8 May 2023

SEA ANGLING HOTS UP FOR SUMMER

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Combe Martin SAC Member Shane Pavio Hookway has enjoyed recent success at marks further up the Bristol Channel tempting a fine bass of 9lb 15oz on Teign baits peeler crab and a small eyed ray of 8lb 12oz tempted on Teign baits Pilchard.

( Below) Combe Martin SAC member Reece Woolgar has got off the mark in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing competition league catching a bass of 57cm.

(Above) Combe Martin SAC Junior member Charlie Stanway caught a fine specimen ballan wrasse of 4lb 15.5oz. He also tempted a 6oz corkwing wrasse (below) both colourful fish were tempted on peeler crab.

Bideford Angling Club Sea May Rover results 

1st Stephen Found Smalleyed Ray 10lb 8oz 116.666%

2nd Richard Jefferies Blonde Ray 9lb 4oz 77.083%

3rd Terry Dymond smoothhound 7lb 4oz 72.5%

Appledore Shipbuilders May Rover

11 Anglers fished the May Rover
Jazza John took first place with a Specimen Smoothound of 10lb 14ozs
Second place went to Andrew Atkinson with another Smoothound of 8lb 11ozs.
Third was Terry Dymond with a Smoothound of 7lb 3ozs.
4 May 2023

Fisheries Management Plans

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As recreational anglers we have an increasing opportunity to have our say as stakeholders on the management of the waters that surround our country. I suggest all sea anglers should engage. I am a general member of the D & S IFCA so if you have views on this please feel free to message NDANs.

2 May 2023

From the river bank – May 1st

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The 1st day of May heralds the opening of a glorious season for anglers, a time when an all-rounder like myself is torn as to where to cast next. With the countryside and nature bursting into life it is certainly a great time to be  at the water’s edge.

On Mondays I fish a middle Torridge beat and with the river at perfect height and colour salmon were the intended target. I tied on a pleasing brightly coloured salmon fly that I felt confidence in and fished through all the known lies methodically. With conditions perfect there was that essential degree of expectation.

The line tightened a couple of times as wild browns intercepted the fly as it swam across the river. Beautiful spotted fish that I will target later when the river drops further making the pursuit of salmon even less hopeful.

 

 

 

I savoured the abundance of wild flowers on the river bank. Each year when I walk the beat rod in hand I witness these wonders of  natures cycle.

Old rails assist the angler to climb from the water and I cannot help but mourn the loss of  abundance within the river. The decline of salmon is surely a wake up that all is not well within our natural world?

Years ago, previous generations fished this river and on good days a horse and cart would transport the salmon caught from the river. The ghillies of the day would apparently limit the anglers to 3 salmon of between 15lb and 20lb as they couldn’t carry them up the hills! The taking of these fish would have impacted upon the salmon populations as would the netting in the estuary. This was not however the main reason for the salmons decline. Today there are multiple issues impacting upon the salmon mostly symptoms of a sick planet that has been plunged into an eco-logical downturn by mankind’s growth and greed over recent centuries. Sadly, our generation has witnessed one of the greatest collapses in the natural world. Is there hope? We can try and raise awareness but I fear the general populace cares little for the arteries of the land. Read the latest political agendas from councillors; how many have the health of the countryside at the top of the agenda?

On a positive note, there have been a couple of fresh run spring salmon caught on the lower Taw.

30 Apr 2023

Rare North Devon Ling

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Daniel Welch and his son Solly made an early morning start with the weather and tides were perfect to give the local wrecks a try. The target was a decent conger. They caught no  conger but did manage a couple rare North Devon Ling to 8lb, along with plenty of pouting. Gave the lures a go on the way back over local reefs which produced a few wrasse and plenty of small pollack .

 

30 Apr 2023

South Molton Anglers @ Bratton Water

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My experience at Bratton Water has often been that several trout are tempted early on but wise up quickly when several anglers are fishing. The water was crystal clear with tadpoles abundant in the margins. I set up with a team of small buzzers and nymphs and commenced searching the water in the first available swim.

The occasional trout could be glimpsed cruising and a couple of trout followed the fly turning away at the last moment. I caught two small rudd and missed a couple of trout.

When fishing a small water like Bratton it is easy to keep an eye on other anglers and it was apparent that no one was connecting. When a swim became available in the middle spit on the lake I made a move. On the first cast I hooked a trout that shook the hook free. Several trout could be seen cruising a couple of feet below the calm surface. A good pair of polaroid’s prove an essential aid on small waters with clear water. Observing the trout’s behaviour will so often give a clue as to tactics.

I decided on a change of tactics. I tied a small gold head PTN onto the point a diawl bach on a dropper and a bright yellow Klinkhammer on the top dropper. The buoyant Klinkhammer acted as an indicator. I cast the flies into an area in which several trout were circling and fished virtually static. Withing seconds of settling the Klinkhammer darted under and I lifted into a hard fighting rainbow. The same tactics brought two more trout within ten minutes completing my bag limit for the morning.

I chatted with fellow club members noting that the trout were now starting to move about slurping down the occasional fly from the surface. Several anglers’ lines tightened around the lake and it seemed that the trout had switched on. I wasn’t sure whether I had found the right tactics or whether the trout had simply switched on. All part of this fascinating game.

 

 

 

 

 

28 Apr 2023

Upper Tamar 31lb Common

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Shaun Freeman shared these pictures from Upper Tamar: “I’ve been stuck on a 28lb PB for a long time so this 31lb common means a lot. I did an overnighter in gut bucket bay and had three small carp, but heard larger fish topping up by the quarry, so did a night in the quarry fishing the margins. I finished over about 2 kg of 12 mm GS 10 and had the take about 5 o’clock in the evening on a 16 mm pop-up on a Multi rig. Backed up by a 20lb mirror and a 17lb common.”