12 Oct 2025

Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters…2025

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Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters…

The final round of the Trout masters was held at Roadford Lake today.
With challenging conditions, bright sun around mid day .
Series leader Roger Truscott set out on a mission to put a good gap between himself and his closest challengers, and mission completed, Roger finished on 17 Browns with Runner up Wayne Thomas on 12.
Rodney Wevill getting the biggest Brown of the day at 39cm with Keith Burnett runner up with a nice 38cm fish.
A total of 55 Browns caught for the day
A massive thank you to Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust for Partnering up with Fluff Chuckers and providing the Brown Trout Masters Cup and the overall winners prize of an all water season ticket.
Turrall Flies, YETI Europe and Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room for the prizes for each individual events.
And to all the anglers that have taken part over the year.
This series of events have become a great fun day on the water, all taking part have joined in with smiles no matter what their individual ability has been.
Looking forward to next year and hopefully build on the past two years,
Nice to see anglers that are normally fishing for Rainbows taken up the challenge of chasing these lovely Brown trout, not always the biggest or the easiest to catch but proper fishing for sure.
Round 3 Results.
1. Roger Truscott
2. Wayne Thomas
3. Kevin Selkars
4. Rodney Wevill
5. Keith Burnett
6. John Huckings
7. Richard Adeney
8. Jon Hopper
Final overall Results after Three Rounds.
Points
1. Roger Truscott 5 (Brown Trout Master 2025)
2. Wayne Thomas 8
3. John Hucking. 12
4. Keith Burnett 13
5. Rodney Wevill 14
6. Richard Adeney 25
7. Kevin Sellars. 27
8. Steve Retallack 27
9. Steve Lawes. 32
10. Matt Woods. 32
11. Simon Peters. 35
12. Jon Hopper. 36
13. Dave Cook. 36
14. Peter Williams. 39
15. Phillip Hoskin. 41
16. Ben Eliot 42

Thanks to Rodney Wevill for all his hard work putting this enjoyable and friendly event together. All three venues run by South West lakes Trust provided excellent fishing in stunning scenery. I look forward to next years series of events. Hartd to comprehend the passing of a season that started in late March on the wide wild expanse of Colliford as we looked for the first martins and swallow arriving from Africa. The middle summer event was held at Fernworthy high on Dartmoor as heavy rain gave us all a good drenching but failed to deter the trout that were caught in good numbers as swifts and swallows darted across the water. And at Roadford its waters seriously low after a long dry summer I caught sight of a straggler  swallows and martins leaving for their winter home in Africa.

9 Oct 2025

Looking back at a project that has brought joy to many……Great Memories

by | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Neilsen Jeffery shared this post on Facebook today and he has kindly allowed me to share here on North Devon Angling News.

It’s a really positive post showing how flourishing Bideford Angling Lakes started since being dug out of a field over twenty years ago. Credit must go to Nielsen and Paul Carter of the Environment Agency who worked closely and tirelessly to create a lasting legacy.

On a personal level it brings home how long I have been contributing to the local angling scene with my reporting in the NDJ and here on North Devon Angling News.

Since this endeavour Neilson has continued to build angling opportunities with Horwood Lakes offering excellent fishing for both match and pleasure anglers.

Neilsens post

One good thing I’ve found out today about moving house is that you go through everything tucked away in the loft, I came across these great memories from 20 years ago when I actually had a bit of hair😊and I took on a massive challenge to build a lake for the local club solely helped by Paul Carter from the EA three years later it was completed and three years of bloody hard work I might add, however a great achievement if I might say so myself and very proud😂😂
First photo L-R
Danny Hill
Paul Carter
Simon McCarthy
Andy Merrick
Myself
Andy Grey
Dave Lewis

9 Oct 2025

SEA ANGLING NEWS UPDATE- Latest Competition Results

by | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Storm Amy swept across North Devon last weekend and its effects will undoubtedly be felt as sea anglers seek big bass, tope and huss along the coast. A big Autumn storm such as this generally encourages big fish close in shore to feed and forage on the food dislodged.

 

Andrew Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 7lb 10.25oz. Runner up was Michael Hammett with a huss of 7lb 1.75oz and Josh Atkinson third with a dogfish of 1lb 15oz.

Stephen Found won Bideford Angling Clubs Sea rover with a mackerel of 1lb 2oz.

Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Lure Fishing league still has two weeks left to run and is currently headed by Mark Drewer with five bass for a total length of 351cm’s. Runner up is Seth Tuson on 347.5cm and Jamie Steward third with five for 344cm.

The flounder season is well underway on the Taw estuary with forty anglers taking part in the Daniel Mackie Flukey’s Flatfish Open. Stefan Jones won the competition with a flounder of 1lb 8.25oz. Runner up was David Jenkins with a flounder of 1lb 7oz and Taz Wotton third with a flounder of 1lb 6.75oz. The event raised £125 for the Children’s Hospice South West. Barnstaple Triple Hook Club have launched their Flounder season schedule with the Junior and Ladies Open competition this weekend.

9 Oct 2025

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE

by | posted in: Articles, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Fishery Focus, Sidebar | 0

A few words from Zenia at Anglers Paradise

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE 🥳💃🕺🪩✨✨✨ What a great weekend it was…literally Fun…Fishing and Friends! The party went down a storm, our Chef Paul Casey did a great job with the food, Emma Knight did us proud with her live performance of beautiful acoustic music 🎶 to start the night, great live music in the bar and then one hell of a disco!! People danced, got merry and most importantly enjoyed celebrating 40 years of Anglers Paradise! It was lovely to have special friends attend in the likes of Mark and Judith Pitchers, Dean Macey, Daryl Hodges and Ian Jones from Dynamite, the GoCatch Team, Bob Roberts & Sue, Bill and Virginia Rushmer and of course all our amazing guests that joined us for the party of the year!! We are pleased to say that the GoCatch Team have filmed the Weekend’s shenanigans and we can’t wait to see it and share it with you all! Thank you to all that joined us in making it a weekend to remember…

Anglers Paradise
WINNERS 🏆🥇🥈🥉OF THE 40TH CELEBRATION OF ANGLERS PARADISE DYNAMITE 🧨 SPECIES CHALLENGE!
Well, not only did we party like it was 1985 last weekend but we also had a Species Challenge amongst the party goers! The baliffs said it was like watching Tom and Jerry around the Lakes!
The results and Winners were –
1st Place🥇DAN WILLIAMS-SHARPE – 10 Species
2nd Place🥈SAM WAHID – 8 Species (caught from 4 different Lakes)
3rd Place 🥉 MARK HAWITT – 8 Species (caught from 3 different Lakes)
Great angling boys! Congratulations and well done to you all!
Catch sheets are in the comments!
A MASSIVE THANK YOU to Dynamite Baits for the AMAZING Prizes that the winners went home with (cars were definitely full on departure!!)
Thank you to Alex Lister for helping with the Presentation and being a representative for Dynamite 🧨 💪🏻
7 Oct 2025

OAKTREE FISHERY – FISHING MATCH

by | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

REMEMBERING GEORGE 

Oaktree Fishery are holding a celebration of the life of the late, great George Eury who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The celebration will take the form of a fishing match with all profits going to Devon Air Ambulance
Places are expected to go fast so get your name down asap for a great cause
Plenty of prizes, breakfast and dinner available!! For full details simply click the link below

Oaktree Fishery

5 Oct 2025

A Danglers Diary – September 2025

by | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

I sometimes wonder what anglers want to read on North Devon Angling News in addition to the latest news from around the region. I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look back at the beginning of each month at the venues I have fished over the preceding month and the triumphs and trials I have encountered.

            In early September Pauline and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. It is a testament to Pauline that she has accepted my obsession with angling throughout those fiorty plus years  supporting me great with patience. (Most of the time; for there are times when I have undoubtedly overstepped the mark a little).

            We celebrated at the Tarr Steps Inn beside the glorious River Barle that once teemed with salmon during the Autumn months. I remember catching a silver grilse on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral back in 1997. The river like many has suffered a dramatic decline in its salmon stocks though its wild brown trout are still abundant.

The Barle above Tarr Steps

In the Exmoor Town of Dulverton it was good to see minnows shoaling in the leat that runs past Rothwell & Dunsworth the book shop that always has a tempting array of fishing books.

An antique cased perch catches my eye…whats the story behind it?

The Glorious Wye

Whilst the River Wye in Herefordshire frequently makes the headlines regarding effluent from Chicken farms and agriculture it is still a beautiful rIver. its salmon runs have plummeted but it is still home to some wonderful Coarse fish.  I extracted a few bronze flanked chub on a trip in the middle of September.

A feast intended for barbel
This chub found rolled meat to its liking.

Evening light on a tranquil Wye.

HOME WATERS

The quiver tip back on home ground…

CORNISH REEF

The annual trip to fish in the Looe Basher was once again an enjoyable excursion visiting familar haunts.

The flooding tide
Out of Looe
A brace of comber for myself and Chris Hayton

Spectacular red gurnard

Bruce Elston with a fine conger

A decent black bream
wow ! what colours

Fish to brighten the dullest of days
Dominick is king of ling catching his third in three years.

Broken tips for two!

An un-welcome sign on the quayside where I spent many hours fishing as a child. Floatfishing for pollock after dark on Autumn evenings remembered with great fondness.

IN HOPE OF SALMON

Prime water on the River Torridge

THOSE WILD BROWNS ALWAYS OBLIGE

The beauty of a wild brown trout from the higher reaches of a local river.

Many thanks to Anglers Paradise for inviting Pauline and I to their 40 year celebrations.

Anglers Paradise

 

 

5 Oct 2025

A Celebration of Forty years at Anglers Paradise

by | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0
Anglers Paradise

The Angler’s Paradise complex created by Zyg Gregorek celebrated forty years in September 2025. The venue has become one of the region’s top fisheries boasting over thirty lakes that are home to a vast range of freshwater species including specimen carp, grass carp, orfe, tench, perch, pike, trout and catfish to name but a few. The holiday complex has brought a wealth of happy memories for many family generations and it’s waters are now a thriving natural eco-system. The fishery is testament to the vision of Zyg who transformed a marshy piece of scrubland to create Anglers Paradise a for-runner that has become the template for complexes across the country. The venture is very much a family business with Zyg’s daughter Zenia Drury-Gregorek and her husband Joe very much at the helm continuing the sterling work undertaken by Zyg and his wife Rose. My wife and I joined the celebrations last weekend to witness a thriving community of anglers and their families forged over the past four decades.

Wine & Dine Celebrations
Conversations flows in the Safari Bar
Trophies and memories from around the world
Zenia and son Zee-Jay demonstrate fish care and how to get the best catfish pics

Bingo Time!

Zenia and Zyg working with the Angling Trust at a previous event.
Get Fishing
An Eldorado catfish for Bruce Elston
A specimen tiger trout caught from the trout lake
A Paradise sunrise
A netting day

Team working

Rainbow over Paradise
The latest capture from the Nirvana syndicate lake….CLINT WITH THE FREAK OF THE NIRVANA SYNDICATE, ‘JOY’ at 54lb 8oz
This fish is stacking on the lb’s and has plenty more growing to do. Will Joy be our first 60?
Silverback is among the elusive and if the other fish are anything to go by he may already be at 60lb…
Anglers Paradise

 

 

5 Oct 2025

AUTUMN SEASON at The ARUNDELL

by | posted in: At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Autumn and Winter Fishing

Fishing for the silvery grey lady of the rivers is increasingly popular at the Arundell and happily this does mean the continuation of fishing into the winter season. Day tickets for grayling are £25 per rod or £150 for a season ticket valid from 1st October 2025 – 14th March 2026.  We also have our first West Country Grayling Cup on 18th October – entry fee is £25, details below!

We are so looking forward to the return of the renowned world champion, Katka Švagrová at the end of the month.  Her three, one- day courses are almost fully booked but we do still have some spaces on Saturday 1st November and possibly one space on Friday 31st October.  Please call or email bookings.  Tel: 01566 784666.

🎣 Katka Švadgrová returns to The Arundell!
Join the 2023 World Ladies Fly Fishing Champion for 1-day courses on
31st October, 1st & 2nd November 2025.
Covering all-round trout techniques including:
• Euronymphing
• Dry fly
• Dry dropper
£225 per person – limited spaces available!
📞 01566 784666

 

4 Oct 2025

FLOUNDER TIME –

by | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Its flounder season and Triple Hook Club launch their Winter time table of events.

The Daniel Mackie Flukeys Flatty Open attracted 40 entrants. Lots of fish were caught up and down the river. Results as follows:

1st Stef Jones 1lb 8 1/4 oz £100
2nd David Jenkins 1lb 6 7/8 oz £60
3rd Taz Wotton 1lb 6 3/4 oz £40
Next comp is on the Sunday November 24th the entry sheet will be in Barnstaple Bait and Tackle from Tuesday £5 entry we also raised £125 for Children’s Hospice South West.
2 Oct 2025

Combe Martin SAC – Lure League Update

by | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

There are just over three weeks left of Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing league that has been hotly contested this year by a dedicated band of enthusiasts. Whilst numbers of bass are likely to be less now is perhaps the time to catch that elusive double figure specimen.

Mark Drewers latest entry

Mark Drewer is the current leader with five bass for 351 cm with Seth Tuson in runner up spot with 347.5cm

Jamie Stewards latest 72cm catch below brings his five fish total to 344cm.

1st – Mark Drewer – 351 cm

2nd – Seth Tuson – 347.5

3rd – Jamie Steward – 344 cm

4th – Wayne Thomas – 318cm

5th – Daniel Welch – 302cm