Pickering Fishery Association
Established 27th April 1892
The Full Story
Memorabilia
For many years the Bay Horse served as the spiritual home of the Pickering Fishery Assocation.
It's walls displayed Memorabilia belonging to the club including a very old Rod and Reel, several framed sets of Flies tied by Hal Thompson, and ex Secretaries Charlie Hawkes & Don Williams and various other framed items of interest.
Sadly the new owners of the Pub decided that they would close the pub in May 2026 for refurbishment, also telling the Landlady to throw away the Pickering Fishery Items. Thankfully she kindly called the club and offered to hand over the items which were duly collected and stored until we can find another 'Spiritual Home' where they can be displayed.
One day we may see the club build a lake in Big Crooks and perhaps a new Clubhouse too or upsacel the Hardy Memorial Hut.
For now these items are stored but displayed below so they will not be forgotten, we need somewhere secure to show them once more. Who knows we may yet get a lake with an adjacent clubhouse!
The Bay Horse Display
of
PFA Memorabilia
Although this is only a poor quality photo from the old Bay Horse website, one can see the display in the corner of the Bar of the Bay Horse Inn, Pickering.
The old Rod can be seen on the wall, also several framed collections of Fishing Flies tied by Members, plus other items that can be seen too.
The collection
The collection will be shown below with a link to a separate page to the 'Old Greenhart' rod made by WJ Cummings c.1880-1890
The Reel
The Reel is by Foster Bros of Ashbourne and is dated in the 1800's and would have probably been paired with the Greenhart rod below.
It was hung on the wall of the Bay Horse Bar as can be seen in the photo above. It was hung there for some time and the silk line gave off a yellow stain when washed (probably nicotine from the days of smoking in the pub).
The Rod - The Costa Beck's "Excalibur"
Made by C.J.Cummiins of Bishop Aukland this is considered a "local made rod". Using the Serial number and Co-pilot AI it is also believed to have been 'born' in the 1880's. It was most likely paired with the Foster Bros Reel from new.
As the Rod was being dismounted from the wall of the Bay Horse Bar a local decided to add to it's legendary status.
"This rod was given to the club by the guy who caught the largest trout ever caught in the Costa".
This narrative from a local is supported by the date of the Rod and Reel pairing made in the 1880's when according to the Costa Angler's Club Minutes below saw a 9.75lb trout caught in 1889!
