MTSFC – Diary of an Everyday Angler

(c) J Packer 2017
(c) J Packer 2017

Time to give a little -  Jem Packer has company at London's Syon Park Trout Fishery. (This article first appeared in Total FlyFisher, used with permission)

About ten years ago I was having a reasonably successful day's fishing at old favourite of mine, Rib Valley.

On arrival I noticed a small marquee and gathering and, assuming it was some sort of corporate day, decided to find some quieter water at the far side of the lake.

It was only when I had done the entire circuit that I got talking to a member of this party.

This was no corporate, but a school day out fly fishing for a group of children and young adults with special needs.

Not only that, they were a caster short and would I mind helping out?

Now we everyday day anglers are seldom asked for anything.

We tend to do the asking, questions like: what fly to use? Where to fish? And can you help me retrieve my cast/rod/landing net from this tree? So I was surprised and flattered.

I had had a good day, catching more than the lake average on a slowly retrieved single bloodworm.

So I thought, why not?

Of course I didn't have another fish for the rest of the session, but helping someone else enjoy their afternoon (albeit fishlessly) was something I not only found rewarding but decided I would like to do again.

Fast forward ten years and two or three times a year I spend a day volunteering for the MTSFC.

It's a nationwide Masonic fishing charity whose volunteers are a mixture of masons and non masons - I am not a mason myself.

(c) J Packer 2017
(c) J Packer 2017
(c) J Packer 2017
(c) J Packer 2017

This time found me back at another old favourite, Syon Park Trout Fishery.

The day starts off as these days always do - with superb bacon butties and fishing chat amongst the fellow helpers.

Although there is a core of regulars, many of who go back decades and see each other at multiple events like this every year, just like pretty much every fishing crowd I've encountered, it's welcoming, friendly and full of banter.

Syon is a stunning clear water with plenty of fish that range from the hefty to the seriously hefty and has a unique location just a mere ten miles or so from central London.

That day though, the water is muddy and the usual reassuring sight of cruising rainbows is for once not present. Nor are there any rises. This is going to be challenging.

The school mini bus soon arrives and I'm teamed up with two teenagers and their teacher.

One of the boys has fished here before, catching half a dozen fish or so.

Ok that's going to be a tough act to follow.

Then their teacher Mr Bye gives me a quick account of his fishing history.

And what an account it is...I soon gather that A) Mr Bye has fished in all kind of exotic locations all over the world and B) he has blanked in every single one of them.

From Thailand to Mexico this man has never caught a fish.

This could be a long day...

As a 'caster' I have a simple but well worked routine that has served me well.

I cast out then along with whoever I'm with, we share retrieving and rod holding duties until we get a bite.

This always results in huge excitement and panic (mostly from me), then I let whoever is with me play the fish before we eventually land it.

Of course that routine doesn't work when you are not getting any bites.

That day I opt for the all time Syon classic, the blue flash damsel on a 12 foot leader and floating line.

Don't ask me why but this has been the go to fly on this water for as long as I've been going.

The murky water, coupled with the lack of surface activity has made the everyday angler in me fretful.

What if we don't catch anything?

What if we don't even get a pull? and is this all Mr Bye's fault?

Of course it's my fault and we move round the water.

I have got so desperate that I am now doing all the casting and retrieving.

It's not working so I get one of the boys to have another go retrieving.

(c) J Packer 2017
(c) J Packer 2017

On the very next cast the bite is so out of the blue I almost miss it, but a trout has taken hold and after a typically acrobatic and aggressive Syon Park rainbow fight we manage to get it in the net.

The first fish on these days is always important, but this one, coming so late in the morning is vital.

With a fish in the bag we can now enjoy the wonderful barbecue lunch provided by the charity.

We then head out for a short second session.

Fortunately the afternoon picks up where the morning ended and we soon have a couple more rainbows to the bank.

I'm now feeling so bullish I decide to give the man who has blanked on all five continents my second rod.

I go for a suitably no nonsense setup: an orange blob is tied 3 ft under a bung.

It doesn't take long for Mr Bye's blank to be well and truly busted as the bung sails away and he goes on to land his first ever trout like a pro.

Sadly the hooter sounds and the day is over.

With all participants given a certificate all that remains is to wave them on their way back to school. As is customary at these events helpers are allowed to fish on, but as is so often the case on these days, helping others enjoy a day in nature, discovering the thrill of catching a fish is far better than winkling a few out myself.

So why not give it a go yourself?

There are plenty of fly fishing charities out there.

Or you could take a friend or relative out.

I guarantee you'll get far more out of it than you put in.

Syon Park Trout Fishery - alburyestatefisheries.co.uk/syon-park-fishery/

(To find out more about the charity go to www.mtsfc.org.uk to find your local coordinator)

(C) Jem Packer 2017.

This article first appeared in Total FlyFisher, used with permission.

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