It is always pleasing as an organiser to get a good turn-out to our events and this year our annual visit to the River Test was supported by a record equalling 28 anglers, made up of PICT members and guests largely from the fellow charity, the Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Club.
The enthusiasm never wanes and people set off from homes as early as 5.00 am so that they could be at the gate at the appointed time between 8.00 – 8.30 before making their way to the car park to tackle up and have a chinwag with friends.
Each year we have the opportunity to fish 2.5 miles of this iconic chalk stream with its clear fast flowing water which varies in depth and width along its length, giving ample room for the Trout, Grayling and occasional Salmon to hide from eager anglers!
It is rather difficult to report on overall activity because we all get spread out along the banks and only catch up with each other over lunch or when passing by. I headed towards the shallower stretch with my son Andrew but he soon saw a gravel bar with a couple of trout holding station over it and it didn’t take him long before his rod was bending into a lovely fish of about 1½ lbs., which was netted and returned. He tried to help me catch one, but in recent years my luck, or more probably ability, was lacking.
Late morning we were joined by PICT President Peter Bothwick who had made the journey from the Midlands to show his support for the Angling Section and we really thank him for doing so. Having fished through till lunchtime most people met up for an informal picnic and to swap stories of the morning, with reports that several trout and a grayling had been caught.
I would like to thank Dave Sea from MTSFC who had very generously donated a fly rod to raise money for PICT and with the help of Alan Badcock a draw was organised and the rod presented to the winner, Mark Vincent, by Peter Bothwick.
The weather had started dry and pleasant, turned very wet and soaked us all, but then the sun returned to dry us out. The afternoon finished about 4.00 with another shower threatening but everyone expressing that it had been a great day. A total of 16 Brown Trout and 2 Grayling had been caught and returned.
I have a lot of people to thank for the success of this meeting, firstly David Gould who obtains the access to the river for the day, the bailiff who manages it, the anglers from PICT and MTSFC and friends who gave their wholehearted support and especially to Peter Bothwick for adding his Presidential presence.
MONK TROPHY
The winner of the Monk Trophy for the heaviest overall weight caught throughout the year has been won by George Fowler, beating three times winner Alan Badcock literally by a Cat’s Whisker (very appropriate because that is also the name of a fishing fly!) It wasn’t so much skill on my part as the fact that Alan was dragged on holiday and missed two meetings.
FUTURE DATES
So our fishing calendar closes on another season and it won’t be long before anglers and the secretariat will be clamouring for dates for next year and those will be circulated when I get my new diary!
My thanks to all members who have attended meetings this year. We have also seen new faces, which is very encouraging. I look forward to seeing you all in 2020.