It's now 10 am and still raining hard.  My optimistic forecast about river levels proved just that.  It's now in full spate and fishing anywhere along the fishery will be a real challenge for most of today.

Ian

    It's currently a case of "The rain it raineth every day".  We have another very wet morning with the cloud base right down in the valley and no real sign of a let up just yet.  The forecast is promising and proved accurate yesterday when the sun did finally break through in the early afternoon.  The river is full but not in flood and should provide good fishing in quieter pools.

The rain came on again last evening putting paid to the crayfish soiree, but during the dry lull the traps were emptied and the resulting catch recorded.  The evidence strongly suggests that the native crayfish continue to thrive in the Tarn.  We got nearly 60 specimens both male and female representing a wide range of ages from year olds to mature 10 year old males like young lobsters.  All good news and a credit to the club's stewardship of this vital habitat.

Paul tells me that it's because English Nature have such faith in the Manchester Anglers that they have no inclination to place the Tarn under statutory protection by making it an SSSI. 

I promised to say a bit about the Hot Pot Supper.  David Marsden sent me an extract from the Crave Herald of April 14th 1883 which records the first ever Farmers Supper held at the Crown Hotel on April 7th.

This was an excellent supper entrusted to the care of Mr and Mrs Heseltine of the Crown Inn (sic).  The Chair was taken by Mr Harker who was ably supported by Messers Simpson, Burns, Escorte, Heywood, Kincaird, J Foster, Slinger and others.  After supper the remainder of the evening was given to enjoyment.  Various toasts were given including that of R Walker the Association's keeper (please note).  A number of songs were sung including one written for the occasion by Abel Heywood to the tune of "Farmer's boy" (I have the words to this in front of me).

So, there we have it.  nearly 125 years of history to this annual event, although there was a period in the 1940's when there was a lull.

Let's keep up the tradition on 13 October this year, but perhaps without the songs?

Ian