27/12/07 – Walthamstow

Fished with Marco and he used his new rod that I built for the first time. The blank I used was a Batson RX7 Rainshadow; 9' #7 4 piece, lovely light rod with a stiff toppy action. Bought the complete kit from J Stockard in the States http://www.jsflyfishing.com/ Got done by the customs and still it probably only cost around £80 - brilliant value.

He had 3 and I had 3, all on boobies. Great fishing for the conditions and time of year.

The fly that done really well for me was a salmon chennile body and black tailed booby. Marco had his fish on a olive booby and caught a fantastic long lean fish over 3lb (he is a jammy bastard!).



3 – 0 - 0

24/12/07 – Walthamstow

Had 6 on boobies at the same spot, talk about consistent! Great stamp of fish, although the fish I knocked were empty on spooning.

Black and green, and red and white with black eye boobies done the business. Most coming to the point fly, 10’ leader.


6 – 3 - 6

1/12/07 - Waltamstow - Fur & Feather comp

Fished my first competition at Walthamstow; The Fur & Feather organised by the Walthamstow Fly Fishers Club (WFFC). Everyone to fish for four fish, and the heaviest catch won.

I turned up at 10:30 thinking that this was the kick of time, the same as the winter competition. Got to the lodge and asked Chris where was everyone and he told me that they had started at 7:00 am! Oh well, I had some catching up to do. The competition was due to end at 2:00 pm.

I made my way round to the ressie’s and was well impressed with the turnout, maybe 30-40 fishermen. Met Gary Inwards the Chairman of the club, he gave me the low-down and last years winner was well on his way, Frank.

I made my way along the causeway to the east corner of #4 and started to fish, after a couple of hours in the fierce wind, I had hooked 2 fish but lost both close to the bank while fishing boobies.

I thought about moving and it would have been a long timely walk to the South bank of #5 that may have produced but decided to sit it out where I was.

There was a sweep for the total weight of fish and the largest fish. I guessed 128lb.

Around 1:30 the spot that had produced for me in the past weeks became available, and I managed to get on it. In the last ½ hour I managed 2 fish which was a right result!

At the weigh in at the Ferry Boat Inn, the total weight of fish was 130 odd lb, so I was quite close, but not close enough, and from memory I think the largest fish was 4.3lb, caught by Franks mate and the eventual winner, who moved in to Franks spot once he had his fill!

I won a bottle of wine and was over the moon! Had a great time and a few pints in the pub and really enjoyed the day. Can’t wait till the next one. Cracking bunch of people and really well run event. Wish I had joined the WFFC years ago.

To contact the club:
wffceditor@hotmail.com