This fine common carp from Jennets scaling 24lb 10oz fell to Chris Connaughton using his own remix baits alongside Mainline essential cell.
Combe Martin SAC member Shane Hookway tempted this specimen bull Huss of 10lb 10oz from a North Devon rock mark. The fish took a whole Ammo joey mackerel.
Combe Martin SAC member Kyle Bishop has enjoyed success on recent trips that have seen him land several conger; the best this fine specimen of 22lb.
Combe Martin SAC member Jamie Steward caught this specimen smoothound of 11lb 3oz from a North Devon Rock mark. This is a promising sign with Spring just around the corner as smoothound were once considered a fish of the spring and summer. Recent seasons have seen them caught throughout the year.
I fished in hope of perch today suspending half a juicy lobworm beneath a sliding float. The six hours passed by all too quickly with the float remaining stubbornly buoyant throughout the day. It was sheltered in the old quarry as gale force winds roared above, the trees swaying vigorously too and fro. The dark and moody water hiding its secrets. Fallen trees lay rotting at the waters edge. It has been several years since I last fished here and it was good to be back finding that it was reassuringly familiar. Waters are like old friends that never seem to age.
Preparing for brighter days ahead
With a cold east wind blowing and lockdown curtailing all but local fishing it seemed a good day to sort through my fly boxes prior to the forthcoming trout fishing season on rivers and reservoirs. My fly boxes are seldom as orderly as they should be as whilst beside the water’s edge, I am inclined to lack the patience to carefully replace meticulously after offering them to the trout. I have several boxes for river trout fishing crammed with small beaded nymphs, spider patterns and dry flies.
These flies have accumulated as I fall repeatedly to temptation admiring the well tied flies created from wisps of material whipped to small hooks. As my eyes age I struggle to spot the signs of rust that could lead to hook failure at that crucial moment. Each pattern is tied to represent a living creature within the trout’s diet. In the rapid streams that we fish in North Devon an approximate imitation is surely all we need. How can a trout decipher what it sees as its flash’s past in an instance in the turbulent Devon streams? I can to some extent believe that a trout in a crystal-clear chalk stream can be extremely discerning though I suspect the clumsy approach of an angler has far more to do with rejection than a less than perfect imitation.
The tiding of the fly boxes certainly raises the spirits with thoughts of warm spring days ahead beside vibrant sparkling waters full of crimson spotted wild brown trout.
Later in the year as summer approaches, I intend to target grey mullet using fly fishing tactics. This branch of angling has become increasingly popular and some devotees enjoy considerable success using these tactics that have been honed and published by Colin McCloud whose book “Fly Fishing for mullet”. Sits awaiting a read on my bookshelf.
The targeting of various species using fly fishing tactics has become increasingly popular in recent years and is a consequence of anglers following fashionable trends and perhaps a realization that the method can be very effective at times proving even more effective than bait. I personally see it very much as another string in my bow that can be both effective and enjoyable.
A new season is upon us already. Having closed our Rainbow waters at Christmas it’s been a short turnaround this winter. I’m sure you can’t wait to wet a line again, especially with the current health crisis. One thing I have found during the current lockdown is that having something to look forward to is absolutely vital at the moment and I cant wait for the trout season to open! I’ve bought some new waders and some new wellies and I will be spending as much time fishing as I can this year.
I hope that you enjoy your season, wherever you fish.
Ben Smeeth
We are opening and stocking our fisheries as planned but please remember, when visiting our trout fisheries, you must read and adhere to the information below which highlights the restrictions in place so we can continue to fish.
Competition fishing, or any other organised fishing event, is prohibited by law during lockdown.
For further information on local exercise please visit the Angling Trust website or the Government website.
Our prices for all day and season tickets have remained the same as 2020.
All of the prices can be found here.
The opening dates are as follows:
Rainbows:
Kennick and Siblyback – 13 February
Stithians and Burrator – 6 March
Season ticket holders for the Rainbow waters can fish one day earlier than day ticket anglers.
Browns:
Roadford, Colliford, Fernworthy and Wistlandpound – 15 March
We have made buying your ticket easier with the new ‘buy a ticket’ option on the homepage.
All of the weekly catch reports and summaries, along with the latest news, are all displayed prominently making them easy to find.
We have also made completing a catch report much easier with the catch return tab on the homepage.
www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing
Season permits can be purchased directly from our website. Alternatively, please give our head office a call on 01566 771930 or drop me a line on 01288 321262 and we will be more than happy to help you purchase your ticket over the phone.
Why buy a season permit?
Our stocking in 2021 will be done by two suppliers with our Rainbows coming from Mark Underhill at Rainbow Valley Trout Farm.
In 2020 the Rainbow’s supplied by Rainbow Valley were extremely hard fighting, quite often stripping line to the backing!
The Browns are coming from Richard Howe and his team at Torre Trout Farms.
We know all the fish will be of high quality and be sure to give you some great sport as always.
Our permit rooms on sites will be closed until further notice with the coronavirus situation.
Permits are only available through our website or by calling our main office on 01566 771930.
Please note, the office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased days in advance of your visit.
I want to highlight the value for money with the Castabout ticket. This ticket covers all four of our brown trout waters, three of which are stocked (Colliford, Fernworthy and Roadford) and Wistlandpound where the fishing is for previously stocked and wild fish. At £250 for a full season, or £212.50 for concession, the value for money is outstanding.
Roadford in particular fished absolutely superb last season with 110 browns to 3lb being caught in the last week of the season by just 11 anglers! Colliford showed glimpses of returning to its former glory and, although we are not there yet, we are working towards it. Numerous fish of 2lbs were caught with the majority being released to fight another day.
Fernworthy wasn’t its usual self in 2020 but still provided plenty of pulls. I’m expecting the fishing to be great this season when we stock more fish into the lake.
The Best of the Best competition, sponsored by Snowbee, has a £2,000 prize fund for the final. Here’s how it works:
The dates for the heats are:
If you would like more information on any of the competitions please visit our website. If you would like to book onto one of the heats please call our office on 01566 771930.
Jamie Rusling banked one of the best looking mirror carp to grace these pages on a trip to Melbury. The mirror scaled 22lb 12oz.