GWFFA/EDFF

Easter Sunday was the annual GWFFA/EDFF day at Grafham where GWFFA host the event and are joined by members of the English Disabled Fly Fishers as well as representatives from Wales and other organisations like England Ladies (ELFA)

This is a friendly competition fished to fishery rules and a 8 fish limit per angler. Best boat combined weight wins. There are prizes to 5th place as well as lucky losers drawn from a hat and best fish prize.
I was paired with Ken Waters from EDFF who lives in the same village as my office near Rutland, small world. Anyway, we set off at the start and headed for the North Shore where several boats headed for Pig Bay and Hedge End. Deciding to avoid the crowds we set up a drift at the start of the stones near Hill Farm. About 45 mins and a few drifts later I hooked into a really nice fish, Ken got one on at the same time which caused a challenge as I need to net his fish as well. After a frantic few minutes we both had a fish in the boat so things looked like improving. By lunchtime Ken had 3 all on buzzers but I was struggling. I switched to a Di5 and tried pulling for a while but that was unproductive so I went back to buzzers and a midge tip line. A boat had left the trees at Sanctuary Bay and reported that they had 1 each but lost 6. Ken and I decided to head for Savages Creek where I had heard of fish been caught but on the way decided to try the spot the other boat had left. First cast and I had a fish but after a few more drifts we hadn't caught anymore so set of for Savages.
Chris B and Steve E were there and had several fish in the boat but all by their boat partners who were on the bow end. This seemed to be the pattern of the day as Ken had 3 more and I eventually had 2 more.
We had to be back in the harbour by 5.00pm so at 4.45 we set off with 10 fish in the boat. On arriving at the lodge I soon discovered that we needed 16 to be in with a shout and several anglers had bagged up early at Hedge End. Should have followed the crowd!! Our 10 fish had a combined weight of 23lb 3oz but was at least 10lb short of the prizes.

A great day out was had by all and the day was rounded off by dinner in the Harbour View Restaurant and a beer or three.

April 1st at Rutland

It was no April fool when Rutland opened this year. The weather wasn't too kind but after a difficult first hour near Normanton Church i met up with Nick Preston and Neil Dodds and we headed for the Peninsula. We arrived near Armley Wood and within a few casts I had a fish on. Using a Pitsford Pea on the point and a Diawl Bach on the dropper I had a busy hour or so landing 8 fish all on the Pitsford Pea. I moved up and down the bank a bit and after 3 hours I had 13 in total. Nick had managed five and Neil, struggling with tennis elbow, had 3. A great start to the Rutland Season!