Fishing and family holidays for 2017 in the WTT auction
Fishing and family holidays in 2017 in the WTT auction
Short, grey days and limited fishing opportunity over Christmas and New Year tends to make me think of summer holidays. As I write the lot descriptions for the WTT’s annual fundraising auction, especially the ‘fishing overseas’ section, I can dream about travelling to exotic rivers to fish in warm sunshine. This year, it occurred to me that many of the ‘overseas’ lots could be combined family holidays, and perhaps some advance notice might be useful to aid planning.
This blog post describes some of the lots in Europe and the UK that could easily be combined with a holiday with the family or non-fishing partner. Watch out for the next blog post with fishing holidays further afield: Iceland, the Bahamas, Argentina and Zimbabwe
The chalk streams of Normandy provide excellent trout fishing, and mix well with fine food and visits to historic towns and beaches. Check out lots on the famous and historic Fario Club beats on the Rouloir and Fario Club members’ beats on the Andelle. Previous winners of these lots have enjoyed the hospitality and good company of Laurent Sainsot, an Anglophile trout fisherman and tremendous WTT supporter (below left).
Near the Cote D’Azur, Tony Mair will take you on a walk (more of scramble, but perfectly safe …) to the bottom of the Verdon Gorge to fish the clear blue river between towering cliffs. Tony lives locally and will collect you from Nice. A stunning location and a good break from the beach (below right).
If cooler climes and mountains are more your idea of fun, you could include a day with Chris Hendriks fishing for trout and grayling in rivers large and small in the Tyrsil area of Norway.
Chris is a leading light in the European tenkara community but you may fish conventionally if you wish – all you need bring are your waders as he can supply the rest. There are some lovely comfortable cabins nearby. (below left).
For sun and mountains, you can’t beat the Spanish Pyrenees. There is some fantastic trout fishing here, but you need to know where to go, and how to get access through the complexity of permits, licences and private roads. Ivan Tarin and his guiding team will look after you not just in terms of fishing, but share with you the local Spanish food, wine and culture. A week in the High Pyrenees in midsummer might also appeal to a non fishing partner who is well catered for if they enjoy walking, wildlife, history and the culture of this beautiful area.
Within the UK, we have some new lots this year that would combine beautifully with a holiday.
Pembrokeshire has a stunning coastline and is rich in birdlife and wild flowers. It also has some very good fishing both in the sea for bass and pollock, and, course, sea trout. Generous supporter Tony Richards has a cottage in Newport and a family member on the committee of the Nevern Angling Association. Thanks to him, we can offer a week in his cottage and a week’s fishing ticket for two anglers on this excellent (but little known) sea trout river.
The Hebrides has quiet, sandy beaches and turquoise seas that are the envy of many Caribbean tourist boards. The fishing is for salmon, sea trout and wee brownies in the hill lochs. This year, we can offer a week in a cottage on Loch Fincastle on the Borve Estate of South Harris, including fishing in the tidal loch for salmon and sea trout. The cottage is short drive from the famous Scarista and Luskentyre beaches.
Full details of all these lots will be on the website and in the catalogue in early February. If you are not yet a WTT member please contact Christina and she will send you a printed copy of the catalogue office@wildtrout.org or call on 02392 570985.
If you would like more detail now, contact me on dashton@wildtrout.org