Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club fished their May competition at Torridge Fly Fishing Clubs water at Gammaton Reservoir. I won the competition with three trout for 5lb 15oz. Nigel Bird was runner up with a brace of trout weighing 5lb with Colin Combe and David Eldred equal third with trout weighing 2lb 10oz.
Upper and Lower Gammaton Reservoirs hold many memories for me personally as I worked there over forty years ago when I worked with South West Waters reservoir maintenance gang. Whilst the old slow sand filters are long gone the actual reservoirs and the surround are little changed so returning always brings a sense of life passing as I ponder upon those who I worked with now undoubtedly long gone.
Conditions seemed promising as we approached the water with cloudy thundery skies. It was very still at first but I guess that a breeze would stir as the morning passed.
Within ten minutes Nigel Bird fishing to my left had a hooked trout which seemed a promising omen.
I set up with a floating line and a team of nymphs expecting fish to be high in the water. After an hour with very little sign of surface activity and no takes I decided to go deep and changed to fast a sink line. After half an hour a rainbow of perhaps 2lb 8oz seized my black booby lure and gave a spirited account before being dispatched.
I persisted and lost another trout a while later when it took the booby as I lifted it from the water. I tied a bright pink blob onto my top dropper and had a few follows before hooking another trout that was a lean sliver rainbow that again gave a good account.
It seemed that my tactics were worth persisting with as only three other trout had been tempted by members. I reverted to the black booby on the point after trying various lures and was rewarded with my final trout to complete my limit.
I walked back to the car relishing the wild orchids and May blossom.
