Sunday 17th July 2011

There were 8 Cygnets and two potential new members at Cygnets meeting. The weather was heavy rain with dry spells with showers and then sunshine. The atmosphere was humid, which made it uncomfortable for the Cygnets and difficult to get fish to take.

The Cygnets started the session fly tying with Jimmy Miller, tying a "Gold Headed Brushed Peacock Daddy Longlegs".

After fly tying the fishing session commenced on the Millpond. The new potential members were on the grass learning to cast with Thomas Anderson, professional casting instructor and Dave Armour.

It was a difficult day for the Cygnets with the air temperature putting the fish off.  There was not a lot of activity on the surface today.

The successful Cygnets today who caught fish were -

Robert Hiddleston -  1 Fish

Robert Fyfe - 1 Fish

Well done to all the cygnets for their perseverance.

Sunday 3rd July 2011

Today was the 9th meeting for the Cygnets. The morning commenced as normal with fly tying with Jimmy Miller. The Cygnets were shown how to tie a Dry Fly Emerger.  After fly tying it was time for the Cygnets to draw their pegs to start the fishing session.

Dry Fly Emerger

It was a superb morning sun was shining, light wind and very warm.  The Cygnets were reminded that they should have frequent breaks and ensure that they drank plenty of fluids. They were also advised be aware of the sun today, ensuring they had suncream and adequate clothing to protect them from the sun.

The fishing session on the Mill Pond got off to a quick start with Abbi Hutton hooking and landing the first fish, quickly followed Robert Fyfe.

There were 7 Cygnets fishing today. Following a introduction to fly fishing within the schools a potential new member came along and had some tuition from Thomas Anderson, professional casting instructor.

The successful Cygnets today were :-

Robert Fyfe - 2 fish retained and 1 returned

Abbi Hutton - 2 fish

Callum Clark - 1 fish

Well done to the Cygnets.

The Cygnets were reminded that if a waterside assistant hooks a fish for them when demonstrating a fishing technique that the fish will be returned and will not count in the club championship total.  It was also highlighted that only Cygnets should be fishing.

Sunday 19th June 2011

Today started off with fly tying with Jimmy Miller. This morning the Cygnets were tying a CDC (dry fly). There was a good effort made by all the cygnets at tying this fly and some of them actually tried the fly when fishing.

"CDC"

The fishing started as normal after the Cygnets drew their peg. It was instant success for Robert Fyfe when he hooked in to a fish on his first cast. This was a gorgeous blue trout that gave Robert a great fight before coming to the net.  Robert had his second fish a short time after.

The next Cygnet to hook into a fish, was Robert Hiddleston, who with some advice on how to fish the dry fly from Robert Fyfe, took his fish on a CDC that he tied at the fly tying session at the start of the day. He landed a cracking Rainbow trout.

It was not long before some of the other Cygnets managed to hook into fish. The weather today was dull and showery but felt muggy and warm.  There were 10 Cygnets fishing today on the Millpond.  It was hard work for some of the Cygnets who tried various flies from dry flies to wet flies to lures to try to tempt one of the elusive Swanswater fish.

The successful Cygnets were:-

Robert Fyfe - 2 fish retained and 2 fish returned

Cameron Smith - 2 fish retained and 1 fish returned

Abbi Hutton - 2 fish retained and 1 fish returned

Robert Hiddleston - 1 fish retained

Well done to all Cygnets who were fishing today for their perseverance.

So far this year 3 of the Swanswater Cygnets - Robert Fyfe, Abbi Hutton and William Addison - have been awarded Trout Fisherman Magazine Troutmaster badge for junior anglers catching a big fish.

Cygnets BBQ & Fishing Evening

The Swanswater Cygnets Junior Angling Club held their annual BBQ and fishing evening on Saturday 11th June 2011.   Many thanks to Morna & Alasdair Lohoar for allowing Cygnets to hold their BBQ and thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to a delicious feast.

The evening commenced at 6pm with the Cygnets fishing on the Millpond. The weather was dull, cloudy and damp when we all started but the rain stayed off and it became a very pleasant evening though the midges were out in numbers.

There were 6 Cygnets who attended the BBQ and fishing evening. It was not long before the first fish of the evening was hooked and landed by Callum.  It turned out to be a difficult night for the Cygnets to hook fish.  There were a lot of fish showing all around the Millpond, but no matter what the Cygnets offered them, they were not taking the flies.

 

The Cygnets stopped fishing mid way through the fishing session for the BBQ

A big thank you to Alasdair and Angus for cooking the sausages and burgers. 

Fishing commenced again after we had all had enjoyed some delicous food.  The highlight for a lot of us, after the Burgers and Sauasages, was the cream scones.  The fish were really hard to catch, with a lot of the cygnets trying lures, wet flies, dry flies and buzzers in an attempt to see what the trout wanted.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the sucessful Cygnets who caught trout during the session.

Callum Doherty

Robert Fyfe

The Cygnets return for the evening was:-

Robert Fyfe - 2 fish retained and 1fish released

Callum Doherty - 1 fish

Abbi Hutton - 1 fish

Overall it was frustrating evening's fishing for some of the Cygnets.  The last cast of the evening saw Abbi manage to tempt a fish and successfully landed it just as the light was starting to go. A fantastic end to the fishing session. Well done to all the Cygnets for their perseverance.

Tightlines 

Sunday 5th June 2011

Today was the seventh Cygnets meeting.  There were 12 Cygnets today. The day commenced tying the "FAB" (Blob) with Jimmy Miller.  Some of the Cygnets used "Dennis the Menace" fritz and some used "Orange" fritz for tying their "FAB". Following this the Cygnets pulled their number of peg from the hat and then started fishing.

"FAB"
( The fly pictured above was tied by Swanswater Cygnet, Robert Fyfe)

Today was dull and cold with a moderate easterly wind which made fishing a bit more tricky than we had all hoped.  At the start of the session the fish were showing all around the Millpond.

Cygnets start fishing

Now what will I try

Waiting for a take

William showing Jack how to tie the fly on

Waiting for a take

Fish On for Morgan with Robert waiting to net the fish

It was a difficult day, due to the wind coming from the East. However, a lot of the Cygnets did manage to get fish. In total 13 fish were landed by the Cygnets.  It was a tremendous sight to see the Cygnets help each other, either by tying on a fly or giving fishing advice to a less experienced Cygnet.  The Cygnets are always willing to help by netting a fellow Cygnets fish for them.  There is a real sense of camaraderie amongst the Cygnets.

Here are a few of the lucky Cygnets today with their fish

Cameron landed the biggest fish of the day.

Various patterns were catching today from Lures to wet flies to even dry flies. It was altogether another wonderful day for the Cygnets, in probably not the best fishing conditions.

The successful Cygnets today were:

Robert Fyfe - 2 Fish & 2 Returned

Cameron Smith - 2 Fish

Ellie McLaren - 2 Fish

Robert Hiddleston - 2 Fish

Thomas Penman - 1 Fish

William Addison - 1 Fish

Morgan McDougall - 1 Fish

The Cygnets and their catch

Next Saturday 11th June is the Cygnets BBQ.  We all hope that as many Cygnets can attend. Please remember that if you have not told Morna if you are attending, you must do this before Saturday so that we know the numbers of people attending.  The BBQ starts with fishing from 5.30pm.

Tightlines

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

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