Dave Colclough fishes the trout lake at Press Manor Fisheries
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After lunch we gathered for a fly tying demo by expert tyer Andy Wright (click for bigger picture)
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As we all waited patiently by the gate, with Graham sitting in my passenger seat amongst all sorts of angling and other debris in Rose, my Citroen car, waiting for Bernie Maher, the fishery owner to open up, we heard a cry go up: "Watch out for your hub caps, he's here!"
The next second a hand was thrust through the window, grabbed mine and a rasping Scouser accent proclaimed: "It's me - Eddie.”
After years of banter on FM, myself and one of my great website rivals were shaking hands. Anyway, as a born-again Yorky, Eddie was very welcome, even in Derbyshire.
We made our way to the big static caravan where Bernie had tea and coffee for all of us waiting. Introductions completed, we all made our way to the shores of this delightful little Victorian reservoir built by pick and shovel in the 1870s.
Andy tied the first fly, a simple buzzer, by hand, using no vice and no tools other than a pair of scissors
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Bernie and myself spent most of the morning teaching. I took Eddie under my wing and eventually had him getting out a reasonable line in a sheltered part of the lake. Then it was off to do some fishing in earnest. I thought I had better show this lot that I can fish and was able to hook 5 fish in 6 casts, not all of them being landed.
I did manage to get a lovely brownie of about 2 lbs which put up an excellent scrap.
Then the cherry on the top.
"I'm in!”
It was Eddie. He was playing his first ever trout caught on the fly. And he landed it too.
And then to tying a more complicated fly, the popular Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear (GRHE) (click for bigger picture)
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I don't know who was more pleased, me or Eddie. In the excitement I forgot to photograph it, and thinking that Eddie had taken a catch and release ticket, I released the rainbow trout, a fish of about 1 1/2 lbs.
And Bernie had told Eddie he could have his first fish to keep as a beginner.
Sorry Ed.
For a short period of time the trout hit the buzzers and a few more fish were caught.
Then it was time for lunch. We all made our way to the "Three Horsehoes" and most of us had the best fish and chip meal in many a year amidst the constant piss taking between Eddie and his scouser mate.
Then it was back to the caravan for a fly tying demonstration by a real expert: Andy Wright of the Congleton branch of the Fly Fisher's Guild.
And then he tied a weighted damsel fly for Graham (click for bigger picture)
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I always like to see flies being dressed really well. I am sure those of us who are seasoned fly dressers picked up some good tips and for the beginners, I am sure Andy's efforts made a few want to take up this fascinating branch of the sport of fly fishing.
I have always said that a fly fisher is never a complete fly fisher unless he can dress, devise and catch fish on his own patterns.
And then back to the lake.
And the heavens opened. Anyone who has fly fished will know that heavy rain will knock the fish off in no time. And it was true in this instance.
Ron casts a critical eye over one of Andy's flies and proclaims, “You'll catch on that one Ed.” (click for bigger picture)
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However, Graham persevered with his little dry fly and although he missed a few takes and then took a fish off the dam wall, he managed to get another fish in between squalls.
And I spent most of my time with Graham talking up a storm about the old days of specimen hunting. Well, when two old codgers get together, what else must we do?
At the end of the day we all agreed it had been thoroughly enjoyable and that we must do it again.
I also think that some who believe that fly fishing is too easy, may have been converted. There are times when trout can make you look silly, make no mistake.
Sean Meeghan did well off the dam wall with a home-tied damsel fly (click for bigger picture)
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Still that's what brings us back I guess.
Thanks to all who came, to Bernie for making it all possible and to Eddie for not nicking my hub caps...... :o)
Baz
