Fishing For Life with Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club at Hawkridge Reservoir in 2021
Fishing for Life, based at Wimbleball Lake, are looking for a few volunteers to help our ladies fishing. You would be under the supervision of a qualified coach who would be in overall charge of the session.
We have several venues and are looking for help at Wimbleball, Kennick, Hawkridge and Blakewell.
Duties could be helping carry tackle, netting fish, recommending flies, advice on casting etc. Volunteers would have to be sympathetic to the ladies needs, their well being is paramount.
If anyone is interested please contact Patrick on [email protected].
South West Fishing for Life were at wimbleball recently for their monthly fish & Pip managed this beauty…
‘Fishing for Life’ is an organization provides free fly fishing sessions for people who all have one thing in common – breast cancer. For more information please visit https://www.southwestfishingforlife.org.uk/
Many thanks for the report below from Sally Pizii Trustee and Fishing coordinator of all SWFFL (South West Fishing For Life) and FFL groups :-
What a wonderful day the ladies from South West Fishing for Life had on Sunday at Hawkridge Reservoir.
The weather was warm and fine and, as always, the scenery provided a stunning background to the competition.
The ladies might have all been united by having had breast cancer, but competition was fierce as they fished their annual fly fishing boat match.
The boats were all carefully rowed by members of the Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club and secrets shared as to which fly to use and where the best place to cast would be.
There were trout everywhere and could be clearly seen cruising through the water, one almost jumped in to one of the boats, but only one was hungry enough to take the fly offered.
Julie Abbott caught a lovely two pound, four ounce trout. She took first prize as did her boatman Andre and everyone else got ‘runners up’ prizes.
Due to Covid, a shared meal was not on offer at the end of the event, but next year, we hope it will all be different.
Thanks go to the Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club and to Wessex Water who allowed the competition to take place.
The Wistlandpound Club members fished on after the mornings boat sharing to compete in the clubs Roger and Guard Shield. The winner was Colin Combe with four trout for 11lb 4oz and runner up myself with four trout for 9lb 12oz. David Eldred was third with one trout of 2lb 14oz.
Colin Combes with his winning bag of trout
Hawkridge Reservior is at present run by Wessex Water and is a picturesque water located in the Quantox Hills close to Taunton.
Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club members met members of South West – Fishing for life at Hawkridge Reservoir near Bridgewater where members gave Fly Fishing Coaching on a one to one basis from boats kindly provided by Wessex Water. The hot sunny conditions were far from ideal for fishing and as a result only one of the ladies taking part caught a trout. The event proved very enjoyable and rewarding however with all celebrating the joys of fishing and living on a splendid summers day. The main fishing event commenced at 1.00pm and finished at 3.00pm and was followed by afternoon tea and delicious food in the fishing lodge.
Pip Bristow with a fine 2lb 10oz rainbow
Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club have been invited to repeat the event in September 2019 when it is hoped conditions will be more favorable for catching fish.
‘Fishing for Life’ is an organization which provides fly fishing sessions for people who all have one thing in common – breast cancer. Meetings are held every month at lakes over the South West, Greater Manchester area and Gloucester/Worcester,, where the scenery is beautiful all the year round. At these sessions members are able to learn to fly fish under the supervision of qualified coaches.
The sessions are provided free of charge, thanks to the help of South West Lakes Trust, Bristol Waters, fisheries and small grants from local authorities. Also fundraising done by a very committed group of volunteers. As well as learning to fly fish, knot tying, entomology, fly tying and conservation are all included in the program and each morning’s session is concluded with refreshments.
Fly fishing not only provides gentle relaxing exercise, but in this wonderful atmosphere, refreshes the soul as well as one member said. New friendships are made with like minded people and it is a time to relax and have some special ME time. Families and partners are welcome to come along and support but the fishing is just for the members. Everyone is welcome to the refreshments at the end of the session.
My boat partner Sam fished enthusiastically whilst I spent two hours wishing for a trout to seize her Fly.
Wistlandpound Club Members fished their competition between 4.00pm and 6.00pm
Competition Report From Club Secretary David Richards
Well the fishing at Hawkridge was tough five members fished with the women, who I believe had a great day as did the men,such was the enjoyment factor that we have booked up to do the same in September next year.
The reservoir temperature was in the region of 28/29 degrees which is somewhere around the high 80,s.
I believe every fly and every tactic was used but for all but one it was no use and as we had decided earlier that the winner of the comp was going to be the heaviest fish Colin Combe who caught the only 2 fish 4lb 4oz won the day .
Tight Lines Dave R…
I will just add that I did hook into a rainbow that I estimated at 4lb before it managed to shed the hook a foot from the net!
The Wistlandpound Club members fished on after the mornings boat sharing to compete in the clubs Roger and Guard Shield. The winner was Colin Combe with four trout for 11lb 4oz and runner up myself with four trout for 9lb 12oz. David Eldred was third with one trout of 2lb 14oz.
