Following on from the very successful Dan Miles Redmore Memorial Competition Triple Hook Club are launching their Flounder Open Schedule for 2024
Full Details Below –
STRONGER LEADERS ADVISED @ Bulldog
Stronger leaders are advised following the latest stocking at Bulldog Fishery. Big browns, tigers have been stocked to compliment the hard fighting rainbows!
Opportunity for Community Grant Funding for Restoring Freshwater Habitats
“The National Trust team in North Devon is inviting applications from community groups as part of the Freshwater Community Grant Fund – grants of £500 to £5,000 are available for initiatives that create, look after or improve local freshwater habitats and provide opportunities for people to connect with nature.
The application window for funding is now open. Community groups are invited to suggest projects that will boost biodiversity and create opportunities to connect with nature at freshwater sites. We also want to build skills within communities, so they can look after these special habitats and species long term.
Join the North Devon team at one of two drop in online webinars on Monday 21st October at 9:00am or Wednesday 23rd October at 2:30pm to find out more about the sorts of projects we can support through this funding and ask any questions you may have. Please email Sophie (Volunteering & Community Manager, North Devon) to book onto one of these sessions [email protected]
Please download the application form and follow the instructions to complete and submit your application. Full information about how to apply and what you can get funding for can be found here – Freshwater Community Grant Fund UK | National Trust
If you require an alternative format for the application and guidance documents, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll aim to provide this for you.
The Freshwater Community Grant Fund supports community initiatives to restore freshwater habitats at five locations in England, including for projects within a 20 mile radius around Arlington Court, North Devon. In partnership with Defra’s Species Survival Fund, the scheme aims to award a total of £75,000 to local initiatives by 31st December 2025.”
Bideford and District Angling Club Coarse Section Monthly Competition
Bideford and District Angling Club
Coarse section monthly competition
Results:
1st Craig Crash Lamey 63lb 7oz
2nd Paul Elworthy 22lb 12oz
3rd Stephen Paul Sheller 22lb 10oz
4th Dave Wood. 17lb 3oz
5th Keith Copland 16lb 6oz
5th Nathan Underwood 16lb 6oz
22 members fished
High pressure system and a very cold night has curtailed the catches , but league leader , Craig has put together a very impressive net of carp , 40lb clear of second, on peg13, this has extended his lead to 29 points over last year’s winner.
Winning tactic was 6mm luncheon meat pole fished in the margins.
Second place has taken Paul into joint second spot in the league on 87 points.
His chosen technique on peg 17 was red maggot over micros and maggots in the deeper water on the pole.
Stephen’s third place was off peg 19 , method feeder and pole tactics.
Dave was fourth on peg 6.
South Molton Club Trip On Bluefin
A quick summary from Edward Rands reporting on South Molton Angling Clubs latest trip out of Ilfracombe aboard John Barbeary’s Bluefin
Ed Rands Nick Stringer, Nick Jackson, Buster,Dave Hathaway and Chris Allin all met at ilfracombe harbour for 08:00 sail.
We steamed down towards morte point and drifted around over reefs and rough ground and caught a few pollack, scad and mackerel of various sizes, we anchored and had dogfish, huss and conger, dave hathaway had one at 15lb
We did abit more drifting and had a few more pollack on baited feathers, nick stringer had one at 5lb.
We then of out for the slack water and had a couple of tope estimated at 32lb and 34lb as well more dogs and huss.
The tide slackened off and it was time to come in.
Our tally was
1 wrasse
30 dogfish
20 huss to 9lb
50 mackerel
10 scad
5 congers to 15lb
12 pollack to 5lb
2 whiting
2 tope, 32lb & 34lb
Thanks to John Barbeary for putting us on fish all day long and his crew Ted Stannet for helping us unhooking fish, untangling line and general good humour and banter.
Another good day aboard Bluefin from ilfracombe.
Tightlines
Ed
FLUFF CHUCKERS BROWN TROUT MASTERS 2024
Many thanks for the below report from Rodney Wevill of the Fluff Chuckers.
October 12th saw the Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown trout masters round 3 at Roadford lake.
This was also the concluding round to end the series and Crown the 2024 Brown trout masters.
The anglers were faced with varying weather, starting with little wind and calm water, then windy and overcast and finally bright sunshine and windy.
We started at 8am
Most of the fish were caught in the first 4 hours
With a few fish in the afternoon.
A total of 29 Browns were caught and several perch.
Finish time was 5pm and back to the main car park to workout the scores and hold the prize giving.
Kevin Sellar was the winner of the 3rd round with 7 nice browns and received a Cortland UK limited edition peach Line and some goodies
Phillip Hoskin won the biggest fish with a stunning 46cm Brown and won a cortland line and goodies
Roger Truscott was biggest fish runner up
And also equal most fish runner up with Wayne Thomas and shared some wonderful Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room ale.
Roger Truscott was leading the series coming into round 3, with only Keith Burnett in 2nd having any realistic chance of upsetting the leader board.
But overall placing 3rd to 6th changed about a lot during the day.
Roger built a big lead in the first round back in March at his local and beloved colliford lake and showing his skills and knowledge in the 2 & 3rd rounds came out the overall winner and received the Fluff Chuckers – Fly Fishing Fanatics / Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust 2024 Brown Trout Master trophy and All waters 2025 season permit, great prizes for a very well deserved winner.
Well done Roger.
Fluff Chuckers would like to thank South West Lakes Trust for partnering up with us to create this new event for 2024.
Fluff Chuckers would also like the give a massive big thank you to YETI Europe , Turrall Flies and Lakedown Brewing Co & tap room for your sponsoring of this series, it really wouldn’t be the same without your help.
We would also like to say this new series has been a good success. Like all Fluff Chuckers events the aim is to get like minded anglers together for fun on the water whatever your ability.
Yes there’s a competitive side to the day but fun is first, so you don’t need to feel you need to be a pro to take part.
We are extremely happy to say there will be a 2025 Fluff Chuckers / SWLT. brown trout master series and the dates are now released.
In the past couple years south west lakes trust have really worked on improving the trout fishing on their waters, the brown trout fishing has been superb on all their waters and credit where credits due they have got it right.
So please support them, whether it’s entering an event or to fish one of their Trout waters Brown or Rainbow.
A few years ago we where moaning at them, they have listened so support them and help them secure a stronger better future for all.
Happy end of Brown trout season
Tight lines all
Round 3 Roadford results
1. Kevin Sellar 217cm
2, Roger Truscott. 209cm
3, Wayne Thomas. 188cm
4, Keith Burnett. 97cm
5. Philip Hoskin. 76cm
6. Steve Retallack 70cm
7. Sam Wallace 61cm
8. Rodney Wevill. 31cm
9. Richard Adeney
Overall results of round 1,2 & 3 combined
1 Roger Truscott. 791cm
2. Keith Burnett. 530cm
3. Kevin Sellar. 388cm
4. Wayne Thomas. 351cm
5. Richard Adeney. 274cm
6. Rodney Wevill. 235cm
7. Philip Hoskin. 214cm
8. Steve Retallack 70cm
8. Matt Rodwell. 67cm
9. Ben Elliott. 64cm
10. Dave Perks. 64cm
11. Sam Wallace 61cm
12. Pete Williams. 54cm
13. Slawomir Olaf Pilecki 32cm
14. Jack Welshman. 30cm
15. Dave Cook. 28cm
16. Andrew Watson. 27cm
17. Peter Finnis. ……….,
Stafford Moor Lake Record Mirror
James Green banked a NEW LAKE RECORD 44lb 1oz Mirror Carp from Stafford Moors Beach 1 on Lodge Lake.
The carp was tempted using CC Moore Pacific Tuna Boilies.
DAN MILES REDMORE MEMORIAL OPEN 2024
An amazing turn out of supporters, both on the bank and at the weigh in!!
This year’s flounder comp saw 101 ENTRIES including 29 JUNIORS which has to be an all time record!!
Here are the competition results:
ADULTS
1st Alex Brine 1lb 12 3/4 oz
2nd Tarrant Wotton 1lb 12 1/2 oz
3rd Josh Snow 1lb 11 1/4 oz
4th Mario Manley 1lb 10 1/4oz
5th Steve Wilkinson 1lb 10 oz
Prizes went as far down as 22nd.
BEST BRACE
1st Tarrant Wotton 3lb 73/4 oz
2nd Mario Manley 3lb 6 1/4 oz
JUNIORS
1st Alfie Sanders 2lb 1/4 oz
2nd L.Gratton 1lb 7 3/4 oz
3rd Kayden Wotton 1lb 6 3/4 oz
4th Belka Mitchell 1lb 5 oz
5th Millie Jago 1lb 4 3/4 oz
A massive thanks to everyone who took part and a huge well done to Dave Jenkins for putting the whole event together!!
Also, we must give a big thanks to everyone that got involved with donating prizes, we couldn’t have done it without you!!
Over a whopping £750 was raised for charity…….what a result!!
More pictures and comment on Barnstaple Bait & Tackles Facebook Page
DIARY DATE FOR NEXT YEARS COMP
NOVEMBER 30TH 2025 9am to 2.30pm
MEMORIAL FLOUNDER COMP – NOVEMBER 24
How Fishing Can Help Your Mental Health – By Simon Tilbury
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Today’s digital world is fast paced, always on and it’s made our lives better in many ways, but it’s also made us more stressed. Witness the rise of yoga, meditation, wellbeing apps, therapists, mindfulness and such like as an antidote to our deteriorating mental health. According to the British Medical Association, mental health services in England received a record 4.6 million referrals during 2022 (up 22% from 2019), and there simply aren’t enough doctors to match it. YOUR OBJECTIVE ISN’T THE ENDGAME: So how exactly can fly fishing help? Firstly, catching fish isn’t that important. If you wanted to catch a fish, there are more effective ways than fly fishing. These days the majority of fly fishers now practise catch and release, and personally speaking I much prefer the satisfaction of safely releasing a fish than actually catching it. Another American, author Zane Grey, said “if I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended long ago”. So if it’s not to catch fish, why do we do it? There is a myriad of reasons here, however in broad terms I think they can all be narrowed down to one simple answer – how it makes you feel.
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ONE LONG JOURNEY:
One of the things I love about fly fishing is that you never stop learning. You can get familiar with the basics of casting and fishing reasonably quickly, but the art and science of fly fishing takes time to master. Fly fishing provides a lifetime of learning and improving, of challenging yourself, trying different things until you work out what works. And what works one day doesn’t always work the next. Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher from around 500 BC, said “no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man”. But that’s the fun of it, the constant learning, the variety, the challenges, pitting your wits against the fish and the conditions. Fly fishing can be as all-consuming as you want it to be. It’s a hobby and passion that can be with you throughout your life, an ever giving partner, an endless source of enjoyment, despite whatever else is going on. It’s one long journey that makes you feel good.
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MANY SHORT JOURNEYS: A fishing trip can be split into 3 parts: anticipation, enjoyment, recollection. There are two types of anticipation for me. Firstly, the months and weeks leading up to the opening of the trout river season, a time of checking over tackle, replenishing fly boxes and wondering how the river might have changed, what tactics I might use and when. Then there is the giddy anticipation the day before an actual fishing trip, getting your gear packed, keeping an eye on the weather and water conditions, and if you’re fishing with a friend usually a healthy exchange of eager WhatsApp messages full of hope. Then of course there’s the actual enjoyment of the day itself. A great cast to a tricky place, the satisfaction of adapting tactics to outwit an unwilling quarry, watching a fish released, a nice lunch by the riverside, damsels dancing in the air, the flash of a kingfisher swooping past, plucking a blackberry from the brambles that caught your fly when casting, the sounds of the countryside, not thinking about work or life, just being in the moment in a place of beauty. And when it’s over, then there are the happy recollections, not just later that day as you smile thinking back, but also the amazing moments and memories that keep you going through the winter months. Anticipation, enjoyment, recollection. Every time you go fishing. Many short journeys that simply make you feel good.
FISHING AS THERAPY: In 2021 fishing was officially prescribed by the NHS to help people suffering with anxiety and depression. Farlows sister brand Sportfish, which runs the Sportfish Game Fishing Centre with two spring-fed crystal clear trout fishing lakes, is now an approved supplier and partner for the Get Fishing For Wellbeing program from the Angling Trust, the national fishing governing body. Fishing as therapy is nothing new – for decades there have been fly fishing charities supporting military veterans to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and combat fatigue. A new feature film called Mending the Line starring Brian Cox is now available on Netflix, about an old Vietnam veteran and a young Afghanistan one finding healing for their traumas through fly fishing and friendship.
The BBC’s hugely successful TV show “Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing”, now in its 6th series, is all about fishing as therapy. Its origins lie in Paul Whitehouse discovering Bob Mortimer wasn’t going out anymore following his triple heart bypass surgery and inviting him out fishing. Mortimer loved it and later said “I’ve never felt anything like it. There comes a moment when you realise that you’ve said nothing for an hour and a half. I haven’t thought about anything else. I haven’t worried about the past, or future”.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE WELLBEING: According to The Royal College of Psychiatrists there are 4 key areas as to why fly fishing is so beneficial for your health:
When fly fishing, you’re concentrating solely on what you’re doing and the beauty of where you’re doing it. For hours, all the pressures of work, home life and the modern world are forgotten. This leads to lower stress levels, and studies show this reduction in cortisol (stress hormone) can have a positive effect for up to 3 weeks. With an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people in both a sociable setting and have some tranquil time with just yourself in nature, it’s no surprise there’s a new generation using fly fishing as a form of meditation and a means to support their physical and mental wellbeing. Especially given these days neither the kit nor the fishing itself needs to be expensive, and good fly fishing can be found pretty much everywhere. Especially at the Arundell.
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