
Tag: Fly Fishing in the Midlands



Breaking Records - TCC Final
Getting to the final in any event can be a little nerve wracking, especially when qualifying for the first time. Fishing isn’t seen as a competitive sport by some, lending itself more to recreation and relaxation as an activity, but try telling that to the intrepid bunch of fly fishers who have been dreaming of catching a trophy Trout during lockdown. “Have a glass of not so seriou”s is the sage advice dispensed at the TOPS Corporate Challenge and for good reason…

Self Isolating Trout - TCC Leg 3
A few anglers thought that the Trout were adhering to the Covid regulations this last weekend as they certainly were reluctant to come within casting distance, let alone out to play. Weather is always a go-to excuse, but 34-degree heat and Trout do not mix well, let alone the toll it takes on fly fishers adrift in a tube for 10 hours in the blazing sun. It’s why the TOPS Corporate Challenge is traditionally held at the beginning of Winter and despite 270 fish being recorded in the 1st Leg…

Big Trout Weekend - TCC Leg 2
What makes big Trout suddenly come out to play? The weather obviously has an impact, as barometric pressure is unequivocally one of the few legitimate excuses in every fly fisher’s bible of reasons why we didn’t trouble the scorers.

TCC Leg 1
There are many elements that will determine how successful any fishing outing is, least not of which is our attitude. In the lead up to any trip, it’s that element of excitement, finally being able to get back on the water, receiving the nod from your boss and better half (which hopefully aren’t the same thing) or as of late, ‘Big Brother’.

The Kitchen Sink
What to throw at the problem is the @#$%&$! problem. That fish are fussy, no frustrated angler will argue about and when it comes to fly fishing for Trout the debate quickly devolves into fly patterns? It is a question more worn than a green and gold jersey when the Boks are playing.

Troutdemic
I thought it would never end! O.k, so you can’t have a legal smoke of satisfaction after the act or toast in celebration with your fishing buddies, but at least you can get out of jail and back on the water. That it is a pandemic there’s no debating, from where, we’ll probably never really know and it’s not going to help if we did, but quite frankly I’m sick and tired of it monopolizing the conversation. We need to look forward and focus on the important things in life…

"...and don't panic"
‘…..and don’t panic!’ is a phrase that your fishing guide will advise when you hook into a Trophy fish just before the pandemonium erupts. The problem is that when someone tells you not to panic it usually means that there is something to panic about.

An Indian Summer
Waiting for the turn of the season is what you do as fly fishermen, knowing that with each one, a particular species will appear on our radar. And whilst we couldn’t claim to be men of all seasons, come Winter it’s the TOPS Corporate Challenge that every angler is clamoring to enter. And judging from this year’s grand final you can understand why. A glass of not so serious was truly embraced, with the Bains read more