FFF Middlemarch Conclave 2009

If you're into improving your casting skills, eating country cooked roasts, hanging out with good guys and catching some cracking fish, then the FFF Middlemarch Conclave will be for you.

Mike Davis from Rotorua Hunting and Fishing sits in on Paul Ardens Distance Casting Class

At this years conclave casting clinics were held by experts like Chris Dore, Paul Arden and Christian and Tina Strixner (I did one too to help the organisers fill in an empty time slot). Federation of Fly Fishers Master casters Carl McNeil and Chase Jablonski ran exams for CI casting instructors.

The conclave has been the brain child and passion of angler/writer/artist/good guy Bob Wyatt. As the clave is run not for profit it is great value for attendants and has become a great addition to New Zealand's fly fishing calendar.

If you are going to try and make it for next year make sure you book some extra time to fish the local Taeri river and other gems ..... one word of advice if you are going to chase the fussy willow grub feeders then make sure you pack a soft 4 weight rod (I fished the Scott 8'8" #4 G2. It's the only way to target these big fish on light tippets and tiny flies).

A nice Taeri brown taken on the Scott G2 8'8" #4 and size 20 willow grub.

Simon Chu gently places a cast to a willow grub feeder on the Taeri