The Wild Trout Trust Auction is upon us, a time when we get a chance to bid for a worthy cause and hopefully get some fishing in places we might not always get to fish. WTT Communications Officer Denise Ashton tells us about the auction details and a few of the lots too.
The Wild Trout Trust Auction raises over £50,000 each year and is an absolutely vital contribution to the work that we do for the conservation of wild trout and their habitat. The WTT’s core work has always been to provide advice (free) to anyone with responsibility for a river or lake, and to help them to improve habitat for wild trout either through changes in management or through ‘in river’ project work. With a small team of six Conservation Officers across the UK, we are now delivering more practical habitat improvement projects (25+ per year) in addition to the 60 or so Advisory Visits, and we have extended into new initiatives such as Trout in the Town and Mayfly in the Classroom. With the growth of the Rivers Trusts, we partner with them on projects where we provide the in depth practical river habitat experience and ‘grass roots’ volunteer involvement.
The auction has two purposes. Obviously it gives us vital ‘no strings attached’ funds to help us pay for the things that are hard to fund in other ways – basic equipment like chainsaws, paying for time to keep staff up to date with research and new techniques and seed corn funding to help us raise larger amounts from other sources. The other vital purpose is that it raises awareness of the WTT with the fishing community by giving access to a huge range of fishing opportunities that are open to everyone, whatever their budget. The generous donors of fishing days are our best ambassadors, showing by example that supporting wild trout and wild rivers is something everyone should do.
What’s in the auction this year?
Where to start? There are over 250 lots, so it’s our biggest auction yet, with plenty of new lots as well as old favourites. This is mainly my wish list, as someone whose first love is fishing rivers for wild trout, but there are plenty more diverse lots to choose from.
Let’s start with Scotland, as these lots are usually really good value for money and don’t go for daft prices. Top choice for under £100 start price would be the days with Kenny Galt on the Tweed for trout or grayling (lots 74 and 75) as Kenny has the most amazing knowledge of the Tweed system and knows where to find big fish under all conditions. Similarly, Nick Chisholm on the Annan (lot 66) has superb knowledge of his river and is good company. Both rivers have reputations for big trout and grayling, but it helps to have a local fisheries biologist with you to find them! The Deveron (lot 71 and 63) and Don (79) also have great reputations for trout fishing. There are some loch fishing lots too, from little Loch Park (with luxury B&B included, lot 68) to the mighty Loch Awe to fish for pike or ferox with another fisheries biologist, Alan Kettle White (67).
In Ireland, the obvious place to go is Corrib with two well known local experts, author Dennis Moss (lot 88) and guide Larry McCarthy (lots 86 and 87). For rivers, I would go for a day with Ian Mac on his southern Ireland rivers (lot 84) or with fly tyer Roy Christie (lot 90) on small streams in the North. All Irish lots come with added Irish hospitality, based on the feedback from previous winning bidders.
In Wales, I would try a couple of the lots that are new for this year in South Wales, for example Nicholas Steedman on the Taff (lot 102) or Adrian Nash on the Ewenny (107). I am hearing good things about how well these rivers have recovered since the days of coal and steel. I love sea trout fishing so Golden Grove on the Towy (lot 94) or the Teifi (lot 100) would also be on the wish list.
Now to the huge choice that is the fishing lots in England. We have over 140 and the range is broad – bass, pike, roach, carp, cod, salmon as well as trout and grayling. It’s mainly fly fishing, but a few are not, for example bass from a kayak (lots 187 and 193) and a long day with the WTT Director to try to catch as many species as you can on one rod (and a big tub of bait, no doubt. Lot 170). Or a daft competition between fluff chuckers and maggot drowners in Somerset with Mike Blackmore and his mates (lot 194).
At the very serious end of the scale, there are some superb chalk stream lots, including mayfly days on the Salisbury and District waters (lots 128,129,158) where non members are not usually permitted, and for lovers of a historic background, a mayfly day on Halford’s beat of the Test at Mottisfont in his centenary year (lot 114).
Some of the truly unique lots are those donated by our supporters on the upper Test (lot 133) or upper Itchen (lots 120,130,139,141,145). These are very private beats, reserved for friends and family and they are wild fish only. This is not corporate chalkstream fishing! The beats are beautifully managed for fish and for good fishermen who can cast and don’t mind losing a fly or ten. Don’t expect rainbows or ragged fins. Those big brownies are truly wild!
For better value for money, obviously you head north or west. Many of the professional guides are very generous with their support, including, of course, Pete Tyjas in Devon (lot 136), Steve Rhodes in the Dales (160), the unique John Tyzack on his ‘secret river’ in the north west (lot 146). Less than full time guides donate days too, such as Don Stazicker who takes you as his guest on the Cressbrook and Litton waters of the Derbyshire Wye – they don’t call them the ‘hallowed waters’ for nothing. Some my best fishing days have been on the Wye, catching wild rainbows! (lot 154). And my favourite fishing companion, Stuart Crofts, on his local territory (lots 182 and 257). You can’t fail to have a great time and learn more than you ever thought possible in one day.
Non trout fishing? It would have to be one of the carp on the fly lots (166,167,181) or a day with Pete Reading of the Barbel Society catching barbel. Or bass fishing with fly or sand eels or lures (lots 156,157,187, 193, 204).
I haven’t even touched on the fishing abroad lots (Bosnia lot 58, Slovenia lot 59 are top of my list) or the non fishing lots which includes badger watching, dog training, art works, flies, cane rods, books......
I hope I have whetted your appetite. You can see the lots on the WTT website (www.wildtrout.org) including a map of the locations, and download a catalogue. The auction takes place on eBay and by post 4-13 March and a link to eBay is posted on the WTT website. I hope you win a lot or two and have some great fishing days out. We promise to use the money wisely.