Success across the Pond.

[Robbie Bell]

Hi There,

Some of you who fished in Colorado in 2006 and 2007 and in Manitoba in 2010 may remember Andy Croucher and Graham Lumsden.

You then might wish to know that both have qualified to fish for England in 2011 in the Home Internationals.

Andy has qualified for the Loch Style Team and will fish in the Orkneys in the late Spring. The Orkneys are a group of Islands to the north of the Scottish mainland.

The locals there allegedly never change flies....…if they are not catching they change Lochs!

Graham is fishing in the Rivers Team and this takes place in Ireland next summer.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating them and wishing them every success and hope that this is the first of many “caps“ for both of them.

Best Regards

robbie

[Dejon Hamann]

That's great news!  Congrats to both. 

[Chris Puchniak]

Congrats to them.  Always good to hear what's happening across the pond.

One day I'd love to visit the northern end of Scotland and beyond...  Almost did a couple fo years ago.

[Lance Egan]

Robbie,

Thanks for the update!  Congrats to Andy and Graham.  Good luck to both of you.

[Todd Oishi]

Congratulations Andy and Graham! I am sure that the two of you will do England very proud!

Thanks for the update Robbie.

[Aaron Laing]

Nicely done! Congratulations to both!

Aaron

[Robbie Bell]

Hi There,

I have just returned from the Inaugural Home International Stillwater Bank Fishing Competition which recently took place at Innis Fly Fishery in Cornwall England.

http://www.innis-fly-fishery.co.uk/

This event has had a difficult “birth” due to the politics of  a couple of the home nations….no names………..

However it was a blinding success

The event was run to full Fips Mouche rules with just a couple of local variations. The fishing was tough but fair and certainly evened out over the teams.  Most small waters can be a bit “peggy” (beats) but here was no doubt about the winner, Simon Robinson who had four more fish than his nearest rival.

The final result was very close…Ireland were 8 place points ahead at lunch time with two fish less than England. However England managed to claw that back in the afternoon to finish 7 place points ahead. Those of you who know Fips Mouche rules will know that one strategically placed fish caught or lost could have turned this match. No one had a clue who had won at the finish and the first draft of scores had to be carefully scrutinised to double check the result.

The final result was;

England     Gold
Ireland       Silver
Scotland    Bronze
Wales        Wood

Ireland took the Silver and Bronze Individual results

The England Team was;

Fred Bainbridge  Captain
Simon Robinson
Peter Appleby
Glen Appleby
Andrew Scott
Chris Micalief
Robbie Bell   Competition Day Manager.

Peter and Glen are a father and son so a very proud day for them.

The craic was great throughout the competition with the Irish excelling themselves. The bar did a roaring trade after it was all over….

All in all a great competition.

Now I suspect that some of you may look down on small water stocked fisheries…I know I did at one time but believe me there is more to it than meets the eye.

Some of these fisheries have 40,000+ plus flies pulled through them in a week!

I would say that small water fishing is a different to Loch Style as River fishing is. It is also going to be a part of World Championships probably just as often as Loch Style.

Some more chat can be found here.

 http://www.flyforums.co.uk/competition-fly-fishing/105804-bank-international.html

A full report with results and photos will appear here shortly.

 http://www.ceff.org.uk/


Best Regards

robbie

[Chris Puchniak]

Nice job with the team Robbie.  Congrats.

I know stillwater bank fishing isn't that popular over here, but I really do enjoy trying it.  It can be a whole other world of challenges compared to loch style or river fishing.  And the different challenge is half the fun!

[Dejon Hamann]

Thank you for the update Robbie.  Sounds like a great success all around. 

[Robbie Bell]

Hi There,

Now I really hope this does not come across as blowing my own trumpet.

Us English chaps are supposed to be uber cool about our own successes.

However I do get quite a few e-mails from various North American Friends saying they are happy to hear about competitions on this side of the pond.

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/competition-results/107444-chatton-winter-league-1st-heat-qualifiers.html

This comp is run at my local Fishery.

http://www.chattontroutfishery.com/

It is run over six heats in the winter and then there is a Grand Final probably in February..

Four people go through from each heat and I got about a hundred dollars for winning this.

It is about $600 for winning the final! Now the money is just a way of the fishery giving a little bit back to the anglers for supporting it during the year.  I would also say that 99% of us would still fish it anyway if there was not a penny to be won.

It is a serious competition but fished in the best of spirits with Bacon Rolls and Coffee at lunchtime and every one can see your rods and the flies on them and how you are fishing.

There is a wide range of abilities with Ladies and Youths included.

The lad who came second, Rob Frame is a Chatton regular and has recently qualified to fish in the 2011 Bank Home International England Team so he was a bit of a scalp for me……. 

Anyway I sincerely hope this does not come across wrongly and that I have maintained my stiff upper lip. 

Best Regards

robbie

[Mark Hanes]

That is a cool looking place there.  I must say from the pics the trout look huge!  What seems to work best on that lake for you?

[Chris Puchniak]

I enjoy hearing about your successes (as I do about any others too!).  Congrats and I hope you continue to place well!

Small waters, Bank fishing, etc... it's all fun, and each is a unique challenge.

Thanks for sharing!

[Robbie Bell]

Hi There.

Most of the stock fish in the UK are above two pounds. This makes them more Cormorant proof.

Also many of the small Stillwaters stock a few “Lumps” in order to get publicity.

The fishing at Chatton varies tremendously during the year as with most places.

Size 22 dries work at times and so does 3 inch Zonkers.

Sometimes both of those work on the same day……….

I was using a bloodworm pattern for that competition and it is what we used in the recent International.

Best Regards

robbie