As Winter sets in…..
As Winter approaches the number of anglers venturing out will inevitably drop but those that continue to fish will enjoy some of the years most exciting fishing. Make sure you support your local tackle shop.
Combe Martin SAC member Ollie Passmore with a fine trigger fish caught as the summer species depart.
And as we approach those Christmas shopping days remember the angler always needs something!
Salmon is it too late?
Join the National Trust and myself at Combe Martin Community Centre on Wednesday November 6th to watch the acclaimed Riverwoods Film and hear about efforts to restore our rivers.
Senior Fisheries Scientist Dr Dan Osmond
“When a species heads towards extinction, you might expect public outcry. But as our Senior Fisheries Scientist Dr Dan Osmond suggests in his article about a keystone fish, this is not quite the case for the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
But all is not lost, as Dan shares not only details of how our charity is working hard to remedy the decline, but how others are too, including short and long-term solutions.
We know how important the Atlantic salmon is and how crucial to the overall structure and functioning of an ecosystem they are – we will continue to do all we can to turn the tide on their predicament.”
Read article link below :-
Three Thirtys in a session at Stafford Moor
Carp and cats from Paradise
RIVERWOODS at Combe Martin
Another chance to see the acclaimed Riverwoods Film followed by talks by National Trust Wetlands Ranger James Thomas and Wayne Thomas talking about salmon decline.
South West Lakes Trust Trout Fisheries Report – October 2024
October 2024
Cooler temperatures and some heavy rain have meant that the fish are generally more eager to feed, with improved catch rates. Levels have started to rise, but this is dependent on the catchment and demand – some reservoirs are now full, while others are still only at around 50% capacity at time of writing.
Fishing:
Kennick – The fishing continued to improve over the month, with rod averages up to 3.7 fish per visit. Fish have been well dispersed around the lake, with the Narrows and East Wall regularly appearing on catch returns. Trout have been caught at most depths, from the surface (Foam Beetles, Dry Sedges and Black Gnats), subsurface (Damsels, Hares Ears, Montanas and Blue Zulus), and in the deeper water (Black Boobies and Bloodworms). Chris Illet (from Newton Abbot) caught four rainbows using a small pink Booby and Sedgehog patterns while fishing a fast sink-tip and short leader in the shallows around a weed bed, and noted that fish feeding on fry along the west bank. Graham Roberts caught three rainbows to 2lb 8oz, finding fish rising to dries, as well as getting pulls and knocks from both sub-surface and deep-fished methods.
Siblyback – The fishing at Siblyback dramatically improved over the month, with anglers averaging just under five fish per rod. Crylla, Two Meadows, Stocky Bay and West Bank proved to be the most productive locations, with fish feeding either from or just below the surface, and floating line tactics working well. Dry Foam Beetles, Daddy Longlegs and Sedgehogs caught surface-feeding fish, while deeper fish were caught using Montanas, Black and Yellow Buzzers and Black Snakes fished with a slow retrieve. Keith Burnett (from Newquay) caught fifteen rainbows to 2lb 8oz, and lost one much larger fish. Mick Dodkins (from St Germans) caught five rainbows to 2lb 8oz using a Cats Whisker on a slow intermediate line from the bank at Two Meadows. Ron Wilday (from Liskeard) caught two rainbows at 2lb, using a Blue-Tip PTN while fishing in Crylla Bay. Water levels are 75%.
Burrator – Anglers averaged 3.8 fish per visit, with Longstone, Pig Trough, Boat Bay and Lawns all proving popular. Intermediate or floating lines with a long leader produced the best results, with fast, slow, and ’figure of eight’ retrieves all catching fish. Surface feeders were caught on Daddy Longlegs and Sedge patterns, while deeper feeders succumbed to Damsels, Buzzers (there were active buzzer hatches throughout the day), PTNs and Hares Ears, or lures such as Blobs and Cats Whiskers. Gordon MacLeod (from Tavistock) caught four very fit rainbows to 3lb 4oz on an intermediate line, while Roger Prout (from Pensilva) caught ten rainbows to 2lb 12oz, using a floating line and varied retrieve. Alan Lawson (from Plymouth) caught seven rainbows to 1lb 12oz, casting a dry Daddy to rising fish at Longstone before the rain came, and then a pulled nymph at the top of Narrator Bank. Water levels are now up to 77% capacity at the time of writing.
Stithians – Water levels are at 56% capacity. Anglers averaged 1.5 fish per visit, with most fish being caught from the banks at Yellowort, Pipe Bay, Hollis Bank, Goonlaze and Deep Bank. Generally floating line tactics have been most successful, with fish taking Dry Daddies, Black Hoppers, Black and Peacock Spiders fished in the surface film, Soldier Palmers and Black Pennels.
Fernworthy – Water levels have risen rapidly to 100% over the month, with plenty of fish rising to Craneflies and Sedges. Anglers averaged 1.8 fish per rod, with many taking dry sedges and Black Gnats, as well as Pheasant Tails, Damsel Nymphs, Bibios and Connemara Black. Feeding fish were well spread out, with trout being caught from the East Bank, North Bank, by the dam and by the permit hut. Daniel Robson (from Tavistock) caught a bag of nine nice browns to 1lb using small nymphs fished fairly statically.
Colliford – Here the excellent sport continued, with anglers averaging up to 6.5 fish per rod in one week. The east bank, bank by the dam, Redhill Down, Stuffells and Browngelly proved to be the best locations, with floating-line tactics catching fish feeding from the surface or just below. Foam Daddies, Black Hoppers, Parachute Adams and Foam Beetles all caught rising fish, while sub-surface feeders were caught on pulled Soldier Palmers, Bibios, Zonkers and Damsels. Dean Boucher (from Gunnislake) caught sixteen browns to 16” using pulled Soldier Palmer, Bibio and Zonker patterns; Chris Brand (from St Austell) caught four browns to 16” using a Bibio Hopper, with fish rising to hatching buzzers, sedges, and damsels. Water levels are now just over 70%.
Roadford – The fishing continued to improve, with weekly rod averages up to 4.5 fish per angler. South and East Wortha, Davey’s Bank and North Goodacre produced the best sport, and, with fish rising to hatching buzzers, dry Daddies and Hoppers tempted surface feeders; otherwise, deeper fish were caught using Black Tadpoles, Hares Ears, Soldier Palmers, Zulus and Claret Buzzers. Dean Boucher (from Gunnislake) caught nine browns to 1lb using pulled wets (Soldier Palmer, Zulu and Black Tadpole). The water level is now at 88%.
Please see the Trust’s website (www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing) for more information on buying tickets, boat availability, booking and end of season dates. The Brown Trout waters closed for the season on 12 October.
Chris Hall (October 2024)
NORTH DEVON ANGLER WINS PRESTIGIOUS SHARK ANGLING CLUB AWARD
Congratulations to North Devon Angler Mark Jones who has won the Shark Angling Club Of Great Britain’s prestigious Mitchell Hedges Trophy with a huge porbeagle shark caught off the coast close to the North Cornish/ North Devon Border. The shark was 88″ long and estimated at 295lb and 305lb. Mitchell- Hedges was a legendary figure in sea angling writing at least two books on fishing including the fascinating ‘Battles With Giant Fish’ a book that reflects upon a bygone age of adventure and daring do. Mitchell- Hedges held the British Ballan Wrasse record for several years with a fish of 12lb 12oz. The fish was removed from the record list following a major review of records.
Mitchell-Hedges Trophy
Awarded annually for the best shark of the season
This trophy was donated to the club by our first President, Mr F A Mitchell-Hedges at the first club General Meeting in the Hannafore Point Hotel in Looe on the 25th January 1953.
At that point in time the trophy had a value of £200 and it was used as security with the bank for the club to obtain start up funds via an overdraft.
It was originally called the Mitchell-Hedges Shark Trophy and was for the heaviest fish of the season. At the May committee meeting in the following year it was renamed the Mitchell-Hedges Cup. It was further agreed that it would be for the “best shark”, based on the percentage in relation to the British Record and not the heaviest as previous.
Pete Tyjas with Charles Inniss
Sea Angling Round Up
Combe Martin SAC – Catches
Combe Martin SAC members have been catching some fine specimen fish from North Devon’s rocky shoreline. Kyle Bishop registered bull huss of 11lb 11oz and 10lb 2oz. He also made the long trip to Scotland where he landed a fine skate of 136lb. Shane Hookway caught a 20lb 5oz conger at a local shore mark.
Graham Snow caught a specimen thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb 8oz.
TRIPLE HOOK CLUB OPEN RESULT
Mario Manley won Triple Hook Clubs South West Water Open with a flounder of 1lb 121/4oz. J.Martin was runner up with a flounder of 1lb 121/8oz and Mark Hancock third with a flounder of 1lb 12oz. Junior angler Max Chapel was fourth with a flounder of 1lb 111/8oz.