Special Report

*Click on pictures for a bigger view - Click on the big picture to shrink
**Fisherman of the Year 2007 - Read all about it!

Rob Harris Freedom Day

Eighteen complete beginners travelled North to Stonebridge from as far as Southampton and Bristol (did anyone remind the lads to bring their coats!) to try their hand at fly fishing for the day. They arrived on the Saturday for a few days Cricket, enjoyed the traditional spirit of consuming humongous, excessive amounts of alcohol in the evening with any survivors from the Stag party spending the Sunday learning to fly fish at Stonebridge.

All eighteen of the lads managed to make it to the lakes (well some in body at least!) to try their hand at fly fishing for the first time.

After supplying the lads with rods, reels and of course paracetamol and a hearty full English breakfast, Stonebridge had pulled out all the stops and managed to bring in Ex National Small Water Champion and current England International Peter Appleby (creator of the Apps Bloodworm) and fellow Small Water ace of three times National Bank Champions, The Maran Kingfishers Chris Mcelloff who is also an England International and also Stonebridge team member Phil to give instruction for the day.

Weather conditions to start were horrendous with winds approaching gale force, once set up the guys were explained the basics and shown casting demonstrations by Peter.

Fortunately the wind drooped enough for the guys to safely put into practise what they had learned from Peter. Splitting up into three supervised groups it was now time to try and catch their first ever fly caught Trout.

Mr Appleby's group had a ringside seat in the event ahead which went like this:- explaining his confidence in using an unweighted Black Zonker figure of eightedon a slow intermediate line in tough conditions can often bring success, Peter's 'students' looked on when right on que Peter's line tightened. As the fish made its bid for freedom it's flashing subsurface flanks raised an eyebrow on Old Mr Steely glare himself as he knew this was a Specimen sized Specimen. Everyone stopped fishing to watch as Peter's fish carried up and down the Lake for 15 minutes before the old maestro finally slipped the net underneath the huge 23lb 8oz Rainbow assisted by Pete Harris. A new fishery record under the new ownership. This was a great inspirational boost for the newcomers and an air of excitement flourished over the entire lake.

With wobbly knees and shaking arms the guys made their casts which looked surprisingly similar to lion training audition, I remember attending the same class!!!

Although for some reason the fish went to grown (nothing to do with the lake being whipped harder then an x rated movie) but most of the guys did manage to catch their first fly caught trout at Stonebridge, something that hopefully they'll never forget. And to finish the day off just right the lads sat down to BBQ feast including a trout caught on the day.

Cleveland Police Club Day

Bob Jackson organised an end of Club Season Corporate event for the members of the Cleveland Police Fly Fishing Club. Stonebridge was the chosen venue. Weather conditions on the day were quite typical of an early September day with a moderate Southerly ripple accompanied by a little cloud cover and occasional sunny spells. After a hearty fisherman's breakfast and a family sized welcome from the Stonebridge team the Cleveland Officers geared up lodge side before taking up their places around the Specimen Lake.

Would Stonebridge trout be able to evade capture? or would the long 'casting' arm of the law prove to be their downfall?

After a steady start the Cleveland Crew settled down to business and began catching, a floating line and black fritz gold head live combination were winning tactics for Malcom Brown. Malcom managed to tempt a brace of rainbows toppling 32lbs, two quality fish at 16lbs plus a piece.

Reality sized rainbows were caught until small water ace Mick Hegarty up-ed the anti with a super sized specimen, Mick is no stranger to Stonebridge and has caught many cracking fish on previous visits, today though Mick broke through the 20lb barrier with a stunning fish of 21lbs 8oz. Stonebridges Trout of this size come with muscle and plenty of power (ask Mick) bringing them to the net takes a good deal of skill strength and a strong heart!!

During the afternoon sport slowed for a while as it does on most fisheries so wanting to spur the resident trout back to feed Richard and Phil tried to release a few rainbows from the holding net on the lake , things didn't go quite as planned when the little boat nearly toppled over in the process and Phil and Richard nearly became sport for the Cleveland Top Cops. Would they have put up a fight like a 20 pounder? Na...they'd of come in like a pair of Chubs!!

I think the overall summery of the day could be described as 'The Stonebridge Trout fought the law but the law won!'

Year End

Where's the weather? Yes we may have dropped down a few degrees but in general this isn't winter, I don't want to start off the global warming debate but surely the now warmer winters are seemingly here to stay, are they affecting the fishing? I'm not a scientist but over the last few seasons I have noticed the huge drop off in the evening rises the once excepted hatches that you could almost set your watch against arriving two months later, if at all! Prolific weed growth throughout winter, surely the trout will now over winter better, ill the Buzzer out fish the Lure during the colder months? Please feel free to share your views through our Internet forum, scientist or not thoughts on this matter are most welcome.

For now our statistics are showing that the winter Lure is out fishing the Buzzer with many doubles falling to Olive and Black Gold Heads. I personally tested the Specimen Lake and I found Lures fished quickly 2-3 feet deep effective, Black Lures brought the best results with Cats Whiskers scoring two, The 8 Legged Olive Bloodworm again fished at a moderate pace on a slow intermediate will score. If Lures ain't your thing then a floating line and Apps Bloodworm fished steadily with a jerky figure of eight retrieve should over then next couple of months out fish standard buzzers.

Before I visit the following anglers on they're achievements may I take a moment to tell you some facts about the Stonebridge Specimen Lake.

How many times have you read about super charged fish, fin perfect, specimen doubles, quality blues and browns. Stonebridge can offer you that and more. Hundreds of anglers have experienced the fish of their dreams at Stonebridge including me, mine wasn't the 20 pounder or one of the many doubles I have been fortunate to land it came on a summers evening in 2007 when i was figure of eighting a Shipman's Buzzer just sub surface, the fly was hit hard and I landed a 12 inch wild Brownie which must have come in via the Feeda Srrean, perfectly formed with beautiful big red spots and butter yellow belly we managed a photograph and returned it to the lake. Magic!!