The Club Secretary making sure we leave the Fishing Lodge clean and tidy after our fly tying session during the morning.

The Club Secretary making sure we leave the Fishing Lodge clean and tidy after our fly tying session during the morning.

This competition was held at Farmoor 2 reservoir and was an afternoon boat fishing contest using only the flies tied previously in the morning’s fly tying session. The winner was to be the heaviest bag consisting of upto four fish.

The morning dawned bright but windy and upon arrival at the venue we were advised that the wind exceeded the limits permitted for boats to go out on the reservoir. Nevertheless, fly tying commenced in the faint hope that the wind would moderate by lunch time and permit boats to go out in the afternoon. Most tied the usual flies for Farmoor – Diawl Bachs, Boobys, Foam Body Daddies, Hoppers and Buzzers.

At 13.00, the wind was still too strong to permit boat fishing and consequently the competition was changed to fishing from the bank! Everyone headed for areas of the bank offering some protection from the wind and where, unsurprisingly, all the other anglers had congregated. Despite “chucking” every fly tied that morning, at the water, most had only the occasional “pull” and plenty of “follows”. Only two competitors were successful in catching a fish and by 18.00 everyone was glad to packup and call it a day.

Everyone retired to the local pub for an enjoyable meal and a moan about the appalling weather conditions.

John Gamon was declared the winner of the competition and presented with the Martin Grant Memorial Trophy which is the loan of a Snowbee Waldron vice for a year.

Geoff Darby presenting Martin Grant Trophy to John Gamon

Geoff Darby presenting Martin Grant Trophy to John Gamon

The competition results were:

John Gamon       1 fish        2lb-6oz

Geoff Darby        1 fish        2lb-4oz