BFFA Competition held at Burrator on Saturday 19 November 2016

Perhaps the weather forecast had deterred members from fishing the November competition at Burrator as only four of us were there.  Calm & quite sunny conditions greeted our start but it soon clouded over.  The water level is still very low with the reservoir at something like 48% of maximum capacity.  The air temperature was about 6C and the water 9C.  

We all fished on the south facing side of the Longstone Peninsula where only an occasional breeze disturbed the surface.  Pat landed the first (and only as it turned out!) rainbow.  A rather slim and dark one of 1lb 4oz that took a "sparkly fly".  A little later I had a 10oz brown trout take my black & green Kennick Killer. The Burrator brownies really are stunning with a huge variation in markings and colouration.  By midday the cloudy skies had darkened and the first of several very cold, heavy showers spattered the lake.  The Kelly Kettle provided us with a gratefully received cup of tea - Bewleys Irish Blend - but by 2pm we decided we had had enough and declared Pat the winner. 

There had been a stocking of rainbows two weeks previously so it was disappointing not to land a few more.  I think that the odd fish we saw dimpling the surface were probably brownies - I saw no fly life at all.

A calm lake & blue skies at first

Pat into the first rainbow

My beautifully marked 10oz brown trout

Glassy calm at Longstone

 

The Kelly Kettle included in a tea break 'selfie' with me, Mark, Bob & Pat

A heavy shower as were brewing tea

An even heavier shower mixed with hail

The smoke from the woodburning stove at the Discovery Centre looked inviting!

Burrator Fly Fishers Competition at Tavistock Trout Fishery 28th October 2016

This competition was held at Tavistock Trout Fishery on Friday 28th October.  Nine members met in the car park for the start at 10am.  Permits for three fish were purchased and we spread ourselves around the five lakes.  The weather was very mild with an air temperature around 15C although it remained overcast all day.  The water coming into the trout lakes from the River Tavy was much more chilly at 10C.  The weigh-in was at 3pm.

Prior to the competition three members, Pat, Terry and David had landed trout of over 5lb while fishing other 'away days' during the season.  It had been agreed at the last meeting that the biggest trout caught by them would win the Traveller's Trophy unless anyone of us fishing here at Tavistock had a trout bigger than 5lb 3oz which would then win the trophy.

In the event, Terry had a rainbow of 3lb 12oz which was the biggest on the day so he was declared the winner of the Traveller's Trophy as well as the competition.  Other members who landed trout were David - 2lb 12oz,  BobP - 2lb 11oz,  Keneisha 2lb 11oz and  Kelvin - 2lb11oz.  Four of us were unable to land anything although some fish were hooked and lost.  An angler unconnected with the BFFA had a beautiful brown trout of exactly 5lb on a small buzzer while fishing the Kingfisher Lake.

Very few trout were moving and not a great deal of fly life was seen.  The lakes are quite deep with the Big Osprey Lake topping the list at 18 feet, the other four ranging between 12 & 14 feet. 

New member Keniesha gets ready with the net as David hooks his first fish of the day

Looking across Heron Lake

Pete  gets ready with the net as Kelvin lands his first fish from the Lower Heron Lake

Safely in the net!

Tony fishing the Heron Lake

BobE & BobP fishing the Kingfisher Lake next to the lodge