Newsletter | St Michael Fly Fishers

Discover more about what we've been up to over the years here

OCT 2024

JOHN O'GAUNT

Back to JOG for our Pairs Competition -a good day’s fishing with a total of 66 fish recorded

APRIL 2024

ROCKBOURNE

The sun came out and it was a beautiful warm day. There were 21 anglers and ample room around each lake.

JAN 2024

ALBURY

Having negotiated exclusive use, despite low numbers, Albury proved to be great start to the 2024 season.

OCT 2023

JOHN O'GAUNT

We return to John O Gaunt for our Pairs Competition which we had to abandon last June due to to the weather.

MAY 2023

LAKEDOWN

This return to the stunning Lakedown turned out to be one of the best fishing days our club has experienced for some time.

FEB 2023

ALBURY- WESTON LAKE

Everyone got off to a good start at this new venue, with most catching early on the faithful damsel patterns and then smaller flies as the day progressed.

SEPT 2024

CHALK SPRINGS

It was a little challenging, but most people had caught at least one fish by lunchtime.

MAR 2024

HOLBURY

This was the clubs second visit to Holbury Lane Lakes, and if there was ever a day for wellies, this was it!

DEC 2023

MEON SPRINGS

A very wet start to the day, resulted in our AGM taking place ahead of our final fish of 2023, when we competed for the George Wilding Memorial Trophy.

OCT 2023

CHALK SPRINGS

We had sole use of the fishery, this visit so we only had one rule which was free roaming but change lakes on catching a fish.

APRIL 2023

ROCKBOURNE

A return to this Trout Fishery in the New Forest. The club’s previous visit was in April 2022, which set a record in 2022 for the largest total weight caught in a day

JAN 2023

AVON SPRINGS

Most visible fish in the main lake were shoaling in a figure of eight in the center. As we had heavy frosts, most people opted for intermediates or sinking tips.

MAY 2024

ROCKBOURNE

Probably the prettiest venue we attend as a club. All 4 lakes just for us. Happy Days!

FEB 2024

AVON SPRINGS

Generally a good fishing day with the odd pike and perch landed due to recent flooding!

NOV 2023

DEVER SPRINGS

The forecast had looked good and the early mist was lending a very atmospheric quality to proceedings.

SEPT 2023

HOLBURY

This was the clubs first visit to this picturesque fishery, with four lakes, crystal clear water, and different challenges for fishing.

MARCH 2023

MANNINGFORD

Fed by the pristine waters of the Hampshire Avon, Manningford was a new group experience for St Michael Fly Fishers.

NOV 2022

JOHN O'GAUNT

Under normal circumstances we only ever fish here, in June, but as Meon Springs was called off due to low water levels we found ourselves here in November and it did not disappoint!

OCT 2022

DUNCTON MILL

An intrepid group of 13 made their way under a clear, chilly, star-studded sky for our meet. Variable degrees of success during the day with an average catch of 2.25; 29 fish from 13 fishing.

SEPT 2022

CHALK SPRINGS

It was a chilly start at Chalk Springs when we returned for first time since 2016!

We were grateful for bacon rolls, hot drinks and the warm welcome received from the new management team.

JUNE 2022

JOHN O'GAUNT

Everyone fished 45 minutes on each of the four zones, until free roaming began at 12.30. Within minutes fish were coming to the net, and so it continued all morning.

MAY 2022

LAKEDOWN

Twenty-four members attended the day, this meant we had the whole venue to ourselves! The morning started with a breakfast bap, tea and coffee and everyone eager to get to one of the four lakes on offer.

APRIL 2022

ROCKBOURNE

After anxiously checking the weather forecast every day for the week before our 35th Anniversary outing to

Rockbourne it turned out that we could not have wished for a better day.

MARCH 2022

AVON SPRINGS

The fishing initially started slowly, with one of the early fish caught weighing in at 6lb 10oz. During the first period about half the anglers caught good quality fish.

FEB 2022

LECHLADE

The level of excitement in returning to fish at Lechlade after a three-year absence was very apparent. Talk of huge fish and similarly sized breakfasts was in the air!

DEC 2021

AVON SPRINGS & AGM

With great expectation 23 of us arrived at Avon Springs for the last visit of the year. This is a fishery that ranks high on the list of favourites for many of the members and rarely if ever disappoints.

NOV 2021

MEON SPRINGS

A bright day with a gentle breeze greeted the 17 of us on arrival. A welcome mug of coffee or tea with biscuits set us up before the first hour’s session when we fished for The George Wilding Memorial Trophy.

OCT 2021

Duncton Mill

Our first visit to Duncton Mill under its new management.

An overcast day with some rain to start. Fishing started slowly but picked up nicely as the day went on and the sun came out.

SEPT 2021

Farmoor Reservoir

A Foggy drive through the Oxfordshire countryside. A hearty full English breakfast, a chance to catch up with friends followed by a day’s fishing. What a wonderful way to spend a day!

JUNE 2021

John O'Gaunt

Well what a fine day we were treated to at John O Gaunt, the weather really could not have been finer and we were treated to the sight of water sprays on the lower lake for the first time…

MAY 2021

Farmoor

Considering it was a midweek outing a great turnout of 12 members, and 2 guests attended. Debbie at the Waterside Café kindly opened early for us to have breakfast, which was excellent

and set us up for the day…

MAY 2021

Lakedown Trout Fishery

Members arrived at 8am by which time the heaviest of the rain had eased. Egg & bacon baps, tea & coffee accompanied a briefing by Ted the bailiff who suggested intermediate lines would be best…

MAY 2021

Rockbourne Social Club Outing

A brief report from the Day Captain of our first social club outing of 2021…

APRIL 2021

Avon Springs

Our first meeting of the year after a weary period of lockdown…

DEC 2020

Avon Springs

The day, after a very grey December was spectacularly bright and not too cold…

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SEPT 2020

Rockbourne

First of all, I hope everyone enjoyed the club’s first visit to Rockbourne in 15 years or so…

JUNE 2020

John O'Gaunts

we were delighted to be able to go fishing again when some of the lockdown measures were eased in May…

MARCH 2020

Duncton Mill

Having had Lechlade cancelled due to the recent storms it was good to at last have our first outing of the season.…

Tributes to Absent Friends

Eddie Edwards John O'gaunts June 2015-17

This year has been very sad with the loss of Kevin Doherty in March, and Godfrey Cotton in July and more recently Eddie Edwards earlier in December, they always fished with a smile.

DEC 2019

Avon Springs

Having endured freezing temperatures earlier in the week, and heavy rain two days later the gods smiled on us, and we had perfect fishing weather for this the last outing of the season…

NOV 2019

Meon Springs

This has become an event in honour of our past Chairman George who frequently enjoyed large bright and garish lures that he bragged always caught at Meon.…

OCT 2019

Duncton Mill

Despite the dire forecast of rain, rain and more rain, the legend of The South Downs rain shadow did us proud. …

JUNE 2019

John O'Gaunt

Flaming June has been flaming wet, but for this outing it was a beautiful day, could it be summer has arrived? 20 of us met at the Crown Inn for an excellent breakfast, then off to the fishery. …

MAY 2019

Farmoor

The day got off to a start with breakfast at the Farmoor Sailing Club where a choice of breakfast was served. This was our Club’s first visit for a while to this reservoir…

APRIL 2019

Avon Springs

It was raining cats, and dogs on the journey down, and to say the least rather windy. As we tackled up the rain eased off, and by the time we had finished breakfast it had stopped…