Dr Mark Everard was in Devon staying with family and gave me a ring asking if I fancied a fish. Never one to turn an offer down, we decided to fish for bass as Mark had never had one on a fly. He had tried a couple of places without success, but I knew a place where we might catch one or two.
He picked me up from the shop after 5pm and we headed to Northam Burrows between Appledore and Westward Ho! to get there and fish by around 6.30 with low tide just after 7pm.
He was a little sceptical when he saw the sea, but had a few casts and quickly caught his first bass on a fly (pictured), then his second, third etc etc. Every time he cast, he had a quick take and another fish came to the net. He had 32 in an hour and a half. I was a few yards away and caught nothing! I just couldn't get a take. I was on wt#6 where he was on wt#9; our flies were not the same but were similar; retrieval was the same but as soon as his fly hit the water he got a take and I couldn't even get a knock. I decided it must be my lighter coloured waders or BO.
Anyway, we exchanged a few pleasantries as you can imagine; I suggested he wasn't unhooking them, just casting the same fish out repeatedly. But it was great to be able to help Mark get his first fly caught bass. I find it very stressful taking anybody out, but I am euphoric when they catch, which Mark did in style.
Now he owes me a 2lb roach on his water.