CROWN FLY FISHERS

A BRIEF CLUB HISTORY

In February 1997 in the Crown Inn in the Ayrshire village of Dreghorn the first meeting of the Crown Fly Fishers took place. As the club had no fishing's of its own it was decided to hold nine outings throughout the season on a variety of waters all over Scotland. With the membership set at sixteen to aid boat and river bookings the new club embarked on its first season with one major rule in place. Of the nine outings three had to be held on rivers, three fished from boats and three from bank, whether on a stocked fishery or a large Scottish loch it didn't really matter. The thinking behind this was the overall winner would indeed be a true champion, having to succeed in all three disciplines.

After a few changes the membership is now strong and settled. Infact this season (2005) the membership was increased to eighteen to meet the interest from local anglers wishing to join the club. Members are now spread far and wide all over the country due mostly to work commitments. This makes fundraising and the social side of the club more difficult but it helps to source new venues and contacts. Through lottery funding, beginners days, competitions and tuition (casting and fly tying) have been held all with great success and with our donations to charity we feel we have put something back into our community.

As a competitive club we enter the major competitions fished around Scotland with mixed results. Two members, Stewart Wallace and Robert Irvine have qualified in the past for the national rivers team, Robert has again made the team for 2005 and we are represented in other national finals on a regular basis. With the rise in popularity of grayling fishing a winter league section has now been set up and is well attended. This is fished on three rivers for grayling and three fisheries for rainbows. As the fishing in the winter league is more relaxed this is where new rule changes such as catch and release are tried out.

The clubs membership rose to eighteen at the beginning of the 2005 season and in August 2006 moved its home across the street and is now based in the Dreghorn Inn

In the years since the clubs inception there have been many high points and even a couple of low ones to, but it has definitely been worth while. To see a complete novice become an accomplished fly fisherman through knowledge passed on from his fellow members is indeed gratifying. To fish in places that could only be dreamed about, to meet people and to make many new friends is something that has been achieved because of membership of this club. I look back to 1997 and my own knowledge of fly fishing and how much I have learned, grateful I was given the opportunity to be a member of this club. I hope the others value their membership as highly.

Tam Campbell