Fly anglers and celebrities raised over £1000 for a good cause at the 2010 One Fly competition on the Test.
Stars from the world of television and fishing gathered on the banks of Hampshire’s River Test for the 2010 One Fly competition, won this year by OnlineFishing.TV.
The clue to this annual event run by holiday firm Fishing Breaks is in the name – anglers have to choose a single fly to fish with all day. All fish are released with a scoring system based on the length of the fish rather than weight.
The anglers fish in teams of three for the prestigious One Fly trophy, and luminaries gracing the chalk stream banks this year included TV presenter Chris Tarrant, vintage tackle expert Chris Sandford, golfer Ken Brown and Passion For Angling’s Bob James.
Angling TV channel OnlineFishing.TV was there for the first time to film an episode of its ‘Game Fisher’s Diary’ series, presented by Rae Borras.
Rae explained: “We entered a team really as a bit of fun – winning wasn’t really on the agenda although of course once the fishing starts, the old competitive streak kicks in.”
Rae’s team-mates included international lady fly angler Karin Norman and experienced US fly angler Jeremy Croucher.
“Even my guide for the day, John Ball, has fished for England. And as my game is more salmon fishing that trout, it was quite daunting to be honest,” added Rae, who drew the tough downstream Parsonage beat on the Test and struggled all day with his Peeping Caddis for a couple of fish.
Rae returned to the Peat Spade Inn HQ ‘crestfallen’ and ‘working on his excuses’ only to find that Jeremy had won the individual title with 25 fish at Whitchurch Fulling Mill on his own Pheasant Tail Hares Ear, Karin had eight, and his team had won the trophy!
The event raised nearly £1000 for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help and was declared a great success by all concerned.
For more information, visit http://www.fishingbreaks.co.uk/onefly.htm
* The episode of Game Fisher’s Diary featuring this year’s One Fly Competition with be available to view at www.onlinefishing.tv very soon.
LINK: Game Fisher’s Diary (http://www.onlinefishing.tv/channel/list/none/41/latest/1/)
Pictures by Guy Cragoe, www.cragoeandcamera.co.uk/
