Pat Regan: Holy Grail of local Trout Angling comes home!

Trouter's holy grail comes home again, for the fifth time!

Well that was a nice surprise. Yesterday, without any warning, I was presented with the prestigious ‘Best Days’ Catch’ trout trophy for the fifth time by my Southport fly fishers (SFF) club.

This trophy was first issued to our members in 1977.

I won it for my first time in 1987; then in 2002, 2005, more recently in 2012 and last year in 2013.

I also note that my last 3 fish catch was the heaviest on record at 13 lbs.

I must be doing 'something' right.. !!

Happy days

Thanks also to my old pal, Frank Porter, for delivering the wonderful trophy yesterday...

http://dryflyfisher.yolasite.com/

https://pat-regan.blogspot.com/2015/03/pat-regan-southport-fly-fishers-sff.html

2021 UPDATE: I am the longest serving SFF member.

My records recently confirmed that I joined SFF on 22nd July 1982.

This makes me the longest existing SFF member.

My diaries also show that I was freely teaching regular weekly fly dressing for the club, from winter 1982 onwards. I was presented with a landing net by the late committee Member John Wilkens, as a token of thanks from the club.

Later on, I suggested a 'catch and release' policy for the club. Initially this was rejected.

Due to this questionable decision I left the club for a few years to fish the Yorkshire streams.

However, whilst I was away the club had decided to adopt my proposal.

I was subsequently contacted by SFF's Mike Nash and asked to come back to the club, as my reluctant departure was due to no fault of my own. I happily did this and the joining fee was 'not' required by the club.

Therefore, even though I did have a short absence from SFF I am today their longest existing member.