Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing

The top 28 anglers from the 2019 National Final

The management team for the AT TEFF loch-style teams have announced the teams to participate in the 2020 Spring and Autumn Home Internationals. The Spring International will be held on Lough Melvin in Ireland on the 12^th June, whilst the Autumn International will be in Wales at Llyn Trawsfynydd on the 11^th September. The teams were selected from the top twenty-eight anglers from the National Final held at Chew Valley in September 2019.

England Manager Paul Angell said: “The two England Loch-Style teams for 2020 bring together individuals with a wealth of experience at international level, along with a number of new caps who have earned their place through their performance at the Loch-Style National Final in September 2019 at Chew Valley. Stephen Peart and I are looking forward to working with the Spring and Autumn Teams and have high hopes of a successful season in 2020”.

Andy Cottam, Captain of the Spring Team said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be able to represent your country and to be asked to be captain of an England team is without doubt one of my proudest moments and something that I’ll never forget. I’m really looking forward to working with the manager of the Spring Team, Paul Angell, and everyone else in the team to make sure that not only is it a successful competition on Lough Melvin for England as a team, but that also it is an enjoyable and memorable time for all. Fishing for wild brown trout on the renowned Lough Melvin will be a fantastic experience and I’m certain that with the experience and ability we have in the team, England will be strong contenders to bring a gold medal home”.

Craig Barr, Captain of the Autumn Team said: “It is an honour to be asked to captain my country, at a sport I have participated in since I was six years old. I am relishing the challenge ahead, and can’t wait for that moment, when I lead the team to the water’s edge on the big day.”

The England Loch-Style Teams for 2020 are as follows:

Spring International, Lough Melvin 12^th June 2020                                  

Manager: Paul Angell. Captain: Andy Cottam. Team: Tony Baldwin, Martin Burgess,
Peter Crowe, Graham Currie, Ashley Davis, Kim Green, John Hood, Alex Johnstone,  Paddy Mounter, Mark Miles, Ben Race, Paul Sweatman and Tim Wellman.

Autumn International, Llyn Trawsfynydd 11^th September 2020

Manager: Stephen Peart. Captain: Craig Barr. Team: Sam Bailey, Paul Calvert, David Currie, Bart Farmer, Ryan Feber, Si Gaines, John Hardy, Neil Hodgson, John Horsey, Pablo Mullings, Terry Phillips, John and Mark Rose.

30th November – 8th December, State of Tasmania, Australia

The competition was held over five days, one session per day, to enable sessions to be staged at the optimal fishing time for each day (e.g. to coincide with anticipated Mayfly hatches) and to enable a more relaxed programme.

There was no official practice, instead the whole of Tasmania’s inland lakes and rivers (except those in use for the competition) was available for practice, at no extra charge, for as long as required.

Draft Programme

Saturday 30th November: Check-in, Team Captains event briefing, Opening Parade & Opening Dinner

Sunday 1st December: Team practice on any waters other than the competition sectors

Monday 2nd December: Competition Session 1 – Lake & River

Tuesday 3rd December: Competition Session 2 – Lake & River

Wednesday 4th December: Competition Session 3 – Lake & River

Thursday 5th December: Competition Session 4 – Lake & River

Friday 6th December: Competition Session 5 – Lake & River

Saturday 7th December: Conservation Symposium, Medal Presentation, Gala Dinner & Prizes Presentation

Competition Sectors

Sector 1: Penstock Lagoon – Lake Boat Fishing

Sector 2: Meander River – River Fishing (wading)

Sector 3: Woods Lake – Lake Boat Fishing

Sector 4: Mersey River – River Fishing (wading)

Sector 5: Little Pine Lagoon – Lake Boat Fishing

You can find out more about this event on the official website here>>, and on their Facebook page here>>

Opening Ceremony

Draw

Howard Croston, Tony Baldwin, Lee Bartlett, Steve Cullen, Mike Dixon & Bernie Maher

AT TEFF was represented by Howard Croston (captain), Tony Baldwin, Lee Bartlett, Steve Cullen, Mike Dixon & Bernie Maher (reserve)

Session One

(Daily Update video – Day 1 – FlyLife Magazine – here>>)

England made a good start to the Championships, ending the first session in 4th place with 38 placing points, behind the Czech Republic 1st with 16 points, Finland 2nd with 29 points, and Slovakia 3rd with 36 points session 1 teams. Howard Croston won his boat session on Penstock Lagoon with 11 fish session 1 sector I, while Tony Baldwin finished 6th on Little Pine Lagoon, another boat sector, with 4 fish session 1 sector V, with Steve Cullen 12th on Woods Lake session 1 sector III. On the river sectors Lee Bartlett finished 9th on the Meander River session 1 sector II, with Mike Dixon 11th on the Mersey River session 1 sector IV.

Session Two

(Daily Update video – Day 2 – FlyLife Magazine – here>>)

England built on their good start to end the second session in second place with 61 placing points, just one behind the Czech Republic on 60 points, and ahead of Australia and Slovakia session 2 teams after session. Mike Dixon won his boat session on Little Pine Lagoon with 7 fish session 2 sector V, with Tony Baldwin 7th on Penstock Lagoon session 2 sector I and Lee Bartlett 9th on Woods Lake session 2 sector III. This was backed by a 2nd place for Steve Cullen on the Mersey River session 2 sector IV, and a 4th for Howard Croston on the Meander River session 2 sector II, putting him third in the overall Individual placings, behind Jonathan Stagg (Australia) and Pavel Chyba (Czech Republic) session 2 individuals after session.

Session 3

(Daily Update video – Day 3 – FlyLife Magazine – here>>)

As the competition sectors came under increasing pressure, England slipped to 5th place with 127 placing points, behind Spain 4th with 123 points, France 3rd with 119 points, the Czech Republic 2nd with 116 points and Australia 1st with 115 points session 3 teams after session. Howard Croston came 7th on the boat sector Woods Lake session 3 sector III, and is currently lying in 4th place in the overall Individual placings session 3 individuals after session. Elsewhere on the lake sectors, Mike Dixon came 9th on Penstock Lagoon session 3 sector I, while Steve Cullen was one of nine who failed to catch on Little Pine Lagoon session 3 sector V. On the rivers, Tony Baldwin came 8th on the Meander River session 3 sector II, with Lee Bartlett 20th on the Mersey River session 3 sector IV.

Session 4

(Daily Update video – Day 4 – FlyLife Magazine – here>>)

Howard Croston continued his excellent captain’s performance with a second place on the Mersey River session 4 sector IV and now lies top of the current Individual rankings with 14 placing points, one ahead of Federico Santi Amantini (Italy) in 2nd, with David Garcia (Spain) 3rd with 17 points session 4 individuals after session corrected. Despite this, England slipped to 8th overall with 185 points, as France moved into 1st place with 146, with Spain 2nd on 147, and Italy 3rd on 161 session 4 teams after session corrected. Lee Bartlett avoided a blank on Little Pine Lagoon (where nine anglers blanked) session 4 sector V, as did Steve Cullen on Penstock Lagoon session 4 sector I corrected, while Mike Dixon came 10th on the Meander River session 4 sector II, and Tony Baldwin 13th on Woods Lake session 4 sector III.

Session 5

(Daily Update video – Final Day 5 – FlyLife Magazine – here>>)

Howard Croston is now the 2019 World Individual Champion ! After a 5th place in his final session on Little Pine Lagoon session 5 sec V  he finished with 19 placing points, the same total as David Garcia (Spain) but secured the gold thanks to a higher fish points total, with Kristian Sveda (Slovakia) getting bronze with 22 points, ahead of Sebastien Delcor (France) session-5-individuals-after-session. Well done Howard and a real captain’s performance ! On the other sectors Mike Dixon came 5th on Woods Lake session 5 sec III, Lee Bartlett was 9th on Penstock Lagoon session 5 sec I, with Tony Baldwin 13th on the Mersey River session 5 sec IV, and Steve Cullen 16th on the Meander River session 5 sec II,   In the team championships England hung on to 8th place, finishing with 233 placing points. It was close at the top. France are the 2019 World Team Champions with 190 points, with the Czech Republic getting the silver with 191 points, and Spain winning the bronze with 192 points session-5-teams-after-session.

(Wrap-up video – Highlights of the Championship – FlyLife Magazine – see Howard Croston, Steve Cullen, Mike Dixon etc in action here>>)

Change at the top for Team England Fly Fishing ahead of the World Championships 

Howard Croston commented “I have always been very proud to represent England as a competitor and am relishing the challenge of also taking on the role of fishing captain/manager for Tasmania, as with any WFFC it will be fiercely contested and down to the finest of margins. The host nation has made exceptional progress over the last few years in all aspects and will be favourites on their home waters along with the likely suspects of the top European teams and the constantly improving USA. That being said England’s strengths lie in boat fishing and this year’s format should suit our skill set well. We have a motivated team of skilled anglers, all bringing something different to the table that should hopefully let us push for a medal at this event.”

Ben Thompson of the Angling Trust said “Howard brings a wealth of experience and we have no doubt that the team are in the best possible hands. We have high hopes that under Howard’s leadership the team can head to Tasmania and compete for medals and we wish Howard, Lee and the squad the very best of luck.”

Veniard Support The AT TEFF World Fly Fishing Team

The AT TEFF team, who will be competing in the World Fly Fishing Championships in Tasmania later this year, have been given huge helping hand courtesy of Veniard.
The English company, one the oldest fly tying brands in the UK, have put together a massive box of fly tying materials in order to give the team all their fly tying supplies ready for the event.
Everything has been covered to ensure that the team has all the necessary materials to hand, from hooks to hair and everything in between. Veniard has supplied the lot and in big numbers so that the team don’t run low on all the essentials.
The bumper package has even been shipped over for the team with all documentation done and dusted by the fly tying wholesaler.
The World Fly Fishing Championships run from 30th November – 8th December in State of Tasmania, Australia. The competition will be held over five days, one session per day, to enable sessions to be staged at the optimal fishing time for each day.
AT TEFF will be represented by Howard Croston (captain/manager), Tony Baldwin, Lee Bartlett, Steve Cullen, Mike Dixon & Bernie Maher (reserve).

AT TEFF Bank Qualifier 8th December 2019 at Ellerdine Lakes, Shropshire.

Sixteen anglers fished the sixth bank qualifier of the 2019/20 season at Ellerdine Lakes, Shropshire. With south-westerly winds forecast in excess of 40mph the competitors would be tested to their limits on match day. Many anglers had practiced prior to the event and found good numbers of fish in the two bays on Meadow Lake where the match was to be held. The fish responded well to a variety of methods from pulling dark coloured lures to fishing a range of bright patterns under the bung.
Come match day the weather forecast was right with the strong south-westerly making it difficult to stand let alone fish on one the banks! It was a quiet start with many anglers struggling to get the fish going, with the anticipated morning bonanza never really materialising. Fish came steady throughout the morning session with fish caught all round the lake. At lunch 31 trout were caught with Mark Harrison out in front with six fish closely followed by a chasing pack of anglers who had managed three or four fish.
The afternoon session saw an increase in the number of fish caught with 35 trout coming to the bank. The fish came on the feed and those anglers who caught well in the afternoon session found that fishing Diawl Bachs, Buzzers on Cormorants on floaters or tip lines to be the most successful method.
Top rod on the day was local angler Mark Harrison with 8 fish for 13 points, runner-up was Craig Barr with 7 fish for 11 points, third place was Andy Taylor with 7 fish for 11 points. Ed Upton was fourth with 7 fish for 10 points with Phil Burgess fifth catching 5 fish for 9 points and Graham Willis sixth taking 4 trout for 8 points. Sixty-six fish were caught giving a healthy rod average of just over four fish. The top six now progress to the southern semi-final in March at Elinor Trout Fishery.
The AT TEFF would like to thank Ed and Jayne Upton at Ellerdine Lakes for hosting this qualifier and Lee Cartmail for running the event.
The next bank qualifier is the re-arranged Bessy Beck heat on Sunday 12th January followed by Bank House Fishery on Sunday 19th January.
Westlow Mere, Blackdyke Trout Fishery, Woolaston Court Trout Lakes and Press Manor Trout Fishery are the remaining venues for qualifiers in 2020. To book on to these bank qualifiers then go to the Angling Trust Events website at www.anglingtrustevents.net/game

AT TEFF Bank Qualifier 24th November 2019 at Barnsfold Waters Trout Fishery, Goosnargh, Chorley.

Eight anglers fished the fifth bank qualifier of the 2019/20 season at Barnsfold Waters Trout Fishery on Sunday 24th November. Overcast conditions and a soft easterly wind welcomed those anglers competing. There were many local anglers on the lakes who were catching steadily as the competitors set up. The fishing had been tricky of late and this was evident with the range of rods set up in the car park; floating lines with nymphs and FABs, the bung with a whole host of flies underneath, fast and slow glass lines with pulling tactics and DI3s with single lures.

The match was pegged on the causeway between Barns and Beacon lakes with anglers fishing both pools for the duration of the match. Darren Richardson got off to a flyer catching two fish off his first peg on a DI3 line and an Eggstacy Worm. Gwyneth Mooney, fishing her first qualifier, and the experienced small water angler Mark Harrison were soon into fish with Mark taking his first fish on a buzzer. By lunch all eight anglers had caught with Darren Richardson and Iain Scott out in front with five fish each.
After lunch Darren Richardson took a fish first cast to take his tally to six but it with was Mark Harrison, who had two fish at lunch, who found the right tactic to catch an amazing six fish in the afternoon session. Mark fished small eggs under the indicator along with FABs on a DI3 to finish with eight fish for 14 place points. This was an excellent session for Mark as the afternoons tend to see less fish caught than in the morning session in these matches.
Second place went to Darren Richardson who managed seven fish for 12 points, third was Iain Scott with seven fish for 12 points, being pipped by Darren who caught first. The fourth and final qualifying place went to Gwyneth Mooney, who caught three fish for six place points beating two other anglers who had the same score by catching early off her first peg. The top four now progress to the northern semi-final in March at Toft Newton Trout Fishery.
It was great to see a mix of new and experienced competition anglers at this heat.
The AT TEFF would like to thank Frank Casson at Barnsfold Waters Trout Fishery for hosting this qualifier and Lee Cartmail for running the event.
The next bank qualifier is on the 1st December at Bessy Beck Trout Fishery. Entries for this qualifier are now closed.
Ellerdine Lakes is the last qualifier of 2019 on the 8th December. There are five more qualifiers in 2020 at Blackdyke Trout Fly Fishery, Westlow Mere – Congleton & District Fly Fishers LTD, Woolaston Trout Fishery, Bank House Fly Fishery and Press Manor Bernie Maher. To book on to any of these bank qualifiers then go to the Angling Trust Events website at www.anglingtrustevents.net/game

The 2020 Angling Trust Loch Style Team Championships will be held on the 13/14th June 2020 at Draycote Water.
Entry details will follow soon!
To find out more about the event go to www.anglingtrust.net/landing.asp…
To express an interest in this Six Angler Team event please email Andy Taylor at andy.taylor@anglingtrust.net

AT TEFF River Qualifier Sunday 3rd November 2019, Lower Itchen Fishery

Twenty-four anglers fished the “first” river qualifier of the 2019/20 season on the Lower Itchen Fishery after heavy rain put paid to the original first qualifier on the Welsh Dee. Once again the recent rains affected this match as the river was both high and coloured on the day of the competition. Despite the tricky fishing conditions the fish were willing to feed and the twenty-four anglers caught 75 fish, with only one fish splitting the two fishing sessions with 37 fish caught in the morning and 38 in the afternoon.
It was the morning session where the overall winner came from with Mike Heritage catching 14 fish! Runner-up was Sean Brooks who won the afternoon session with seven fish just beating Jim Dillon who also had seven fish. Fourth place was taken by Cameron Craigs who took seven fish in the morning session.
Mike Heritage and John Bowen both caught fish of 46cm to take the longest fish prize!
AT TEFF would like to thank the Lower Itchen Fishery for hosting this qualifier and Tony Fox for running the day.
Results: 1. Mike Heritage 2. Sean Brooks 3. Jim Dillon 4. Cameron Craigs 5. Mark Thomas 6. Jay Curry.

Full Results: Lower Itchen qualifier results 3-11-19

The fourth river qualifier is on the River Test at Wherwell on the 2nd February 2020. To book onto this and any of the other game angling qualifiers then go to www.anglingtrustevents.net/game
The rain affected Dee qualifiers will be rearranged – dates to be confirmed.

AT-TEFF Bank Qualifier 3rd November 2019 at Siblyback Lake, Cornwall.

The South West Lakes Trust, Siblyback Lake hosted this weekend’s AT-TEFF Bank Qualifier. A light westerly wind and bright skies greeted the eight anglers competing for a place in the southern semi-final.
Burrator regular Nik Tompkins was first to catch just six minutes into the competition with three other anglers also taking their first fish within the first hour. However, as the morning progressed the action slowed down and after lunch the weather deteriorated with a strong north-westerly wind and torrential rain, making for very uncomfortable fishing conditions.
All eight anglers managed to catch with many fish lost during the match, however it was Nik Tompkins who continued his fine start who took first place. Nik caught six fish giving him 11 points. Second with five place points, catching three fish, was Mick Dodkins, a Siblyback regular. Ron Howard, travelling all the way from Chepstow to fish the qualifier, was rewarded with third position with four points with another local Siblyback regular, Ron Wilday, Chairman of Siblyback Fly Fishing, taking fourth position, also with four points. The timing of the first fish caught separated these two anglers.
It was a very bedraggled, wet and windswept bunch of anglers in the lecture room at the fishery for the results at the end of the match!
The AT-TEFF would like to thank Siblyback Lake for hosting this qualifier and Derek Aunger for running the event.

ALL AUCTION LOTS ARE LIVE NOW!!

To help raise funds for the 2020 AT TEFF World Championship Squad

In August 2020 Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishers will travel to Kussamo in Finland to participate in the World Fly Fishing Championships. The team have arranged a number of fund-raising initiatives to help to meet the costs of competing in the championships. Attached are over 60 items with guide prices ranging from £2 > £500 that will be auctioned off on eBay.

AT-TEFF Bank Qualifier 26th October 2019 Chigborough Fisheries, Essex.
Fifteen anglers fished the second bank qualifier of the 2019/20 season at Chigborough Fishery in Essex. Bright sunshine with a cold north easterly wind welcomed the anglers after 24 hours of heavy rain the previous day. Many anglers had practiced prior to the event and found the fish high in the water with floating lines and dries, or lures pulled subsurface, being the main line of attack.
The first fish was taken at 9:11 by Sean Brooks and during the course of the match 101 fish were caught for a healthy rod average of seven. Distance was the key on match day as the fish pushed out due to the angling pressure. Tactics varied from Apps Worms pulled on floating lines to the bung at distance.
Top rod on the day was local angler Tim Joyce with 25 fish for 33 points, runner-up was Charlie Abrahams with 15 fish for 21 points, third place was Dave Franklin with 11 fish for 17 points. Gary Morris was fourth with 11 fish for 17 points with Mark Haycock fifth catching 9 fish for 14 points and Ian Watts sixth taking 9 trout for 13 points. The top six now progress to the southern semi-final in March at Elinor Trout Fishery.
The AT-TEFF would like to thank Sam and Paul at Chigborough Fisheries for hosting this qualifier and Lee Cartmail for running the event.
The next bank qualifier is on 3rd November at Siblyback Lake. Entries for this qualifier are now closed.
West House Trout Lakes (17th Nov) and Barnsfold Trout Fishery (24th Nov) are the next two qualifiers in November. To book on to these or any of the other bank qualifiers then go to the Angling Trust Events website at www.anglingtrustevents.net/game