OUSE VALLEY (SUSSEX) FLYFISHERS

OUSE VALLEY TROPHY 2001

So there they were the usual suspects, fourteen or so of the regulars who slug it out every year for the much-prized Ouse Valley bank/boat trophy. We assembled on a cold, grey and blustery Sunday 22nd April. As we drew numbers for our fishing slots I said "we’ll enjoy a good mornings fishing and meet back at the lodge for a pleasant picnic lunch in the sun".

When all the numbers had been drawn I took the last to find it was number one. So I strode off to the bend on the west bank to try and fish across the strongish southeasterly. I was hoping to pick up fish that would be down wind feeding on daphnia. After about an hour of fishing buzzer slowly, along 100 yards of bank I wasn’t so sure. By now it actually become quite pleasant, the sun did come out, the cloud broke up and the wind eased a touch. Out with the binoculars, there were people dotted all around the bank. A quick sweep with the binoculars and I saw Rowena catch opposite me. Jim Bates landed one on the north bank and Geoff and Rowland both catching on the south bank. Oh! Oh! I was in the wrong place.

On moving to the south bank I learnt that Geoff and Rowland had five and three respectively. It was 11:00am. Tried the static buzzers again. No joy. Switched over to a gold head orange lure on a floater and had a take almost immediately.

I think I must have been too deep before. With a slow retrieve in the top three or four feet I started to hook fish. I caught two and lost three others. All strong lively fish. About half an hour before lunch I had another take. At first I thought I had a giant Barcombe bream, but soon realized I was attached to large lump of a trout. It actually came in more quietly than the other fish I had already caught. After a few minutes wait for Geoff Woolgar to arrive with his oversize net it was safely on the bank. It was to turn the scales at 10lb 2oz.

This was all rather disappointing for poor old Dave Thomas who had also caught a big fish 7lb 12oz in fact. You would be forgiven Dave for thinking that you had clinched an outstanding win with such a fish. However the Gods decided it was not to be, so one of Barcombe’s even bigger monsters ended up in my bag.

It crossed my mind to toss my fish into the bushes to allow you your moment of glory, accustomed as I am to standing on the winners podium! But such generous thoughts quickly dispelled by the prospect of Art Gibbs hooking an eight pounder in the afternoon, so I am afraid it had to count.

Now, surprisingly, against all the odds we did have our lunch in the sun. Everyone was very pleased with the morning session and several had already finished. Geoff Woolgar, Rowland Eustace, Martyn Gray and Jim "pink booby" Bates to name a few. In the afternoon it was not long before everyone still fishing congregated downwind on the north bank, where it was a fish a chuck with daphnia feeders lining up to grab anything they could.

A superb day’s fishing was rounded off by the spectacular sight of an osprey that spent more than twenty minutes hawking over both the river and the reservoir.

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Last modified: July 17, 2001

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