For what we are about to receive..........................

This month sees the traditional start of the season. Many members will be heading for our river venues on the Lea, Ivel and Ouse. Judging by the quality and quantity of fish seen on pre-season recces many of you should enjoy some good opening day catches.

Over the last month our year-round venues at Frogmore and Smallford have produced good catches and down at Riverside, which opened on May 15th, the new stock of small carp has provoked a feeding frenzy amongst the natives and many 50lb+ bags have been reported. Along with the small carp the big un's are showing around the lake plus nice tench, quality roach and bream along with battling crucians.

Right we have Brian Lakin with a beautiful 'butterscotch' ghostie from peg 8

She's a 'Lady'

Congratulations to "London" Tony, who has just bagged the new common from Smallford at 32lb and called her 'Lady'.

The fish, seen right with Barry Killinger at the time of stocking a few weeks earlier, was caught on a short day session and he bagged another fish at 22lb as well.

VAC HOTLINE 01727 835904 for all the latest news

236 Rods caught a record 586 fish, that is just under 2.5 fish per rod per day, and very close to the daily limit of 3 fish. This is the best ever final result in the history of the section.

Thanks to the decision to change trout supplier and stock heavier fish, the average fish weight caught this season was just a fraction over 2lbs, compared to last season when the average was just 1lb.

Highlights of the seasons catches were the fish caught over 3lbs of which some 30 ‘monsters’ were stocked. Of note were Brian Gear’s fish of over 6lbs, while those with fish over 5lbs were, Ken Mourton, Oster Bayne, and Simon Forster. 17 fishermen caught trout over three pounds in weight. Peter Stone took his fish limit each time he fished, to capture a total of 42 fish over the season.

Our first section ‘Away-Day’ to Elinor in early June is sold-out, and bookings for the second in September to Eyebrook (voted No1 Trout Fishery in the Country, in the 2004 ‘Trout Fisherman’ survey) are already high, with early booking reccomended to save disappointment.

We have already started planning for an equally exciting 2006 season, when we hope to see many newcomers coming to try fly-fishing out. We ran two very successful free Fly Casting Lessons in the 2005 season attended by 10 Club members learning the ropes. A high proportion of those will join the section next season.

With ticket prices to VAC members more than 60% cheaper than local commercial trout fisheries the demand for season tickets is likely to be high for next season. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list, to obtain season ticket prices, general info, application forms, details of our free introductions to fly-fishing, and the opportunity to join our ‘Away-Days’, register your name, address, and e-mail with Neil Roberts by clicking here .