27 Mar 2022

BIG BULLDOG BROWNIE

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Nigel Early reports from Bulldog – A very good day on the fly lake for a recent party of anglers! Phill sSares had 6 rainbows biggest being 8lb.
A number of fish were caught by friends Richard Twyman and Chris Warner-Hill, Chris having a cracking 2-3lb blue along with some rainbows. However the BIG story of the day was when Richard hooked into a monster 13lb brown trout that took him for a ride! Mid way through the scrap Richard had problems with the reel coming loose and falling apart, despite this set back the fish was landed and completely smashed his previous personal best brown by miles! Great to see the lake so productive!
With fly fishing season well under way Quay Sports are pleased to offer a growing range of fly fishing tackle here in store. Have a great days fishing wherever you are today!
22 Mar 2022

Going with the flow

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Is there a better place to be than beside a West Country River in Spring ?  A few fresh run spring salmon have been tempted from both Taw and Torridge and with river levels holding up I have spent several pleasant hours drifting a fly across familiar lies to no avail.

http://www.littlewarhamfishery.co.uk

In between these forays after salmon I spent an hour one evening flicking a wet fly into the small pools of my local stream. Scrambling between trees I used a 7ft 3/4 wt Snowbee Classic to search the deeper pockets.

I caught a couple of small browns that reminded me of the fish I used to catch as a child dropping a worm in the overgrown River Umber that flows through Combe Martin. The familiar scents of wild garlic and the wild flowers of Spring are timeless sights and aromas that I have savoured every spring for more than fifty years.

21 Mar 2022

Stafford Moor Carp Fishing Reopens after Winter Rest

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Stafford Moor has reopened after a short Winter Break and anglers have enjoyed some great sport with the venues specimen carp.

Nigel Bassett  had a fine  29lb 4oz mirror carp out from the spit up on Lodge Lake last weekend using PVA bags.

(Below) Scott Allan tempted 11 fish from the inlet swim on Beatties lake all caught on mainline cell boilies.

(Below) Dave Faulkner (muzzy) who had a few out from Lodge lake he caught on bait Craft snowball.

 

21 Mar 2022

South Molton Anglers – River Working

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I joined members of South Molton Angling Club on one of their stretches of fishing along the River Bray. This was the first of a couple of bank clearing work parties organised throughout the season. It was a delightful Spring day with a bright blue sky and a pleasure to be at the waterside with fellow anglers keen to carry out some early season work.

(Above) Before

(Above )After

The club rents several stretches of water and work with the landowners permission to undertake a minimal amount of river maintenance to allow access to fishing areas. The winter storm always bring a few fallen trees that can block the river and render some areas un-fishable. Substantial trash dams and fallen trees can also lead to serious bank erosion so these also need tackling.

 

A couple of hours hard work addressed a few areas of concern and also enabled the normal good humoured banter and discussion to flow. The long dead carcass of a red deer stag intrigued us all as we debated its demise. Had it died of old age, been shot or hit by a car? It is likely that the poor creature had gone to the river for its last drink before passing away to decompose beside the ever-flowing river the nutrients from its body returning to the land in natures never-ending cycle.

 

Questions and speculation abound during the autopsy

 

20 Mar 2022

Massive bull huss wins Bideford Competition

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Andrew Clements won Bideford Angling Clubs twenty-four hour rover with a massive Bull Huss scaling 15lb 11.25oz. The fish was caught from a North Devon rock mark and is one of the biggest huss caught from the North Devon coast in recent decades.

 

March 24 hour results 

1st Andrew Clements  Bull Huss 15lb 11oz 1/4 157.031%

2nd Antony Smith Dog 2lb 3oz 72.916%

3rd Antony Smith Dog  2lb 2oz  1/2 71.875%

19 Mar 2022

First Salmon from the Taw

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Tony Watkins fished the Weir-Marsh and Brightly beats on the River Taw to tempt his first ever salmon a bright bar of silver estimated at 11lb. The salmon was tempted on a Wee Monkey Needle fly. Congratulations to Tony on his first salmon which I believe  is the third fish caught so far this season on the Taw.

Day tickets for this lovely stretch of the Taw can be bought from Chris Steer on 07761 285169

I fished the Torridge with the river looking perfect and tempted no fish. I could use the age-old excuse that the otter swimming through the river disrupted the fish but in truth silver bars of spring are hard won and it seems they are hanging around the lower river. To be out on such a beautiful day is surely pleasure enough for now.

Many thanks to my wife Pauline for capturing a few images of the river.

 

19 Mar 2022

Sexy mackerel lures – To tempt bass and anglers!

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Danny Watson at High Street Tackle love his lures and has a steady stream of lures arriving to tempt both anglers and bass!

Im thinking it won’t be long before a few bass are being tempted from North Devon’s coastline.

IMA Komomo II – Sexy Mackerel….

The IMA Komomo II is by far one of the most popular lures from IMA and has a place in many lure anglers A Team box…

At 110mm weighing 15g it casts extremely well and rated to swim at 10-20cm it will be in amongst the action on many occasions…

Just arrived in the UK is this new version for 2022 – Sexy Mackerel – click either of the pictures to buy yours now…..

The arrival of this colour brings the number of colours currently in stock of just this one model to 16 – from our massive selection of over 150 different IMA lures!

18 Mar 2022

South West Lakes Trout Fisheries Report March 2022

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South West Lakes Trout Fisheries Report

March 2022

In anticipation of the new trout fishing season, South West Lakes was delighted to be able to offer the return of the popular South West Fly Fair at Roadford Lake on Sunday 6th March, after a year’s absence due to Covid.

Fly fishing enthusiasts from across the region keenly attended the event, which over the years has become an annual fixture in their diaries to herald in the new season. The show’s main sponsor was Chevron Hackles, the local producer of many fine fly tying feathers and accessories.

In addition to Chevron, there were many trade stands and exhibitors, with a wide selection of both new and used tackle and equipment for sale, along with fly tying demonstrations, casting demonstrations and tuition, and the opportunity to try out the latest equipment. Representatives from many local clubs, fisheries, and environmental organisations were on hand with information.

The fair not only caters for trout anglers, with enthusiasts for salmon, saltwater, pike, and grayling also represented. The event was opened by the fair’s patron, Charles Jardine, who then proceeded to give casting and fly tying demonstrations in his own inimitable, skilful and humorous fashion throughout the day, as well as a fish preparation and cookery demonstration.

A major part of the fair has always been the opportunity to catch up with old friends and fishing colleagues, and to enthuse about the opportunities for the upcoming season, and this year was no exception. Show organiser Dil Singh was delighted with the way that the first fly fair that he has been involved with turned out, and is already anticipating a bigger and better fair for 2023.