GMP 2011 Fly Fishing Dates

Thur March 24th – Stocks
Thur 21st Apr – Blithfield
Wed / Thur 27 / 28 Apr – Chew – English Police Fly Fishing Open Championships
Thur 12th May – Foremark
Thur 9th June – Carsington
Thursday 30th June Brenig Traditional Trophy
Friday 1st July Brenig Regional Competition
Thurs 7th July – Draycote
Thurs 4th Aug – Esthwaite
Thurs 1st Sept – Eyebrook

Please contact Chris.Brook@GMP.Police.UK or Jason.Ruff@GMP.Police.UK to book a place or for more details.

Match Report – Arnfield 19th November 2009

A South-Easterly gale combined with unseasonably warm weather were the challenging conditions that faced the 15 strong team of GMP anglers who ventured through the High Peak rush hour traffic to tackle Arnfield on Thursday 19th November 2009, for their last match of the current season.

The newly formed section had tagged on to Cheshire Police’s open match, and were keen to avoid the Whitewash they suffered at Stocks Reservoir in September to the hands of Cheshire.
Arnfield had ten boats available, but the Manchester lads proved they all come from a land locked force area and that they didn’t have sea legs as only three boats ventured onto the water to tackle the horrific conditions.
Cheshire bagged a couple of prime bank spots and were quickly into the fish that had shoaled up for the winter in front of the club house. This left meagre pickings for other bank anglers. The wind ensured that bank casting into other prime areas was impossible as three foot waves were whipped up across the 400 meter fetch of the water.

For the ones brave or daft enough to take a boat life was tough. In experience across the board meant the GMP lads did not know how to anchor or handle the boats in such extreme conditions. Boats were breaking their moorings and drifting into other anglers swims or into the trees that surround much of the reservoirs banks.
Andy Meeks paired with Chris Brook was quickly into a good size 4 – 5lb rainbow but the fish jumped clear of the water and straightened the hook. Jason Ruff hooked into two fish in a separate boat but had left his landing net on the bank and lost both fish at the side of the boat.

Three boats identified a small corner of the venue which was holding fish as they jostled to stay at anchor. Chris Brook then took a nice fish of 3.5lbs on a white Cats Whiskers lure, moments later he was being chased and plucked by a quality fish that would not take the lure.
Chris switched to a Perch Fry pattern and within moments of the fly hitting the water Chris was into big fish. Organised chaos would be the best description of the next fifteen minutes. Andy – Chris’s boat partner was in a tangle and was unable to help. The fish went for the tree roots then the outboard motor and finally under the boat.
As the creature passed under the boat Chris caught a glimpse of it and said to his boat partner “Christ Andy get a saddle I’ve hooked a Donkey”. After 15 – 20 minutes Chris has a beautiful fin perfect 10.5lb personal best Rainbow Trout in the boat and a smile twice as big.
Stuart Biddle and John Charlton also banked four fish in total during the morning session before Arnfield switched off like a light. The wind increased and boat fishing became downright dangerous for the inexperienced group as they had half time refreshments in the club house.

The afternoon session was difficult as the wind increased further, most anglers stayed on the bank but with Cheshire holding the prime marks the GMP lads failed to find any fish. Afternoon honours unquestionably went to Tommy (Ian) Stemmler and Paul Cooper who sat in their boat as the wind lashed them with waves. Paul was unlucky as he dapped a fly at the side of the boat a magnificent Blue Trout cleared the water twice to take the lure but the wind whipped the fly away from the fish. Tommy was rewarded with the only fish of the afternoon at last knockings as he took a 2lb Rainbow on a Suspended Buzzer.
Cheshire probably nudged GMP overall on fish taken however with 8 fish banked and a 10.5lb best GMP made great steps forward towards competing at a regional level.

My MVP of the day has to go to Yousef Dar who bank fished all day through appalling conditions, then at 4pm when most sane anglers had long since headed off home he climbed into a boat and set off for a last 30 minutes (Madness)...

report written by Chris Brook

 MP 50/50 Fly Fishing Section Open
Stocks Reservoir – 12th August 2009

Not even the hearty full cooked English breakfast, stunning vistas and jovial banter could prepare the members of GMP’s latest Sports and Social Section, the 50/50 Fly Fishing Club for the challenging day that lay ahead at Stocks Reservoir, Bowland Forest, Lancashire. The fishery is the largest in the Northwest of England with over 350 acres of water and 4.5 miles of fishable shoreline finding the fish was always going to be a challenge.

For the 50/50 members this was a challenge they knew they would have to master, if as is their ambition they are to go on and compete at a national and international level in inter service tournaments through Police Sport UK (PSUK). The event was part funded by the Force Sports and Social and was organised by the newly elected Secretary of the Club, Tameside officer Chris Brook.

Fly anglers from across the force were joined by guests and two members of Cheshire Constabularies Fly Fishing Squad Chris Webster and Ian Hodgson who are already part of a well established section. This showed from the off as at 10am when the tournament commenced they were well prepared and on their way with a fish in the bag leaving much of the GMP contingent still talking in the car-park.

Stocks Reservoir Fly Fishery offered the perfect day out, superb quality trout, a setting of natural beauty and a friendly atmosphere. Anglers who glanced away from their fly for a moment quickly became captivated by the wildlife and stunning scenery. This type of venue is typical of the open water venues used in Inter Service Match Fishing

Competitors took to their 15' Coulam wooden loch boats and were quickly able to motor out to their area of choice. This was the point when member started to realise just how difficult and undertaking they had made. Guest Richard Ruff hooked into a large Rainbow of around 5lb and lost the fish at the gunnels of the boat. This was to prove a costly mistake as the pair along with every other GMP anlger other than the Muslim Police Associations Yousef Dar failed to bank a fish all day.

The weather was warm with occasional sunshine punching holes in the clouds but a stiff westerly wind ran straight down the venue making conditions unpleasant and offering nowhere to hide. Competitors moved from mark to mark without success. The local guide then spread the word that the fish were starting to rise to dry flies and it was not long before guest Allan Collingwood on his first attempt at Fly Fishing was snapped of by a good fish early in the afternoon. Allan and boat partner Chris Brook knew conditions were tough and realised this loss was significant. Allan did however manage to tempt a stock fish of 2.7lbs on a dry fly as conditions improved.

It was however down to the lads from Cheshire to show a master class of competitive fly angling. Chris Webster capitalised on the rising afternoon fish to bag three trout for a second place 6.11lb total. But honours rightly went to Cheshires Ian Hodgson who bagged three fish in the tough morning conditions and added a fourth fish in the afternoon for a match winning total of 8.11lb and the heaviest fish went to Chris Webster with 2.85lbs.

GMP Sports and Social donated prize money which Stocks Fishery matched to bring a welcome prize total worth over £200 to the event. After the proceedings the section held a brief AGM in which it was decided Stocks and Ladybower Reservoir would be GMP home venues and that the aim of the section would be to develop a team capable of competing in PSUK events.

If you are interested in competing for GMP in Fly Fishing, no previous experience is required. Please contact Chris Brook pin number (06762) via e-mail or on mobile 07919545090.

Results

1. Ian Hodgson (Cheshire) – 8.11lb

2. Chris Webster (Cheshire) – 6.11lb

3. Yousef Dar (GMP) – 2.7lb – Joint – Allan Collingwood (Guest) – 2.7lb