30 Mar 2025

The first round of the Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters 2025

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The first round of the Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters was held today at Colliford Reservoir on March 29th.
The day started bright, breezy and warm and a good entry of all abilities ready to tackle the browns.
The temps dropped as the day went on and the winds gained momentum.
The fishing was a little tougher than on recent days, with lots of hook up only for the fish to come free before being landed.
The Cornish brown trout master, 2024 Brown trout master and Colliford specialist Roger Truscott was clear favourite at the start, but there where a few knocking on his the door at the end of the day.
Roger ended up winning the day with 8 fish and a total length of 293 cm, John Huckings new to this years competition a very close second with 8 fish and a total length of 286 cm.
The Fluff Chuckers Tankard for biggest fish going to Keith Burnett with a stunning fish of 46 cm and also new to this year comp Steve Lawes runner up for largest fish.
A total of 52 fish to the net and several fish between 40cm to 46 cm making it a very good day.
A big thanks to Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust, Turrall Flies, YETI Europe, Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room for your continued support with these events and a special thank you to Andrew Gooding for the loan of the measure gutters.
1 Roger Truscott 293cm Series points after first round 1
  • John Huckings 286 cm  2
3.Keith Burnett 240 cm        3
4.Steve Lawes 189 cm         4
5.Wayne Thomas 152 cm.    5
6.Steve Retallack 141 cm     6
7.Simon Peters 99 cm           7
8.Rodney Wevill 76 cm         8
9.Matthew Woods 68 cm.    9
10,Kevin Sellar 62 cm          10
11.Pete Williams 60 cm       11
12.Richard Adeney 59 cm   12
13.Philip Hoskin 52 cm       13
14.Ben Elliott 0                    14

It hardly seems possible that another twelve months have passed since I joined the Fluff Chucker’s at Colliford high on Bodmin Moor. Fortunately I had learnt a valuable lesson that despite the favourable weather forecast it gets cold up there on the Cornish highlands. It seemed relatively mild and with a light breeze I pondered for moment before donning a thick fleece under my fly fishing vest and waders. Familiar faces were gathered around Rodney Wevills car as we collected our measuring gutters and received our goodie pack from sponsors Turral Flies.

We all headed eagerly to the water’s edge with competitors heading to their favoured areas. I had a cunning plan to head to where I had fished before and with a gentle breeze blowing into the bay I felt sure a few fish would be present close in. I had set up with my new Snowbee Floating Line and leader with three flies. A black bead headed tadpole on the point, Black spider on the middle dropper and a black and red Zulu on the top dropper a combination that I would have confidence to fish most days in early spring.

The first hour proved difficult as I searched the water contacting a decent trout after ten minutes that threw the hook after a few seconds and a spectacular somersault!

A short while later the line again tightened and for a second or two I thought I had hooked the bottom; that slowly started to move followed by a glimpse of a thick spotted flank that erupted from the water in a flurry of spray! This was a beauty I thought but elation turned to despair as the hook hold gave way the big brown trout disappearing from whence it had come. Another tale of the one that got away added to life’s toll!

The leader was left tangled requiring a re-tying. This was not a brilliant start, then the wind started to strengthen and I nearly lost my cap the fastening button failed. I pulled my buff up over my cap and soldiered on as the wind picked up. I persisted for a while but no more takes followed and a move seemed a good idea. I walked a half a mile or so to an area I had caught from on my last two visits.

First cast and I hooked a trout that came detached after a brief leap from the lake. Fifty yards further along the bank and I hooked a brown trout of 36cm. Two casts later a beauty of 42.5 cm was safely in the net. Things were starting to come right and I fished on now with renewed confidence.

The wind was by now strong and bitter cold with the sun hiding behind grey clouds making it a rather bleak and inhospitable environment.

            I added another small brown before deciding to head back to where I had started the day adding another two trout to end the day with five trout. In truth I wasn’t to disappointed to reel in at 5.00pm and leave the cold water behind for a while.

            Back at the end of competition meet up Rodney worked out the results and I listened as tales of the day were told. The cold wind had resulted in widespread chilling to the bone, slip and trips, bloodied fingers from stray hooks and plenty of tales of escaping trout. All agreed through chattering teeth that it had been a great day and that the next event is eagerly awaited.

13 Oct 2024

FLUFF CHUCKERS BROWN TROUT MASTERS 2024

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Many thanks for the below report from Rodney Wevill of the Fluff Chuckers.
October 12th saw the Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown trout masters round 3 at Roadford lake.
This was also the concluding round to end the series and Crown the 2024 Brown trout masters.
The anglers were faced with varying weather, starting with little wind and calm water, then windy and overcast and finally bright sunshine and windy.
We started at 8am
Most of the fish were caught in the first 4 hours
With a few fish in the afternoon.
A total of 29 Browns were caught and several perch.
Finish time was 5pm and back to the main car park to workout the scores and hold the prize giving.
 Kevin Sellar was the winner of the 3rd round with 7 nice browns and received a Cortland UK limited edition peach Line and some goodies
 Phillip Hoskin won the biggest fish with a stunning 46cm Brown and won a cortland line and goodies
 Roger Truscott was biggest fish runner up
And also equal most fish runner up with Wayne Thomas and shared some wonderful Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room ale.
Roger Truscott was leading the series coming into round 3, with only Keith Burnett in 2nd having any realistic chance of upsetting the leader board.
But overall placing 3rd to 6th changed about a lot during the day.
Roger built a big lead in the first round back in March at his local and beloved colliford lake and showing his skills and knowledge in the 2 & 3rd rounds came out the overall winner and received the Fluff Chuckers – Fly Fishing Fanatics / Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust 2024 Brown Trout Master trophy and All waters 2025 season permit, great prizes for a very well deserved winner.
Well done Roger.
Fluff Chuckers would like to thank South West Lakes Trust for partnering up with us to create this new event for 2024.
Fluff Chuckers would also like the give a massive big thank you to YETI Europe , Turrall Flies and Lakedown Brewing Co & tap room for your sponsoring of this series, it really wouldn’t be the same without your help.
We would also like to say this new series has been a good success. Like all Fluff Chuckers events the aim is to get like minded anglers together for fun on the water whatever your ability.
Yes there’s a competitive side to the day but fun is first, so you don’t need to feel you need to be a pro to take part.
We are extremely happy to say there will be a 2025 Fluff Chuckers / SWLT. brown trout master series and the dates are now released.
In the past couple years south west lakes trust have really worked on improving the trout fishing on their waters, the brown trout fishing has been superb on all their waters and credit where credits due they have got it right.
So please support them, whether it’s entering an event or to fish one of their Trout waters Brown or Rainbow.
A few years ago we where moaning at them, they have listened so support them and help them secure a stronger better future for all.
Happy end of Brown trout season
Tight lines all
Round 3 Roadford results
1. Kevin Sellar 217cm
2, Roger Truscott. 209cm
3, Wayne Thomas. 188cm
4, Keith Burnett. 97cm
5. Philip Hoskin. 76cm
6. Steve Retallack 70cm
7. Sam Wallace 61cm
8. Rodney Wevill. 31cm
9. Richard Adeney
Overall results of round 1,2 & 3 combined
1 Roger Truscott. 791cm
2. Keith Burnett. 530cm
3. Kevin Sellar. 388cm
4. Wayne Thomas. 351cm
5. Richard Adeney. 274cm
6. Rodney Wevill. 235cm
7. Philip Hoskin. 214cm
8. Steve Retallack 70cm
8. Matt Rodwell. 67cm
9. Ben Elliott. 64cm
10. Dave Perks. 64cm
11. Sam Wallace 61cm
12. Pete Williams. 54cm
13. Slawomir Olaf Pilecki 32cm
14. Jack Welshman. 30cm
15. Dave Cook. 28cm
16. Andrew Watson. 27cm
17. Peter Finnis. ……….,
31 Mar 2024

Fluff Chucker’s /SWLT Brown Trout Masters Heat one – Colliford

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Round one of the SWLT / FLUFF CHUCKERS Brown trout masters at Colliford lake on Bodmin Moor.
A good turnout of anglers from all over the South West met up for a 9am start on a cold, wet and very windy morning.
But the conditions suited the browns with Roger Truscott netting the most fish with 12 lovely browns.
Runner up for most fish was Keith Burnett  with 4 good fish to the net.
The largest fish of the day went to Kevin Sellar with a fantastic 44cm fish with similar markings to a spartic trout .
Runner up largest fish went to Philip Hoskin with another lovely fish of 40cm.
A big thank you to all the anglers that supported todays event in not so great conditions
And a massive thank you to #yetiuk and #lakedownbrewingco for supplying some really fantastic prizes for the winners and your continued support of Fluff Chuckers – Fly Fishing Fanatics.
All the total lengths of each anglers fish today will be added up and added to the next two rounds to find the 2024 SWLT / Fluff Chuckers Brown trout master .
BROWN TROUT MASTERS STANDING AFTER ROUND ONE.

Roger Truscott 363CM
Keith Burnett 126CM
Wayne Thomas 98CM
Richard Adeney 96CM
Philip Hoskin 93CM
Kevin Sellar 74CM
Matt Rodwell 67CM
Ben Elliott 64CM
Dave Perks 64CM
Rodney Wevill 56CM
Sławomir Olaf Pilecki 32CM
Jack Welshman 30CM
Pete Williams 28CM
Peter Finnis ——

My day at Colliford – A cunning plan

Colliford Reservoir high on Bodmin Moor was the venue for the first leg of the Fluff Chucker’s and SWLT Brown Trout Masters. With a favourable weather forecast I was looking forward to a Spring day targeting the brown trout for which this venue is renowned.

I arrived at the assembly point to meet fellow Fluff Chucker’s and on stepping out of the car I was pleased that I had dressed up for temperatures were far lower than forecast. Whilst the wind was Southerly it felt particularly Baltic as the wind swept across the 900 acres of water.

 

The atmosphere was cheerful and friendly as angler’s swapped tales and talked of prospects for the day ahead. The rules were carefully explained by head Fluff Chucker Rodney Wevill. At 9.00am suited and booted up, the go fishing call was made and we all set off for our chosen areas.

I had only fished the venue on one previous occasion so headed for the area I had fished before two years ago. Like Baldrick of Black Adder fame I had a cunning plan! Basically I would wander the shoreline casting a black woolly bugger on the point and a  small black spider on the dropper. I would cast and take a step covering plenty of water.

I had every confidence in my cunning plan and persisted throughout the morning. After two hours I had not had a pull but surely persistence would pay off? Dark clouds crept ominously closer and the chill wind showed no sign of relenting. An angler fishing further along the bank caught a trout which gave me hope but also made me wonder if my lack of success was unique to me?

As heavy rain started to fall I thought of breaking for a drink and snack but all thoughts of this were put on hold as  the line zipped tight and a lovely brown trout gave a pleasing account before slipping into the waiting net. After slipping the hook out and recording the fish I resumed  fishing confidence fully restored. A few casts later and a savage tug a big swirl at the fly. Looked like a good fish and a chance gone. I fished on down through the bay and then retraced my steps fishing over the successful section again.

 

Heavy rain on the camera lens made focussing nigh on impossible plus the fish kept leaping out of the guttering !

 

Two more trout followed in the next twenty minutes before all seemed to go quiet. I decided to try a new area and walked to a new section of bank. After half a dozen casts I hooked another trout that came off after 30 seconds.

With a few hours left in the day I decided to try the hotspot one more time before working my way slowly back to where I had started the day. I bumped into a couple of fellow fluff chucker’s on route and compared notes to find that whilst most had caught no one seemed to have bagged up big time.

The cold wind persisted but at least the cold rain had stopped falling. I heard sky-larks song drifting in the breeze. I looked out for early spring migrants hoping to see my first swallow or sand martin but the skies remained devoid of these harbingers of Spring and summer. At least the lake was brim full after an exceptionally wet winter.

I found some quieter water at the top of the lake and climbed out onto an old bank that allowed a nice long cast parallel to the reed fringed shore line. A trout rose within casting range and I instinctively changed my tip fly to a small tungsten headed black spider.

The cast landed perfectly and within seconds of touching down the line zipped tight and there was a boil on the surface. B***er another chance gone.

            I fished on for the next half an hour without a pull and eventually called it a day with a couple of minutes before competition end.

            I walked back to see what had been caught and found that I had done Ok. A couple of big trout had been tempted the best a beauty of 44cm. Venue regular Roger Truscott recorded twelve browns and had been favourite to win from the start.

            Reflecting on my day I was pleased to finish third one more fish would have resulted in runner up spot. I should perhaps have persisted in the area I had caught in but the general consensus seems to be that roving works best. A classic case of should I stay or should I go?

            I reality it really doesn’t matter for I had enjoyed the day immensely despite the cold wind and chilled fingers. I look forward to heat two in June when it will surely be warmer?

            Many thanks to Rodney Wevill for all his efforts in putting the series together and of course to SWLT, Yeti, Lakedown Brewing co and for their generous support.

9 Apr 2023

Fluff Chuckers Event – Roadford

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The path to the water
Many thanks to Rodney Wevill for the report below.

The Fluff Chuckers Yeti brown trout bank event was held on Roadford Lake on April 8th..

The weather forecast had been showing bright sun all day and that was going to make things a little more difficult.

But the day was warm with sun but a nice bit of cloud cover especially during the afternoon.

Anglers met at 8.30am for a 9.00am start in the main car park.

It was good to see many like minded anglers from Bristol, North Somerset, North Devon and from deep down in Cornwall with the same attitude, have a good fun day and if we catch a good one then we might even win a prize.

We fished from all different sections of Roadfords bank and what stunning country side surrounded us.

The fishing was steady in the morning but the afternoon seen a lot more fish to the nets.

A total of 80 Brown Trout were caught and all safely released for another day.

The competitive side of us boys started to show, all trying to find a bigger fish or just another one to the net before the 5pm finish.

We met back at the main car park to tally up the score cards and it was soon very obvious that things where going to be very tight indeed.

The longest fish was between Roger Truscott and Jack Welshman with Jack sneaking it by a couple of millimetres.

The most fish to the net was also extremely tight

With Simon Peters catching 16 fish and piping Mr consistent Roger Truscott by one fish with Wayne Thomas one behind that with 14 fish.

So a cheery end to a great day with some wonderful fishing with a great set of anglers.

A typical Roadford brownie

Final results 

Longest fish Overall winner

Jack Welshman

Runner up

Roger Truscott

3rd

Pete Williams

Most fish caught winner

Simon Peters

Runner up

Roger Truscott.

Fluff Chuckers- Fly Fishing Fanatics would like to thank YETI for there help with the prizes for the event.

Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust for their help and prizes

All that came and supported another great event

Notes from the waters edge :- My first trip to fish for trout on this large lake that supplies water for most of North Devon. Despite a wet Spring the lake is still well below top water level and If we get another dry summer prospects are concerning. I very much enjoyed the day finding plenty of brown trout that gave a good account on the light 5wt rod I was using. Most fish took a small black pennel fished on a dropper, my standard set up for early season brown trout  being a small black lure on the point and two small black flies as droppers.

Always good to meet up with fellow fluff Chuckers. Special thanks to head chucker Rodney Wevill

9 Mar 2022

Chasing Wild Cornish Browns with the Fluff Chuckers

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Fluff Chuckers trout bank day at colliford lake, Cornwall.

We will be meeting in the main car park at 8am for a 9am to 5pm event.
There will be a prizes for the most trout landed and for the longest trout landed
Measurement from the nose to the fork of the tail.
This will be C&R event and barbless hooks only and all other swlt rules apply.
The idea of the event is to be a ideal chance for anglers old and new to sample the brown trout fishing to meet up and have some laughs and get on the water and have a great days fishing.
Colliford lake is a vast area to cover and you can fish where you fancy and we meet up at 5 pm to award the prizes at the main car park.
This event is not designed to be a ultra competitive competition more of a great fun day with a few prizes.
For the largest fish please provide your own measure tape and take a photo of the fish with the tape shown on the fish from the tip of the nose to the inside of the fork of its tail.
For the total amount of fish landed please account for them as you would for a normal catch return.
There is no big buck prize to give in false amounts of fish landed, and at the end of the day you are only cheating yourself by giving a false declaration.
But photo evidence will be required for the largest  fish landed.
There is no entry fee to compete just let us know that you will be coming and please pay your day ticket in advance to swlt in the normal way.
Look forward to seeing you there.