July 22nd Meon Springs Day
July 22nd 2021 FFF Guest day
Venue Meon Springs
A blistering day welcomed our mentors and guests from HCMR to the waterside. An air of “what have we signed up for” among the guests was evident for a short while until they saw the trout cruising up and down then it was “how do I get one of those on my table”.
The day started with the usual welcome of drinks and scoffing of sausage rolls followed by and H&S resume and casting basics. One could feel the interest mounting and the desire to “get into it” was palpable so mentors were introduced and paired with their charges and fishing began.
Numerous comments between the guests such as “you look the part twit” to “that big one is mine” kicked of the banter and it did not stop especially when a fish was hooked and lost causing a great relaxed atmosphere among the guests and mentors alike. The fish were fairly obliging, and the mentors did a cracking job with several guests banking fish to be weighed in quickly so now it was “game on”.
Pleasingly there were a high number of “naturals” in the group of guests, and they picked up the basics of casting a fly very quickly so the mentors with them stood back and only made comments when they had a tangle of lost the casting rhythm for a short while.
Without exception all the guests were totally focussed on taking home an engraved winners’ tankard and the continuous flow of questions regarding the flies being used, their origin and the best way to fish them ensured that the rapport between mentor and novice was at the highest level one could wish for.
Lunch was a superb cold platter with my favourite of Pavlova with cream for desert laid up by the excellent skills of the lady chef in the barn and the plates and tables were cleared in record time. Cold and hot drinks were supplied all day courtesy of the fishery so yet again Greg and his team kept their usual high standards of care for all involved.
I am pleased to say several of our guests have decided that they want to take up the sport by getting their own kit which FFF will help to facilitate and be on call for any advice they may need in the future.
The usual “when is the next one” was the favourite question followed by many others of where to fish and how to get kit and a licence. The handshakes and “thank you’ s” at days end tells me that we have got the agenda right and the mentors did their usual Sterling job so I am certain we will see many of them at the waterside in the future.
Trophies were presented by Lt Col Martin and Lt Col Williams went well and garnered smiles all round.
Winners
Biggest Fish at 4.4lbs was Tpr Williams. Mentored by Pauline Pendle.
Biggest Bag at 9.13lbs was Tpr Izgard. Mentored by Steve Cupples.
Screaming Reels to all and on to the next one with pleasure.
Bill Howell. Founder
Venue Meon Springs
A blistering day welcomed our mentors and guests from HCMR to the waterside. An air of “what have we signed up for” among the guests was evident for a short while until they saw the trout cruising up and down then it was “how do I get one of those on my table”.
The day started with the usual welcome of drinks and scoffing of sausage rolls followed by and H&S resume and casting basics. One could feel the interest mounting and the desire to “get into it” was palpable so mentors were introduced and paired with their charges and fishing began.
Numerous comments between the guests such as “you look the part twit” to “that big one is mine” kicked of the banter and it did not stop especially when a fish was hooked and lost causing a great relaxed atmosphere among the guests and mentors alike. The fish were fairly obliging, and the mentors did a cracking job with several guests banking fish to be weighed in quickly so now it was “game on”.
Pleasingly there were a high number of “naturals” in the group of guests, and they picked up the basics of casting a fly very quickly so the mentors with them stood back and only made comments when they had a tangle of lost the casting rhythm for a short while.
Without exception all the guests were totally focussed on taking home an engraved winners’ tankard and the continuous flow of questions regarding the flies being used, their origin and the best way to fish them ensured that the rapport between mentor and novice was at the highest level one could wish for.
Lunch was a superb cold platter with my favourite of Pavlova with cream for desert laid up by the excellent skills of the lady chef in the barn and the plates and tables were cleared in record time. Cold and hot drinks were supplied all day courtesy of the fishery so yet again Greg and his team kept their usual high standards of care for all involved.
I am pleased to say several of our guests have decided that they want to take up the sport by getting their own kit which FFF will help to facilitate and be on call for any advice they may need in the future.
The usual “when is the next one” was the favourite question followed by many others of where to fish and how to get kit and a licence. The handshakes and “thank you’ s” at days end tells me that we have got the agenda right and the mentors did their usual Sterling job so I am certain we will see many of them at the waterside in the future.
Trophies were presented by Lt Col Martin and Lt Col Williams went well and garnered smiles all round.
Winners
Biggest Fish at 4.4lbs was Tpr Williams. Mentored by Pauline Pendle.
Biggest Bag at 9.13lbs was Tpr Izgard. Mentored by Steve Cupples.
Screaming Reels to all and on to the next one with pleasure.
Bill Howell. Founder
