David Hill visited Blakewell Fishery and had a pleasing days sport landing four quality trout for 17lb including a handsome 4lb brown trout.
Next Sunday May 14th the fishery are hosting a Snowbee Open day with casting demonstrations, tackle on show and the chance to mingle with fellow anglers whilst enjoying food and refreshments.
http://www.blakewell.co.uk
A tumbling river in springtime with the smell of ramsey and birdsong filling the air has been a part of my life since I was a child catching crimson spotted brown trout from the River Umber that runs through the village of Combe Martin. A few weeks ago I found myself looking into the river where I first tempted those spotted trout. Sadly there were no signs of the descendants of those trout which is a sad refection on the waning state of our countryside.
Fortunately there are still plenty of rivers in North Devon that still have healthy populations of trout. I took a wander along my local river wielding a split cane rod I had bought from a work colleague. The old scottie rod had been bought at a car boot sale and I later found that the rod had been taken there by Richard Mann who I had fished with on several occasions at Blakewell Fishery. Richard was a very enthusiastic angler who had fished far and wide with many a tale to tell. In latter years he had done a huge amount of work for a local branch of the Salmon and Trout Association. Richard sadly passed away last year.
I flicked the flies upstream and thrilled as the free rising trout seized the fly. The old rod flexed as the trout gyrated and darted to and fro in the clear water. I wondered what other adventures the rod had been on? It didn’t really matter what rod as the small river didn’t demand distance casting, a bit of precision perhaps. A modern carbon rod could have ticked every box in functionality but perhaps the old rod was more in keeping with the late spring evening? The river had those same characteristics I had enjoyed close to fifty years ago, perhaps that is one of angling’s greatest attributes in that it brings back those childish perceptions and feelings.
A couple of nights later I was casting a fly across the River Torridge in hope of salmon. The river had dropped away but still had a nice tinge of colour. I started hopeful but as the evening swept past I felt slightly melancholic at the lack of salmon surely after the recent spate there would be salmon present? It was a glorious evening full of birdsong and riverside aromas. I did catch one or two glorious spotted brown trout but these were not enough tonight for I had set my expectations higher and with that came a slight feeling of failure. I will of course be back casting again full of expectation next time the river rises and brings fresh hope of silver tourists.
A glance over the bridge at Umberleigh revealed the Taw running with a slight color perfect conditions for a fish a two.
We called into the Rising Sun at Umberleigh to enjoy their Wednesday steak night. A glance into the Fishing Log revealed the days catch! Spencer Whitbread fished the Rising Sun’s water at Umberleigh and was delighted to land his first fish on the fly a handsome sea trout of 5lb 10oz. The fish was tempted on a Wille Gunn a favorite early season fly on the Taw and Torridge. Spencer was expertly tutored by Mark Izzard.
It was a delicious steak! Two for £20!
9lb 1oz on a dry fly for Mr Gilbert. Fish right up in the water even when cold & windy.
With the warmers days fish are moving up n the water so Nick Harts suggests “try an Owl, a Hopper or stick a Buzzer under a Bung.”
Nick Hart reports:-
So far to today Friday 28th April 188 anglers have visited since the beginning of the month catching a total of 599 Trout to set a very good rod average of 3.2 fish per rod. Amongst them have been some great fish such as the specimens shown below and we were also pleased to see that one of our Trout was selected by Trout Fisherman as Fish of the Month. Well done to the captor John Ratcliffe.
1ST EVER LADY ANGLER TO CATCH A 40 FROM ANGLERS PARADISE
Sharon aka ‘Frogs’ Fowler, 55 from Bedfordshire, made Anglers Paradise History by catching her 1st ever 40 from the Kracking Carp lake, Frogs caught the legend that is ‘Silverback’ at 48lbs 14oz. Frogs has made the Anglers Paradise Record Books by making angling history becoming the 1st Ever Lady Angler to land a 40lb Carp here!!! What an achievement!
Frog’s Story – “Having rested the lake for a while and kept the lines out of the water for a bit as we were conscious of the fact that most of the fish were at our end of the lake! (Or after having returned from the pub after lunch lol) Both statements are true!
A Denham baits 15mm Element bottom bait was cast approx. 3 ft off the island in front of me using 12lb Tiger Line fluoro-line fished slack-line, where I had seen movement during the morning, and caught an 11lb carp earlier that morning, within an hour or so a hesitant take which turned into a positive rod wrencher resulted in playing what was obviously a very heavy and angry fish.
Calls for assistance from the other 3 people present were a waste of time as they were enjoying a post lunch snooze so the fish was played and netted solo before a phone call could raise the dead to help with photos. Ironically this is probably a good thing as the entire capture is a solo effort and no husbands or friends helped in any way! I would however like to thank Ian for tying the rig, and Jeff for lending his scales (as Ian’s gave up the ghost at the weekend!) I came this year with same target as I have had for several years now – namely to catch a 40lb carp – the fish at 48lb 14oz smashed that- what a fish, what a wonderful holiday, in our 30th Anniversary year, I could not have asked for more (especially as Ian then also caught a 40lber!!). “
Superb Angling, and an inspiration to all us lady anglers! (Even more so the Male Anglers!). Frogs also Won our Fish Of The Week Competition.
(Above)Frog’s husband Ian Fowler didn’t want to be left out and went onto catching his biggest ever carp – The Famous Gorilla at 47lbs 10oz from the Kracking Carp Lake making one Mr Fowler a Very Happy Man!! Ian, 55, from Bedfordshire, beat his previous PB of 42lb 14oz which was also from the Kracking Carp Lake. Ian caught the Mirror on a running rig, 2oz flat lead with a Denham Baits Element 16mm bottom bait.
(Above)Frogs and Ian also had a double take of 20’s from the Specimen Carp Lake, Ian with a 24lb 8oz Mirror and Frogs with a 26lb 4oz Mirror which they fought and caught at the same time!! Both on Denham Baits ‘Element’. Great to see couples enjoying the sport together!
(Above)Jeff Rowland from Keighley caught this Stunning 26lb 12oz Common from the Specimen Carp Lake! Jeff caught the Common on a 20mm Vortex Boilie on a Basic Bottom Rig with 5 Freebies.
(Above)5C’s Member, Maggot Whitfeld aka Mike came down with his Son Jordan to have a session on the Main Carp Lake and landed a new Personal Best 18lb Grassy! Maggot didn’t use Maggots though! He caught the Grass Carp on Paradise Baits Beez Kneez on a German Rig.
(Above)5C’s Member Tristan landed his New PB Carp, a lovely Mirror of 22lbs 6oz from Eldorado’s Bottom Cat and Carp Lake 2 on a Crab Boilie.
(Above)Andrew White caught a low 20lb Mirror from the Kracking Carp Lake on Peg 4 caught on essential baits B5 on a snowman rig.
The Open Match Sunday on Tanners and Woodpecker lakes attracted a field of 37 angers. Weather was described as awful cold, with wind and rain ! There was a continental payout . The top weight was 165lb 13oz from Dave Stockton peg 3 on Tanners lake fishing 8mm pellet on the waggler well done Dave !
In 2nd place was Nigel Rhodes peg 18 on Woodpecker lake with 135lb 11oz
In 3rd place was Tony Rixon peg 13 on Tanners Lake with 133lb 8oz
In 4th place was Andy Dare peg 16 on Woodpecker lake with 106lb 15oz
In 5th place was Mark Layzelle peg 35 on Tanners with 96lb 14oz
6th place was Paul Heywood peg 2 on Woodpecker with 103lb 14oz
Kevin Legge headed to the Somerset coast to land this fine small eyed ray of 8lb 15oz.
I was passing the river today so I had to take a look the water was perfect the colour of real ale ideal for casting a Mepps down and across to twinkle and throb in the turbulent waters. Sadly there were no anglers cars in the car park a symptom of modern times I am afraid. The Lyn once had an impressive run of both salmon and sea trout and when the conditions were right anglers descended from miles around. Catch and release has never caught on on the Lyn which is a spinning and worming river not ideally suited to the fly angler.
The careful angler should be able to enjoy some fine sport on this beautiful river and if barbless singles are used on the spinners fish can be returned to continue their journey. The E.A have after careful consideration allowed the use of the worm after June 16th and provide anglers with the mandatory circle hooks to promote a high survival rate.
Permits for the Lyn can be purchased from Barbrook filling station that is Open seven days a week from 7.00am until 7.00pm
The weekends rain has also swollen the Taw and Torridge and this should encourage a few salmon up river over the next few days. I will report on NDAN as soon as I get news.
Reel Deal has been making all the headlines with catches of porbeagle shark off the Cornish coast but when the weather doesn’t play ball there is plenty of variety fishing the grounds in the Bristol Channel. A recent session saw anglers land plenty of coalfish and pouting with some brightly coloured wrasse to put a smile on the anglers faces.
Spring time is the best time to head out and catch a big bull huss as Combe Martin SAC member Kevin Legge did recently catching this handsome huss of 10lb 1oz during one of his recent sessions.
Huss are a far more welcome catch than their relative the Lesser spotted dogfish that devour anglers baits spoiling the chance of something better. Huss can be tempted on a wide range of baits with big squid or mackerel baits favorite. In the murky waters along the Somerset coast near Porlock and Minehead these fish can be caught throughout the day. In North Devon’s clearer waters night time is undoubtedly best with rough ground more likely to bring results.
Rick Blackmore (Below) also targetted the species landing several in recent weeks topped by this specimen of 12lb 13oz.
