Sept 18th @ Meon Springs
The day started with superb weather and fish were seen moving all along the lake. An eager group of guests from all three branches of HMAS were greeted with coffee and bacon rolls which were promptly wolfed down and then they were paired one on one with their mentors.
We wasted no time in getting to the waterside after the ususal H&S lecture and casting introduction. The air was soon singing with the sound of rods swishing, flies buzzing and shouts of “Fish on”.
It was not very long before one of my duties as “Fish Bagger” kept me quite busy with several decent sized fish being brought to the fishing lodge with big grins on the faces of the captors to be weighed and bagged. The fish not the captors.
The fish were quite obliging, they were targeted and caught thanks to the keen eyes of the mentors and a constant stream of catches kept the banter going with the ususal insults of “small one that” and “pure luck” filling the air each time a guest took their catch to the lodge.
Lunch as usual was excellent thanks to “Bolly” and friends. Our sincere thanks again to Greg, Ben and Richard ensuring there were fish to be caught, so the day went smoothly and was again one for all to remember for all the best reasons.
How was it for the guests? The smiles and prolific thanks from the very relaxed guests to the caterers, the fishery staff, the mentors and myself as they departed with their fish said it all. As for the mentors and myself it was pleasing to feel “mission accomplished”
Presentation of prizes was accompanied by the usual insults from non-winners but in the best possible taste and very relaxed humour.
Prizes presented by Lt Col Martin went to:
Biggest Bag to Sdn Ldr Gar Chiles and the Biggest Fish to Cmdr Chris Hillard.
As our year draws to a close with one more event scheduled in October, I cannot find enough words of thanks to all the mentors who have travelled many miles at their own cost to support our events and ensure the guests have a day to remember both at this event and all the others throughout the year.
Our sincere thanks also to the CEO and staff at Haggards Crowther who generously sponsored today’s event.
Bill Howell (Founder, Fish Bagger, Dogsbody etc ,etc, etc)
Pictures courtesy of Mike Edwards of Reel Friends FFC
We wasted no time in getting to the waterside after the ususal H&S lecture and casting introduction. The air was soon singing with the sound of rods swishing, flies buzzing and shouts of “Fish on”.
It was not very long before one of my duties as “Fish Bagger” kept me quite busy with several decent sized fish being brought to the fishing lodge with big grins on the faces of the captors to be weighed and bagged. The fish not the captors.
The fish were quite obliging, they were targeted and caught thanks to the keen eyes of the mentors and a constant stream of catches kept the banter going with the ususal insults of “small one that” and “pure luck” filling the air each time a guest took their catch to the lodge.
Lunch as usual was excellent thanks to “Bolly” and friends. Our sincere thanks again to Greg, Ben and Richard ensuring there were fish to be caught, so the day went smoothly and was again one for all to remember for all the best reasons.
How was it for the guests? The smiles and prolific thanks from the very relaxed guests to the caterers, the fishery staff, the mentors and myself as they departed with their fish said it all. As for the mentors and myself it was pleasing to feel “mission accomplished”
Presentation of prizes was accompanied by the usual insults from non-winners but in the best possible taste and very relaxed humour.
Prizes presented by Lt Col Martin went to:
Biggest Bag to Sdn Ldr Gar Chiles and the Biggest Fish to Cmdr Chris Hillard.
As our year draws to a close with one more event scheduled in October, I cannot find enough words of thanks to all the mentors who have travelled many miles at their own cost to support our events and ensure the guests have a day to remember both at this event and all the others throughout the year.
Our sincere thanks also to the CEO and staff at Haggards Crowther who generously sponsored today’s event.
Bill Howell (Founder, Fish Bagger, Dogsbody etc ,etc, etc)
Pictures courtesy of Mike Edwards of Reel Friends FFC
