Our visit to the River Test came in the wake of storm Brian which prompted one or two urgent messages asking if our visit was still on. In the event, the day started drizzly but with light winds and after a couple of hours the drizzle had stopped and we were able to enjoy a reasonable day, with the river running fast and clear as usual.
My wife and I had gone down the day before to spend a few nights in our caravan which gives me a head start as our site is only 10 minutes from our meeting point, so I was delighted and not a little surprised to find our President in front of me as I pulled up to the gate at 7.30. Joe Piggott had driven from Birmingham just to see us all set out on our endeavours to catch Brown Trout, then had to leave to an hour or so later to return for a meeting later in the afternoon. It really was a splendid gesture and I am just sorry that he was not able to see any of the action.
Talking of action, once again it was rather sporadic, or in my case non-existent! It was the same for my co-organiser David Gould who fishes the river regularly and neither of us caught a fish all day – I put it down to organisers curse!!
Elsewhere fish were being caught, but such is the length of the beat , news about catches was not heard until lunchtime when we met up in dribs and drabs to eat our sandwiches and talk about the morning. It turned out that several Brown Trout had been caught and carefully returned.
A total of 17 anglers attended, made up of PICT members and guests supplemented as usual by 6 members of MTSFC, which meant that the event was a success and after paying the fishery there was a surplus for PICT funds. I would like to thank everyone who turned out for their support and generosity.
This year’s catch was a very good mix consisting of 2 Salmon, 10 Brown Trout, 1 Sea Trout, a metre long Pike, and a decent size Chub,, plus 6 anglers who blanked. Judging by emails I have received it seems that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day whether they caught or not, which is not only due to the status of the River Test as one of our foremost chalkstreams, but just because the setting is so delightful.
My thanks as always to David Gould for organising matters with the fishery and we look forward to the same opportunity next year.
MONK TROPHY
For the second year running the MONK TROPHY was won by Alan Badcock, from George Fowler and Dennis Cole. Congratulations to Alan who consistently catches fish at each event and even managed to catch a couple of small fish on the Test.