After an exceptionally dry January the heavens opened 8 days before our club trip & drenched the coast. Some said we should move our trip forward ; poor souls they’ve only known foul weather. The rest held firm as the forecast was only for the chance of rain.

Damian & I launched first, some 2 ½ hrs early as we live close by & Damo was in sore need of some fly therapy. Work really is the curse of the angler. Thank God our club isn’t over competitive or hidebound so such a head start is not a problem. As was we motored up to the main boat ramp at 3.45 we reported very little seen on the sounder & even less action. The sky reflected our gloomy news with dark clouds growing darker & even the odd low growl of thunder.

Bad news doesn’t deter stout hearts so in spite of our tale of woe the club still sailed. The roll call of courage will note that Mac Lyall, Andrew Waters, Ken Colmer, Jim Hollet, Chris Bannerman, Richard Hassel, Dave Witham, Roy Brown & Ivan Malby chanced their vessels with Jimmy Hyatt, Paul McGrath, Murray Keating, Craig Parker, John Roberts & Bob “Vincent” Williams also putting themselves in harms way.

Most picked the channel for starters, feeling their way about so to speak. Mac went his own way cruising around some of the small islands & flicking the flats. Richard Hassel anchored up, hopped out of his tinney & waded a sandbank. As the clock neared 5pm most had the same story to tell, much waving with no result. One of the first to turn things around was the club fish magnet Jim Hyatt who bagged a small flattie under the Entrance bridge. Jim was fishing with Jim, Hollett that is. Mr Hollet travelled a long way to make this trip as did Ivan Malby. On ya, Lads.

After drifting down the channel on the western side of the bridge 3 or 4 times Damo & I proceed to the seaward side & things started to get interesting. We stopped near Stickerman & Muzz to have a chat & Sticker showed off his prize catch, a fully rigged egg beater & rod. It was a Shimano Matchline 6-8kg with a Surecatch reel & still sported the hook, line & sinker. It was bagged on a P. Frere tied fly & yes I do take orders. We were still nagging when Muzz scored a small tailor. We soon spotted small swirls in the water & it was on, with much frantic casting & even more frantic retrieves. Damian caught a little flattie then I opened my account with a chopper.

Damian & I worked the drift back towards the bridge several times. However on one of the return trips the strangest thing happened when a gust of wind flicked Damo’s fly over the side while we were still underway. You wouldn’t believe it, a chopper tailor hopped straight on to it & he had to drag it in to release it. He swears hand on tiller, I mean heart that he was not trolling, long line casting, boat assisted stripping or all of the above. As I hope to fish with him again plus the fact he knows where I live, I believe him. As for the second “ Act of God “ I saw nothing, nothing!