Blithfield Anglers Individual Loch Style Championship.
Fished at Blithfield on 16th June 2011
Thirty-two anglers competed for places in this inaugural loch style championship sponsored by Blithfield Anglers. With a total cash prize fund of over £600, anglers from all over the country were attracted including four England ladies, two England youth and several ex-England men’s team members.
A day of variable strength westerly breeze but cool with sun and cloud meant that the fish, renowned for being free rising at this venue, kept their heads down. Some trout did fall to dries but the most successful method was to fish hoppers or daddies damp and pull them quickly. The fish were not far down and those using slow sink lines also scored.
Winner was Total Flyfisher magazine editor Steve Cullen, who took 8 trout and returned 4 to give him a total weight of 23lb 10ozs and earn him a first prize of £175 and the Blithfield Anglers Individual Champion Shield. In second spot was well know competition angler Martin Introna of Worksop with 10 fish. Martin won £100 in cash. Full results are shown below.
Special thanks should go to South Staffs Water who hosted this event and provided a free buffet for competitors afterwards.
The rod average on the day was 3.6 fish and the fish average weight was 1lb 14ozs.
Estate Manager, Mr Tim Fletcher said that much had been done at Blithfield to improve the facilities including new boats, engines and refurbishment of the fish rearing ponds. He said he wants to see the water placed firmly on the fly-fishers map and at 800 acres Blithfield is in the top ten, size wise, of waters in England. He concluded by adding that the event will take place again next season probably on a weekend in September.

1. STEVE CULLEN 23LB 10 £175
2. MARTIN INTRONA 19LB 5 £100
3. RYAN WORKER 13LB 3 £75
4. RON GENT 12LB 14 £60
5. GARY HEDGES 11LB 2 £50
6 TO 10TH VARIOUS FREE FISHING PERMITS
BEST FISH ADAM WORKER 3LB 14 £40

Wonderful fishery (I would say that ) But just to clarify what I was doing was floating line... Small booby on the point (changed to a FAB on C&R) with a skinny 'basic' Daiwl bach on the middle and a 'Basic' skinny Cruncher on the top dropper ... covering rising fish and also 'blind' takers... twiddled... unlike 90 mile per hour Stevie boy!

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Before you cast the fly, make sure you can handle the fish! Vuoi imbrogliare? Poi Non competere! (If you want to cheat, then dont compete)

To Clarify, I was fishing a floater and a size 20 semi-emerging Pond Olive!

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Brilliant!!

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Before you cast the fly, make sure you can handle the fish! Vuoi imbrogliare? Poi Non competere! (If you want to cheat, then dont compete)