Andy Facey landed this suberb 12lb 4oz rainbow at Blakewell on a 6lb leader and size 8 green copper john on floating line. Andy spent several hours stalking the big trout that repeatedly followed the fly before suddenly grabbing it and taking off like a torpedo!
James Atkinson won Appledore shipbuilders monthly Rover with a small eyed ray of 9lb 61/4oz. In second place was Richard Boone with a fine wrasse of 5lb 47/8oz and in third Andy Sanders with a thornback ray of 6lb 5oz.
Bideford Angling Club Monthly Rover
1st Antony smith thornback ray 9lb 5 1/2 103.819%
2nd Antony smith thornback ray 8lb 6 1/2 93.402%
3rd Dick Talbot smoothound 9lb 5 93.125%
4th Andy Sanders thornback ray 6lb 6 70.833%
4th Lee Watts dogfish 2lb 2 70.833%
5th Paul Downing thornback ray 5lb 15 65.972%
As the water starts to warm up wrasse should start to show along the North Devons rock marks. Combe Martin SAC member Ollie Passmore set out after the species and was rewarded with a nice fish of 3lb 6oz.
Bull huss continue to provide sport after dark when Ollie Passmore enjoyed success with a huss of 10lb 11oz. (Below)
Boat anglers are continuing to enjoy boat sport off Ilfracombe with several spurdog to 18lb brought aboard John Barbeary’s boat Bluefin. (Below)
James Snell fished up on lodge lake Dam wall and landed 3 fish up to 18lb 6oz caught on Mainline Essential Cell boilies & C R Baits.
Brinn Jones fished Lodge lake to land 6 fish up to 20lb 6oz fishing with fruit pop ups over Nash Boilies.
John Townsend with one of his 6 catches a stunning 26lb mirror ! Caught on shell fish B5 boiled from the swim at the entrance to the spit up on Lodge lake.
Blair Warner had this cracking 28.06 common from Jennetts last week. Blair tempted the fish with a 16mm homemade boilie with a handful of free offerings from the point swim. Congratulations Blair on a stunning fish.
Many thanks to Martin Turner for his quality pictures and write up.
1st Nathan Underwood 37lb 1oz
2nd Christopher Morris 32lb 11oz
3rd Kier Durrant 25lb 4oz
The Cornish bank of Upper Tamar Lake hosted the 1st summer league of group, Nathan put an impressive 37lb 1oz of roach and perch on the scales for a convincing victory, he fished long pole and maggot over groundbait. Christopher drew peg 1 and had a similar catch also on the pole, Kier ,our youngest member took third on whip tactics.Several larger perch,bream and hybrids showed on feeder tactics on the middle pegs but not enough to trouble the end pegs.
I was recently interviewed by Phil Williams about my many years fishing for grey mullet. Take a listen if you have any interest in these hard fighting and at times frustrating fish.
Steve Pinn spends many hours fishing for carp mostly at Stafford Moor and he combines his fishing with his love of photography. I asked Steve if he would put a few words together and share some of his stunning images. These illustrate the real joy of fishing and carp fishing in particular where the angler is within the environment letting the seasons and days roll by observing each changing mood as the world revolves.
Through the lens by the Steve Pinn the BIvvy Tramp!
When “bivvy’d up” for several nights in the heart of the beautiful Devon countryside, I’ve always said that catching a fish is a bonus. Carp fishing is a waiting game, one that can keep you awake all hours but one that allows you to see and hear things that not everyone is privileged enough to witness. Magenta sunrises, sunsets, cloud formations, changing seasons and all manner of natural splendor never fail to delight and, for me, capturing those moments is just as important as the ‘trophy carp shot’. You really don’t need the best camera in the world, I use my iPhone just as much as my Canon SLR, but to not record more than just your latest catch when you are surrounded by such a visual feast would, to me, be a tragedy. Get snapping, you won’t regret it.
Below is a report sent to South West lakes Trust by a very satisfied customer!
Jon Ogbourne enjoyed a Great day on Wistlandpound fishing from the clubs boat. He fished with Peter Coleman-Smith and Mark Stewart taking turns on the oars. Fish came from all over the lake with 50+ to the net by the time we landed at 6pm, the best was pushing 1.5lbs. All fish came to either traditional wets, sedgehogs or weighted mini tadpole patterns on the point. Steady wind blowing up toward the dam all day. Sunshine with broken cloud. Buzzers and hawthorn flies around perimeter of lake but not much out on the water. Fish didn’t seem to mind.
Fifty eight anglers descended upon Putsborough beach for the annual Combe Martin Sea Angling Club Open and they met with ideal conditions. The east wind that had blown for several days had abated and the sea was calm as everyone gathered in the car park to book in.
It was good to chat with a few anglers who I had reported on over the past twelve months on this website. The nice thing about this competition is that it has a really friendly vibe with anglers meeting up, sharing tales and making plans.
Combe Martin SAC give special thanks to their sponsors; Sakuma, High Street Tackle, Veal Mail Order and Kevin Legge. Thanks also to Putsborough Sands for allowing the use their venue once again. The club also wish to thank all who took part with many anglers travelling a considerable distance to fish the event. Really pleased to hear several cheery “see you next year” as anglers sped off into the night at the end.
The fishing proved to be pretty good as well with most anglers catching fish and more than enough to match the impressive array of prizes on offer at the end. Over thirty small eyed ray were caught, one blonde ray, several smoothound to 5lb 8oz and of course plenty of dogfish.
1st – Matt Druce – blonde ray -11lb 41/4oz
2nd -Dale Kiff – small eyed ray – 7lb 14oz
3rd – Gareth Pike- dogfish – 2lb 5oz
4th – Garry Andrews – small eyed ray – 7lb 1/2oz
5th – Matt Druce – smell eyed ray – 6lb 151/2oz
6th – Dan Welch – small eyed ray – 6lb 15oz
7th – Dan Redmore – small eyed ray – 6lb 12oz
8th – Colin Emery – dogfish 2lb
9th – Lee Holden – dogfish 1lb 15oz
10th – Gareth Pike – dodfish 1lb 14oz
Nick Smith – dogfish 1lb 14oz
Ben Putman – dogfish 1lb 14oz
11th – Ross Stanway – small eyed ray – 6lb 21/2oz
12th – Ben Putman – small eyed ray – 6lb 10z
Colin Tanton – small eyed ray 6lb 1oz
Junior prize – Ollie Laird dogfish – 1lb 15oz
Best Brace -Matt Druce – Blonde Ray 11lb 41/2oz & small eyed ray 6lb 151/2oz Total = 163.4%
Below are a few pictures and comments from the night I will add as I get more so please feel free to send images and comments I try to make this a site for the angling community.
A
(above ) Dale Kiff
(Above) Nick Phillips
Mike Seatherton ( Above) – Fished Putsborough competition last night, really enjoyed it, managed to catch a few fish, smooth hound, small eyed ray and plenty of dog fish, biggest ray 4lbs 10oz,
Congratulations to all who got on the prize table!
(Above) Rob Scoines
(Below) Matt Druce and his winning fish , great turn out and thank you to all the sponsors and the usual suspects for a well organized event
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.