Blagdon Lake – Sunday 27th April

Bristol Water reports: ‘The ATTEFF Qualifier is a regional fly fishing competition run by Team England Fly Fishers (ATTEFF). These qualifiers are held across the country and serve as the first step in selecting anglers for the national team. Competitors fish under set rules, usually in a loch-style format, aiming to secure a top spot and progress to the National Final. From there, the best anglers may earn the chance to represent England at international events. It’s a prestigious pathway for serious competition anglers looking to perform at the highest level.
A sudden change in weather made fishing tricky, but also sparked an extraordinary surface rise—one of the most prolific in recent memory on Blagdon. Dave Reynolds secured first place, leading 21 anglers who qualified through to the next round.’

Sweethope Loughs – Sunday 11th May

Ian Colclough reports that the top rod had 11 fish for 20.79lbs (3 killed and 8 returned). The rod average was 6.68.

Blithfield – Friday 23rd May

Ian Colclough reports that this was a tough day, with a rod average of just 2.60. The top 11 went through.

Wimbleball – Sunday 25th May

Carsington Water – Sunday 8th June

Total Fish Caught: 59. Rod Average: 4. The Top 6 qualify to the National Final.
Ian Colclough reports: The heat was a ‘no kill’ heat and used fish caught and time of capture of the last fish to decide places. It is something that we may use again in future.

Chew Valley Lake – Sunday 22nd June

Bristol Water reports: “The opening week of June had a turbulent start across all our waters, with persistent westerly and south-westerly winds. Sadly, this led to the cancellation of several days of boat activity and a delayed start on one additional day. These necessary safety measures also affected two major competitions; The BRFFA Spring Shield and the AT TEFF England Qualifier at Chew, both of which were disrupted by high wind forecasts and rescheduled…
…Chew Valley Lake hosted the AT TEFF Qualifier on Sunday 22nd June, drawing 26 skilled anglers from across the region in pursuit of national team qualification. Despite recent reports of challenging fishing, spirits remained high as boats launched at 10:00 AM. Conditions throughout the day were dynamic and demanding. Anglers were met with a steady westerly wind that fluctuated from light to gusty, interspersed with passing rain showers and occasional bright sunshine. These changing elements tested not only technique, but also the adaptability and perseverance of all participants. After a hard-fought day on the water, John Braithwaite emerged victorious with a remarkable catch of five fish, demonstrating his extensive experience and in-depth understanding of Chew’s unique challenges. Jeff Mason secured second place, with Mark Kennedy following closely in third – congratulations to all on a truly commendable performance. A special congratulations also goes out to the top ten anglers, who have now successfully qualified for the AT TEFF National, an outstanding achievement given the tough conditions. Bristol Water would like to thank all anglers for their participation and professionalism throughout the event and extend appreciation to John Horsey for his invaluable support in the organisation and smooth running of the qualifier.”

Draycote Water – Sunday 27th July