Swanswater Cygnets Junior Angling Club: May 2011

Monday, 30 May 2011

Cygnets Annual BBQ - Saturday 11th June 2011

Dear Cygnets

The annual BBQ is to be held on Saturday 11^th June. The evening will start at 5.30pm and there will be fishing for approximately 2 hours followed by the barbecue followed by another hour or so fishing. The cost is the usual Cygnets’ £9 for a 2 fish limit.

A list will be displayed on Sunday 5^th June so that you can sign up if you are going to be at the BBQ and also how many parents are to be there. We really need to know numbers so if you aren’t going to be at the class next week, please let me know whether or not you will be at the BBQ. Also on the list will be the opportunity to say what you are willing to bring with you – the club will provide burgers, sausages and rolls (and, of course, the barbecue to cook on!) but everything else – salads, sauces, toppings, cakes, etc is usually provided by members.

I hope you can all manage to come to the BBQ and that the weather improves before then.

Tight lines

Morna

Monday, 23 May 2011

Helpful Hint - Catch and Release Methods and Rules by Jim Allan

AFTER THE 2 FISH LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED. CYGNETS CAN CONTINUE TO FISH ON A CATCH AND RELEASE (C&R) BASIS

HELPFUL HINT BY JIM ALLAN

SWANSWATER CYGNETS JAC

CATCH AND RELEASE RULES AND METHODS

SINGLE FLY - BARBLESS/DEBARBED HOOK (MILL POND AND MEADOW POND ONLY)

WHERE POSSIBLE BRING FISH TO SIDE, KEEP IN WATER. TRY NOT TO HANDLE FISH; IF YOU HAVE TO, ENSURE HANDS ARE WET. KNEEL DOWN AND SLIP OUT HOOK (FORCEPS/PLIERS/RELEASE TOOL CAN BE USED)

IF HAVING TROUBLE, A NET MAY BE USED (FINE KNOTLESS TYPE) TO ALLOW EASIER HANDLING. STILL TRY TO KEEP FISH IN WATER TO REMOVE HOOK

LAST RESORT - LIFT FISH OUT ONTO BANK (IN NET) REMOVE HOOK QUICKLY, RETURN FISH TO WATER AND SUPPORT IT UNTIL ITS STRENGTH RETURNS AND IT SWIMS OFF.

YOU CAN DELIBERATELY RELEASE A FISH WHEN PLAYING A FISH BY ALLOWING SLACK LINE - TIGHT LINE - SLACK LINE METHOD. THIS OFTEN ALLOWS THE HOOK TO SLIP OUT QUITE QUICKLY. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, REVERT TO FIRST METHOD (ANY FISH RELEASED IN THIS MANNER MUST BE VERIFIED BY A WATERSIDE ASSISTANT FOR IT TO BE COUNTED IN CATCH TOTAL)

PLEASE NOTE A FISH THAT IS HOOKED AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY "THROWS" THE HOOK OR LEAPS FROM THE WATER AND GETS OFF DOES NOT COUNT AS CATCH AND RELEASE (C&R). ONLY THE "DELIBERATE" METHOD COUNTS.

A WATERSIDE ASSISTANT WILL BE THERE TO ASSIST YOU ALL IN THE ABOVE PROCESS.

Tightlines

Sunday, 22 May 2011

Sunday 22nd May 2011

The Cygnets met this morning and as usual commenced the session fly tying with Jimmy Miller. Today the Cygnets were tying the "Claret Pennell" which is a variant of the renowned Black Pennell which is a famous wet fly.

"Claret Pennell"

Mr Thomas Anderson, Professional Casting Instructor facilitated some casting instruction with the newer Cygnets on the grass before they started fishing on the Mill Pond. Meanwhile the older Cygnets commenced their morning fishing session on the Mill Pond. It was not long before the first fish of the session was hooked and landed by Morgan.

The other Cygnets eventually managed to connect with fish in turn. The Cygnets were assisted by Jimmy Miller, Dave Armour and Jim Allan while on the water. The weather conditions made it extremely difficult for the 11 Cygnets to fish, with the wind blowing hard throughout the whole morning. The wind was made worse by strong gusts and spells of heavy rain. It was also a rather cold day - "so much for the summer weather"!!!

The successful Cygnets today were -

Abbi Hutton - 2 fish

Robert Fyfe - 2 fish

Thomas Penman - 1 fish

Morgan McDougall - 1 fish

William Addison - 1 fish

Calum Clark - 1 fish

Jack Gray - 1 fish

"Well done to all of them"!!!!!!!

Thomas Anderson, Professional Casting Instructor commented "the Cygnets had a very good catch return, when the weather conditions were far from ideal due to the cold and windy day".

As always some of the Cygnets often catch Perch. Today, was no exception. Here is one of the perch that was caught. These fish often add a bit of fun and excitement for the Cygnets when they catch them. Often the cygnets can catch numerous Perch during their session.

IMPORTANT

SAFETY WARNING

ALL CYGNETS MUST ENSURE THAT

YOU WEAR A BASEBALL CAP AT ALL TIMES WHEN FISHING
YOU WEAR EYE PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES WHEN FISHING

YOU ALWAYS LOOK BEHIND YOU BEFORE YOU ARE ABOUT TO CAST
YOU MUST BE AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. I.E. STRONG WIND DIRECTION AND GUSTS

ONLY WATERSIDE ASSISTANTS TO BE AT THE WATERSIDE DURING SESSION - (PARENTS ETC MUST NOT GO TO WATERSIDE UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY)

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Sunday 8th May 2011 " A Special Day for the Cygnets"

Today was the Cygnets 5th meeting of the season.

The day commenced as normal with fly tying with Jimmy Miller. The Cygnets were shown how to tie an "Elk Hair Caddis".

The weather was dull, overcast with light to heavy rain with sunny intervals throughout the morning.

Cameron tying his fly

Robert concentrating on his fly tying

"Elk Hair Caddis"

Professional casting instructor Thomas Anderson commenced the day with tuition on the grass.

The special part of the day

The Cygnets had a visitor?????????????

Mr Paul Young - Actor, TV fishing presenter and keen passionate Scottish angler

(Champion of Champions 1971, Scottish National Champion 1974 and represented Scotland as a member of the National Trout Fly Fishing Team)

Well known for his TV series "Hooked on Scotland, Hooked on Fishing, Fishing Road Trip USA"

Paul spent time with the Cygnets, chatting with them and giving them "words of wisdom" and encouraging them in the sport of fly fishing.

Cameron retrieving his line

Paul watches Calum cast to a fish

Robert just waiting for a take

Paul gives some advice on his recommendation of fly pattern to Morgan

Paul and Thomas watch the rising fish on the Millpond

Robert with his idol "Paul Young"

Paul gives Abbi some encouragement as the fish start showing around her fly

Cameron & Robert watch on as Paul waits for a take

Morgan, Cameron and Robert with Paul

The Cygnets with Paul in the hut, a bit wet but all smiling. They were all over joyed and really excited that Paul had taken time to come and meet them. There was a real "buzz" around the Swanswater Fishery today with Paul visiting.