Total Flyfisher Magazine

Twenty one teams contested the 2011 Lexus European Team Flyfishing Final held over two days at Rutland Water on Sunday 18 and Monday 19 September.



Day One


Pre-match practice on Saturday did nothing to hearten the competitors for Sundays 10am start. However, with good conditions and a light northerly breeze those fishing the nymphs looked to be in with a  be in with a good shout.

Making the most of the conditions on the mighty Rutland, Blagdon FF put in a great first day performance, landing 30 fish between them for a combined total of nearly 66lb - two fish and over a pound more than their closest rivals, Rio Masters.

The results could have been very different though, were it not for a rule infringement by one of the members of the second-placed team.

The rules of the competition are a four fish limit at which point anglers must switch to de-barbed hooks and catch and release
. One of the Rio Masters team had five fish discounted for an infringement of the above rules. The competitor had caught nine fish when fly checked on the water and was found to have two flies not completely de-barbed. However, both flies had been flattened to some degree and the infringement was deemed to be a genuine mistake. The five fish taken on catch and release were therefore discounted from the competitors overall bag.



“I had a four fly cast and two of them were found to be still slightly barbed. One was, in my opinion, slightly marginal, but the other definitely snagged John Seaton’s jumper during the fly check and I have to hold my hands up to that one and the punishment was fair. It was a genuine mistake on my part and I won’t be making that mistake again,” said Paul Shaw the angler judged to have infringed the rules.


Result Day One
1. Blagdon FF 30 fish for 65lb 14oz


2. Rio Masters 28 fish for 64lb 9oz


3. Orvis Alba FF 29 fish for 64lb 7oz


4. Peregrine Team Esthwaite 27 fish for 57lb 3oz


5. Seighford Sharks 23 fish for 51lb 13oz


6. Team Snowbee 25 fish for 48lb 12oz


7. Nymph ‘o’ Maniacs 23 fish for 48lb 4oz


8. Anglo Welsh 21 fish for 47lb 6oz



Largest fish: Julian Hubbard 5lb 5oz


Best total Bag inc bonus: Martin Barrett 21lb 5oz



Statistics


Anglers: 126

Fish caught: 421

Average weight of fish: 2lb 3oz

Rod Average: 3.34


Day Two

Day Two's weather was a repeat of the first's, albeit with a slightly stronger breeze. Rio Masters got out of the blocks early with Rob Edmunds taking just minutes to land the first fish of the day drifting into Normanton Bay. Three of the Rio team motored to the dam including Graham Pearson, Ron Gent and Paul Shaw.

Several members of the leading team after day one, Blagdon FF, favoured the Sykes Lane area of the reservoir. Martin Cottis took most of his first day catch on dries and was again seen heading for the South Arm at day two's start.

It was Alba Orvis who put in a stunning display though, leapfrogging both Rio Masters and Blagdon FF to take the 2011 title. Tactics were quite simple, the team fished X-Y buoys and all the way down the Normanton bank to Fantasay Island.

On Day 1 the fish were up in the water so it was floating and Midge Tip lines with a Booby on the point and Cormorants behind with most of the team fishing three flies. Day 2 the breeze increased so the team moved out a bit owing to the coloured water. It was a consistent performance by the team finishing a clear 14lb in front of second placed Rio Masters with first day leaders Blagdon FF, who struggled to repeat their first day showing, taking third.

Paul Roach, Team Snowbee, took the top individual prize after boating 13 fish for an overall weight of 28lb.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Rio Masters either, teamster Julian Hubbard won the biggest fish award with a rainbow from day one tipping the scales at 5lb 5oz.



Day Two Result

1. Alba Orvis FF 26 fish for 53lb 2oz


2. Rio Masters 19 fish for 38lb 7oz


3. Blagdon FF 14 fish for 31lb 12oz


4. BRFFA Emergers 13 fish for 31lb 1oz


5. Team Wellbank 16 fish for 30lb 12oz


6. Margam FF 13 fish for 30lb 3oz


7. Clan Chiefs 15 fish for 29lb 3oz


8. Team Frog Hair 14 fish for 27lb 15oz



Day Two Statistics

Anglers: 126


Total fish caught: 255


Rod Average: 2.02


Average Fish weight: 2lb 2oz



Largest fish: Graham Currie 4lb 15oz


Best total Bag inc bonus: Iain Earle 12lb 7oz




Overall Results:

1: Alba Orvis Flyfishers 55 fish for 117lb 9oz


2. Rio Masters 47 fish for 103lb 0oz


3. Blagdon FF 44 fish for 97lb 10oz


4. Peregine Esthwaite 38 fish for 79lb 15oz


5. Anglo Welsh FF 33 fish for 73lb 12oz


6. Team Wellbank 36 fish for 73lb 6oz


7. Margam FF 34 fish for 72lb 9oz


8. Seighford Sharks 30 fish for 70lb 9oz


9. Team Snowbee 34 fish for 68lb 15oz


10. Team Frog Hair 34 fish for 67lb 13oz


11. BRFFA Emergers 30 fish for 64lb 14oz


12. Nymph ‘O’ Maniacs 32 fish for 63lb 13oz


13. Clan Chiefs 32 fish for 62lb 5oz


14. Greenwell Persuaders 29 fish 62lb 5oz


15. Anglo Scots 28 fish for 58lb 12oz


16. Chatton Trout Fishers 26 fish for 54lb 15oz


17. Team Frozen North 23 fish for 53lb 6oz


18. Stocks Falcons 24 fish for 52lb 13oz


19. Ospreys 24 fish for 50lb 7oz


20. Team Airflo 27 fish for 50lb 0oz


21. Stocks Hawks 16 fish for 32lb 2oz



Top Rod: Paul Roach 13 fish for 28lb 0oz


Biggest Fish: Julian Hubbard rainbow 5lb 5oz



Statistics Overall

Anglers: 252


Total Fish Caught: 676


Rod Average: 2.68


Average fish weight: 2lb 2oz