EUROPEAN GRAYLING FESTIVAL – RIVER DEE 29 & 30 NOVEMBER 2008



PRESS RELEASE


EUROPEAN GRAYLING FESTIVAL - RIVER DEE 29 & 30 NOVEMBER 2008


This friendly competition was fished by 18 teams of 3 ranging from Ireland in the West to Bulgaria in the East. The teams fished 3 sessions based at Llandderfel, Corwen and Carrog. With perfect conditions, despite the freezing weather, huge numbers of grayling were caught on many different flyfishing techniques from heavy bugs to dry flies. In all 305 grayling of over 20cm were measured and returned.


The winning team comprised England Internationals Martin Dixon and his sons Phil & Mike who caught 36 fish. In second place came England Youth, with an English/Czech team in Third Place.


Top Individual was Franta from the Czech Republic who caught 20 grayling in 2 fishing sessions. Phil Dixon was second individual with 17 fish. The junior prize was won by Jason Russell of N. Ireland. Despite only having fished twice for grayling, Jason caught 10 fish including 8 in one session.


Largest fish was 47cm by two anglers; John Buchanan of Scotland and Ian Jones of Wales.


All competitors were extremely grateful for the sterling work done by Ken Bathers and his team and to those who allowed their superb beats to be fished.


For further information on the event and on grayling fishing the Dee please contact Ken Bathers on 01978 820608 or bathers@deesalmon.fsnet.co.uk

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Congratulations to the organisers of what is a great and exceedingly social event. I was with Crusty (Clive Collier) and Billy Rankin (Non forum thin person - whoever told him I called him Billy (Skinny) Rankin in a previous thread, I thank you because he pulled me on it in the bar on friday night!!!!).

We had 2 tough draws where we caught fish but came last and 2nd last in our sections and one good draw where we won our section to achieve lower table respectability.
Very well done to the Dixons, Mike and I dented local pride on the pool table on the friday night, it was great to have a few beers with the likes of Bob Worts who I hadn't really met before and was an absolute gent and also great to catch up with a number of old, familiar and surprisingly haggared faces.

Highlight of my weekend was watching Billy fall in backwards head first and flounder in 16" of water (yes, inches not feet). Several competitors up and downstream commented about a sunami around the same time. I did laugh when Billy went in, but he was in no danger and it was funny seeing him grabbing for the grass bank ignoring my calls to "just stand up you fool!" That was in the morning.
In the afternoon, I was party to a much more serious event, when my other team mare, sorry, team mate, Clive decided to get swept off his feet from a gravel spit into quite a big salmon pool.
To Clives credit, he remained entirely calm, lay on his back and kicked for shore. John Buchanan who was controlling us brought Clive to shore and was a fine calming influence as well. The 20 minute walk back to the car in freezing conditions left Clive shivering badly but after we stripped him and gave him our warm clothers he warmed up quite quickly.....which all raised an interesting question....
Why is it..... when we fish the boats it is compulsory to wear a lifejacket even though the risks are minimal, but when we fish the rivers and there is a real and serious risk of drowning, they are not?
I'm completely against the nanny state, but these rules are a bit **** about face I think.
Anyway, I highly recommend this competition, its all for a good cause (raising funds to get the salmon nets off the Dee) and when the rivers right, which it was this year, the fishing can be superb. Next year we will be entering under the name "Syncronised swimmers - team England)

The Isle of Man did better in the bar than we did in the river, but not to worry. Another great event, certainly the friendliest of competitions. With a change of waters perhaps on the cards for next year, there's bound to be even more interesting water to fish (and swim) in.

Clive wasn't the only "swimmer" at the event, perhaps Scott could be drafted into the "Synchronised swimmers" team. He was certainly looking a little gutted to be hauled out ... rod section by rod section ... to find his net was empty.

Great to meet old friends and make new ones.

We'll be back... Llangollen wasn't quite drunk dry this year.

Hi BG!

Sounds like a good little trip away - beats your trip to Bluewater that's for sure. Good value too from what I hear. Slight concern that the stripping off is becoming a team thing when you're around but it's good that the swimmers are back on dry land. BTW, is it true that the Two Day International Final Double Blank Trophy is on it's way back to Bewl. Amazing thing this grapevine!

Gillaroo

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