Results 

1.England  43 fish  112.85 lbs

2. Scotland  29 fish  84.110 lbs

3. Wales  21 fish  58.960 lbs

4. Ireland  15 fish  38.120 lbs

Best Basket: Andy Cottam (England) 8 fish 20.770 lbs

Top Rod Andy Cottam receiving the Brown Bowl from International President Wynnora Thomas.

Heaviest Trout: Stuart McLean (Scotland) 5.550 lbs

Top English Rod: Andy Cottam 8 fish 20.770 lbs

AT TEFF was represented by: Paul Angell (manager), Nikki Long (captain), John Braithwaite, Dave Bromley, Andy Cottam, Nick Dunn, Ryan Feber, Mark Haycock, Alex Johnstone, Matt Kingdon, Mark Miles, Mark Rose, Steve Smalley, Dave Summers & Roger Truscott.

Captain Nikki Long receiving the Graham Munro Hall Memorial Trophy (held by the winning team) from IFFA International President Wynnora Thomas.

Congratulations to all AT TEFF members for a convincing victory.

Full Results: iffa2017spring

Manager Paul Angell reports: Three days of variable weather conditions ranging from strong winds to torrential rain meant that each day of practice provided very different challenges for anglers from the four home nations. The teams identified that a lot of fish were to be found behind Denny Island, in Herons Green Bay and smaller pods of fish spread around the lake. Nymphs fished static or dries were the methods of choice for most anglers as the fish were high in the water.  

Match day dawned with bright sun and wind, conditions which traditionally mean that fishing at Chew would be challenging, and so it proved to be. At the off, the bulk of boats headed behind the island with most of the rest to Herons Green Bay. Anglers quickly found that tactics and flies which had worked well during practice might have to be rethought if they were to be successful. England had a code system which allowed team members to talk to one another and share successful flies and lines without making anglers from the other nations aware of what they were doing and this, together with key information found during practice meant that they were able to adapt to the conditions best, and it was noticeable form quite early in the match that English rods were bending with more regularity than those of the other nations. Key flies were Hares Ear and skinny Diawl Bach nymphs fished on a washing line set up on lines varying from full floaters to midge tips of various lengths.

As the match progressed most of the English team had managed to boat a fish or two with several doing much better. Captain and local angler Nikki Long was still fishless at 5 o’clock and decided that a move of area was needed. He and his boat partner headed to the top of Villice Bay where he had found fish earlier in the week, and where earlier in the match he had lost a fish, being smashed off. This move was to prove fortuitous as he picked up a rainbow trout before latching onto something much more substantial. After a prolonged fight he landed a brown trout of 15lb 3oz, the fish of a lifetime. Match rules stated that all Brown Trout were to be returned and would be counted as 2lb. Nikki spent a long time trying to revive the fish, but due to its extreme size and the prolonged length of the fight this proved impossible and, much to Nikki’s disappointment, the fish had to be dispatched and was brought in at the end of the match.

England weighed in first, and it was quickly obvious that they would be the team to beat, with all but one of the team having fish to weigh. By the end of the weigh in, England had claimed 4 of the top 5 places with West Country angler Andy Cottam as top rod and Brown Bowl Winner with 8 fish. Nick Dunn was not far behind on seven and first cap Matt Kingdon on six taking the top 3 spots.

 Paul Angell, team manager, stated that this had been a real team effort, with a nucleus of local anglers providing detailed knowledge of the water, backed up by dedicated and well organised practice and record keeping. Communication on the water was the key element to our success, and each and every team member, from experienced captain Nikki Long to new caps David Bromley, Alex Johnstone, Matt Kingdon, and Dave Summers all contributing to a performance to be proud of.

The team would like to thank:

Craghoppers and Snowbee for their continued support with team clothing and Fulling Mill, Guide Flyfishing, Snowbee, and Seapower UK  for their help with tackle and sunglasses.

Bristol Water Fishery Manager John Harris and the staff at Chew Valley lake with their help and support in hosting, organising and running these championships.

The Wookey Hole Hotel for accommodating the teams and hosting the Gala dinner and prizegiving.

Match report : Website match report

(Images courtesy of the Angling Trust)