Christmas Competition and Meal sees out 2013

2013 has been an interesting, but at times difficult, year for the Burrator Fly Fishers. On the positive side we have boat fishing on Burrator for the first time in ten years and, for the most part, the fishing, from both bank and boat, has been good, especially for the regulars who put in weekly or even more frequent visits to the water. The general stamp of fish has been better than for some time and the odd specimen or two has been netted. On the downside the midsummer was fairly hopeless due to extreme low water conditions and high water temperatures, and we had the usual interruptions from inconsiderate dog walkers, but the saddest aspect was the death of  one of our longest serving members, Geoff Riley, who passed away in October.

Fishing got back to something like normal as September moved into October but the month extension of the season through November was largely a waste of time. As the year ended we met for our Christmas Competition at Bake Lakes on Saturday 7th December and followed this with our Christmas Meal at the Jack Rabbit on the evening of the 9th.

Saturday at Bake

Linda with her 'Minders'



Tony Vallack, Mike Duckett, Peter Macconnell, Linda James, Pat Power, John Jeffrey, Tony McCoy, and Peter Phillips turned out on what was a cold but bright day. Pat Power was the overall winner with two fish for exactly four pounds (each angler's first two fish counted for the competition). There were plenty of fish about but they proved hard to tempt as will be seen by the list of weights:

Pat Power - two fish for 4.00
Peter Macconnell - two fish for 3.10
Mike Duckett - one fish for 2.04
Linda James - one fish for 2.00
Tony Vallack - one fish for 1.12

'...a picture of concentration...' Peter plays a fish



Monday Evening at the Jack Rabbit

'Lucky' Tom Turner - with yet another armful of prizes

For the second year running we had our pre Christmas Meal & Awards Ceremony at the Jack Rabbit Pub. Again there was a fairly decent turnout and a good time was had by all. Bottles of Grant's whisky went to Pat Power for winning the Christmas Competition, Mark Clark for Best Fish of the Year, and Tom Turner for winning the Grand Raffle. Peter Phillips the winner of the annual Three Fly Competition received one of Tony Vallack's much coveted Wooden Fish Plaques. We look forward now to the AGM in January and to another season that will begin on 15th March 2014. Compliments of the Season to you all.

'Best Fish of the Year' - 7lb 4oz caught from Newhouse by Mark Clark