Great day in bad weather at Stocks fly fishery
The eternal optimistic Anglers
The event, organise by Les McHale from the Bootle group, was supported from members of the Bootle, Ormskirk and Southport groups and several invited guest.
The day started at 08:00hrs when members and guest arrived at the Bootle Arms, Melling. Unfortunately for some the bar remained closed. After an hour or so of bacon sandwiches, tea and coffee, tales of previous conquests, hints tips and with an air of anticipation, the “breakfast party” set off for Stocks Reservoir to rendezvous with the remainder of the group.
Members and guest stock up with beacon butties at the Bootle Arms
After an hours’ drive through some of England’s finest countryside, fourteen intrepid and hardy souls set up camp in the well stocked fishery shop. Anticipating the cold day ahead the party was warmly welcomed by Mathew and Ben, the Fishery manager, with free cups of hot coffee and tea. Ben and Mathew, undaunted by the myriad of questions (from what could only pass as, a bunch of excited schoolboys), spent the next twenty minutes or so, explaining, what to fish with, how to fish and where to fish.
Ben, possibly anticipating the hard day ahead, gave a very generous “special discount”, were appropriate, to members of the party. We all queued eagerly but patiently to part with our hard earned pennies and the discount received was eagerly reinvested on buying the absolutely must have flies for the time of year and conditions,
While conditions were not ideal (50 mph gusts), we gathered in the car park were best laid plans of mice and men were put in to action, each angler making their way to their chosen spot. Some in small groups, some seeking solitude and even two brave souls took a boat out.
Richard McHale flukes a fish or is it a rainbow
Most of the group had some success even surprising the fishery staff with our catches of blue, brown and rainbow trout, Unfortunately Les McHale’s effort regained its freedom two feet away from his net. Les was later heard in the bar lamenting “I believe it would have been a fishery record for a rainbow trout?”
The Ormskirk group chairman (designate) Frank Umbers, a complete novice, even managed to catch a fish. Although later, a not to be named, eye witness, Greg Pinnigton cried “foul” or was that “foul hooked” against him?
Owing to time constraints, commitments and dehydration, 7 anglers made it to the local hostelry to dry off and get wet. A further 6 made it back to the Bootle Arms, for a fish pie supper, fortunately, not made with any of our catches. The evening wore on with even larger tales and stories of “the one that got away”
Even in the face of extreme weather, all of the party commented on “a very enjoyable day spent in bad weather in good company”. Everyone is eagerly anticipating their next adventure.
For some the only rainbow seen all day!
As someone once said “A bad days fishing is better than a good days work”
The event organiser and his helpers would like to thank everyone for supporting this event. In particular Mark Toft and the Bootle Arms for taking care of us before and after the event and Ben and Matthew at Stocks fishery for the welcome, help, guidance and generosity they extended to us, a venue well worth a visit.
Keep an eye in the Bootle group and Provincial web sites for the next foray.
Tightlines
Les McHale
S. Smith
Bootle GPO