This year’s NSWCFA Fly-fishing Meet was moved forward to the earlier dates of March 9th to 11th and thirty four keen anglers attending to fly cast, tie flies, fish and socialize in pleasant conditions at Wallerawang.

On Friday evening a finger food supper was served and Jason Baldwin, Supervising Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Compliance, North West Zone gave a power point presentation on some of the compliance issues that DPI Fisheries have been involved in recently.

Saturday evening saw forty people enjoy a well presented two course dinner in the new Black Gold dining room. During the evening several fund raising competitions were held and all in attendance appeared to have an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately our special guest, Scott Levi, couldn’t attend as the ABC required him to report to Wagga Wagga to cover the flood crisis down there.

Approximately $5000.00 worth of prizes were donated by generous donors, among these were cameras, fly rods, waders and tackle vouchers, portable fly tying benches and kits, flies, accommodation vouchers etc.; some of these were issued as lucky door and competition prizes while others were used to raise funds for the NSWCFA.

Approximately $3111.00 was raised for the NSW CFA. Several local enthusiasts joined us for the dinner and prizes draw’s.

Several cash donations were received from people that couldn’t attend but appreciate the effort that NSWCFA put in to maintain a sustainable freshwater fishery and we owe them a big thank you.

Rob and Linda Cluff and their team at Black Gold continued with the usual high standard of hospitality that we usually experience for this weekend and I recommend it as a base if you want to fish the area as an individual or on a club basis.

The Central Tablelands press gave the Meet good exposure and they are always prepared to print a press releases if the trouble is taken to give them one.

Although the Meet is more a friendly social event there are four not so serious competitions and the results are as follows.

Photo competition sponsored by ‘Fujifilm’:
Angler with fish: Min McClelland, Fly Fish Bathurst (FFB)
Fishing scene: Ken Colmer, Central Coast Fly Rodders’ Club (CCFRC)
Humour: Murray Keating CCFRC.

Fly Tying competition Sponsored by ‘Tiewell’:
Open: Lewis Williams Sydney Fly Rodders’ Club (SFRC)
Advanced: Ken Webster FFB.
Beginner: Nathan Webster FFB.
Novelty: Dan Engel Lithgow.

Casting competition sponsored by ‘John Coles’:
Distance Accuracy:
Open: Greg Hayman Singleton Fly Fishing Club (SFFC),
# 1 handicap: Roy Browne CCFRC.
# 2 handicap: Steve Newman The Lakes Fly Fishing Club (TLFFC).

Dry Fly Accuracy
Open: John Coles SFRC/Don Salter Lakeside Fly Fishing Club (LFFC).
# 1 handicap: Kevin Kai SFRC.
# 2 handicap: Ray Tang CCFRC.

Fishing:
Longest rainbow: John Coles SFRC 53cm.
Longest Brown: John Coles SFRC 44cm.
Otto’s trophy for the longest fish: John Coles
The fishing comp is catch & release.
There were several fish recorded over 60cm but they didn’t qualify in the catch sheet time
frame which was for Saturday only.

The Ross Salvato Point Score Trophy was won by Central Coast Fly Rodders Club.

The NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers are extremely grateful for the generous donations that were received for this event.

My thanks to all the guys that helped me at the Meet particularly John Robb and Ray Tang who gave me terrific support.