I love you so much.

You were a true fighter and an even better fisherman.  I am so thankful to you for introducing me and taking me fishing and teaching me everything you knew.

I have officially got the bug now. I’ll never forget all of the times we went fishing at the Test and when we both rushed to the book to see what had been caught and on which fly, and I won’t forget all the times we would have lunch outside the hut.

I always loved going to Range’s point with you both our favourite spots and watching the water intensely and patiently waiting for a rise or waiting for a hungry trout to snatch one of our flies.

One of my favourite memories was at Holbury Lakes when Papa hooked into a massive 10lbs trout and passed me the rod.  It was absolutely chucking it down but we both stood there in the pouring rain as the fish took me halfway around the lake.  A good 40 minutes later the fish was on the bank after Papa kindly netted it for me by which time we were both soaked right through to the skin, but it didn’t matter all we cared about was the fact that the fish was on the bank.

Another one of my favourite memories is when you caught that huge brown trout from West Bend.  That is my favourite picture of Papa when he was holding it with a beaming smile across his face.  I also enjoyed when we went pike fishing on the yellow beat and the time you caught that huge pike which I could barely lift.

I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful Grandpa to go fishing with and a maestro to learn from.  I am so grateful I got to experience all those great moments with you.  I will make sure to continue fishing and I know you will be right there beside me as I continue to do so.