Following the difficulties associated with the bank venue that had been selected in the spring a last minute decision was made in June as to whether to hold it at John O’Gaunt or Farmoor. Farmoor was chosen partly because John O’Gaunt might be too easy. Following the Farmoor result then perhaps a reflection is needed.

The recent weather had been very hot for several weeks – up in the thirties every day, with many cloudless days. Consequently the water was very hot. On arrival at 8.30am an inspection of the weigh-ins for the last few days revealed many days of total blanks. However, the 23^rd was overcast with a slightly lower temperature and it seemed the perfect day. How wrong that impression was. There were several anglers who had been fishing since 6am and they had not seen a fish, not even a rise. As it so happened there were a few rises during the day but nothing to talk about. Even the swallows came over the water for a few minutes but disappeared never to be seen again. No cormorants either!?

The majority of the club went straight to the jetty (where the boats were) on the eastern bank. A couple tried the north and south banks but after fruitless attempts soon joined the sheep near the jetty.

So how did the fishing go?

Firstly NOTHING was caught near the surface. A few tried floating lines but with a VERY long leader and sinking flies to get the depth. Frank caught his only fish that way.

Otherwise everybody was on fast sinking lines with boobies. Eddie had the best success in that he fished a static hi-di and booby and picked up 3 fish early on – his last I might add.

The few fish that were netted were caught early on, it getting harder as the day progressed.

Ray managed 2 fish and the remainder 1 each – apart from Ken, all that hard work and punishment just to blank. Comiserations!

Highlights :-

Allen decided enough was enough and go at 1pm. On his last cast at 1pm he caught his fish.

John cast out, tied his rod down leaving it static and wandered off. On his return ALL his line was out but everything on the end had vanished. Still, he did get one fish.