Visited Avington today which was my first trip for a few months. I went down with a friend who had wanted to try it out never having fished there before. We were both fired up by the recent Avington thread and particularly Neil Maidment's accomplishments there. Luckily enough he was there when we arrived so I introduced myself. What a very nice chap! it's great to put faces to names from this forum.

Anyway, Mike (my friend) and myself took a wander around the fishery. We passed Neil at the end of lake 1. Interestingly, he wasn't fishing, just watching. We made our way back to lake 1 and I fished a few pegs up from Neil whilst Mike was around the corner. I noticed Mike hook into a fish so thought I'd go around to take a look. At the same time Neil had landed a fish a few ounces shy of 13lb (as I recall). Awesome fish. We got chatting and he very kindly handed over the swim to me mentioning the presence of a very large rainbow (he reckoned 20lb or thereabouts). Mike came round and I proceeded to have a go at the swim. Neil had disappeared to clean his fish but came back shortly after. Whilst I am very self conscious about my casting (i.e. I'm cr@p) Neil offered plenty of encouragement and tips, suggesting I shorten my leader and what sort of fly to try. I hooked into a 6lb rainbow after 3 fish chased my fly. I was looking at a different fish when Mike & Neil were telling me to strike, thinking 'what are they on about?' Still, I caught it in the end!

We left for a break and handed the swim back to Neil who then caught a fish just over 10lb as we came back. Again, he kindly handed over the swim where I caught a fish of 5.5lb and then Mike took a 6.5lb fish. It was a great morning but what made it for me was the chance to meet and talk with Neil. What a great guy. Very friendly and very, very helpful. And his fishing prowess is something to behold. To winkle out the larger fish from all the smaller ones around I think was very, very skillful.

Neil, thanks for your help today, it was a pleasure to meet you and watch you at work. Hope to bump into you again at some stage.

Andy

Neil's certainly got a knack for it
In a wicked way, a little part of me is rather glad he also failed to take rhino in lake 1 which I wasted 3 hours on last week.
Maybe my technique wasn't so poor after all...

@Andy gtc,
Iwas also at Avington today,was were with Charles Jardine,i was the one with the blue baseball hat and had my 9ry old son Tom with me.We had a fantastic day learned a lot,Tom also had a 6lb and dont i know it,all hour and half of the journey home.Very different approach than im used to,being able to see and stalk the fish.
I found the staff very friendly and helpful,not only in on the lake,but also in the gutting room,and took the time to mshow us how to gut fillet the fish.
Was haed this afternoon by the time we got on the water,once it had been hit hard this morning,and the wind getting up,but all in all and great day,i would recommend it being tried at least once,and as in your case,like mine,having someone show you how to get the most out of even a one trip visit.

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No matter how many fish are in the lake.....I can miss them all!!!

You must have caught me in a weak moment!

It was fun today but it presented a new problem for me which I didn't really resolve..... too many fish! I found the really big rainbow after about an hour but only had about 3 or 4 proper attempts at it because of repeatedly snatching the fly away from it's "entourage" .. very frustrating. I thought I was targetting that fish when I hooked the first one (it was just hovering under the tree) but having hooked and landed it at 12lbs 12ozs I realised the true target was still in there! That made me think it was very much approaching the high teens and maybe a "20". When it did glide into view, it did look very impressive.. maybe it was Rhino or perhaps Rhino's mate!

The second fish was 11lb and hit me like a rocket from the sidelines!

The fish were definately in a feeding mood today but the weather - very overcast/windy - made stalking very, very difficult on the middle and top lakes (and later on in the first lake). The occassional slightly calmer period allowed me to find a good brown in the top lake but I experienced the cast iron jaw syndrome mentioned by Alex and others - a couple of shakes of the head and it was gone. Also had a chance of a very big rainbow at the fence on the top lake but lost that one as well! I ended up with two more around 6lb+ to complete a very enjoyable trip.

It was good to meet you today Andy and Mike, fun to tease the trout and watch their reactions. But I was only hoping you could clear out a few of the "entourage"!

That young lad Tom's fish at 6lb+ should see him do well in the Junior Trout Masters! Well done!

It's at times like this that having an 8 month pregnant wife really hits home.. I was hoping to slink away on Sunday for a crack at Rhino, or indeed any fish but was informed that i needed to spend my money on baby-grows and buggies instead - I do however have a green card for a day this weekend. Problem is, ive had a couple out of Avington recently, and am beginning to think Lechlade's got to be worth a try, or perhaps one last try at the big browns in Chalk Springs before the season ends... I've probably only got 2 more trips before the screaming poo machine arrives... decisions decisions...

Do you think Lechalde will be worth a visit soon Alex? Really am dying to get down there when it is on form. Problem is it is such a long trip, atleast half an hour

The later really is the better with Lechlade. preferably Jan/Feb/March/April/May, but i haven't been for a while and am just itching to get back at them. If it's on form it's fantastic especially if Tim's been stocking the big fish! Only reports i have at the moment are that there's a lot of 6 pounders in there, i haven't heard of many doubles yet. I know there are some MONSTER browns for next year going in...

Good to meet you as well Neil Will happily clear out a few of the "entourage" when next I see you there !!
Have been wanting to get to Avington for a while now and it certainly didn't disappoint ! Have yet to find a fishery with friendlier staff and better conditioned fish - all in all a great day out. Am planning another visit as soon as ! Thanks for a great days fishing Andy !!

I think Neil is just a lucky b@stard and look forward to seeing him catch a double out of Halliford Mere this Sunday

Seriously though, great skill and one I do not have the patience for but I am hoping to see the flies that do the damage.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Just like Gary Player (or was it Trevino?) - "the more I practice, the luckier I get". As for Sunday, I'm really looking forward to it. I've only fished it twice, back in the summer, and struggled until, on the second trip, I saw little green caterpillars falling of the trees, switched to a heavy green buzzer on a long leader and started to catch some superb rainbows on the drop! Nicely conditioned fish as well.