Competing in the Troutmasters

After all as Russell Hill, editor of Trout Fisherman magazine, quite rightly said at the start, it is without a doubt the hardest competition in UK fly fishing to win, because firstly you have to catch a qualifying fish from one of the 200 Troutmasters waters which then qualifies you for the fish-off competition to be held at the start of the next season, then you have to win the fish-off against on average about 20 anglers from the venue, if you go on to win the fish-off, you have then qualified for the final and will represent that venue in the finals, which were to be held at the prestigious Grafham water.

My chance came after catching a cracking Rainbow of 5.5lb from Carsington reservoir in Derbyshire, it was one of three big fish caught during July 2007 which enabled me to qualify for the fish-off at the start of 2008.

Qualifying Carsington Rainbow 5.5lb

I had now got to win the fish-off to get to the finals, I was looking forward to the day and there was a good turn out and all the fishermen are good anglers who had also qualified by catching a specimen fish during the 2007 season.

It was a lovely bright sunny day I was in a boat with a guy I had never previously met before, once our tackle was in the boat I was nominated to be the engine man which suited me, then with a good luck everyone from Phil Straton fishery manager the competition had started.

As we sped across Carsington I introduced myself to my boat partner, “Anyway, my name is Shane but my friends call me Cat.” He said, “Nice to meet you Cat, my name is Martin and my friends call me Tango.” I replied “Tango and Cat, that’s got to be a good omen!” And we both burst out laughing.

That broke the ice and we had a great day’s fly fishing, with both of us catching our limits with some lovely fish. It really was an absolute pleasure to fish with Tango, I had only met him for the first time that morning and we had a wonderful days fishing, that’s what this competition is all about.

I weighed in 6 fish for 15.9lb the nearest to me was 12.5lb, I had won the fish off!

Winning bag of 6 fish for 15.9lb

The crucial 4.11lb and 4lb Rainbows

THE EVE OF THE TROUTMASTERS FINAL

The day before the final I was booked in to the George Hotel in Huntingdon. As soon as I got there it was a case of getting checked in and straight up to Grafham water which was only 2 miles up the road. As I drove towards Grafham there were ‘Troutmasters Final’ signs up everywhere and it felt good to be part of such a prestigious event.

I had a chat to the Grafham bailiffs to see how it had been fishing then had a walk round, before heading back to the George Hotel. The rest of evening was spent at the bar drinking a bitter called the Greedy Pike whilst browsing Trout Fisherman magazine, flitting between an article by Peter Cockwill and the Grafham information I had printed off. I don’t mind telling you I was very excited, I even took my fly tying vice and tied up some gold head hares ear nymphs before retiring to bed.

FINALS MORNING

After a good night’s sleep and the best breakfast in town I left the George Hotel, which I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Huntingdon. I then set off for Grafham water and on arriving I could not believe my eyes, there were literally hundreds of fly fishermen. I had to make my own car parking space, it was rammed, I was a bit shocked, to be honest I never expected so many people. I thought, “right, best check in.” I was relieved to see my name on the sheet as there was this one guy who’s name was not down and he had a right panic on!

A full to capacity Grafham Water Car Park

I was drawn to fish the bank during the morning and the boat in the afternoon, so then we all assembled in front of the balcony of the excellent set up at Grafham.

Russell Hill then addressed this army of top fly fishermen from all over the country: Scotland, England and Wales were all represented in force as he delivered a rousing speech emphasising just how well we had all done to get this far. Then having pointed out a few famous names amongst us that had qualified and others that had not, you knew full well this was going to be a day to remember.

Russell Hill went on to then say, “we all cease fishing at 12.00 and return to the lodge no later than 1.30 to count and weigh your fish.”

Then he put the pressure on by saying, “If you fail to catch a fish in each session you cannot win the Troutmasters final; you have to catch in both.”

So with that he said, “Good luck everyone.” And the Troutmasters finals had started. It was a moment I will never forget, it was like someone has said there is a Tsunami coming, everyone ran for their cars and it was manic.

I just jumped into my car and followed the car in front and became part of this convoy of fishermen. It was so funny I had to laugh, but my laughing was soon replaced by cries of “Oh No!”, when I realised I had not brought my waders, it was only shallow from the bank and wading was essential to reach the fish in the bright sun and warm conditions.

“Never mind”, I thought “I will find some deeper water”. Well, I walked for miles in wellies in the baking sun, all loaded up with rods and tackle. Then the strap on my bag broke so I had to sort that out, I was having a nightmare start. I decided to go back to the car and go up to the Stumps and as I pulled into the car park I saw the photographer. I thought, “if he’s here there must be a few fish being caught.”

As I walked down to the bank I could see a lad into a fish and I thought, “looks promising, I have located them.” It was tight but I found a gap between two fishermen and cast out my line, then I hear voice in a Bristol accent shouting “Hey you! I am fishing there, that’s my place.” I replied, “Oh right, sorry,” and started to reel in, but then he started to have a right paddy and shouted “I’m fetching a ranger, I’m fetching a ranger!” Now to be honest I had not had the best of mornings and was in no mood by this point so told him “Shut your trap, you should have been stood here fishing not over there gabbing to your mate, anyway I am reeling in aren’t I so what’s your problem?” to which he said “Oh right, fair enough, I thought you were refusing to move.”

I had one option left; the only space I could see left on this bank was in front of a wood with a back cast full of trees with about a 2ft gap to get your line through. It took me back to my Linacre reservoir days and against all obstacles I was managing to get a good line out. Then I noticed Peter Cockwill watching me dance this line round the branches, then after 20 mins he came over and after a terrible start to the morning made my day, he said, “Hello there, I just had to say young man, that is the best casting I have seen on this bank today, you are an excellent caster.” Well I was a bit taken back to be honest I had only been reading his excellent article on mayfly fishing the night before and now he is stood next to me giving me compliments on my casting ability.

Peter Cockwill & Shane Calton

I put the rod down and had a good chat with Peter, he is indeed a proper gentleman and an absolute legend in the eyes of all serious fly fishermen. With many years of experience he is a very well respected person for all his achievements and on going contributions to the sport.

It was just the confidence booster I needed after all the mishaps and misunderstandings, so I made my way round to a rocky outcrop that would give me just a bit more distance, because by now the fish had moved even further out. Second cast I was into a fish but my brave 4lb line got smashed as the Rainbow hit my olive nymph and sailed clear of the water, nightmare!

So I stepped it up to 6lb and straightaway I had another take but missed it, then a steward came round and said I could not stand on the rocks it was too dangerous! I tried in vain to reason with him and he said I could stand in the water directly next to them no problem. “But I have not got my waders,” I said, to which he replied, “Ah that’s a shame….”

It seemed as if everything and everyone was against me as the sun got hotter and the fish moved further out, my morning bank session was over and I had blanked. No chance of winning; I was gutted.

I got back to the fishing lodge and queued up to submit my blank. I felt very down, then I overheard Russell Hill talking to the photographer, “We want pictures of Big fish.” he said. This gave me an idea, so with no chance of winning I was going all out in the evening boat session for a big one. I asked him if there were any restrictions on fly sizes, could I fish a tube fly? He told me that Grafham rules applied and tube flies were allowed. “Right,” I said, “I am going all out for a big fish!”

I changed both rods to sinking lines DI 3 & DI 7 and joined the queue for the evening boat session. As an experienced boat angler I was paired up with someone with less boating knowledge, a guy from Galashields called John Cameron. He had caught one fish in the morning session and just wanted to catch in the evening session so I said, “Come on, I know where they are, let’s go.”

As we motored over to the far bank that had produced fish that morning, I told him my plan was to go all out for a Big Grafham Brownie, once we had got him his fish.

A welcome stocky gets me off the mark

I fished a DI 7 with a 3″ sparkling tube fly, one of my own creations, to a 10lb Calcutta mono leader. Within 20 mins I was into a stocky rainbow. John could not believe this 1.5lb fish had nailed my 3″ tube fly. Then the boats descended on us like seagulls round a trawler, they had obviously seen me catch this fish and it was getting congested. The bailiff’s boat came over and I asked if you could fish right up to the tower. He said yes it was allowed and to get deep down, very deep. They are a good set of lads the bailiffs at Grafham. We decided a move was in order so I positioned the boat and out came the drogue to slow the boat down, enabling us to get the lines down further.

The first pass produced nothing and it was starting to get a bit choppy as the wind got stronger, but undeterred I took the boat back up for a second drift. I paid out all my line and some backing to get the line as deep as possible then just as we passed the tower my line went solid. “I’m in!” I shouted, and as it started to move off it felt heavy. I was thinking pike to start with but then it started to fight. “It’s not a pike John, its fighting too hard and they have just spawned, please be a Grafham brownie.” Even John started to get excited, saying, “Take your time, take your time, don’t rush mate,” as he pulled in the drogue.

The fish was diving for the depths every time we nearly got a glimpse, but we both really wanted to see this fish so I was putting some real pressure on the fish and by now we were drifting quite quickly across the reservoir. We got a quick glimpse with a silver flash then back down it shot, “Come on, give up!” I said. “It’s a big rainbow,” said John. I was not sure what it was but it was fighting for its life, then finally it came to the surface. “Zander, it’s a Zander – Yes!” It was my first Zander and caught on the fly.

My first Zander caught on the fly

We rang the fishing lodge who sent a boat straight out with Lloyd the photographer who took some stunning shots of my first ever Zander.

“Right,” said John, “Can we do some trout fishing now?” I just burst out laughing and shook his hand, “Cheers mate let’s go and find some rainbows!”

So we shot up to the other end of the reservoir near to where all the buoys are and decided to stop opposite the bank where John had caught his morning fish. The bank anglers were lined up like fence posts, we fished for 30 mins and John missed a take, I had nothing but noticed a boat drifting take two fish in quick succession. I told John to pull the anchor up as I felt that the fish had moved out with all the pressure from all the bank anglers. Within 10 minutes of drifting John was into a good fish and duly landed a cracking 3.2lb Grafham Rainbow. I was made up for him, to catch in both sessions is a real achievement in itself. He had a smile from ear to ear.

John Cameron with a 3.2lb Grafham Rainbow

As we approached the last half an hour of the evening session, still fishing on the drift, I connected with yet another big fish that had taken my tube fly, but this time there was no mistaking the species as the rainbow jumped clear of the water. It was fighting like a demon, I can honestly say if I had lost this fish I would have sworn it had to be 6lb plus, I could not believe it was only 3.12lb after it fought so hard, plus it took backing line which has only ever happened to me once before; these really were quality fish.

Second Rainbow 3.12lb

So, that concluded an absolutely fantastic turn around for me and a great afternoon’s fishing for the both of us.

Having submitted our catch reports we assembled in the fisherman’s lodge for some food and then the prize presentations.

1st place, £ 500, Mr David Johns; 2nd Place, £ 250, Mr Campbell Baird; 3rd Place, £ 100, Mr Kevin Neri; 4th Place, £ 50, Mr Fred Bainbridge; and £ 100 for the biggest fish, which was my Zander for the record, but it did not count and was taken by a 6lb 8oz rainbow. Well, it was the Troutmasters after all.

The winner was David Johns representing Siblyback who was as surprised as anybody that he had won, just beating Campbell Baird representing Danes Cast. On weight it was the closest final in years and he modestly collected the trophy to a deserving round of applause. There really was a great atmosphere and I felt so proud to have competed in such a quality competition with the best fly fishermen Britain has to offer.