The competition.

Whilst I was into coarse match fishing for a while it was not, until I joined the Hereford Fly Fishing Club many years ago now into competitive trout fishing.  It was a good well run club with its own stillwater and regular outing to various venues round about.

One year they decided to enter the Benson and Hedge fly fishing competition.  I was a big deal then with heats all over the country culmination in a grand final at one of the big reservoirs.  I was invited to join the team with the heat we were in fishing at Rutland water where I had fished a fair bit before.

On the morning of the match there was a draw for boat partners and as it turned out I drew one of the local Rutland Water team.   Seemed a decent young guy as we met and discussed how we would operate during the day.   I made it clear to him I was really only there for the days fishing,which was true, and as he knew the water best he could take charge of the motor, go where he wanted and I would do the drogue and anything else required and just enjoy the day..  In conversation early on it transpired he had represented England  in international  matches too.

I will cut a long story short but everywhere he took me I caught a fish or two.   He was not doing great himself however and it became apparent he was not too happy about it either and we fished in silence for much of the time.  I asked him on one occasion if they caught any perch on fly and during the afternoon I actually did get one, followed by his comment " Christ he can catch perch too." which was a bit uncalled for.  Anyway midway through the afternoon I caught my limit which I think was eight fish then and sat for the rest of the match while he fished on. I genuinely can't remember how many he caught. Anyway back at the landing stage I thanked him for the day and went off to our respective team mates.

It later transpired that I actually won the match.

I saw my boat partner again with his team mates in the car park as we were leaving and went over to him and offered him a fishing waistcoat which had been part of the prize and suggested my win had a lot to do with his local knowledge.  Unfortunately he seemed to take this as an insult and simply turned his back, which was rather unfortunate and somewhat spoiled the day.   I can't remember his name -not that that bothers me in the slightest I have to say..