Marks Blog

I’ve just returned from an awesome weekend at the Tweed Fair, held at Kelso. Ok, the journey was a bit of a gruelling slog, some 1200-mile round trip but it was well worth the effort. It was really good to meet up with some good mates from AAPGAI and display some of the top-end tackle that we distribute. The journey was made easier with the company of good friend Karl Humpries, who is always up for a joke and a laugh. The big cream cake he brought with him also helped make the journey more bearable.

I picked Karl up mid-way through the journey up to Scotland from Newcastle-under-Lyme, my hometown before moving down to Devon. This is where I first met Karl, who took me under his wing, showing me the skills of ‘proper’ fly casting, fishing and even employed me to help him run a fishery. So it’s always good to meet up and chat about the old days, and listen to stories of what’s been going on since my move.

We arrived at Kelso by mid-afternoon on the Friday and met up with a few of the guys who had been there since the previous day. Our job for the weekend was to support “Gamefish of Edinburgh” and help with the AAPGAI casting clinic. We took up an assortment of tackle including Scott rods, Nautilus and Abel reels, Clear Creek products, and fly lines etc. By late afternoon the stand was ready for the opening of the show, so we decided to blow a few cobwebs away and go outside to the rest of the guys who were busy casting away and chilling-out after a busy days teaching.

It wasn’t long before I had a rod in my hand, and was casting away with some of the sweetest casters, and best instructors around. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are, or how much you practice, you always come away from these events, fired up with enthusiasm and that little bit wiser. The thing that I love about meeting up with the guys is the lack of egos. Everyone was out for the same thing. To enjoy the casting and have a laugh.

After been blown away by some stunning casting, we all made our way back to the digs and started to get ready for a night out. The accommodation was top notch. We shared a group of cottages situated not far from the show. It was like a rehab centre for fly-casting addicts. And it wasn’t long before a rod was pulled out again, and we all hit the grass outside the digs casting away whilst we waited for a couple of the guys to finish getting ready.

Finally we were all ready and the rod was confiscated or we would have been there all night. We headed off into Kelso, and had a good night of feeding and drinking. The topic of conversation was varied, but it always came back around to fishing, casting, and teaching. To me, AAPGAI is the ultimate fly fishing organisation around. There are a growing number of younger guys coming through, all of which are awesome. So it was good to meet some of the northern guys who I had heard about, and spend some time getting to know them.

The following morning we were woken by the smell of a fry-up sizzling away. It didn’t take long to get us stirring, and as I walked across the courtyard to the dining room, I bumped into Paul Proctor and T-bone who had been out for an early morning run. Sorry, I meant cast! By 9am we were at the show and the crowds began to enter the main building. It was good to see that there was a lot of interest in all of the stands. Ours been particular busy. It was a good turnout of people, all showing their support for the show. The AAPGAI casting clinic was full to the brim, and alongside running the stand I nipped out to help out with the tuition. By 5pm I was knackered. These events soon take it out of you, explaining and demonstrating the equipment for eight hours solid. Grabbing a brew and grabbing my rod and went out with Jim Fearn and Karl to have a bit of a wind down and crank a few loops. No suprise that everybody else was doing the same.

That night was similar to the previous, but on returning back to the cottages (2am), a few of us decided to go and have a cast in the dark! Using the streetlights in the distance it was possible to make out the loops, and it certainly helps to sharpen your timing. Illtyd came out to join us, and it was interesting to listen to the tips he gave us. Anyone who knows anything about sea-trout fishing will know that Illtyd Griffiths is one of the most successful sea-trout anglers in the country. Mr Nocturnal. So it’s always a pleasure to watch and listen to the advice he gave us. By 4am most of us were ready to get our heads down. I popped over to see a few of the guys before retiring and noticed that Lee was busy studying his laptop. Looking over his shoulder, he was busy analysing ultra slow casting footage. I should of known! Another hour later I’m still talking to him and watching the screen until my eyelids began to shut.

Oh well, a couple of hours in the pit and then back to the show. Sunday was even busier than the Saturday. And with the Spey casting finals been held Karl was asked to help oversee the event. So we were all busy. The show began to wind down around 4pm and we were all ready. Nearly finished I thought. All’s we had to do now was pull the stand down, pack all the things away into the truck, make our way out of the show ground, and then make the 600mile drive back down to Devon. I did a Bailey blow, as Pete would call it ( a sigh). I would call it the sound of a dying man!

We were on the road by 6pm and decided to stop off at the chip shop en-route. Pulling into the lay-by outside we were greeted by a couple of the lads. Lee and T-bone were also feeling peckish. Karl treated us to fish and chips with curry sauce. Top man! The weather coming back down was torrential. I hadn’t driven in rain like that for a long time. Never one to miss a goodnights sleep in my own bed, we persevered until reaching Newcastle-under-Lyme where I dropped Karl back off at home. I couldn’t go on any further. So I spent the night crashing on my mums sofa with the cat. So much for my own bed!

Footnote. Sorry for the delay in the blog. Its been manic here since returning so I’ve only just been able to get it over the command module- (Pete’s laptop). With the school running flat out with tuition and guiding, and the Yak Shack getting busy, we’re in for a good summer.

Jax and myself have just have just returned from a fulfilling teaching session. We were invited to help out at one of the Casting For Recovery retreats held in the SW. It was the first one to be held in the region and was a great pleasure to take part in. For those who haven’t heard of CFR, it is a charity organisation that was originally started in the US to help females who are recovering from breast cancer. It was discovered that the motions of fly-casting are one of the best means of exercise for females who are recovering from the illness. Along with this, there are also the other benefits that fishing can bring. Fresh air, relaxation and of course the camaraderie between the ladies. Many of whom I am sure will become good friends.

The venue for the event was The Arundell Arms Hotel in Devon. There were ten ladies invited to the weekend retreat and were all recovering from breast cancer. I was a little nervous at first. Not about the teaching, but about how I approached things. After all, my usual teaching/guiding approach with The Scott Fly Fishing School is to keep things light-hearted and have a laugh and a joke with the person. I was a bit worried just in case it was going to be a bit of a sombre affair. How wrong I was.

We were given a briefing when we arrived by Sue Shaw, which highlighted a few points in which we were asked to keep to. These were mainly for medical reasons and for the welfare of the ladies. Each instructor was elected to be with one lady at a ratio of 1:1. The lady I was going to spend the day with was called Linda. We drove down to a nearby lake where we began to set all of the rods up and waited for the arrival of the group. Shortly after, the group appeared and we started to pair up with our elected lady. Whilst I was stringing the last rod and waiting for my turn, I heard someone say, “who’s teaching Linda?” and everyone started laughing and making jokes. I looked down at my name badge- it was me! I hoped that this meant that Linda was a bit of a character and a bit of a laugh.

Our aim was to carry off from the casting tuition that the ladies received the previous day and hopefully catch them a fish or two. I was right about Linda! She was off from the minute we started. Jax fished next to us with her elected lady and we all hit it off from the start. Both ladies were really enjoying the experience and were having a ball. Between the banter from both ladies and Jax and myself, we got them both casting and fishing within a short space of time. Jax always eager as ever was spotting fish at a top rate and managed to hook into a couple, whilst Linda and myself were still going on about the hours sleep that we lost due to the time change. But before long I popped on a weighted tadpole and Linda cast out and hooked her first trout. In a fit of screams and laughter she began to play the fish for a couple of minutes before pulling out. Id got a mouth full of biscuits at the time so couldn’t say anything. Linda was screeching and laughing. I just shook my head and grinned.

By midmorning we were ready for a brew and some more biscuits. So we arrived back at the marquee early, to get the first choice. We stood around chatting and it was nice to meet a few more of the ladies from the group and also the retreat staff who work tirelessly over the weekend. It was also good to meet up with Tim Smith and Dave Pilkington who work at the Arundell Arms as full time guides and instructors. It’s always a pleasure to get together with a couple more AAPGAI lads and have a cast and a chinwag. After the tea break we carried on fishing for a while, until Linda was called to do an interview for a local news programme. After the interview Linda was on good form and was making a few nice casts, in between the laughing and joking. We moved around to a new location and Linda was frantically casting at cruising fish, but failed to hook any.

The time flew by and before we knew it the session was over. It had been arranged that we all stayed for lunch. I expected a few butties and a piece of cake. But I was pleasantly surprised when we were invited into the hotel for a full three-course meal. With starters of salmon, mains of chicken and puddings of clotted cream and some cake stuff, I was in my element. I was originally planning on cracking open a can of beans when I got back home. But this was good.

The day ended with certificates and complimentary thanks to everyone who took part. It was a rewarding and satisfying day for everyone involved and all of the ladies went home very positive about the weekend, I’m sure good friendships will be formed. It would be nice if a few of the ladies decided to carry on with the fishing when they returned back home. I know Linda will. After all she does have a spot of prime river running past her house. So thanks for the invite, I’m sure we’ll take her up on the offer and call in when were passing. Err, I think were passing that way tomorrow, better make sure I’ve got my waders in the car!

For anyone wishing to know more about the casting for recovery program, you can find out the details on www.castingforrecovery.com