The Complete Fisher Forum

[Whistlekiller]

It will mean a rather awkward last minute call to Rutland (I've already amended the boat requirement downwards twice) but I spend most of my working life making awkward calls to people so don't worry about that. We would need agreement from all of concerned before I make the call and if I have to do it I wouldn't want to any later than close of business today as although one day's notice is cutting it a bit fine, no days notice would not be fair on Rutland at all. I don't have the telephone numbers of all participants so if anybody else does please see what you can find out about their opinions. I'll send PMs in any case but whether they get picked up is difficult to say.


_________________

SKB Web - SKB Fly Fishing
SKB Facebook - SKB Facebook
CFF Facebook - CFF Facebook

[Grey Hackle]

Don;t want to make it awkward for anyone. Like Roy I'll go withth eflow. Ecowarrior is fishing for two days in Berkshire so is oncontactable. But he would go with the flow as well.
_________________
To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley

[montanajoe]

The forecast says there will be clouds which is good. There will be a breeze, which is good. It will be warm so there could be good hatches. Rutland is such a big expanse of water that it takes a while to warm up. I mean according to reports the South Arm hasn't started fishing yet which is a cyclical thing and is similar each year.
Last year was difficult because it had been really hot for a long time before, this year will be different I just know it as it can't be bad 3 years in a row.

I am looking forward to going as I think it will be OK and it'll be the only chance I get to meet anyone this year as I've not been able to get to the socials.

It will be difficult but then it wouldn't be a challenge which is why we go fishing.

I'll go with the flow but aren't we pre-empting things a little. You take it as you find it and make the most of what the fishing gods offer you.

Iain

[Grey Hackle]

[Whistlekiller]

OK, it goes ahead as planned and may god have mercy on our souls. Thanks for saving me the embarassement of cancelling at the last minute chaps. Beers on me after!

8am at the lodge and we will catch dammit.

Mate's PC so no sign off pic!
_________________

SKB Web - SKB Fly Fishing
SKB Facebook - SKB Facebook
CFF Facebook - CFF Facebook

[montanajoe]

Let's hope I'm right for all our sakes.

Looking forward to it.

Iain

[Grey Hackle]

For a report on yesterday take a look at me blog!

See if you can recognise these two!


_________________
To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley

[Whistlekiller]

I've got to go out today to compensate for not being at home yesterday but a full report and some pictures of Montanajoe being a right show off will be appearing here in full later on!


_________________

SKB Web - SKB Fly Fishing
SKB Facebook - SKB Facebook
CFF Facebook - CFF Facebook

[royvs]

Well, here endeth the lesson.

Yesterday was my annual outing to a big reservoir and I have to say my old “Rutland Mentor”, Nigel Haigh, was sorely missed by both Rich and myself.

Rich’s company in the boat more than made up for what would otherwise have been a very trying day.

What lesson, tho’?, I hear you cry.

Well two actually. A lesson in how to fish big reservoirs and a lesson in humility. While the rest of us struggled and so did most Anglers on Rutland, Montana Joe was just hauling them in.

Every time I heard Rich say “I don’t bloody believe it”, I looked round and he (MJ) was at it again!! Absolutely superb angling and try as we would to emulate him, we could not catch fish for a pension.

Granted, we did lose quite a few to our boat and didn’t blank but I must confess to finding the whole thing quite baffling. One thing I have remembered, this morning. I was using 7lb. Riverge and lost a big, acrobatic fish when I put strain on him. The leader parted at the dropper knot and I recall Nigel saying he used 12lb. Riverge at Rutland. Still, that was no excuse for the rest that came astray before coming to the boat.

Lack of fish apart it was a fun day. As previously stated, Rich was excellent company and it was a pleasure to fish with him. My thanks go to him for organising and to Iain for showing us all what can be done by an Angler who is a master of his craft.

I do hope this event increases in popularity…it was discussed yesterday and I think some suggestions will be forthcoming.
_________________
Roy

[montanajoe]

Thanks to Rich for organizing a good day out and commiserations to Ecowarrior who was to have been my boat partner but couldn't make it as he definitely would have caught a few fish.

The weather was hot and bright with a slight breeze, not exactly ideal fishing weather. Fisr priority - on with the Factor 30 SPF so as to avoid a repeat of last year's sunburn. We heard it had just been stocked in Church Bay so that was the likely area for starters.

Loopy caught the first fish of the day just off the Church while I was manfully pulling blobs and boobies with no interest. I swapped to a floater with nymphs and caught a fish just 10 yards off the bank. There was more fish moving close in so I went back and tried again. They seemed to like the fly christened the Captain scarlet by my son Kieran (see my posts on Ogston). I caught 7 out of that corner before allowing Loopy and Sunkistbob into that area so I could go and explore. WK and Roy also came in and started to get some action with both losing fish while I was there (posing for the camera!!). I motored down to the South Arm and Yellowstone for a while with no luck before coming back to this area for luch time. Loopy and Sunkistbob had informed me that the shoal had disappeared and went off the feed after they had jagged them all. WK and Roy were still in the area. The fish had just moved out of the corner and were now more spread out. After a couple of drifts I decided to try an orange blob which immediately gained the interest of a fish or two. They would pluck and follow but wouldn't take. It was obvious there was a lot of fish around. I worked the shore all the way down and caught another 5. WK and Roy were having a bit of interest but not as much luck as me. I probably scared all the fish. We then adjourned for a well earned pint and a chat. Cheers WK. The meeting of kindred souls is what makes these days out memorable. We then decided to go out for the last hour but it was hard going as it had went flat calm with only the odd fish moving. I pickd up another and lost a couple on a grenadier before calling it a day. I was last off the water from the Forum everyone else having called it a day.

Looking forward to next year when I hope more people will attend as it really is one of the days I put in my calender.

I do need to take a camera next year so I can take some lasting images of all around.

Iain

[ecowarrior]

Apologies from me for not making it on the day - a sore throat, blown eardrum and a lovely dose of antibiotics saw me laid up in bed most of Saturday. I even texted Loopy to tell him this at 6.30am but the ol' duffer doesn't understand new fangled technology like phones 'n stuff

I'll be buggered if I'm going to miss out next year though, so watch out... er... somebody!

ecowhat?

[Whistlekiller]

OK, duty done today - no fishing .........but let's see what I managed to gleen from Battletrout 2010.

1. Roy Stroud is a gent of the highest order. A smashing boat companion with a cool line in wicked dry humour.

2. Don't use 7lb Riverge at Rutland.........

3. Don't leave the boat dock on a very hot day without something to drink.

4. Don't showboat in front of the assembled cameras (especially if it's Loopy) when playing a fish.

5. Montanajoe is a world class clever-dick who deliberately caught far too many fish to rub it all in and should be banned from all further CFF competitions.

Onto the pictures:

The mighty Royvs prepares for battle:


A smiling Ben and a highly dubious bloggist (sporting Percy Thrower's best wellies) select their life-jackets:


The Sunkistbob-de-doo-da-Loopy boat engages in some blatant paparazzi style off-putting tactics:


Roy gets into a big fish:


Roy still into a big fish:


Errrrr........at which point my camera gave up the ghost for a few minutes and nobody else was watching. Apparently a 23lb rainbow - foul hooked on a six fly dog-nobbler rig which was returned unseen by the assembled throng. What a crying shame about that one Roy...............I don't blame you for denying the catch later on...........

And so, with Boat 39 doused from bow to stern in trout attractor spray, the hero of the hour, the Master from Matlock, Montanabloodyjoe teaching us all a lesson in how to do it:










Therefore I can officially state that the overall winner of Battletrout 2010, after a stewards enquiry and a urine test is:

MONTANAJOE

Well done Sir!!

Everybody else was well thrashed although I don't believe there were any blanks. For my part I lost a rainbow on a buzzer trying to show off to the lurking lense of Loopy but redeeemed myself later with a cracking brownie for dinner on a tequilla blob (WTF!!!!).

I'd echo the scribblings above about the day. Whilst not ideal conditions, we can have no complaints as Iain showed us all a clean pair of heels and made the list of excuses for not catching (several pages of which I'd prepared in advance) totally redundant. It was great to meet up with everybody again and particularly good for me to finally get to fish with Roy. A couple of years in the planning but we finally managed it old son! . Many subjects were covered in our boat, HMS Exeter at the Battle of The River Plate, the use of napalm in the Lebanon, why Nigel must have been having a kip in heaven and not putting us on the fish and how many millions Roy was going to sue Riverge for after a dropper knot mysteriously failed.

Also, thanks to Ben for turning up at short notice like that and I'm sure I'll be seeing him again at some point soon.

Ecowarrior........**** knows what I managed to do with the booking fees but I'll PM you to see about sorting you out for some sort of refund. A burst eardrum is no laughing matter. Get better soon eh?

Battletrout 2011
We had a bit of a chat about this during the beer break, particularly the problem of getting the numbers up. We came to the conclusion that it may be better to hold 2011's somewhere a bit easier for people to get to. We also wondered if some are put off by Rutland due to its size so the general idea was to move somewhere a bit further to the north and a little less daunting so that everybody is within spitting distance and more confident of catching a fish. If you have any opinions on this I'd be happy to hear them.

Regards gents!


_________________

SKB Web - SKB Fly Fishing
SKB Facebook - SKB Facebook
CFF Facebook - CFF Facebook

[Officer Clipboard]

Nice reports there chaps, I would have loved to have come along but I had to work that weekend. Maybe and hopefully next year. I have never fished Rutland and whilst I know it's a truely daunting place to fish for a Rutland virgin, I would like to fish it along with guys who know the place and can have some fun and enjoy the banter. If the choice of venue changes for next year, so be it, but for me, Battletrout at Rutland would be the only change I'd have to fish it.

Oh and, Please can I be in the boat with MontanaJoe next time!!! Well done that man!!
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/groups/completefisher/

[mikeh]

Montana Joe is unfortunately like that

Sounds like a good day out non the less.
_________________
Rugby - http://s2.excoboard.com/Igloo2
Blog - http://wanderingchav.blogspot.com

[Grey Hackle]

Great report WK and thanks for organising.

That is a super shot of Iain - the first one in your sequence - it is worthy of front page on T&S.

No need to change the venue. Just let us pick the right day! A few lads I know went out on the Sunday and caught over sixty between two boats. So it is choosing the right day or partnering Iain which I understand is now at a hefty premium!

Thanks again WK


_________________
To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley