FAMILY FISHING AT ANGLERS PARADISE
SOUTH WEST FLY FAIR
The South West Fly Fair makes a welcome return on Sunday 6 March after the 2021 event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The fair, at Roadford Lake between Launceston and Okehampton, is sponsored by Chevron Hackles and hosted by South West Lakes. The event is a highlight in the Westcountry’s angling calendar ahead of the new fishing season.
It will be opened at 10am by the fair’s patron and one of the country’s most respected fly-fishing gurus, Charles Jardine.
Throughout the day there will be fly tying demonstrations from local and national experts, with a chance to ‘have a go’, as well as the opportunity to pick up useful tips and valuable advice.
Other activities include casting demonstrations, fly casting lessons and clinics for both newcomers to the sport and experienced anglers feeling a little rusty after the closed season.
There will be trout cooking demonstrations by Gary Champion and the opportunity to meet members of fly fishing clubs based at lakes across the South West as well as find out more about coaching and tuition available in the region.
Trade stands will be selling new and used tackle and equipment and a bar and refreshments will be available.
The event runs from 10am to 4pm and promises to be a fun and informative family day out with plenty of activities for all ages including exploring pond life and arts and crafts.
Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Entry is £5 for adults and free for under 18s. Entry includes car parking and a raffle ticket for an all water permit worth £530. Tickets are available from www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing
For every season ticket purchased on the day South West Lakes will fund a taster session for a new entrant to fly fishing.
Bideford & District Angling Club –
Bideford & District Angling Club
Codling competition results
1st Dick Talbot cod 6lb 3oz 68.750%
BAIT DISASTERS
On arrival home from fishing my first trip is generally to the shed to return unused bait to the freezer. I take my bait to the shore in a freezer bag so if its not too mild some of it can be placed back in a semi frozen state. I had carried out this ritual after last week’s competition.
The freezer bag and a couple of old traces lay on the floor when I prepared for my next session close to a week later. It seemed slightly iffy as I picked up last weeks trace and went to lift last week’s bait wrappers. I winced as my fingers felt a soft and slimy week old bluey! Its pungent aroma was certainly far from pleasing.
This isn’t my first bait disaster and probably won’t be the last. Smelly old mackerel, squid and peeler crabs have all caused offence in the past.
Amongst my worsts disasters came a few years ago whilst fishing the Hampshire Avon. My good friend Rupert and I returned from the river after a long day with rain beating down. It was good to be heading back for a good meal. Several pints of maggots sat in a bucket in the back of the car but they would be fine until morning!
We had overlooked the fact that the bucket had got wet. Next morning upon opening the boot we found maggots everywhere! We mopped up what we could the following day and went fishing. On arriving back home I removed the spare tyre to find hundreds of maggots in the well. A good old hoover and I hoped all was good; bloody maggots infiltrated the entire car burying into the carpets and every nook and cranny. For weeks after every warm day saw a hatch of flies within the car! Pauline was far from amused!
Bulldog Trout Fishing
Bulldog Fishery is producing big brown trout, rainbow trout and few surprises.
SOUTH WEST FLY FAIR
The South West Fly Fair returns this Spring and is a must go to fixture in the West Country Fly Anglers Calendar.
Hectic Spurdog Sport off Ilfracombe
John Barbeary’s Bluefin has been taking anglers to deep water marks off Ilfracombe where packs of spurdog are giving great sport along with huss and conger. Catches exceeding one hundred spurdog per day between eight anglers is not unusual with plenty of fish into double figures. Pete Robinson boated one of the biggest so far this season at 17lb. Craig McCloughlin also joined a party of anglers taking numerous fish to 15lb.
Quality fish for Ollie Passmore
North Devon angler Ollie Passmore has enjoyed success fishing North Devon Rock marks landing conger, pollock, pouting and huss.
Huss dominate Combe Martin SAC Competition
Combe Martin SACs January Rover was fished by ten club member with a wide range of marks fished. Bull huss dominated the result with David Brook (above left) securing first place with a huss of 7lb 13oz. Shane Pavio Hookway was runner up with a huss of 7lb 10oz and myself third with a huss of 6lb 10oz ( Above right).
The recent settled weather has resulted in clear water along the coast and a lack of quality fish close inshore. With this in mind I joined Kevin Legge and Dave Brook at a remote rock mark that gave access to thick kelp and seriously rough snaggy terrain. At times I questioned the sanity of clambering around the slippery and jagged rocks at the age of sixty but in truth I have no intention of giving up just yet. It is good exercise after all and I still love being out there in the dark night casting out in that mysterious dimension wondering whats lurking beneath the waters surface?
Strong tackle is a must with 25lb b.s Berkley Big Game Line, a single strong catfish hook and a rotten bottom. Tackle loses can be high but in calm clear conditions getting in amongst the rough stuff can pay dividends. It is very much a case of tightening up the clutch and giving it plenty of stick when a fish is hooked. With luck if a good fish is hooked it can be bullied clear of the snags if it gets stuck it will often come out after leaving the rod in the rest for ten minutes. if not more often that not the rotten Bottom link will break allowing the fish to be retrieved. I personally tend to use one rod in these situations with a second rod all set up ready to cast out if the gear is lost.
DISCOVERING A LONG LOST MARK
Watching the news this morning took me back to a wonderful time in the early eighties when for seven days we would wander the North Devon coast in search of specimen fish. The Ilfracombe & District Angling Association organised a popular angling festival each summer that was well attended by both locals and visiting anglers. The ignition for these memories was sparked by the mention on BBC news of one of North Devon’s famous rock marks.
Back then as we competed against each other to catch the biggest fish and successful marks could be a closely guarded secret with some going to extreme lengths to discover these marks. Spotting a known anglers car parked adjacent to a coastal access point was a common giveaway or a quick glance through the window would give a clue if it was an angler’s car with associated fishing bits a giveaway. Back then all cars also displayed a tax disc giving a clue as to the angler’s residential area.
This was of course long before the days of social media where anglers post their catches and often try to disguise marks using clever photo shop techniques. Not sure if there are more or less anglers these days but there are probably less fish. Coastal access has however become an increasingly problematic area. The increase in coastal walkers and those using the coast for recreation has undoubtedly increased considerably and this has in some cases impacted upon free access.
The introduction of fishing permits to gain access has been an unwelcome trend generated in part by a lack of respect for private land and the ongoing issue of litter.
Coastal erosion is also playing its part with once popular marks like Sillery Sands now inaccessible due to landslips.
In truth there are still many miles of accessible coastline that allow free access even if a long walk is required. A day walking the coast can reveal potential marks as can a survey of Google Maps often revealing areas worth exploring.
Those chasing specimen fish often follow the crowd trying to catch the fish that were caught yesterday. Whilst being at the right place at the right time is paramount there are plenty of fish in the sea! Many marks have become popular due to the reporting of good fish a major factor for the more people who fish a mark the more will be caught. Perpetuating the myth that it is the must visit mark.
I fully understand the reason for being careful with informing others of where fish are caught. We all like to have our favourite marks to ourselves but in many cases with a bit of thought it’s not hard to get away from the crowds.
Like most things in life many will always follow the crowd. Back in those days fishing the North Devon Coast during the Ilfracombe Festival I fondly remember the smirks as the competition organisers voice echoed across the harbour. Today’s winner is “ Bullshit Bov , with a fine specimen wrasse of 6lb from “ Fraggle Rock”.
Fraggle rock a popular childrens TV programme has been relaunched. It ran from 1983 until 1987.
