England Youth Fly Fishing

Wednesday 27^th July saw Lough Lene in Eire host the 36^th Youth Loch Style Fly Fishing International. The first time the four nations of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have been able to field teams since Scotland hosted the 2019 champions, due to Covid restrictions.

The squad had two practice days on the water, figuring the best areas to target and most consistent tactics to employ. On day one the squad were confronted by a very brisk wind, this stopped the guys exploring a third of the lough, due to nature of the venue drogues aren’t permitted making it impractical to drift with the full force pushing. Despite that the guys did get to cover plenty of water off the leeward shores and find enough fish to start making calculated assumptions. They didn’t take long to figuring the lough was not in good form, later confirmed by local Anglers and Boatmen, saying fish had gone off the feed a week earlier during the unusually high 30 degree plus heat wave. This saw fish becoming both hard to locate as well as tempt into feeding.

Our young anglers were sent out with specific individual tasks on each practice, to report back their findings in detail. After going through feedback each evening, our squad and coaches eventually fine-tuned their tactics for the match down to a twin approach tactically.

Our young anglers were sent out with specific individual tasks on each practice, to report back their findings in detail. After going through feedback each evening, our squad and coaches eventually fine-tuned their tactics for the match down to a twin approach tactically. Basically, either fishing an attracter originally identified by squad member George Clark, this Sparkle Booby variant proved well during practice, attached to a Di 5, Ghost tip or Slime line acquiring real confidence within the squad. Along with a well-known emerger pattern the Yellow Owl, this had been picking out both identified feeders as well a rising fish that had not shown near the surface.

Much calmer conditions greeted our anglers on match day, as well as the tangible buzz of anticipation and nerves. As tradition dictates, the teams were led down by a Piper to the Lough setting building more atmosphere as the competitors met their boat partners and boatman before setting out for the seven-hour match. Fished to catch and release rules with a 33cm size limit and boatmen adjudicating the angler’s cards.

The boats moved off the landing beach ten minutes before the start awaiting the sound of a klaxon, the longest ten-minute wait doesn’t help to settle the nerves, but once it sounded and the boats all roared off in different destinations, possibly due to no real hotspot being found during practice. The match fished to full time, with no worries of thunder and lightning as the teams faced back in 2019 at Menteith.

On the competitors return, catch cards were signed by both Anglers and Boatmen then handed to team captains, in turn handed back to the host nation for processing. It’s hard to judge how the match has gone as each Nation has only their Anglers reporting back to measure by. Our manger Craig was confident the squad had put on a great performance however, as six of our Anglers had more than one fish and the game plan was to aim for one fish per Angler, would eleven fish be enough?

After checking with each nations manager and ratifying the final results Noel Farrar I. T. F. F. A’s Youth Officer then read out the results in reverse order. This was nail biting as each Nation knew there would be low catches and very little in it in to separate the teams the end.

Scotland were followed by Wales and the anticipation grew, then the air was filled by cheers of both England and Eire as England was named runners up. The Irish team were quick to celebrate as once Noel had concluded, they ran off at full speed to jump in the lough, quite a sight in itself! Congratulations Eire on a solid performance.

Congratulations on EYFF Silver medal too, this was an excellent performance after such a long hiatus since 2019. Especially for such a young squad with so many new caps too, just three fish adrift of the home nation buy just two fish.

Team Captain Jake Leake lead his team from the front too, with both England’s best basket of fish for 136 points and joint best fish with Ireland’s Eanna O Leary with a 50cm specimen each.

Craig Barr England Youth Manager said: “What a fantastic time we all had in Ireland. The squad is quite new with only a few old hands and many new caps. The overall result shows how the boys worked very well as a team and showed superb unity. It is an exciting prospect for Team England with the talent we have throughout the team. I’m really looking forward to seeing them fish again in 2023”

Daniel Williams Competition Support Officer said: The lads did extremely well in very tough fishing conditions. The squad has lots of new members and limited time to practice together. When they have, it’s been fantastic to watch them progress and share, supporting each other as a great squad should. I would like to thank the support we’ve had from Turrall who have been helping with the squad’s development as well as during the competition. Upavon flies for their support with fly-tying products along with Ellerdine Lakes, Draycote Water & Grafham (Anglian Water) too. The biggest thank you must go to Craig Barr, Tim Joyce for their mentoring and knowledge sharing. Including Tim tying flies for the squad last minute and both their pre-event input and Coached training sessions. The Squad themselves for working so hard together, real commitment. Not forgetting our lead casting coach Alan Punnell and the parents and grandparents who made the long journey to support the lads.”

The anglers and boatmen prepare for match day with parents looking on.

Preparing to go afloat on Match Day.

England Youth International Harrison Douds shares his favourite stillwater flies with Today’s Fly Fisher magazine (Issue 7). England Youth Coach Dan Tranter and England International team members James Mockridge and Elliot Guthrie also shared their favourite flies on the EYF Facebook page and below.

Click here to view PDF version.

Favourite Fly And Why
England Youth Coach and former Youth International Daniel Tranter shares his favourite stillwater pattern and explains why it is so good!

The Candy Split Blob
“The Candy Blob is the one fly that everybody should have within their fly box. Whether its targeting those freshly stocked fish or the wiser residents, no fish can resist it. Got to remember though the Candy Blob is always best fished static!”

Hook: Fasna B500, size 10
Thread: Red 140 UTC
Body Rear: FNF Jelly Fritz, Atomic Yellow
Body Front: FNF Jelly Fritz, Iain Barr Candy

Favourite Fly And Why
England Youth International James Mockridge shares his favourite fly, the Tequila Blob and explains why the pattern is so good…
“This will come as no surprise to my England Team mates but my favourite fly is the Tequila Blob! It is so universal you can use it on the point or with a set of buzzers as a washing-line set-up. I have caught fish as it just sits on the top of the water without moving it, fished on a slow retrieve or by stripping it back really fast through the water. I have had fish as it drops through the water column and use it as an attractor on a dropper. This is my go-to fly for competitions!”

Hook: Hanak H260, size 10
Thread: Textreme 35, fluorescent hot orange
Tail: Maraflash Moonlight, fine
Rear Body: Fluorescent yellow Fritz, three turns
Front Body: Fluorescent orange Fritz, four or five turns
Head: Hot orange thread with a little drop of varnish

Favourite Fly And Why
England Youth Vice Captain Elliot Guthrie shares his favourite fly and explains why it’s so good.
“The Crisp Packet Buzzer is a fly that never seems to let me down. The cheeks stand out and it work wonders in the water. It fishes well using the straight-line method with a team of buzzers. Also, a washing line can be used with a Booby or FAB on the point of the tippet to slow the rate of decent of the buzzers. This is best used if the fish are high in the water.”

Hook: Kamasan S10
Body: Black thread
Rib: Striped peacock hearl
Cheek: Orange goose biots
Thread: 8/0

England Youth Squad Weekend at Blithfield Reservoir

The England youth team recently held their second training weekend at Staffordshire’s Blithfield Reservoir. Known for its top-of-the-water sport the lads spent two days under the guidance of manager Craig Barr, competition support officer Andy Taylor and former youth team members Dan Tranter and Graham Hayward developing a range of techniques in preparation for the forthcoming Home International at the Lake of Menteith in July.

These training days start with a short classroom session to talk about the tactics and flies to use in different situations, followed by time out on the water under the guidance of the coaches to put the classroom theory into practice. A short lunch break to regroup and refresh was followed by a group discussion to share the experiences from the morning session before returning to the water to develop and refine their skills. The blend of theory and practical application paid off with a rod average of over seven fish per angler on both days.

A BIG thank you for Blithfield for hosting the training weekend, the coaches that guided the youth team members and the parents for travelling from all corners of England to support the development of the next generation of fly anglers.

Finally, a BIG thank you to Greys Fly Fishing for sponsoring the youth team again this year. It was great to see the team proudly wearing their new embroidered clothing before going afloat for the day.

The third and final training weekend is at Pitsford Reservoir on the 6^th/7^th July.

England Youth Squad Training Weekend at Pitsford and Rutland Water

The third and final training weekend took place on Anglian Waters Pitsford Reservoir and Rutland Water on the 6/7^th July. In bright sunshine and flat calm conditions, the weekend was a big test for those who ventured out. The purpose of these training sessions is to give members of the youth team the opportunity to try out a range of methods at different fisheries in variety of fishing conditions, and Pitsford and Rutland certainly did!

Pitsford proved tricky with an algal bloom and bright sun to contend with and only a handful of fish were caught including a pike for captain Elliot Fawdington! Nymphs and boobies fished deep were the tactics the lads employed.

Sunday saw the team take on the mighty Rutland Water which was kinder than its neighbouring sister, Pitsford. Again, a flat calm and bright conditions made for tricky fishing, however there were fish to be caught high in the water. The team caught over 30 fish including a huge double-figure bream again to Elliot Fawdington.

The team now prepare to head to the Lake of Menteith for the International at the end of July.