Open Days

proud-angler

John Pope with a proud angler

We hold Open Days every year, this year's will be held on Sunday, 29 July. As you can see below, last year's was an outstanding success.

“CFPAS LTD’s Angling Open Day on Sunday 17th July 2011 at Milton Country Park was another great success despite changing weather conditions that saw a few very heavy downpours in the afternoon. Now in its fourth year our open day is about giving people the opportunity to give Angling/Fishing a try for the first time, to offer advice to those who may have stopped fishing for a while and may wish to start again and to those who do fish now, but may want some further advice.

Throughout the day our licensed coaches passed on their angling skills and knowledge to people of all ages and sexes with 35 x 30 minute sessions being completed, each of the participants taking home a certificate and a fishing booklet with the chance to enter some competitions to win some very nice prizes thanks to National Fishing Month. Every participant who completed the consent form on the day will also be entered into a draw to win a days fishing with Dean Macey, Commonwealth Gold Medallist in the decathlon and an avid fisherman, as well as some fishing tackle.

Every participant caught a number of fish, mainly Rudd, which were in great condition and certainly shows the potential of the venue to put together a nice bag of fish. Will Temple also caught a few decent size Rudd and a 4 lb Tench, which was in excellent condition.

On a day like this we are very grateful to our volunteers Sharon Webb and Mark De-Tau who were at the front line manning the registration tent ensuring the consent forms were completed, directing the participants to the right coach, and finally writing out the certificate’s after attending the session.

As a club we have a great team of coaches and our thanks go to Graham Tweed, Will Temple, John Pope, Trevor Sturge and Ian Asplen who completed the coaching sessions, Trevor and Ian coaching at the Open Day for the first time and doing an excellent job as did all the coaches.

Tony Duffin, Richard Mitchel and David Owen set up their carp gear, answered lots of questions and gave advice on all things to do with carping, from rigs to bait, our thanks to them for this.

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Pond dipping with the park rangers was also popular with two sessions taking place during the day, our thanks to Mick Woolhouse for doing the sessions. Thanks also to the Kye Jerrom from the Environment Agency for bringing the fish tank on wheels in which Rudd and a Perch from the lake were on show.

pond-dippers trevor-sturge

Pond dippers

Trevor Sturge and a keen fisherman

We received a lot of very positive comments including:

“Dear All, Thank you very much for a lovely morning and all of your help – Gillian & Christopher Berry.”

“Niamh really enjoyed her fishing session with Graham Tweed and caught lots of rudd and a small carp – Niamh Dolety”

“Really Fun – Matt” “Great – Sophie” “Thank you !! – Dav”

“Fantastic Teaching from Will for both children & adults alike, more of the same please Thank you – Gavin, Sam, Byron & Finlay”

“It was very fun doing fishing he taught me how to fish I caught 2 fish. I hope I come back another day but next time I’ll try and get more fish”

“Lovely Thank you!!! (Please Do Again)”

“Had a great time with Trevor, Charlie caught a fish!!! Liked the pond dipping too – Brian & Charlie”

“I really enjoyed the experience, I liked the coach because he was very helpful and easy to talk to. He was always optimistic and always found something good in what I did. I really want to do it again, thanks Trevor and everyone else, hope to come again. It was great fun, I caught 2 fish which was good, very good place for fishing – Chloe.”

“I liked my instructor his name was Trevor Sturge. He taught me how to fish, I caught 5 though 2 came off. I especially liked it when he let us feel the fish. I hope I come back, it was a amazing experience. I wonder how another person would teach me. It was my first time, it was so fun – Tabby.”

friends friends-and-their-catch

Two participants with their goody bags

Friends with their catch, a Perch and a Rudd

For some reason our President Graham Tweed forgot he was there to do some coaching and decided to join the swimmers in the lake, not sure how it happened but too cold for me.

All in all this was another great day and I already look forward to next year's event.

Our thanks to Mr Mick Dant – Waterside Angling Supplies for supplying all of the bait the coaches used on the day free of charge.

John Pope – Junior Event Co-ordinator.