26 Jan 2025

Family Flounder Bash 2025

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GREAT DAY!
Well, despite some appalling conditions,Barnstaple Bait & Tackles FAMILY FLOUNDER BASH went ahead with a good turnout of hardy (or mad) anglers braving the elements.
Plenty of fish were weighed in, plenty of raffle tickets were sold and over £200 was raised for the Children’s Hospice South West! We must say a big thanks to The Ebberley Arms for their hospitality and of course to David Jenkins for his help in running the event.
Big congrats to all the winners which were as follows:
JUNIORS:
1st – Max Chapple
2nd – Jack Chapple
3rd – Kayden Wolton
SENIORS:
1st – Richard Chapple
2nd – Taz Wolton
3rd – Scott Bowden
4th – Dave Bowden
COMBINED FAMILY:
‘The Chapples’
Thanks to everyone that took part and we look forward to seeing you on the next one in the Autumn! In the mean time, enjoy these pics of the day and a nice shot of some of the flounders before being returned safely back to the estuary.
24 Jan 2025

Exmoor Streams Environmental Issues and how to help

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Exmoor Trees for Salmon – help needed please

An invitation to join the Westcountry Rivers Trust, on Sunday 9th February, for a volunteer tree planting day along the river Barle, at Landacre Bridge. This area is an important region for spawning salmon and juvenile habitat within the Exe, however a lack of tree cover leaves the fish vulnerable. To help improve this habitat, WRT are planting pockets of trees alongside the river and need your help to put these trees in the ground!

WRT have 1500 trees to be put in the ground, so the more help the better.

If you are interested please follow this link for more information and to book a place https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exmoor-trees-for-salmon-tickets-1217821249139?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Ticks and fleas are significant issues infesting cats and dogs. What is often overlooked is the devastating impact the commonly used treatments have on the environment. Many streams and rivers on Exmoor are impacted upon with areas where dogs splash and play in the rivers are deviod of invertebrate fly life. This impacts on fish populations including trout and salmon parr.
Please see the very interesting article below. A letter to you MP would help get these chemicals banned for use on cats and dogs.
20 Jan 2025

CHASING GRAYLING AN ICONIC FISH

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            I embarked on a trip away from North Devon to fish for grayling on the Dorset Frome with my good friend Bruce Elston. The trip proved to be a very enjoyable foray and got me thinking about our motivations to actually go fishing. Grayling are an iconic fish that thrive in clean fast running rivers ensuring that the fishing venue is often set in pleasing countryside surroundings as was the case at the venue we were fishing. The Dorset Frome is a Chalk stream famed for its trout fishing and during the winter months its specimen grayling that have been landed to over 4lb.

Across the fast flowing river on the far bank shots rang out as the shoot operated on the far bank pheasants flying overhead in a typical winter scene.

            It is the potential size of these grayling that is of course part of the attraction but this is just one dimension, for how we fish is also a factor. As a young angler I always enjoyed the fascination of watching a float bobbing optimistically upon the surface followed by the joy in its disappearance and the satisfaction  upon connecting with the fish that lives within a different dimension. Trotting for grayling brings all these components together and close to fifty years later the delights of float-fishing remain undiminished.

Bruce Elston searches the river

            The section of River we were fishing was new to us both so we had to read the water a skill that is a joy in itself. Each stretch of water has characteristics that give clues as to where the fish will be lurking waiting for food to be carried to them by the current. The successful angler needs to place the bait in that spot or in the case of trotting, drift the bait in front of the feeding fish presented as naturally as possible.

We both enjoyed success early in the day. ( Above ) A 1lb plus grayling fell to floatfished maggot.

 

            We fished hard all day dropping our float tackle into promising looking spots guiding the float through the rivers flexing currents the double maggot or sweetcorn hook bait suspended just above the riverbed. From time to time the float would dip beneath the surface and the lifting of the rod would bring connection, sometimes fleeting and occasionally that solid throbbing of life transmitted through a gossamer thin line. Between us we banked a brace of good grayling each with Bruce’s both topping 2lb and mine closer to 1lb 8oz each.

Late afternoon with the light starting to fade I returned to a swim that I had confidence in and persisted trotting the float through a spot I felt drawn to. My conviction proved correct the float dipping to result in a pleasing grayling of 1lb 11oz.

Above and below – Time for one more cast as the fading light makes watching the float an increasing challenge.

            To the none angler the whole episode that involved a 200 plus mile round trip on a short cold winters day would seem difficult to understand. Yet to us it was as memorable and satisfying a day as winning Wimbledon or the Masters.

            Grayling are scarce across Devon with a healthy population inhabiting the waters of the River Exe and some of its tributaries. They are also present in some of the River Tamar’s tributaries that form the border between Devon and Cornwall. The River Exe population is the result of a stocking in 1896 when 500 yearlings were stocked from the hatchery at Dulverton. The full story can be found in the book Trout Fishing for Beginners by the Devonshire Fisherman published in 1928.

 

20 Jan 2025

SEA ANGLING RESULTS

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Fishing has been hard going on the Open Coast for sea anglers as the latest results from Bideford & Appledore reflect. With stormy conditions forecast I expect a flurry of action through Late January and early February with Bull Huss, spurdog and conger likely.
Bidefords Angling Club  48-hour results
1st Paul Ackland – Rockling 1lb 3 79.167%
Appledore Shipbuilders
Claudio Pinto managed a sizeable small eyed at 4lb 15ozs to secure the win in Appledore Shipbuilders Winter League Match.
 FLOUNDER COMP UPDATE   Sunday January 26th 
Still plenty of flounders about, as proved by Ted and his dad this week! (Backgrounds obscured for obvious reasons, after all there is a comp coming up😉). Well done guys!
Anyway, on to the comp.
FISHING BOUNDARIES:
We have decided to widen next Sunday’s flounder comp to anywhere on the Taw, as long as you are at the Ebberley Arms for the weigh in from 3.30 – 4.30…..comp starts at 10am
WEIGH IN LIMIT:
We are only accepting 1 fish per angler for the weigh in. A good idea is to keep your fish alive in a bucket of water so that it can be released safely if you then catch a bigger one.
ENTRY:
The entry form is on our counter. £5 for adults and £3 for children
We are building up a good head of participants and a great selection of prizes so look forward to seeing you all on the day to raise as much as possible for a great cause!!
BBT
14 Jan 2025

Anglers Paradise THE TROUT LAKE IS BACK

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Anglers Paradise THE TROUT LAKE IS BACK‼️🎣🥳
Some news that many of you have been waiting for! The Trout Lake is back OPEN and it’s also in a new location! You still go to the same car park, but you follow the path to the left and there it is, all ready and waiting for you to catch the beautiful Trout that reside in there!

Adrian Kruger was the first to christen the new Trout Lake and he had a cracking day! 3 double Rainbows and two stunning Brownies.

Anglers Paradise

 

13 Jan 2025

Wistlandpound Club – Winter Challenge @ Bulldog Round 2

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I joined members of Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club at Bulldog Trout Fishery last Sunday where we were greeted by a bright cloudless blue sky and milder conditions. The trout proved to be generally cooperative with all members catching fish with a mixture of rainbow and brown trout averaging over 3lb. Most fish were tempted using lures fished on long leaders with an erratic retrieve.

Nigel Bird with one of the trout that earned him top spot.

The winning bag was taken by Nigel Bird who had three trout for 10lb. Runner up was Andre Muxworthy with three for 9lb 9oz and myself third with three for 9lb 8oz.

It is intriguing how days unfold during these club competitions on small stillwater’s. Members will all have their favourite flies and lures that give them confidence and it is generally these that are tried first. Typically those first ten to fifteen minutes of fishing produce numerous trout as was the case during Sundays competition. I was fortunate to bank three hard fighting trout within the first twenty minutes and spent the rest of the morning wandering around the fishery with my camera capturing action shots of fellow club members.

I noted that fishing slowed after the initial flurry and for a while trout proved hard to tempt. After a while some tied on different patterns or moved to a fresh swim. This did sometimes bring results but what was noticeable was that if one angler hooked a fish it was not unusual to see several rods bending at the same time around the fishery as if the fish had suddenly switched on.

It is always interesting to compare notes at the end of the days fishing and I often note how an angler will state that a change of fly has triggered a response with perhaps a touch of orange or pink bringing success. A particular fly often seems to be the one to use! Yet it is often the case at the end of fishing as anglers chat that trout have been caught on a wide range of patterns. One angler swearing that white was the killer fly whilst others boast of success with black or orange.

There are many factors involved in the inexact science of fly fishing. Presentation of the fly, its size and colour, depth it is fished all interacting with water clarity, temperature, air pressure, lunar cycles, natural food sources and of course the location of the fish. All these factors make for a fascinating game that takes the mind away from the troubled world. The angler absorbed in natures complex chess board pondering upon tying on a Greenwell’s glory or a Wickham’s fancy.

Tip of the day – Check your flies and hooks. Several trout were lost during the day as hook shanks snapped. Hook shanks hidden beneath dressings can rust resulting in weakness that only show itself when a large powerful trout puts it to the test.

Seconds after this shot was taken Nigel cursed as his hook broke.

 

7 Jan 2025

Angling Trust – Marine – Wyvern Region Open Shore Slapton, South Devon,

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Angling Trust – Marine – Wyvern Region

Open Shore Slapton, South Devon,

On the 5th Jan 2025.

The South West’s first major event in 2025 attracted 104 anglers, along with 20 teams to the South Hams to fish the annual Angling Trust Wyvern Open Festival, with some competitors traveling from South Wales, Hastings & Bradford the weather conditions on the day saw a Strong to almost gale South  Westerly with heavy rain,  Small Eyed Ray, Bull Huss, Pouting, Whiting &  Lesser spotted Dogfish were caught during the event, 56 competitors returned to the scales with fish to record. The results were announced within half an hour of the close of scales at the Festival Headquarters at the Stokeley Farm Shop.

The main sponsor was Julian Shambrook of Anyfish Anywhere Ltd, a major fishing tackle manufacturer, based in Torquay.  All of the sponsors for the day were thanked for their continuing support each year, also a big thank you to Stokeley for their hospitality & providing an excellent venue.

The worthy winner, of the event was Ben Bradstock from Honiton SAC, he recorded a L.S.D. of 2.095lb & a Whiting of 1.175lb giving him a total of (162.13%), he was presented with the top prize of £200 cash and the Brixham Bowl, other tackle prizes were awarded down to 13th place, these were announced by the Chairman of the Wyvern Region Alex Parker and presented by Julian Shambrook.

The Region promotes the Angling Trust “Take Five” anti litter campaign and encourages all anglers to leave the beaches cleaner than they found them.

 

The first Thirteen Places are as follows:-

 

First :                              £200                            Brixham Bowl

Ben Bradstock                 Honiton SAC              Whiting                       1.175 lb

                                                                              L.S.D.                        2.095 lb               Total: 162.13%

Second:                           Pick of the Prize table   & Bideford Cup Cup

Archie Sweetland            Honiton SAC              L.S.D.                         2.135 lb

                                                                             Whiting                       1.13 lb“             Total: 160.73 %

Third                               Pick of the Prize table &   Appledore Cup

Damien Close                  Outcasts                      L.S.D.             1.98 lb

                                                                             Whiting           1.16 lb

                                                                                                                                          Total:  156.53 %

 

       Fourth                             Pick of the Prize table & Sidmouth Cup

James Madsen                 Outcasts                      L.S.D.             1.665 lb

                                                                             Bull Huss        7.875 lb

                                                                                                                                          Total:  145.35 % 

Fifth                                Pick of the Prize table

Lee Hemmings                T.S.A.S.

                                          Whiting          0.940 lb

  S.E. Ray        7.3125. lb                  Total:  143.92 %

  

Sixth                                Pick of the Prize table

Tom Stebbens                  Kingsbridge

                                          Whiting          0.960 lb

  L.S.D.           1.830. lb                  Total:  137.20 %

 

       Seventh                           Pick of the Prize table

Dave Bowering                Caerau                         Whiting           1.180 lb

 L.S.D.            1.445 lb                    Total:  136.47 %

  

Eighth                             Pick of the Prize table

       Till Hall                           Outcast           Whiting           1.075 lb

 L.S.D.             1.585 lb                     Total:  135.07 %

Ninth                               Pick of the Prize table

Jeff Fisk                           Wareham                   Whiting            0.860 lb

                                                                             L.S.D.             1.900 lb

                                                         Total:  133.33 %

 

       Tenth                               Pick of the Prize table

Dave Nicholls                  Blackdown

                                          Whiting          0.755 lb

 L.S.D.            2.070 lb                  Total:  133.13 %

 

       Eleventh:                         Pick of the Prize table

Joe Walton                       T.S.A.S.

                                          Whiting          0.895 lb

  L.S.D.           1.650. lb                  Total:  125.67 %

 

        Twelfth                           Pick of the Prize table

Andy Kershaw                 Bradford

                                          Whiting          0.715 lb

 L.S.D.            1.795. lb                  Total:  119.47 %

 

Thirteenth                                  Pick of the Prize table

Joe Plumstead                 Hastings

                                          Whiting          1.005 lb

  L.S.D.           1.275. lb                  Total:  118.00 %

Best Team           Team Shield:  ( Team of four anglers, Best fish by each angler)

Team:   Weston Outcast 1

 

       James Madsen

       Jason Brown

       Damien Close

       Till Hall

                                                          Total    290.22%.

Kindly donated by Steve Puckey from Plymouth, an additional 2 prizes were awarded for best Junior & second best junior.

 

These were awarded as follows:

 

Harvey Plumstead, Hastings, Whiting 49.07%

Chris Stokes, Weston Outcasts Whiting 43.33% 

Ends:-  Press Officer : Mike Spiller [email protected]