Heavy rain and strong winds were no deterrent for a group of first-time fly fishing girls yesterday.
Fourteen girls from Duchess Community High School, Alnwick, were having a first cast at fly fishing - with a schoolmate as the teacher.
The day was the idea of pupil Lucy Bowden, 17, a member of the English junior fly fishing team, and an angler for seven years.
She thought a trip to Higham Lake Trout Fishery, near Ponteland, could lead to setting up a girls' fishing club at school.
And, despite the weather and the logistics, she may just be on to something.
Youth worker Sue Forrest, herself an angler for 20 years, said: "The demand for this trip has exceeded the supply.
"More than 30 teenagers wanted to come along but the minibus had only 15 seats."
She added: "I was absolutely delighted to see that all the girls had answered the roll-call in the morning.
"I expected some would not turn up because of the bad weather. I have been agreeably surprised."
At the lakeside - and very, very wet - Stephanie Caygill, Laura Ferguson, Lynsey Appleby and Ellen Wood, all 14, said they really enjoyed the experience.
Lynsey said: "It's great fun even though I can't do any of it. If Lucy organises another outing like this one, she'll have to count me in."
Sarah Skeen, 15, managed to catch the first trout of the day only an hour after her first cast. As she was about to phone home to tell them the big news she said: "I am very proud of myself. I have never been fishing before but I like it now.
"I don't eat fish but my family will definitely enjoy it."
Stephanie was not so lucky as she admitted to only catching a "blade of grass".
After successfully launching her website (www.fishingforeveryone.com) Lucy is still eager to reel in other teenage girls to her favourite sport.
She said: "I am pretty sure there must be girls my age out there who are interested in fishing.
"But someone has to make them have a shot at it. That's precisely what I am trying to do. Hopefully some of the girls will have enjoyed it enough to have another try some time.
"I would be really delighted to have at least managed to raise their interest in angling ... even just a little bit."
