Siblyback fly fishers association – Wes Ower memorial competition 9th March 2025
Many thanks to everyone that took part in this early season fly fishing competition. 23 anglers took part, 15 Siblyback Club members, 12 anglers landed a full bag of five Rainbows, a rod average of 3.7 and the icing on the cake is the £285 raised for Wes Ower’s Charity – Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust – as Wes used to say “You never know when you may need them” Thank you to everyone who supported the charity.
After registration and competition briefing anglers made their way around the lake to either side A or side B depending on the ticket they pulled from the bag at Registration.
The horn sounded across the water at 9.30 to start the match – Many anglers lost fish early on, These Siblyback rainbows really do fight hard, John landed his first in Stocky bay first cast. Sets the scene and creates a bit of tension in all the anglers around Stocky bay. Meanwhile Mick and John were also straight into the fish along North shore, bagging the morning’s maximum of four rainbows in just over 30 mins.
I walked around the Lake with Leon the SWLT Head of Angling, Crylla bay anglers told us they had all lost a fish or two, Then Rodney was into another – Carefully does it – Yehaa…. breath and relax, the first fish in the bag.
At Stocky bay there was a mixed response anglers had between no takes and 3 fish in the bag, Leon noticed some movement opposite on North Shore – two anglers, Mick & John started to walk away??
We continued around to West bank where Dave had a couple in the bag, but had also lost one or two. Round to North shore – Perfect timing to see Pete land the biggest fish of the day – see photo’s.
Surprisingly along Two Meadows anglers had only taken a couple of fish and were starting to move to another area. Back to the centre, have a coffee and time to sound the horn to end the morning session.
As anglers swapped sides there was a mixed response from “missed a few” to a “fantastic four in the bag”. The horn sounded to start the Afternoon session at 1.0pm
A couple of anglers were back by 1.15pm all bagged up taking their fifth fish in Crylla bay, first & third cast – Maybe resting the water for 30mins brought the fish back in to this area.
By 3.30pm several anglers had returned to the centre so we decided to start the weigh-in. always an interesting and tense time, all the anglers with a full bag of five fish had a keen interest as each bag and biggest fish went to the scales. With £300 in vouchers for first place and a total prize fund worth over £800 there was a lot at stake…
Many thanks to all the competition sponsors for the huge prize fund: – South West Lakes Trust, Flybox, Trout flies UK, and Turrall’s – the first 6 anglers won a main prize and with the Turrall “goody bags” every angler went away with something.
Results: –
1st place with 8lb 4oz Pete Williams.
2nd place with 7lb 12oz Roger Truscott.
3rd 7lb 10oz Dave Perks.
4th with 7lb 9oz Mick Dodkins
5th place with 7lb 5oz Mark Gilbert, and bigger fish than 6th place at 2lb.
6th also with 7lb 5oz Andy Watson.
The box of flies tied by Wes Ower was won by Pete Williams with the biggest fish of the competition weighed in at 2lb 11oz.
Well done and thank you for all the help of the SFFA committee who have worked tirelessly in the back ground to make this event so successful.
See you all at next year’s Wes Ower charity memorial competition. – Sunday 8th March 2026!
