First ever fly line

I was out with Matt this weekend at Ravensthorpe trying to catch his first fish. It was due to be a nice day, cloudy but warming as the day went. That was how it was and with black buzzer hatching early, olive buzzers later and a few fish on top, perfect conditions i thought. Unfortunately it was a little more difficult than that. I set up with a Wetcel 2 which is a little old but it has a great feel to it, small white lure and a black and silver gold head on the point. I had heard the fish had been mid water to to the bottom. The first stop was in willow bay and though they were not fast and furious the first 3 were in the boat and i was convinced of the method. Matt although not casting as far was on a Di5 and getting to the depth. Every now and then the rod was dip over with a take but they wouldn't stick. It went a little quiet so we headed over towards the far shore where the small green buzzers were hatching and a few fish on top. Although a number of others were chasing these surface fish i went down deeper onto the Di7. An early fish for me confirmed there were fish at depth and although i questioned Matt's takes I was amazed that i saw his rod arch over twice with nothing to stick. It was then that Matt declared he had a fish on - YES!!! I cooley reached for the camera to take a few shots for posterity while he played it.

As it came to the surface the fight got a little less and DAMM!! it was only a full floating and three flies. I pulled it in carefully with the hope of a fish still on the end from the previous owner but to no avail.

We moved around a little after this and got a good view of the whole reservoir. We finished off back dragging across the front of the Dam where i thought something could just pick up his flies. Fortunately for me they grabbed mine including a nice 3 to 4 pound rainbow. Time was up and i had failed to catch Matt his first trout. Never mind the challenge is still on!

Bob Pickering Challenge

The final Bob Pickering Challenge match was held today at Grafham with memories for Bob - where have those 10 years gone? but also for John Wilson who died at the weekend. It was Johns idea to get a few more together and hold this for the last time before the trophy is handed back to Andrea to keep and although he tried hard to attend thanks to Mike Philpott who finalised the arrangements and made a great day. We all enjoyed ourselves and with Ash looking professional and ready for action ( with a cool box big enough for the job ) he was destined to win the day with 5 fish for over 12lb.

Dougie was on form as usual although it had been so long since he had fished you can see him in his course gear asking "where do i shove this line?"

Vernon was also on form and managed to come 2nd with 5 fish for 10lb. Rumour has it he only fished half a day as it took so long to work out how to put his MFI boat seat together!

My boat partner for the day, Shane Tibbets was third with 3 fish. Although i was sure that mine would have weighed more if I had left in the stomach contents of killer shrimp!

It gets dark early these days and as the sun came down over Grafham and the Bob Pick Trophy we headed off to the Lion at Buckden for a very civilised sit down and for Andrea to present the trophy. With a few beers in memory of Bob and John they would have approved!

John Wilson and Julian Davies pass away

Having been ages since i last added a post it is really sad that i have have to write about loosing two friends over the weekend. John Wilson from Market Harborough was a lifelong friend/colleague/mentor of mine and someone i always looked up to and respected, unfortunately he lost his battle with cancer this weekend. He gave me many subtle steers in life that i shall always be grateful for. Our approach and outlook on life were very similar but his came in an engaging way with more experience. He had a great way to get me relaxed, positive and motivated, as i am am sure he did with others to,o and this meant I always fished well in his company which gave me many treasured memories. John had a great passion for the outdoors and absolutely loved all aspects of it. He enjoyed being out in the fresh air of the countryside and marvelled at how spectacular it can be. He wrestled with his conscience around how killing an animal could be conservationist as i do, but in his era of commercial excess, pesticides and habitat loss i have no doubt he gave back much much more! One of his qualities i admired most was that he was an excellent leader, not only managing many staff at Barclaycard and Barclays Bank but also their fishing clubs. He did this in an all encompassing way making everyone part of it and its success. The Barclays Fishing Club and thoughts of him will live on for many many years. Julian Davies was still fighting his cancer battle and we thought was on the winning side until unexpectedly passing away suddenly this weekend. Many Monday nights in Julian's company has been entertaining, engaging and enjoyable. He has done an enormous amount for fishing in Northamptonshire through Gilders and Mid-Northants. I have worked for him when he was Chairman and with him when a Vice-president and was always impressed how he had an aura of authority and used it in the right ways. Out on a fishing boat though and he was fantastic company but fiercely competitive. I remember very clearly how i am sure he tried to knock one of my fish off the line at Grafham that would have taken me one ahead. Funny how I perhaps liked him more for it too!