Eddy Taylor Green ;

After the sad news of Rolfs passing the previous week, it was a subdued gathering of  the anglers at the draw today. It was going to be very strange turning up without the usual greeting of hello chap how are you? or your elastic is to tight chap put on more pole sections, or even more challenging when you were playing a big double Rolf would have you posing for a photo or two while you were hanging on.

His energy in creating one of the best fisheries in the country with the current world record of 490-08 caught by GOT Baits matchman Gary Thorpe and the unofficial record of 530-00 by John Walker (Walker Floats/Rolfslake) in 2007 having both been caught from Rolfslake.

The anglers have been left with a superb fishery to remember him by. Rolf was a great specimen angler in his own right, with catches of big chub and pike from the Thames and surrounding rivers, and he used to show me some of his catch photos which were very impressive. I think that his big fish days had a bearing in his stocking policy, as his lake has a very good reputation in its specimen fish {carp to 30lb, chub to 9lb at least, golden orfe to 9lb, pike to at least 34lb ,we know this because it was his pet, perch to at least 4lb and roach to 3lb} as they all get to eat pellet.. and the pike get to eat them!

Rolf was always a generous man and on many occasions would let magazines use his fishery to promote an item of tackle or a feature on the amazing chub in the lake ,{i actually got to watch one day Andy Little bag up on chub from peg 33 but unlucky for Andy no fish over 7lb. It was also used to have venue expert fish-off between Gary Thorpe and Andy Findlay ,and Rolf was so confident in Gary he told me i hope he does not beat Andy by too much. But for one of the rare times at the lake Gary was plagued with silvers on peg 19 catching around 50lb and Andy showed what a great angler he was {he had never fished the lake before} and by using paste caught near 200lb ,much to Rolfs disappointment.

Sorry for not posting a normal match report, but this week has not been a normal week for Rolfs family both here and in Germany and his many friends. Rest in peace Rolf safe in Gods hands, one of a kind but never forgotten

John Bennett (left) Rolf, Carl Heinz & Rolf's Nephew

Footnote from www.rolfslake.co.uk Web Designer Lloyd Rush: When talking to Rolf a few years ago about my own illness, Rolf was quick to point out "lucky it was that Bloody Cancer, one day your ok - the next your gone" he added in his own blunt way. How ironic it is that I find myself writing this post following his passing last week.

In Rolf I found a true friend, as did so many people who had the pleasure of meeting him. Not always understood by his spoken directions and close control of the lakes rules, but his actions were always clear and his results are posted here on the website for all to admire.

When it becomes time for us to pass on, I guess there will be a moment for reflection for us all; what legacy have we left or what impressions we have made; or indeed if we have been good and honest with our allotted time.   Rolf has indeed left a legacy in so many ways, something for us all to aspire to.

My initial thoughts go out to Peter, Rolf's Mum and the rest of his family both home and abroad.

Eddy Taylor Green - ETG has taken on the Web Match Reports.

Both 'The Lake' and the website are testament to his focus and dedication to his chosen goals; the website has peaked with an excess of 6 million hits per year in 2006 and has an average just under 5 million for the last 6 years. The lake continues to be sold out time and time again with 100lb often not enough for a Top 10 Place - indeed I can recall a match that 108lb was only enough for 17th Place!

Rolf once asked me how I could write such detailed reports of matches I wasn't at? I told him that I didn't need to be - after 2 hours on the phone on a Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday night for 5 years I got to know every Peg, most of the Anglers and what was hot and what was not. Better still I got to know Rolf. More recent years the match chat only took about an hour, the rest we would talk about winning the lottery, the bottom field, the stream, the stock lake, those GOT Baits lads, the Swindon Boys and Big Black Birds.. you know the ones that kept falling out of the Big Tree at the lake following a sharp intake of lead!

Oi, How many sections you got those elastics in?

Rolf always loved fishing from Peg 2 and it is there that I'll remember him - sitting with his 18/20 Bolo Rod and baitrunner. He even once jumped in that corner to pin down the '30lb+ pike' that was in a little 'discomfort' [more than likely unable to move after eating one of the monster Chub!] He called me that night with the excitement of a teenager who had caught his first fish - closer to 40lb today he added. I will miss that 'Chap' and regret not being able to visit from the SW more often. Goodbye my dear friend, Lloyd Rush

Please phone John to book your place on these opens.
Wednesday matches every week 1.00 Draw   fish 2.00-7.00