River Masterclass Debrief

JOHN BAILEY You’ll always learn loads and be inspired by this vastly experienced traditional angler, who also relishes exploring the latest coarse techniques… with help from his friends.

EVEN after over 20 years of guiding, I felt as if I was setting myself up for a fall after I’d decided to call a weekend’s event a ‘masterclass’.

In my day-to-day guiding work I never feel as if I have it 100 percent right, and using the word ‘masterclass’ suggests that I’m an expert.

Before my latest trio of anglers arrived, the following thoughts were swimming in my head: ‘Please don’t ask me about Wallis casting, bread punch fishing or river wagglering.’ If this is what these guys wanted to learn, I’d be well and truly stumped.

When Steve, Keith and Chris rocked up, I knew that I was among friends. They looked at a mill pool on the Wensum and they purred, desperate to get cracking, but I had to rein them in, as it was dinnertime.

Over a glass or two, we debated river tactics, especially as the level was up a foot and running with more than a tinge of colour.

Watercraft was top of our agenda, so we set about understanding currents, slacks, creases, overhangs, undercuts and how the fish live their lives in this twisting, changing habitat.

We talked about the influence of predation, abstraction and flash floods, and how we have to take every factor on board. We discussed the merits of using a ’tip rod, and then went on to debate what weight of lead is best for small rivers.

Above all, the boys wanted to focus on float fishing, and that suited me fine. A day’s float fishing requires mobility and constant involvement, and the first day was a lively one.

I left the boys thinking about the finer points of float fishing, telling them to be ready for 8am the next morning.

Day 1 highlights

I’m going to let the highlights and lowlights speak for themselves. The two days were packed with events and lessons, the first of which started within ten minutes from the ‘off.’