Considering the results of the previous year when 8 of the club members had blanked then this was a good year. Fishing had recovered from the pumping that had occurred the weeks previous and everybody caught fish, a minimum of 6 fish per boat. However, although many of the fish had very good tails there was no fish of any large weight. They were VERY good stockies, powerful enough to break several lines.

Congratulations to Roy and Bill who, determined to win, took a gamble and left the bowl, where fish were coming out, to look for better fish over by the cages. He knew that Reg and Allen had bagged up at 3.15pm and so probably needed the weight to win. Their gamble played off and they got the larger fish just before the finish at 5.30pm to win the day.

Entertainment consisted of a day of the drum beats of Dragon Boat Racing, with music groups, side shows and lots of people.

The day was a nice day, gentle breeze from the south east. However, a little bit more cloud would have been welcomed to keep the fish up and prevent the sunburn. The water temperature was warm at 18 degees C and not so dirty following the pumping that had taken place the previous month.

The Event :-

Starting at 9.00 (just!) many boats headed for the cages although Reg and Allen went straight for the bubbles where they stayed until they finished at 3.15pm.

There were fish just under the surface with many swirling at the top and even leaping out.

On the north side of the bubbles (more so than in the bubbles) it was noticed that the fish were chasing fry which would often be seen leaping out to escape their captors. Hence some form of lure, perhaps orange or white, just below the surface on a floating / midge-tip line was suitable.

Drifting in the bowl, especially near the bubbles, was producing fish in the morning but then, as the day progressed, the fishing got harder. Reg and Allen, having tied up to a buoy, finished at 3.15pm and Ken and Tim stepped into their slot. However, the fishing there had gone quiet, the fish had moved on, and so did they. Roy and Bill were catching fish steadily but late in the afternoon they moved to near the cages to try for those larger last fish in the hope of clinching the day. It paid off and just before close they got what they were seeking. Close thing though.

Reg and Allen had weighed in at 3.15pm with their two limits. Everyone else appeared at 6.00pm, the finish time. Was there a weight to beat Reg and Allen who had been champions for the previous two years? Roy and Bill rolled up with bags that looked very full. They also had two limits. Had they managed to tip the balance? Yes, they had, 27lbs to 24lbs.

So congratulations to Roy and Bill who are the Pairs Champions for 2006.

All eyes will be on them next year when they have to defend it.

Results :-