February Competition at Newhouse

'Tarpon Tony' poses with the best fish of the day - 4lb 7oz

New member Kelvin Nikulin plays a lively rainbow

A small but select group of members turned out -
Mike Duckett, Mark Clark, Tony Vallack, Peter Macconnell and Kelvin Nikulin

Tony's winning bag - three rainbows for exactly 9lbs

Peter with an unusual catch (and release) - a carp of about 2 lbs caught on a Kate McLaren

Tony plays his fish in cold and windy conditions

Peter keeps warm in the fishing hut

The weather forecast for Thursday 20th February predicted a bright sunny day, with brisk winds and occasional showers. Mercifully the showers were few and far between. Nevertheless it was still a day for wrapping up warm. Surprisingly only five members turned out for what proved to be an excellent and enjoyable day's fly fishing at what must now rank as one of the best small trout fisheries in the area. Despite much rain in previous days, and the consequent agricultural run-off, the water was quite clear and fish could be seen moving near the surface. We fished short 'office hours' 10.00am to 4.00pm, and all of us caught our three fish limits as well as having many other takes from  fish that threw the fly. All the fish were caught on floating lines or slow intermediates. Additionally Peter had a fourth fish which was returned alive; a carp of about two pounds fairly taken on a traditional wet fly. 

The competition results were:

Tony Vallack - three fish for 9lb 0oz.

Mark Clark - three fish for 6lb 8oz.

Kelvin Nikulin - three fish for 5lb 13oz.

Mike Duckett - three fish for 5lb 7oz.

Peter Macconnell - three fish for 4lb 12oz. (carp not counted).

February Fly Tying Evening

As far as we know a fly tying evening is an innovation for the club. It was suggested, somewhat indirectly, by new member George Whortelhock, at the AGM, when he asked if anyone could help him start to tie his own flies. This brought an immediate and enthusiastic response from several members, so it was agreed that our February meeting would be a 'fly tying special'. 

It must be said that none of our members claim to be experts at the vice; but mere amateurs who add a little extra to their fly fishing experiences by catching fish using home tied flies. In  the event the evening was very enjoyable as can be seen from the following pictures taken by Tony Vallack. Let's hope we can do it again.

George at the vice - It was his idea

Del, Peter and Mark - A picture of concentration

Jack and Mike sorting out materials

Peter gives it a go,  while Linda get tips from Mark

Pat shows John how to tie his version the Damsel Fly

Competitions and Club Meetings 2014

'Keen as Mustard' whatever the weather - four fine examples of piscatorial dedication

Once again Mike Duckett has produced a list of competition and meeting dates which we hope will prove convenient for all and also provide some variety of fishing venues for members to visit in addition to our regular in-season events at Burrator.

The club meeting dates: are all on the second Monday in the month. Please note that the February meeting is a Fly Tying Special (please bring your vices and other equipment) which will start at 7.00pm. All others will start at 7.30pm except the Christmas meal which will be at 6.30pm. 

The meetings will continue to be at the Travelodge (next to the Jack Rabbit Pub) Derriford. The actual dates are:
10th February - Fly Tying - Start at 7.00pm
10th March
14th April
12th May
14th July
8th September
13th October
10th November
8th December Christmas meal at Jack Rabbit Pub

Please note that there are no meetings in June and August.

The club competition dates are:
Thursday 20th February Newhouse - From 10.00am
Saturday 15th March Burrator Reservoir (Opening Day) - From 10.00am
Saturday 27th April Bake Lakes (Three Fly Competition) - From 10.00am
Saturday 17th May Burrator Reservoir - Afternoon & Evening
Wednesday 11th June Burrator Reservoir - Afternoon & Evening
Thursday 26th June Chew Valley Reservoir near Bristol - Travel to be arranged
Saturday 12th July Burrator Reservoir - Afternoon & Evening
Thursday 14th August Kennick Reservoir - Afternoon & Evening
Wednesday 17th September Burrator Reservoir - From 10.00am
Saturday 18th October Bake Lakes -  From 10.00am
Thursday 13th November Rose Park near Alturnun  - From 10.00am
Saturday 6th December Bake Lakes - From 10.00am

In addition to the prize for each competition winner there will be an award for the best fish caught from any venue during 2014, and new for 2014 onward, a trophy for the best fish from Burrator. It is intended that this will be for a 'Geoff Riley Memorial Trophy'.  


Any queries about the meetings and fishing events should be directed to Mike Duckett.

Don't forget the AGM

Date:Monday 13th January 2014

Time: 7.30pm

Place: Travelodge, Derriford Roundabout 

Agenda

1. Review of 2013 including Chairman's and Treasurer's reports
2. Election of Officers
3. Decision about subscriptions for 2014
4. Plans for meetings and competitions

Come along to help your club to make 2014 a really enjoyable fishing and social year for all of us.

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





Geoff Riley 1936 - 2013



It is with great sadness we report that Geoff Riley passed away on Friday 4th October 2013. Geoff had been suffering from cancer and just the week before had been admitted to St. Luke's Hospice where his final days and hours could be made as comfortable as possible.

Geoff had been a long-standing member of the Burrator Fly Fishers and loved his fishing at the reservoir. He had also been a very active member and did a lot for the club in his role as Secretary, a position he held for more than ten years. He was much appreciated, greatly liked, and will be sorely missed.

Geoff's son Steve, in an email to the Chairman, said 'Dad loved his fishing and had many happy memories of Burrator. He also enjoyed seeing Roy & Terry just a couple of days ago.' (Roy Kane and ex member Terry Buttle had been to visit Geoff at St. Luke's).

Geoff's funeral is at 12 noon on Wednesday 16th October, at Weston Mill Crematorium. All members and ex members who knew him, have been invited by Geoff's wife, Joy, to attend if they wish. Flowers will be from family only so anyone wanting to make a donation in lieu should do so by giving something to St. Luke's Hospice who do marvellous work. The club will make an appropriate donation.

Geoff's son, Steve, has also suggested that the family would like to give to the club a trophy of some kind, possibly a cup or a shield, in memory of his father. We have indicated that we would be honoured to accept.



A limit bag for Pat wins the September Competition

See below for details



On Thursday 26th September, with Burrator water levels still quite low, a small group of members and one or two non-members, gathered along the south bank of the Longstone Peninsula. It was a pleasant day and fish were seen moving at the surface throughout.

Pat won the competition with a limit bag of five fish for a combined weight of  7lb 4oz. Peter Macconnell was second with three fish for 4lbs exactly. Peter Phillips was third with two fish for 2lb 8oz. These were in fact Peter P's first fish from Burrator so he was pleased enough to have 'broken his duck', as the saying goes. With an average weight of only 1lb 6oz it was obvious that all these rainbows were fairly recently stocked fish. Though they seemed in good condition and fought well for their size.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the day was the fact that all the fish were taken on floating flies or flies fished just in the surface film. Pat caught his  on a floating sedge pattern and Peter M on a black CDC Hopper

The winning fly - Pat's Dry Sedge

 

CDC Hopper

 

Finally - If you were wondering about the first picture in this posting, it has nothing to do with the competition. It is something my wife brought home from Morrison's the other day. Burrator Ice Cream. Not the stuff that 'Mr. Jolly' sells, most days, from his van by the dam, but perfectly nice with a bit of apple pie all the same. - Peter