Venue: Chew Valley Lake, Bristol

Match Dates: Sat-Sun 26th-27th September (incl.)

Official Practice Days: Thurs-Friday 24th-25th September

Entry: Pre-qualification through Loch-style Qualifiers

Organiser: AT TEFF

RESULTS

Bruce Blackshaw reports:

England National championship
Chew Valley Lake September 26/27.

Day 1
After 2 days practice personally I’d had best success on small imitative patterns. Particularly, sparse Cormorants and Muskins.
My boat partner for Day 1 was seasoned England international Gary Morris so I knew we would have a good day in the boat. I set up with two Cormorants and a Muskins in between on a Floater and stayed on that line all day. The lake was a flat calm and we decided to try the area just in front of the lodge near the first cage. From the off there were a few fish being caught and both Gary and I had a bit of interest but nothing locked up. We moved over toward Woodford bank and both got a fish each and dropped a fish each, typically the one I lost at the net went about 4lb.
We moved over toward Woodford bank beyond the 2nd cage where Gary picked another one up. But it was slow progress, lots of plucks and pulls, but nothing sticking. With no wind we would try an area for 20-30 minutes, if nothing, then move. By 1.30 we started hearing numbers of 3, 4 and 5 fish being caught.
I started to worry that I was getting left behind. I quickly made a change of fly, from a Cormorant to a Muskins with green breathers (Kieron Jenkins), and a lock-up, and fish in the boat. I then put a full cast of this fly on and proceeded to get another two fish in quick time. Then as soon as it started it was over. This was the general trend for the weekend, quick flurries of activity then nothing.
A trip down towards the dam for nothing. I noticed a few boats over by Whalley bank and decided to go over and investigate. The fish were playing, both Gary and I picked another couple up, me on the Muskins, Gary on a team of DBs. Gary really suffered, having numerous pulls and dropping two more fish. Then again as soon as it started it finished.
It was late afternoon by now and we decided to try up by the cages and the lodge area. I managed to net one more about 5.45pm (bonus fish). End of the day, 7 for me and 4 for Gary, but if Lady Luck had smiled on us a bit more that could of easily been 10 or 12 each. Thanks for a great day Gary.

Day 2
With strong winds and some rain forecast, conditions couldn’t have been more different. I decided to stick with the method that had served me well on Saturday. A slow start for most people with an odd fish being caught. My boat partner and I started in Villice and Woodford bank area for nothing. So decided to head out into the rougher water out in the middle drifting towards the dam.
A change of line in the rough weather to a Slow Glass, to get the flies bedded in, produced my first fish, again on the Muskins. The wind eased a bit and a change to an Airflo 6ft Fast Tip produced a couple of fish in 30 minutes. I stuck with this method for the rest of the day and spent the afternoon drifting through the middle, but trying to find clear drifts to target. Then every now and again it would lock up. I’d had 5 fish by 5 o’clock and thought that might just be enough to qualify me for the team. Last half hour we drifted onto the cages from Villice and I sneaked another one at 5.15pm. Story of the day was 6 pulls and 6 fish landed, complete contrast to the previous day.

Day 1 Seven fish caught Day 2 Six fish caught.

That was good enough for 13th place and my second cap in two years. I’m proud and honoured to have the opportunity to represent team England again.
Big thanks to all the volunteers, fisheries, the anglers, and everyone else who makes this possible.

Kind regards, Bruce