Another month slipped past without an official outing due to inclement weather, let’s hope that the Weather Gods smile on us for our trip to Nundle later this month.

Our fish of the month for March is the alluring and beautiful Common Dolphinfish, a visitor to our waters and especially FADs during the summer months.

A bonus for fly tyers this month with Paul intending to demonstrate three flies at our March 15 fly tying night. Paul also has plans to make a video for the website. Who said that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks?

We were all shocked to hear last week that Phil Bush had passed away. When speaking with Phil – whether at club meetings, outings, or fly tie nights – he was always willing to share his knowledge. Well-travelled and ever the gentleman, erudite Phil always loved a chat.

The Complete Angler was written in the mid-17th Century by Izaak Walton in part as a covert text decrying the government of the Puritans and Oliver Cromwell. Walton was a Royalist but more than that, he wrote of how a good angler should behave in troubled, divisive times. “The Brotherhood Of The Angle” was not an empty phrase for Walton. He saw the wise, contemplative angler as the bulwark against tyranny, dishonesty, and even, eventually, actual violence itself.

A Waltonian angler understood the peace and harmony of nature and the joy of easy companionship, both of which are in short supply in times of discord. Had Izaak known him, he would have sung the praises of Phil Bush.

We are going to miss Phil. May your waders never leak, and you always have a tight line.

Iain

View/download March 2022 edition