August 27th 2026 @ Meon Springs
Once again the weather was in our favour (no rain). The sun was up and although from the start the air temperature was quite high and so was the water temperature also quite high making the fish uncomfortable – the water level was down quite a bit. That presented a challenge to mentors and guests. Advice from the fishery team advised us that the fish were shoaling so it was a case of find them and tempt them which in many cases even with constant changes of flies made it an arduous task.
The morning began with the usual welcome of T&C and rolls and introductions to our guests from at least 3 branches of HMAS then pairing off to tackle the wily trout.
That being said, fish came to the scales constantly and with the constant changes of spots around the fishery a very reasonable number of fish were weighed in. Sadly, we had two blanks due to fish coming off which was thankfully less than I envisioned. Several fish were lost for reasons unknown even by those who bagged up but that’s fishing.
The camaraderie and banter were, as always very evident and smiles, compliments and insults were voiced throughout the day. Once the first fish were caught the focus was intense on catching a fish as can be seen in the pictures and the technique of casting the fly rose to a very acceptable level and can be seen on the guests faces as they grasped the rhythm.
I managed to have a short walk (back still giving me Gyp) and those guests I had the pleasure of chatting with were obviously enjoying the day and the number of questions on fly fishing, I and the mentors, were asked was pleasing as most of them had never considered fishing as a leisure / healing pursuit.
An unexpected but welcome guest was Pat Burgess’s dog Storm who viewed everything from a supine position wondering what all the fuss was about when a fish was landed and now and then took my wife for “walkies” around the fishery with her on the other end of the lead.
A superb lunch was served and by way of a change of prizes excellent framed fishing prints courtesy of Geoff Brooks were presented to the winners and received with smiles.
It will never be boring for me to say “another successful day in the history of FFF ” all due to the excellent support from the mentors and from the fisheries teams and caterers.
Someone famous said (not me).
“A picture speaks a thousand words” but for me our motto will be “The smiles speak a thousand words”.
Bill Howell Founder
The pictures courtesy of Mike Edwards FFF Photog.
The morning began with the usual welcome of T&C and rolls and introductions to our guests from at least 3 branches of HMAS then pairing off to tackle the wily trout.
That being said, fish came to the scales constantly and with the constant changes of spots around the fishery a very reasonable number of fish were weighed in. Sadly, we had two blanks due to fish coming off which was thankfully less than I envisioned. Several fish were lost for reasons unknown even by those who bagged up but that’s fishing.
The camaraderie and banter were, as always very evident and smiles, compliments and insults were voiced throughout the day. Once the first fish were caught the focus was intense on catching a fish as can be seen in the pictures and the technique of casting the fly rose to a very acceptable level and can be seen on the guests faces as they grasped the rhythm.
I managed to have a short walk (back still giving me Gyp) and those guests I had the pleasure of chatting with were obviously enjoying the day and the number of questions on fly fishing, I and the mentors, were asked was pleasing as most of them had never considered fishing as a leisure / healing pursuit.
An unexpected but welcome guest was Pat Burgess’s dog Storm who viewed everything from a supine position wondering what all the fuss was about when a fish was landed and now and then took my wife for “walkies” around the fishery with her on the other end of the lead.
A superb lunch was served and by way of a change of prizes excellent framed fishing prints courtesy of Geoff Brooks were presented to the winners and received with smiles.
- Winner of Biggest Bag LCpl Zack Jones. Mentor Mark Roberts
- Winner of Biggest Fish SSgt Jodie Sutton. Mentor Geoff Brooks
- Winner of Smallest Fish Sgt Cat Windridge. Mentor Richard Hughes
It will never be boring for me to say “another successful day in the history of FFF ” all due to the excellent support from the mentors and from the fisheries teams and caterers.
Someone famous said (not me).
“A picture speaks a thousand words” but for me our motto will be “The smiles speak a thousand words”.
Bill Howell Founder
The pictures courtesy of Mike Edwards FFF Photog.
