fishingwiththeexperts

GORDON BLOODWORTH

Gordon is an international fly fishing champion and founding member of the hugely successful CORMORANTS FLY FISHERS and has fished regularly at Rutland Water since it opened in 1977. Also very experienced in fishing on Grafham, Pitsford, and Eyebrook Reservoirs and Lough Currane in Western Ireland. A genuine ‘nice guy’ he’ll put you onto fish and share his wealth of knowledge on these demanding waters. His string of achievements include:-

Gold and Bronze medal from the Benson & Hedges International Team finals.

Silver medal Hardy International Team finals.

Two Gold medals fishing with the English National side in Home Internationals at Lynn Brenig and Draycote Water

English National Loch Style Champion 1992

Rutland Water Evening League Winner

MARK HAYCOCK

Mark’s angling pedigree includes an awesome list of achievements. He’s been a successful member of some of the greatest flyfishing teams in the UK. Winner of House of Hardy International competition over 2 days at Rutland in 2003 with the famous Rutland Kingfishers. In 2004 he came 2^nd. Winner, also with the Rutland Kingfishers of the £10,000 team competition at Grafham Water. In 2004 he also came 2^nd.

Winner as a member of The Shakespeare Snipers, with world champion Iain Barr of the LEXUS International Team Final at Blagdon Lake and Chew Valley Lake and won the title ‘Top Rod’ with 17 fish!

Current member of A.C.A. Masterline Team and English International Final Winner 2 years running at Grafham Water and Chew.

2005 Fulling Mill International Team Final 2^nd place.

Bob Church Classic 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th at Grafham

Thames Water Shield 3 times winner at Farmoor, Oxford.

Winner, Bob Church Open in 2002 (out of 136 top anglers), 3^rd in 2005.

Current mixed pairs champion with his wife Nicola

Record Holder of the heaviest weight of fish in a competition in 2005 on Rutland Water (16 fish for 62 lbs!) with his boat partner Paul Kirkup.

-Winner of ‘Fur & Feather’ Competition at Pitsford Reservoir 3 times and also at Grafham Water, Rutland Water, Ravensthorpe and Farmoor.

Mark's catches include an 8lb Brown trout and 7lb Rainbow from Rutland Water. Living in Northampton, Mark can take you on all the best Midlands Reservoirs including Pitsford, Grafham, Ravensthorpe and Rutland. If you go out for a day with Mark you’ll be in the company of one of the BEST!

AL OWEN

Having spent the early part of his life in Mid Wales, Al was brought up fishing for salmon and sea trout on the famous River Dovey.

With 25 years experience fishing the famous 4, Rutland, Grafham, Pitsford and Eyebrook Reservoirs, he has a vast knowledge of these waters, especially Rutland where he now spends most of his time either Guiding, Competition fishing or just pleasure days with my regular boat partner.

Al is involved in the competition circuit at English National and the very highest team level.

Whilst in the RAF, he fished for the ‘Fish Hawks’, fishing in all the major competitions (B&H, Hardy, TFEO and Lexus) up to and including International Finals.

Now fishes with Airflow Team Cormorants, captained by the famous Dave Shipman. Inventor of the 'shipman’s buzzer’ classic floating fly pattern.

Specialising in fishing ‘over the front of a drifting boat’ using a variety of methods that will put fish in the bag. His favourite tactic is either ‘buzzer’ or ‘dry-fly’ which can be extremely deadly on all four waters when used correctly. His use of dry cul-de-canard flies is legendary. There are times however when pulling a lure is the only way to catching the often fussy trout.

Last season saw him & his boat partner net 65 trout using the floating line and ‘black buzzer’. Whilst this was one of those red-letter days, it is not uncommon during the months of May and June. Al is an experienced guide and now nothing gives him greater pleasure than passing on his knowledge of the waters and different tactics required to those who are less experienced on fishing these big reservoirs. He also ties his own flies; this is an added advantage to consistent success on waters such as Rutland as many of the patterns he has developed and uses are unavailable commercially.

Al has produced many innovative, killing flies on the ‘secret list’ of successful competition anglers.

If you fish with Al, rest assured, he will sympathise with those that may feel daunted about fishing waters such as Rutland because he have been in that situation himself. It is now his goal in life is to ensure that your day afloat will be a memorable and enjoyable occasion with hopefully a few fish in the boat at the end of a days fishing for those hard fighting Brown and Rainbow trout.

BARRY THOMPSON

Featured on ITV's 'Wild About Food', Barry is one of the great Rutland Characters. He doesn't fish in competitions, he just catches lots of fish, lots of BIG fish. A day with Barry will be a truly memorable experience. His banter and stories will entertain you and his fish catching expertise will amaze you. He was featured in Trout Fisherman Magazine as 'King of the Buzzers' and still there is no-one who can touch his experience of this classic style of fishing. Now, his catches on the 'Birmingham Buzzer', the Rutland Sparkler and his many ingenious adaptations of this hugely successful Rutland Fly are the envy of many, myself included! Barry is one of my great fishing heroes and as such is a true Rutland Legend! Barry covers Rutland, Grafham and Draycote Water near Rugby.

If you fish with Barry for a day, you will get far more than a guided day's fishing. You'll get an experience to be cherished, and you'll learn more in a day than is possible in a lifetime fishing alone.

COLIN BRETT

Featured angler on Channel4's TV's 'Ireland's Fighting Pike', Colin has been fishing Grafham and Rutland Water since they opened and has an impressive list of specimen fish to his name.

26lb Pike from Rutland: 27½ lb Pike from the Cambridgeshire Fens: 7lb 12oz Brown: 11lb 06oz Rainbow: 23lb 08oz Chinook Salmon...... carp, chub etc....

A founder member of Grafham Water Fly Fishers Association, Colin can take you fly fishing for Pike and Zander on Rutland, Grafham and also on some lesser known fenland drains. His wealth of knowledge and considerable expertise will be at your disposal for an extremely enjoyable day. Quietly unassuming, with a dry sense of humour, Colin is a great fishing companion and a wealth of knowledge of all aspects of angling.

GRAHAM PEARSON

'Sky Sports' Game Angler of the year 2001. England Loch-style International Champion 7 times. Victorious England Captain Autumn 2000. England Team Manager. Member of England Commonwealth Championship Team. Winner of most of the major individual championships including Troutmaster; Hanningfield Masters, Bob Church Classic.

Captain of 'ACA Masterline' successful team. Twice winner of the ' House of Hardy International'. Winner of numerous national championships. England Youth Fly Fishing Association coach. 25 years teaching experience. Fly Tyer extraordinaire. It's easier to list the achievement Graham has not got, rather than all those he has! Fish with Graham and learn the secrets of one of the best in the business.