Well Done to Julian Winspear and Partner in Crime Caz Osborne who both had a great session on Eldorado’s Bottom Cat and Carp Lake catching 5 Cats to 30lb+ and 4 Carp to 20lbs, all on the popular and faithful Paradise Baits Catastrophic!
Caz caught her Personal Best and Biggest Ever Fish to date with this 25lb Wels Catfish and Julian had his Personal Best 30lb+ Cat and a 20lb Mirror to put the icing on the Cake!
Euan Mclachlan, 19 from Sunderland who caught his Biggest ever Fish, a Personal Best 41lb Catfish from the Day Ticket Specimen Cat Lake.
Euan’s Story –
“I have never ventured much further than the Easy Access on my previous visits to Anglers Paradise, with my catfish PB being a little over 25lb, however after consulting with some of the members of staff me and my two friends decided that the Specimen Catfish Lake was throwing up the odd fish and that’s what we’d like to target. Before I came I said to my dad that I’d like to beat my Catfish PB by at least 5 pound and reach the 30lb barrier, however a 40 would be out of this world!
At the start of the week we did a night where I managed to get a 32lb 4oz from down the margins on meat, however after seeing this fish I knew I had to give it another shot for a bigger one. So Thursday came, and we hiked all of the gear back down to the Specimen Cat and I pitched up in the same corner swim (peg 3) as I did before and flicked a meat rod down the left margin. After hours upon hours of single bleeps from little Perch etc, I decided I’d try and get some sleep. I managed to zone them out until about 6am in the morning when I was awoken to about 5 or 6 continuous beeps on the alarm and then a massive drop back. I struck into it and knew I had a decent fish on, and after taking me round the back of the island and through the reeds on the far side, a 20-30min fight resulted in a new personal best catfish of exactly 41lb, Anglers Paradise really living up to its name and reputation once again.
I just want to say thank you again to you guys for making the holiday so
special, from the help in the tackle shop all the way up to the welcoming
and accommodating nature of all of you down there.
I’ll sure be back again,”
WELL DONE EUAN – ANOTHER GREAT WINNER!!
Here he is with his Winning Fish and being presented his prizes by Zyggy
The recent rain has brought a welcome rise in North Devon’s Rivers giving excellent prospects of salmon during the coming week.
I took a walk up the Lower reaches of the Lyn earlier today (June 30th) It looked absolutely perfect for spinning and I received confirmation that a salmon was caught from the river the previous day. This 7lb salmon was tempted on a worm presented on a de-barbed circle hook as supplied with the anglers permit purchased from the E.A. Permits are now available from Barbrook Petrol station from 7.00am. The Lyn is now 100% catch and release and as a result it is not fished by as many anglers as in past seasons. Whilst the reduction in angling pressure is undoubtedly good for the salmon stocks I cannot help but feel slightly sad as I remember my own days on the river a couple of decades ago when after a spate like this anglers would hurry to the river in large numbers from miles around. There was quite a community back then and many of those characters have passed away. As I jumped up onto familiar rocks to study the water and search for the sight of a salmon I remembered those anglers and almost expected to glimpse them searching the water with worm or spinner.
On a wet summers day I can think of no better place to be. The river holds many happy memories and whilst I only saw this magnificent river as its salmon and sea trout run started to decline I had a glimpse of what it once produced and in my forthcoming book I can reveal some of its former glories.
The Torridge has also risen and should be fish-able within a couple of days as the turbidity drops out of the water. Day tickets are available at Little Warham Fishery and at the Half Moon at Sheepwash.
Day Tickets are also available on the Taw from the Rising Sun at Umberleigh who can also provide tickets for the Weir Marsh and Brightly Beats controlled by Ivan Huxtable.
It was a very wet match 9 anglers braved the weather , hence no pictures taken , it turned out to be the Lovell show & Mr Gorman did not read the script. Well done all.
Match report from Martin Turner who was away catching barbel on the River Severn, ( Below) How could I resist putting up a picture of a barbel a first for North Devon Angling News!!
Sadly we don’t have any grayling in North Devon but there are a few just over the border in Somerset where Nick Hart operates out of Exe Valley Fishery.
Nick Hart takes a lot of photos of people with fish but every now and again something a little bit different happens like this one today. Here a mate (Phil) holds the net while his mate (Alan) displays his first ever Grayling caught on a #16 cdc elk dry during a session on the River Exe. Just love their expressions, shows the buzz to be had from fishing.
The latest report from South West Lakes. Looks like a few anglers need to get up to Wistlandpound (our local water) that does offer some superb brown trout sport. Great value fishing
7lb rainbow trout from Kennick
General:
With some of the highest temperatures across the country for many years, water temperatures rose quickly, especially in the shallower layers, to over 21ºc, resulting in catch rates falling towards the end of the month as fish became more lethargic. Water levels are still full or nearly so on all waters.
Fishing:
Kennick – Rods averaged 2.5 fish per angler over the first three weeks of June, with the fishing becoming more challenging toward the end of the month. The best Rainbow of the season – a beautiful fish of 7lbs – was caught by Mr. J. Bailey (from Esher) while fishing from the bank at the Narrows using a Black Bobbie on a sunk line. A 5lb Rainbow was caught by Mr. G.Hext, as part of a full bag, fishing from a boat.
The Narrows was the most productive area for both boat and bank anglers, with boats also catching well in the deeper water by the dam and in Clampitts Bay; the banks at the Top End and The Lawns also fished well. Dry patterns fished particularly well early in the month (especially Buzzer Emergers, Black Gnats, Black or Claret Hoppers and Daddies), while small nymph patterns fished on floating or sink-tip lines (particularly teams of Buzzers, Diawl Bachs and Damsel nymphs) caught well throughout the month. Towards the end of the month sinking lines fishing Boobies, Tadpoles and Fry patterns started to produce good results.
South West Lakes Trust will be stocking hardier Brown Trout during the warmer months of July and August in order to continue good catch rates.
Siblyback – Anglers also averaged just over 2.3 fish per rod over the month, with most fish being caught from Two Meadows, Stocky Bay and the North Bank. Afternoons and early evenings generally produced the best fishing and, while some fish were caught on dry patterns such as Sedges, Bibios, Hoppers and Beetles, the majority of fish were taken on nymph patterns (particularly Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, Diawl Bachs and Pheasant Tail Nymphs).
Burrator – The banks at Longstone Peninsula and the North West shoreline have produced the best fishing over the month, with Black Gants, Beetles, Buzzer Emergers and Hoppers all catching rising fish. The majority of fish, however, have been caught on sub-surface nymphs ( Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, Buzzers and teams of Black and Peacock Spiders) fished on either floating or intermediate lines, while deeper fish have taken pulled Vivas and Cats Whiskers, particularly towards the end of the month when surface temperatures exceeded 22 ºc and the fish took to the deeper water.
Stithians – Anglers again averaged over 2.5 fish per rod during the first three weeks of June before the high temperatures resulted in more challenging fishing as the fish retreated to sulk in the deeper water. Fish were well spread out, with Pub Bay, Carnmenellis and Yellowort Bay producing consistently good sport. Other productive locations included Chapel Bay, Pipe Bay, Goonlaze and the deeper water by the dam. With plenty of beetles and emerging Buzzers on the water, dry patterns proved to be the most successful method, with Beetles, f-flies, Hawthorns, Bob’s Bits and dry Sedge patterns all catching well. Small sub-surface nymphs (Buzzers, Orange Diawl Bachs, Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails and Damsel Nymphs) fished on a floating line and long leader also produced some outstanding results.
Drift – The water here is still crystal clear, with Badger Sett bank (where fish have been regularly rising) and the North Shore producing the most consistent sport, while boat anglers and float-tubes have enjoyed great fishing off the Woods and in the deeper water by the dam. Palmered Coch-y-bondhus and Hoppers have taken surface-feeding fish, although the majority of fish have been caught sub-surface on Damsel Nymphs, Diawl Bachs, Black Crunchers and Buzzer imitations. Malcom Griffiths (from Gloucester) caught the best fish of the month – a 3½lb Rainbow – while float tubing near the dam.
Roadford – The fishing here has produced some excellent results, with large catches (rods averaged 6.6 fish) and some wonderful fish. Daveys Bank has produced the best sport from the bank, while boat anglers have caught well at Goodacre Bay, by the dam and over the boils, with dark patterns all catching well – Dry Black Gnats, Beetles and Black Spiders fished in the surface film, as well as sub-surface Black Pennells, Bibio patterns, and teams of Black Buzzers fished on sink-tip lines with long leaders. Duncan Kier (from Belstone) caught (and returned) bags of 32 fish and 20 fish up to 3lb 1oz fishing from the boat, while David Best (from Newton Abbot) caught fish up to 2lb 10oz.
Fernworthy – Anglers have had a tremendous month at this picturesque Brown Trout water, averaging over 6.5 fish per rod. The annual arrival of the swarms of beetle have meant that the fish have been looking up to feed, resulting in excellent dry fly sport, with foam beetle patterns, Dry Bibios, Sedges and Spiders producing outstanding sport, with a few sub-surface feeders taking Hares Ears, Montanas and Damsel Nymphs. Fish have been feeding well throughout the day, with most fish caught by the permit hut and from the Lawns. The best fish caught during the month was a grown-on Brown Trout of 2lb 1oz using a Bracken Beetle, while Paul Ackland (from Plympton) caught and returned 32 fish using a Black Ethafoam Beetle – in his words, a ‘red letter’ day!
Colliford – The fishing has, at last, started to pick up at Colliford, with local angler Dean Boucher losing a fish estimated at over 5lb at the net, as a final run pulled the hook.
South West Lakes Trust is introducing two boats for anglers during July and August this season at Colliford. This is exciting news as it will be the first time anglers have ever had the opportunity to fish the deeper waters where the larger resident Brownies are known to be. For more information and to book, call 01566 771930.
North Devon Angling News has been up and running for just over twelve months and I hope that it has been of benefit to the local angling community. My intention has always been to entertain and inform. The site would not work without regular news stories from anglers in North Devon and with huge support from my sponsors who have placed adverts with me. I try to give good value and welcome any new supporters who would like to come on-board.
I was going to put up a few highlights from the past year but on reflection this would be difficult as there are so many and I would undoubtedly over look so many so perhaps I should just encourage you to take a look back over your particular area of interest. And don’t forget to send your latest news and images. If you want to comment you can always do so via the Facebook or twitter feed or even using the telephone.
Jeff Pearce is a dedicated Fly Fishing enthusiast who takes his fly rod to the coast on a regular basis. His last two sessions have brought success with both bass and grey mullet.
(Above) Bass on the fly too! About 2lb, small Chartreuse Clouser minnow! #5Wt 8′ 6” Snowbee Spectre rod and reel
(Above) This hard fighting grey mullet estimated at 5lb was tempted on a black bass fly from a local beach!
This well deserved fresh 7lb salmon was caught by Stuart Eynon at Little Warham on Saturday morning( June 24th). After persisting with the low water levels and mainly fishing dusk till dawn for sea trout, this was a welcome surprise!
Amanda at Little Warham sent me this delightful image above of an enthusiastic group of young anglers who have been making an annual pilgrimage to the fishery. Lets hope they can all pose for the same picture in 2024 and that they will again enjoy success with the Torridge salmon.
The guys first came here in 94 by responding to an advert in the local rag by Group Captain Peter Norton-Smith. They were vetted by him and Terry and told that they were expected to catch! On their first day here fortunately one of the lads caught a salmon and then became annually welcome to the Fishery. Their number of salmon caught at Warham now exceed 100. It was great to have them back and great sitting outside the hut listening to the stories of the Fishery over the years. Terry’s reluctance to have four seventeen year old lads from the north east has certainly paid dividends for the fish numbers and its great being in touch with them and having that connection to the rivers history over the past 23 years! They still love the river just as much and their enthusiasm certainly hasn’t diminished and hopefully will continue to make their annual pilgrimage to Little Warham.
(Above)Ian Philimore with his eel catch from Beattie’s lake this weekend , Ian didn’t know the weight as he didn’t weigh it but fabulous catch !
(Above) Eddie Baldwin with a fine eel of 7lb 3oz!
Carp anglers at Stafford Moor sometimes get more than they bargain for ! The above eels were accidental catches but I know of eels to over 8lb caught by design. The attraction with eels to some is the mystery that surrounds them for these are wild fish that live hidden within our waters and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that eels in excess of the British Record live in waters in North Devon.
(Above) This hard fighting grey mullet estimated at 5lb was tempted on a black bass fly from a local beach!
