side cast down the river and with a full cast the fly just floated under the branch and bang it was on and off. This is fun and very rewarding!

Phil had settled into his nymph fishing on a bung and it wasn't long and he too was into a fish on a pheasant tail, his first on a river and just what we came for - brilliant!


It went quite quiet and I worked my way back to the car with my mind on other things. A kingfisher, banded demoiselles and mayflies were still around. Butterflies were everywhere and it was certainly a great natural environment.

Steve and I made it back and decided to fish the weir. I went in above the weir and Steve below. There were a couple of fish rising but I struggled to cover them and then out the corner of my eye another fish rose on the far bank and I put the size 16 klink right on its nose and splash it was on. This time it was heavy and fighting solid as I got it's head up it came in and was a chub. The first I had caught on a fly and it was great sport.

I moved up the mill race to another overflow and changed over to nymphs, the sport really started then and I managed another 5 fish on a pheasant tail and daiwl bach. I told Steve and he changed over and immediately he was into takes and then a fish but a few casts later he hooked into a better fish.

It was a grayling and and over half a pound gave a great fight.

Phil made his way back and had also had good sport with the best brownie of the day.


It had been a great trip with good fishing and nice surroundings - a pleasure!

Saturday 17 July 2010

Windy Ravensthorpe

I was out on Ravensthorpe with Phil today and in some rough winds thought it would be the best bet of the reservoirs.

When we arrived we were sharing the water with the British float tubers and they were all floating like brown swans in front of the dam. I commented to Graham that it much be fishing great infront of the lodge but they had all just launched. They were drifting gracefully but you know that they were paddling like fury underneath. It was great to see them around and they found there way into all the nooks and cranny's working there way tight to the banks i am sure they caught a good number.

It started a bit quiet for us as drifted around in some rough water squalls and had my first fish as we anchored of the willow bay point. After a while we decided to move up to cotton end and with only a short anchor rope managed to hold just off the causeway tunnel with a great view under the road.


There were a few fish rising here and I decided to keep my two green Diawl bachs on the droppers but put a dry on the point to keep everything up. For an hour I had great sport. I had one fish on the dry which was really nice and must have been two pound.
The other fish were a bit smaller and took the green daiwl bachs maybe a foot or two down as they were slowly sinking through the water. I was trying to fish the dry and keep everything up and static and the line just shot off. Phil cottoned on quick and changed over but only managed a couple of takes and fish that hit him really hard and snapped at the dropper.

We persevered as the sun came out but the fish must have moved off down the bank or gone deeper and quiet.

With about an hour to go we headed for the boils and a quick waft of the Di5 and blobs just to make it feel that we had been working hard. I managed another on the first drift on the tequila blob. It was a nicely taken fish as it followed me up to the surface I let the fly sink back and it turned and took, nice!

Our discussion had turned to talk of phils averages this year and that a blank would help at all. However confident to the end Phil manged to hook into one just before the boils on our last drift, you can see the relief in his face and it was a nice end to a pleasant day.

Saturday 10 July 2010

A rest for blistered feet

Just back from a few days in Barcelona sight seeing and I had made the mistake of wearing a new pair of shoes and the blisters were worse than when I did my three peak challenge earlier in the year. It's a hard life!

Nothing better than sitting around in a boat on Pitsford on a glorious day with the excuse of giving my feet a rest - magic!

I headed for the dam and found fish all the way along about 50 yards out and also just off the boils. It was a bit awkward keeping on the fish as there were a good number of boats and many anchored. I did a bit of anchoring and a bit of drifting really you just needed to be over a pod of fish.

There were two main techniques. I couldn't catch on the di7 and a minkie but a few others did. I managed 3 on a red daiwl bach on the midge tip. They were nice fish too all over a pound and half. The second one took at full stretch and ran and had to play him at distance on the reel for while.

I tried the pines and North Farm shore and while I saw fish on top I couldn't catch. I could only manage half a day on my own but it was nice too be out topping up the tan!

Sunday 4 July 2010

Just coming on as I leave

The football seems to have got in the way of the fishing recently and now England are out and it doesn't matter too much I seem to be enjoying it more!

It started very bright and windy this morning and as I was determined to go I thought Ravensthorpe would stand the best chance of a fish.

I expected all the boats to be taken but there were a few left when I arrived so quickly grabbed one. I'm not a great lover of single manned boats but happy for the peace and quiet. I started on the drift, di5 and blobs - no boobies on ravensthorpe. The water was a little coloured so thought if there sulking near the botton then this might be a chance, however it was very quiet and after 5/6 drifts I hadn't even had a pull so the anchor it was.

My choices went well and not long after I settled into the cotton end tunnel I had a fish on a damsel. The wind was squalling and the boat swinging around, it was difficult to keep in control but really more annoying. Unfortunately it didn't get any better and had a move to the end of the willows about 100 yards off the two platforms. This felt better but after half an hour I was itching to move. Having looked around all the boats were moving and no one was catching so I thought I would hold on where I was. It wasn't long before the cloud started to roll in and this made all the difference and I saw my first fish on top. There were a few green buzzers hatching now and I suppose the fish could start to look up without being blinded.

I kept my damsel on the point and added a green daiwl bach to my top dropper and that seemed to be the catalyst. A couple of casts later I was into another fish, they were not big, maybe 1lb 8oz or so but there wasn't anyone else catching so good enough for me. A bankie popped onto the platform and caught 2 in the next 15 minutes they must just be coming on! I managed one more and then my half day boat time was up just as they were coming on for the afternoon. Never mind no fish to gut as they were all returned so i'll go and settle in to see Nadal win!

Monday 21 June 2010

Turn on the tap!

As we were blown off in the Eliminators heat at rutland it was all down to a one hit eliminator on Grafham yesterday and unfortunately I didn't manage to go through.

After practice we had a couple of methods pulling a Di5 or twiddling on a midge tip and a good number of shoals in Sailing club, Lodge, Gaynes, G-bouy, Savages and the Nature reserve so what to choose?

My partner for the day was Richard Kesek, a seasoned Grafham campaigner with many England caps to his name and after a brief chat we decided to give outside the lodge a go at the most fish and then over to catch some bigger fish in Savages.

The first hour or so resulted in only a few swirls so we headed off to Savages. The fish weren't on here either but at least we managed to tempt a few fish and they were a good size.

I had a nice 4lb brown that fought hard and deep and typical. I then had a 4lb 6 rainbow that fought fantastic. it jumped 3 or 4 times and shot off on a couple of runs that took backing of a screeming reel - majic!

Fishing a couple of black buzzers with either a booby or a daiwl bach on the point we had managed 3 a piece by 4pm and then decided to tough it out. Everywhere else was fishing very hard. There were reports of a few 5's and 6's but our size of fish could well be OK.

What we hadn't realised though was that at 4pm the fish came on outside the lodge like turning a tap and all the many that headed back there then bagged up in double quick time. Mark Haycock managed to make it through and I think after only having 1 he then bagged up in the hour. Well done.

For me it was from confidence to dejection all within a couple of minutes. Never mind there's always next year!

Sunday 30 May 2010

Eliminators blown off

It was bowing 23 miles an hour at Rutland this morning and forecast to get up to 40 later in the afternoon and with safety in mind there were no boats going out today.

I was nearly there when Richard Slater called to tell me it was off so I turned around and headed home.

The practice was wasted but it was good to have a day out with Ash anyway although we did get rained on most of the day. I managed 4 on blobs and boobies and the fish were deep in the morning but came up in the water in the afternoon. We found fish in Spud bay, Yellowstone, outside the lodge and in Barnsdale however I didn't find and of the fresh stockies I was looking for but if I was to fish over fish all day i was feeling confident.

Anyway it's irrelavant now and it's all down to one heat at Grafham in June.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Talbot Butler Trophy winner

Yes it was me!!!

After a couple of days on Eyebrook with Mike you would have thought we would have been shattered and fed up of each other but fortunately not. I was looking forward to this event again organised by Arnold Haddon for the Cancer ward that helped him recover and to show our support. They raised over £1000 last year and I am sure it won't be far off that again this.

The day started with me being on time this week and managed to say hi to a few people i hadn't seen for a while. We had heard that the Cliffs, Pines and creek had been fishing but with the wind blowing into North Farm Shore we couldn't resist it and dropped the anchor off Stone Barn Point as Mike calls it. It's great mickey take between us that he thinks the outer point is stone barn and the inner is North farm bay point. For me I call it the opposite way with North Farm shore point and stone barn bay point. Answers on a postcard too!!!

I started with a Di7 and a coral booby on the point and was into fish quite quickly and took two pulling quite quick. It then dried up and then we thought rather than drifting that we would work our way up North Farm shore anchoring for a short time. This was a great tactic and by 12 mike had put the next 5 in the boat on the same fly on a di5. In what was a great act he returned a brownie of over 2 lb too and it was great to see it swim off. In hindsight he would have won if he had kept it, but it is always nice to think you did the right thing.

We were getting a little restless by now as the fishing had gone off a little so we headed for the creek. After a few positions we anchored off the stumps down the creek and we were well into fish. I took two and mike one. They were however very small and when they dried up we headed back to North Farm shore.

The fish seemed to have come up in the water and we saw a boat near us have two on the floater and Bob Church next to us have one on the bung. I then changed up to a fast glass with black buzzers and the coral booby on the point - almost a reversal of the bung and fished almost static. It wasn't long and the line sailed away but would you believe it on the booby. I managed to have one more the same way as the fish swam along the shore and leveled us up on 6 a piece.

There was a lovely meal and presentation evening at the Royal Oak at Walgrave and it rounded the evening off perfectly.

In the final results my six went 10-14 and I pipped Mike into second place with 6 for 10lb 2. Julian Davies managed 3rd spot with 4 fish on his damsel and Bob Church in 4th place with four fish too. Bob was looking great this year now the medication has been corrected and he proved he can still hack it and enjoy the competition.

Thanks Arnold. A great day.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Dave Currie's hot!

He may make a fine curry but Dave Currie fished fantastic in the Barclays National and led the Radbroke Hall team to a very convincing win by over 16lbs. Although he had caught 13 he weighed in the best bag of the day with 8 fish for 25lbs 4oz and also had the largest fish of the day at 6lb 9oz.



Fishing at Eyebrook the practice day had gone well enough and although we struggled to catch the many rising fish gorging themselves on buzzers we had a coral booby that was working well on a Di7, Di5 or fast glass. We swapped flies on the evening and while Powie gave me verbal because I only gave him 2 flies rather than twenty he was to eat his words and admit that at least mine were working.

36 anglers from across Barclays were all lined up and raring to go for the 37th Barclays National and after all the organising I was starting to relax now.


With everyone heading for the cow shed we were the only boat that pealed off and started in Sam's Dyke. Mike had two quickly and I had one and we made a good start. It then went very quiet and we headed down towards the cowshed. They by contrast had been catching well on daiwl bachs and things hadn't dried up. We muscled in and saw that Powie, Dave Currie and Paul Ravenscroft were catching consistently. We mooched about and settled behind Dave and manged another one. Mike changed to a midge tip and daiwl backs and a cast of 're verge' nylon he had. He then went and got snapped up twice and it was like cotton. I hope it's not all like that!. He changed nylon and did manage another.

I was tweaking back a tequila blob when the line was ripped out of my hand. I managed to keep control and after a hard fight I landed my best fish of the season so far a 5lb 13oz rainbow.

Powie had caught consistently in the morning and managed 7 and then after a move towards us managed to catch his eighth with only a short time to go with 7 of them on the coral booby on a midge tip. When the results were in he took the most fish trophy with 8 fish for over 22lb.

Barclaycard managed to come in well behind Radbroke but comfortably in second place and to cap it off John Clarke managed to take the best fish (not in winning bag)trophy with a 6lb 2 oz rainbow.

Overall we managed a catch return of 2.3 with 11 fish from the 81 over 4lbs. I will load up the full results in the next few days on my site www.troutfishers.com

Monday 10 May 2010

Julian Davies wins MNTFA Pitsford boat match

Congratulations to Julian Davies who managed to catch the biggest bag of 8 fish to take the Bruce Richardson Trophy.

It all started for me a bit rushed as I lost track of the time. When I walked on to the boat platform having arrived late I was greeted with a round of applause for turning up - cheeky buggers!

I knew where I wanted to go though and Phil thought the same so we were out at the front of the flotilla heading for Pitsford Creek. Mike and Ash were out in front and they took A1 position and anchored off the point of table bay and the creek. We popped in just in front and it felt nice.

I started on a Di7, booby and blobs but it started very slowly for me. It was Phil who got off to great start catching a couple of fish on a blob on a slow intermediate. I cam up in the water to a Di3 but Phil carried on catching on a damsel. The fish seemed to be coming round every now and again but they were tightly shoaled.

My back was too Mike and Ash and although we exchanged a bit of chat I didn't keep my eye on them. It was only at 1pm when Mike had bagged up that I realised they were catching. In actual fact Ash had bagged up at 12 o'clock on blobs and boobies. Fortunately before they headed off they told me what they were doing and although it was similar to me it gave me the confidence to persevere. Powie and John were struggling too and jumped in their spot.

Fortunately I caught quite quickly and after a move into table bay i managed to catch slow but consistently on an orange booby.

Richard and Nick were drifting all day and managed to pull a few fish from a few different shoals after anchored boats kept pinching their drifts they managed to find a shoal to themselves in the creek. Stuart and Matthew sat on a shoal off Pitsford car park and could see that they then started to catch consistently.

I managed to catch my last couple of fish in the last half hour just as the fish started to rise. Phil had a nice 3 and a half pounder on a cruncher and spent the last 10 minutes sweating on his last fish but unfortunately ended on 7.

Julian and Grant however had settled in the small half off the may tree bank and managed to get into some bigger fish that had been naturalised a little more than the fresh stockies we had been catching. One of Julians largest fish was just a couple ounces below 4lbs.

The day was topped off with a great meal in the lodge provided by The Chequers at Ravensthorpe - very civilised!!

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Naseby Fly Tyers

I had a great night last night thanks to Paul Jervis inviting me to give a fly tying talk and demo at the Royal Oak in Naseby. He has been running a weekly fly tying session through the winter and also a bit of fishing for a group of around 10 locals. It's great to get a group together like this.

It was an informal session and I walked through a whole host of tying and fishing techniques based around a green pea, orange booby, hares ear, slate grey buzzer, elk hair sedge and a green daiwl bach.



As this was the first time I have done a talk - apart from a few Pitsford open days - I took Mike and Phil along for some moral support. With a good number of traditional ales on tap and a great spread laid on by Paul and family it was a great night that I thoroughly enjoyed - hopefully everyone else did too, but I am sure they did.

There had to be something go wrong and as i had just finished my hares ear it pinged out of the holder and couldn't be found - all that effort! Thank goodness I had another one in box I show. We did find it afterwards - just in case they have been turning the place upside down today! I have salvaged a few today and have loaded them up below.



UV Hares ear, fluorescent orange tying silk, hares ear tail, hares ear body and thorax, pheasant thorax cover, oval gold rib and flour Orange head.





Slate Grey Buzzer, slate grey tying silk body and thorax, fine pearl back, red holographic rib, pearl thorax cover and orange goose biot cheeks.





Elk hair sedge, ginger palmer hackle, gold rib, ginger front hackle and a pinch of natural deer hair for the wing.



Thank you all!

Read your -mails!!!

I should have done this before going fishing on Sunday as Mike managed to catch a 5lb 8oz Rainbow and Phil a 5lb 20z on Friday. They were a little closer the lodge and on a red daiwl back. I may have had more success and confidence at least.

Great fish Phil!

Sunday 25 April 2010

it's been a while

It has, it seems ages since i last went fishing!

I have been focusing on my Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge that I managed to complete in 10hrs 58mins. There's more detail at www.kevshillwalking.blogspot.com if your really interested.

It has been a nice week this week and I fancied that Ravensthorpe would be warming up for some small fly action. However when I woke up this morning to wet on the ground and grey skies I thought, typical!

I think everyone had the same idea as me as all the boats were taken and the cotton end lay by full of cars. In hind sight i should have perhaps gone off the dam but I only had a couple of hours and knew there were fish here. The platforms were taken so i found a gap in the trees just beforehand and started to tackle up.

It really felt like spring was here as the sun began to peak through, dandelions and daffodils adding colour, I could hear a chiffchaff in the tree next to me and there was a hatch on as the swallows, house martins and sand martins were swooping around infront of me. It was a pleasure to be out.

I started on a mains damsel and couple of buzzers on a floater and it was only second when all tightened up and I was into a nice 2pounder.

The mains damsel has been a great fly for me. We called it this after John Mains as far as I am aware originated it for competition fishing in hard early season conditions. It is a simple fly to tie consisting of an olive marabou tail, olive marabou body, pearl over the back and a silver wire rib.

It was a great start but not to be followed up unfortunately. I moved onto straight lining daiwl bach's and cruchers and drifting out a bung but nothing. There were a few fish further out and the hatch slowed down at midday.

When the couple of guys off the platforms left having only one apiece too on buzzers,I thought I would follow too. A nice ease back into it again though.

Sunday 21 March 2010

Bad luck comes in threes

It was the MNTFA Pitsford Bank competition and it didn't start too well when on only my second cast my rod snapped on the back cast - more about that later. At lunchtime I got on my bike and cycled round the water having a few chats when half way round I got a puncture - a great walk back to the car. Lastly as I was gutting my fish the knife sliced through my thumb - the same colour as my buzzers!

I managed to shake off all of that and still come 6th and have the best fish of the day prize for a 3lb 5oz rainbow - nice and overwintered!

I started off at the Pines with Don Moore and Phil, the wind was very light to start but got up as the day went on. Phil was on fire again and had the first fish on a bloodworm after we saw at least 3 fish rise in front of us. I also changed to bloodworm and buzzers and managed to catch two fish on a red buzzer including my best fish. It showed promise up to lunch but then went very quiet.

After i had walked back to my car and still nothing doing on the pines I made my way up to stone barn bay. I was greeted by Powie and Mick O'farrel waving to say they were packing up and I could have their spot. Very kind, Mick had actually had his limit by half past eleven. I started on the floater but nothing doing and thought i would copy so on went the di3 and a black and green booby.

1st cast out and I was hooked into a nice stockie, that's better! I managed to catch 5 in the next hour and lost a couple, it was great sport. It's surprising how easy it is when the fish are in front of you but it's bloody hard finding them. I sweated on the last 10 minutes to catch my last but the fish had moved off.

A couple of spots down though Seumas had bagged up and gave his spot to Graham Haywood who had another 3 to get. He managed to get his last fish on the last cast of the match and let out a great roar! It was the first limit he had caught and a major milestone especially having won the most ducks competition last year. Brilliant!

As you can see from the photo below he is staring at his bag of fish and can't quite believe how many there are.



The weigh in was surprising how many fish had been caught and it was obvious Phil and I had chosen the wrong spot to start. Graham was in Third Place and Mick in second but Ash cooper managed to win with a great bag of fish caught on a cats whisker from Sailing Club Bank. Well done!

Saturday 20 March 2010

Key controversy

There has been some interesting debate on Fly forums website around whether a day ticket fisherman should be able to have a key to the gates in the same way as a season ticket holder at Pitsford.

This only seems fair and would be the best solution. It must feel naff walking along the banks to a spot when a car beats you there. I guess there are more and more pensioners fishing these days and it is not always possible to walk the distances to get to the fish.

Fortunately most of the main hotspots on pitsford these days are easily walkable. In fact a mate of mine refuses a key and prefers the walk to keep fit.

The water has to cater for many users and there is a restriction on the number of cars that are allowed round. With many cyclists and walkers - including me - on the road we have to be responsible.

Not only this but Nathan has to control it. With notices in the lodge on how to use the locks correctly and regular reminders of the care to be taken we are an easy target and need to keep this to an absolute minimum. As a season ticket holder Nathan holds your address and phone number and can issue warnings. If needed there is always the threat of taking the season ticket away. He does not have this control over day ticket holders and while the majority would act responsibly if there is no deterrent then the minority would not.

Over the first few days the locks appear to have been abused by both day ticket holders and season ticket holders. The gates need to remain locked at all times and if a day ticket holder is let in you need to be very clear and take ownership on how they can get out.

I will discuss with Nathan if opening day next year can be an exception and everyone have the same access.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Phil bags up again

Yes it was the "Elinor Experts" opportunity to show me how to fish properly again and he has me almost converted to fishing bloodworms.



It was always going to be all or nothing for me but thought I would have a relaxing day and enjoy it any way. To help my feet I took my boat box with me and fitted in a dream with all the other old boys sitting down and fishing. They do feel better for not being in cold water all day!

It all started ominously when we hadn't hadn't had a pull I decided to go back to the car and while I was gone Phil had one on a buzzer. With nothing else doing we moved up to the top end and fished the bank next to the canal. There were a few catching but only in key positions on the point or in the bay.

Still fishless at 2pm I knew it was going to be one of those days so sod it! I went for a walk around Titchmarsh reserve to take my mind off it. When I returned though Phil had already banked another 3 on a bloodworm. I could say i didn't believe him but when the guys around started asking for me to leave again if he hadn't caught he must have paid them handsomely.

If the fish were here a different mindset was needed so I went positive and back to my Pitsford technique of a pea and blob. It wasn't too long and I could feel tap, tap, tap and as I left it static off it went. It wasn't big but it saves me from blanking and it was very grateful and soon un-hooked and swimming free again.



Phil managed another and by now the place was emptying - all going home for tea. I'm not if it was me wanting to catch more or Phil feeling sorry for me but we weren't going home yet! The two guys on the point were off and both of us jumped in for a last flurry. Phil had another and lost a few and that was it I had to concede and borrow a bloodworm. It was hardly on the line a couple of casts and I was into my second.

The fish seemed to move off so we decided to call it a night. With the pattern in my mind I'm going to be tying bloodworms later this week!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Fish all over

I don't seem to be quite in the groove at the moment. There are people bagging up but I'm not one of them. Having said that I am still only fishing 2 or 3 hours so really I'm doing fine.

Steve had given me a text to say he was on the Pines so I headed there at lunchtime today just as he popped in the spot that someone had bagged up earlier. I took up a spot on the point of the creek and table bay and started with the di5 and booby. It didn't feel right so I set up with what I was comfortable with - a green pea and orange blob on a floater. I counted it down and first two pulls and my first fish.



I thought this was going to be it but i struggled on and managed another couple before my feet were aching - must take my box next time! Well with fish off sailing club, the pines and bog bay the fish really are all over.

Steve persevered on without success but he won't be put off and I'm sure he will be back tomorrow. For me I fancy a change of scenery at Elinor tomorrow, either that or Phil wants to catch a bag full again!