BDAC 6th course feeder match results date 18th September. 12 anglers fished and fishing was very hard with the colder nights now coming in and the fish not wanting to feed much. The weights was not so good with some not weighing in this month. First place today went to Nigel spurr on peg 6 with a mixed net of fish for 11lbs 3oz 2nd place was Colin Gorman on peg 16 with 9lbs 15oz 3rd place was Keith copland on peg 11 with 9lbs 13oz and 4th place was Richard Jefferies on peg 19 with 8lbs 12oz this was the last of the 6 feeder matches in this series. Well done on your win today Nigel spurr. The winner of the 6 matches on points was John Lisle with 60 points and second place went to Keith Copland with 56 points.
Earlier in the Summer I had enjoyed some success with carp on the Fly at the club Lake so before the Autumn set in I was keen to once again try my hand with the fly. A brisk North wind was blowing as I arrived at the Lake with white clouds scurrying across a blue sky. The occasional swallow swooped over the water a sight I savoured knowing that in a few weeks they will swooping over the vast plains of Africa where buffalo, Lions and elephants roam.
I had come armed with a 7/8 weight Fly Rod, a floating line and a 10lb leader. A deerhair Fly tyed to imitate a dog biscuit was tied on. I catapulted a steady stream of Krill floaters on the lake and watched the water carefully. I was concerned that the cool wind would put the fish down but within a minutes a few carp started to slurp down the loose offerings.
Once the carp were feeding confidently I put out the fly and waited in anticipation. I didn’t have too long to weight before carp appeared and sucked in my fly. I strip striked and was thrilled to feel the power as the carp surged away. I kept a tight line putting on as much pressure as I dared allowing the line to cut through the dense weed. After a tussle the a mirror carp of around 13lb was safely in the net its bronze and gold flanks a refection of the coming season.
After landing the carp I had to wait another half an hour before the carp began to feed again. A low double succumbed after missing numerous takes as the carp seemed to have an uncanny knack of ejecting the fly before I could set the hook.
Two more carp and a small tench ( a first on the fly) followed before I ran out of time and headed for home.
James asked me the night before our trip; why do you lot have to get up so early? The view the following morning as we bounced across the water on another fishing adventure aboard Reel Deal was I thought answer enough.
We were targeting porbeagle shark today from the renowned grounds off the North Cornish coast an area that once provided superb sport for members of the Appledore Shark Angling Club back in the 1960’s and 1970’s. During those days shark angling practices were less enlightened than today and all shark were slaughtered with many shark sold at market to pay for the angler’s sport. Fortunately, a ban on commercial fishing for the species and catch and release practiced by all anglers the shark have made a strong recovery. All shark caught are now released at the side of the boat with circle hooks used by all responsible anglers.
Dan Hawkin’s skipper of Reel Deal Charters is a pioneering skipper keen to explore the grounds reachable from Ilfracombe and has explored the potential that is available. I had booked this trip with Dan over twelve months ago and had fitted in with two keen shark fishers who had come fully equipped with their own gear. I had brought with me my son James Thomas, and good friends Peter Robinson and Bruce Elston.
Anticipation was high as we passed Hartland Point and cruised into the Atlantic Waters at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. Dan cut the engines a few miles off the Cornish coast and busied himself setting up our sharking tackles. The two anglers we had joined fished their rods carefully amongst our four rods. James, Bruce, Peter and I drew numbers to determine who would go first. Bruce drew 1, James 2, Peter 3 and myself 4.
Six baits were set up at various distances from the boat the furthest set deep and the closer baits proportionately shallower. As Dan started to prepare the frozen block of rubby dubby his keen eye caught sight of a dorsal fin cutting through the waves. Shortly after the rod tip pulled over and the float disappeared from sight and Bruce picked up the rod to set the circle hook.
Bruce holds the rod in expectation after a dropped run.
Frustratingly the hook failed to take a hold and we learnt how wily these large porbeagle shark can be. A few minutes later Bruce was given another chance and hooked into a shark that came off after a short tussle. We decided that we would if possible allow each of us to bring a shark to the boat but if the shark was hooked we would allow two hook ups before passing onto the next angler.
A few minutes after Bruce was in action again and this time he endured a long battle with a large porbeagle. These fish battle far harder than blue shark testing both angler and tackle to the limit. Eventually the wire trace was brought within reach and a specimen porbeagle was at the side of the boat. The fish was neatly hooked in the scissors and was released after grabbing a quick picture of the fish with Bruce leaning through the gate.
This was certainly a very encouraging start to the day. After a short lull it was James’s turn and after an aborted take another run soon developed. This time James made contact and was connected to a very powerful fish that gave him a long and tiring workout for twenty minutes or more.
Eventually the heavy wire trace appeared boat side and Dan grabbed the trace pulling the fish into view. It was a big shark and we were dismayed to see that it had a large wound around its body. A strip of white plastic was wrapped around the shark’s body. Dan was determined to remove the torturous plastic from the shark. With the shark on the port side of the boat It was now necessary to bring the shark to the starboard side.
This appeared to give the shark a second wind at is point and it battled gamely for another twenty minutes before being brought to open gate. The fish was then swiftly brought on board where Dan got to work with a pair of scissors to remove the piece of plastic strapping that had cut cruelly into the shark’s body. Whilst on board the shark was quickly measured and dowsed with sea water before a quick photo. The measurements gave a predicted weight of 179lb. The fish was then slid carefully back into the sea to hopefully recover from its wounds free of the plastic that had been so carelessly dumped.
The scars left by the plastic packaging thoughtlessly dumped without any thought for the terrible damage it can inflict on large predators such as sharks and dolphin.The cruel plastic removed from the sharks body
Ready to slip the shark back into the clear water
Many thanks to James for allowing me to add his account of the trip and for Peter, Bruce and James in providing additional images.
A great days fishing out of Ilfracombe. Perfect conditions to be out on a boat and amazing scenery as we steamed out to the fishing mark. Searching for a fish that I’d never caught before yesterday the Porbeagle Shark . When it came to my turn to take the rod the float dipped and the fish was on. The sheer power was quite remarkable… when I got the fish to the side of the boat where they are normally released straight away to keep any stress on the fish to a minimum we noticed some plastic around it’s gills. Dan the skipper brought the fish aboard snipped off the plastic and after a very quick photo we released the fish back into the water hopefully to fully recover from the tangle of plastic. Was shocking to see the damage caused by such a small piece of rubbish and shows the importance of reducing our plastic usage and dumping into the oceans. A great day, good company, stunning scenery and a fish I’ll never forget. Thanks Daniel Hawkins and Wayne Thomas.
With two shark by 1.00pm our hopes were high for another couple of shark and it was Peters turn to take up the rod when a run came.
The boat drifted pushed by tide and wind a slick of oily scent calming the water in the wake of the boat. Whilst shark were top of the agenda lures, feathers and mackerel bait tempted bass in good numbers with fish to six pound plus brought to the boat. A couple of bass were retained for the table.
A pleasing bass of over 6lbJames Thomas with bass tempted on a strip of mackerel
We chatted and relaxed watching the occasional gannet gliding above the vast ocean. At any moment we expected a float to plunge beneath the water or a rod to keel over as a porbeagle hit the baits. Dan kept us topped up with hot tea and coffee as we waited in tense expectation.
Peter Robinson with one of several bass brought to the boat.
As the afternoon ebbed away our time ran out and Dan called time expressing disappointment at the quietness of the afternoon. The run back to Ilfracombe went surprisingly quickly as we passed familiar landmarks of the North Devon coast. Hartland Point at the mouth of the Bristol Channel, the dunes and estuary mouth of Bideford Bay. The headlands of Baggy Point, Morte Point and Bull Point and the spectacular cliffs between Lee Bay and Ilfracombe.
It had been a great day with couple of special fish along with silver bass, good company and spectacular scenery. I look forward recommencing the search again next year weather and life permitting.
A new Lake record carp for lodge lake at Stafford Moor. Steve Tancock caught this 43lb beauty using Mainline cell boilies , there were 4 other witnesses on the lake to verify the weight , Steve popped in the day before and said it was quiet up on the lake then had a few out including a 28lb, 32lb, 35lb then smashed it with this 43lb!
Having met Ashley Bunning while he was working at Anglers Paradise I feel sure he will promote angling across SWLT’s waters following on from the excellent work undertaken by Ben Smeeth in recent years.
Meet Ashley, our new Head of Angling
September 2022
Hi all, I’m Ashley Bunning, the new Head of Angling at South West Lakes.
I am a keen angler who has fished the South West Lakes reservoirs all my life. I grew up in Holsworthy and when I finished school I moved away from home and studied Fishery Management and Aquaculture to a Bachelor of Science level at Sparsholt College in Winchester.
After completing my course, I worked at various fisheries around the country, then settled at Anglers Paradise in Devon for the last six years.
Over the years I have volunteered for South West Lakes and when the opportunity came about to have a role here as Head of Angling I jumped at the chance! I look forward to pushing fishing forward and improving the experience for anglers on our waters.
Small rises in the Taw and Torridge brought some hope of salmon with a few reported following the weekend. A twelve pound cock fish was caught by Barry Mills at Little Warham fishery on the River Torridge and two salmon were tempted on the Taw by Simon Hillcox.. It is likely that foul water following these small spates has deterred some fish from entering the rivers. A deluge of rain is required before the seasons end if good numbers of salmon are to be tempted from the rivers. There have been reports of fish leaping in the estuaries.
TODAYS MATCH HELD at Horwood lakes. Awesome venue! 15 anglers lined the banks for this fun match spread across both lakes.
BIG THANK YOU TOO ALL For one minute silence held in respect of HRH Queen Elizabeth
Top three pairs on the day were Graham Curnow and Barry Lee with 6 points and 61lb 4oz
Second was Kevin Wilton and Kevin Grant with 7 points and 67lb7oz. Third was Norman Martin and Martin Scoynes with 7pts and 55lb14oz.
It was reported as a brilliant day with trophies supplied by Quay Sports. Plenty of friendly banter along the bank and many new faces the club is slowly growing which is absolutely great so if I fancy ago at match fishing please come along all welcome.
The weather held and we enjoyed a mild day with a southerly breeze. The ‘unstoppable’ Nathan has drawn the golden peg 18, and fished his paste on the long pole technique for yet another victory!
John ,on peg 13, fell just short for his second place, another pole and paste carp net.
Keith was best of the rest off peg 11, another carp net this time cage feeder and maggot.
Paul’s trip up from Tiverton produced the best silvers net to pole and maggot on peg 6, and 4th spot.
The league leader ,Craig ,saw his lead reduced to just 2 points, to in form Nathan.
Small rises in the Taw and Torridge brought some hope of salmon with a few reported following the weekend. A twelve pound cock fish was caught by Barry Mills at Little Warham fishery on the River Torridge and two salmon were tempted on the Taw by Simon Hillcox.. It is likely that foul water following these small spates has deterred some fish from entering the rivers. A deluge of rain is required before the seasons end if good numbers of salmon are to be tempted from the rivers. There have been reports of fish leaping in the estuaries.
