Martin Smith very kindly organised a trip to the ever popular Farmoor 1 reservoir on the 22nd April. The party consisted of Stuart Nicol, Barry Jones, Ken Giles, Martin, Julian Campbell, Tony Woods, Roy McAdam and your truly.

Eight of us met at the Sailing club and were fortified by bacon sandwiches or a full breakfast before commencing our fishing although Tony and I paid 50p extra to have ours delivered at the lakeside later by the bank ranger – sheer luxury – take aways at the waterside.

The water was incredibly clear as usual and whilst a few buzzers put in an appearance the fish were slow to switch on. A gentle right to left breeze helped us although the wind did strengthen as the day went on to make things more tricky.  Some fish showed early on but then it became quite a struggle despite the valiant efforts of the assembled experts. One or two of us moved around a little to try and locate fish but the reservoir was not at its best. We were lucky initially as the banks of dark cloud looming on the horizon managed to avoid us but sooner or later we were going to get wet and so that proved to be the case with some nasty little showers accompanied by squalls.

 Eventually, Stuart, Martin and I decided that a tough approach was needed and moved to the windward and quite choppy bank. Instant success and all three of us caught several fish and quite close in as well. Casting was tricky but worth the effort. See the picture below of a very happy Stuart with a lovely 6lbs fish.

Almost everyone had some success which is always pleasing on what had proved to be a really challenging day. I know that we all enjoyed the day and thanks to Martin for his organisational skills.

Towards late afternoon the weather took a turn for the worst and and a good hailstorm ensued – see below.

This proved the final straw and even the most hardy packed in and headed for home. All in all an enjoyable day spent in good company with plenty of banter as you might expect.

Glyn Williams.

Saturday 1st March saw the Worcester fly dressers guild  branch members book  a date with some ancient predators at Barnt Green reservoir. The day broke mild and overcast, the sort of day that would have you rubbing your hands together should your quarry be trout at the beginning of spring. Charles was our organising host for the day and the hospitality began with coffee and bacon baps in the sailing club, overlooking the reservoir. The group assembled discussed tactics and past toothy critter encounters,  tales of bitten fingers and flies the size of anchors buried in the skin that required a trip to A&E to remove. Our caffeine cravings satisfied and bellies full, we ventured forth:-

Pictured from left to right – Stewart, Roy, Charles, Brian, Norman and Jules

We split up around the water, Brian and Roy set off in a boat while the rest of us prospected  the near side bank, casting into a nasty cross wind that threatened to embed the 4/0 budgey imitation flies in the back of your head!! Charles was able to tame the conditions allegedly by casting below the wind and was quickly into the first fish of the day. A great start considering some of us were still choosing a fly to tie on and although not a monster by pike standards it was a good size as the photograph will justify.

Charles with the first fish of the day. A lovely little  fish eating machine

The morning progressed with Stewart and Norman taking a couple a fish from opposite ends of the water.  Stewart decided to circum navigate the water in case the fish were all shoaled up on the other side, or had begun to spawn in the shallows.  Two men in a boat had stayed dry and although Roy had a fish on, it was off before he could claim a place on the pike role of honour. 3 fish before lunch after a mid-morning start wasn’t bad and we all made our way back to the club house to share the morning’s spoils.

Norman in the foreground with Brian and Roy in the boat behind

 Charles had again done us proud and lunch was a hearty beef stew and bread, washed down with a pint of ale to charge us up for the afternoon stint. The wind by this time had picked up a couple more miles an hour and we all decided the wind ward side of the reservoir was the only place to get a line out. Stewart took his life in his hand and fished from the dam wall, which would have given Glyn heart palpitations, had he seen the steepness of the back and the sheers drop off into the waters depth. No health and safety legislation could have protected us from the danger that lay within but before anyone could consider the hazards Stewart had a fish on and was getting the run around, even on his 10 weight set up! Charles duly risked life and limb to net the fish (his motives will become clear shortly) and Stewart was smiling like a Cheshire cat with pike in hands, at Charles’s camera.

Stewart with a good fish and a cheeky smile

Stewart has been tying a lot of pike flies recently and the fish were clearly taking a liking to the dinner recipe he’d tied.  The fly in question looked like a bright Orange budgerigar but less aero dynamic than one that had been run over by a steam roller.

Hard to cast or not Charles had persuaded Stewart to part with a similar pattern and was quickly bending his floppy stick into a fish of his own. That’s not a youthanism, he uses a 7 weight rod that I had the pleasure of casting.

Charles with a nice fish

The rest of the afternoon seemed to see Stewart and Charles land one fish after another and although Norman and I did our best to muscle in on their patch of water, neither of us had any success. Stewart’s Orange ball of fluff accounted for 3 more fish  for himself and another for Charles.

Charles with another fish

Another fine fish for Stuart

 Congratulations to Stewart for his fantastic haul of fish, very well deserved on his home tied fly which made it all the sweeter. Stu had a red letterday that  he’s not likely to forget in the near future. He  intends to post the killer fly recipe and how to tie it so watch out for that article! Thanks also to Charles for organising such a great day and to the fishing club for kindly allowing us non-members to fish for the day.

Post prepared by Julian Campbell – thanks Jules.