• Hardy / Greys Open Day • 

Saturday, April 30th 2005 saw some hectic and frantic activity by Bryn, Neil and their team of highly skilled Marquee Erectors in securing, for your confort and delight by the way, such a magnificent venue in the face of any adverse or inclement weather.

The weather, somehow managing to defy all the best that the local meteorologist office had on offer for us, decided early on to be kind and early birds were rewarded with a nice, brightish warm day with trout dimpling the waters in all directions. It was going to be a good day after all...!!

With the prospect of not one, or two but three AAPGAI Instructors on site at the same time for this prestigious event, expectations were running high and a high turnout of local anglers supported the anticipated benefits that would be received from the demostrations and subsequent Casting Clinics.

The Hardy/Greys representative started the show on the road with a highly skilled and informed demonstration of the Single and Double Hauls as applied to Double Handed Salmon Rods. First, he instilled in everyone the importance of getting the Roll Cast correct first and how to progress from there.

He went on to explain that with very little effort, but using the right techniques, a very long line could be shot. Using other variants, the direction of the cast could very quickly be changed and that proved of much interest. All were impressed with the effortless manner in which he shot such a long line and many were getting impatient to try and emulate him.

With the advent of the Lunch Break, much had been learnt and, busy eating all the pies, pasties, egg rolls, ham rolls etc - the conversation turned to how they could get to have a go...

A great amount of Liquid Refreshment was also kindly supplied by the generous owners of the fishery, Bryn & Neil. Watered and fed, the 'combatants' set forth to test out their newly-learned expertise where it mattered - on the Water - with varying results, all controlled by the three AAPGAI Instructors.

The Casting Clinics proved to be extremely popular and many a bad habit was corrected - at least for the day. It also takes practice and perseverance to put what you learn into practice. The weather certainly did its' best to encourage the anglers and a lot of excellent sport was seen to be had at all the different lakes. All in all, a truly magnificent day that was thoroughly enjoyed by all that attended.

A delighted Steve (pictured left) shows off his beautiful rainbow that fell for a micro dry fly in the corner of Top Lake.

The fish took a good five minutes or more to land with Steve skillfully steering the big fish clear of the abundant weeds in that corner of the lake.

The fish was finally subdued and, after the able assistance of Sean Bethel, the fish was duly netted, just as the fly decided to release its' hold on the fish and fell out and embedded itself in Seans' arm.

Ignoring the pain, Sean measured the trout and it weighed in at just over 8lbs 8oz. The trout was dutifully returned to the water to fight for another day and give another angler the same exhilaration and enjoyment that it gave Steve.