The continuing hot, dry and sunny weather conditions have meant that water levels in the reservoirs across the South West have been low (below 50% full) and continue to drop, while water temperatures have been high – this means that although more bank is exposed, thus opening up new areas for bank anglers, the fish have been sulking in the deeper, cooler water, and have not been particularly eager to feed, resulting in some difficult fishing on most of the lakes. Prospects for September should see a welcome improvement, with cooler temperatures and some rain to freshen the waters.
Fishing:
Kennick – Boat anglers, able to access the deeper water, achieved the best results when fishing with weighted flies (Gold Head Damsels in particular), Boobies and Lures, along with the occasional Buzzer. Clampitts Bay, Boat Bay, The Narrows, the deep midwater and the area by the dam produced the best sport, with anglers averaging 1.2 fish per rod. As part of National Fishing Month, Kennick hosted a free Trout Fishing Taster day on 21 August, supported by Snowbee UK and Turrall flies. The event was well attended, with qualified coaches on hand to provide tuition throughout the day, as well as fly tying demonstrations and tackle to purchase.
Burrator – Sinking lines with a selection of wet patterns (Damsels and Montanas in particular) and lures produced the best results, although a large dry pattern (a Daddy or Hopper) occasionally brought fish to the surface. Rods averaged 2.4 fish per angler, with Sheepstor, Longstone Point and Bank, and Pig’s Trough Bay the most productive areas.
Stithians – A variety of techniques and depths fished met with some success at Stithians – floating lines with dry patterns (Hare’s Ear Parachute, Coch-y-Bondhu, Daddies and Hoppers), fast sinking lines with Bloodworm and Shrimp patterns, as well as the washing-line method, all primarily from the bank and well spread out around the lake (although Dam Wall, Pipe Bay, and Deep Bank featured in many catch returns).
Fernworthy – The South Bank produced the best sport, with Black CDC emergers, Black Gnats, Black Buzzers and Black Tadpoles fished on floating or intermediate lines accounting for all the catches, with anglers averaging just under one fish per rod.
Colliford – While the other waters struggled to produce good sport, Colliford came into its own in August, with weekly rod averages rising from 3.75 to 6.5 fish per angler. Rising fish meant that Floating lines with long leaders accounted for nearly all the fish caught, with a selection of dry patterns (Hopper, Hawthorn, Deer Hair Sedge, Daddies and Beetles) or sub-surface nymphs and wets (Hare’s Ear Nymphs, Bibios, Spider patterns, and Soldier Palmers) all catching well. As is usual at Colliford, fish were well spread out around the banks (although Lords Waste, Spillway, and Redhill Downs all produced consistent results). Chris Tilyard (from Fraddon) caught twelve browns in one session, while his son, Brody, caught his first ever brown trout on his first fly fishing session. Gary Stickland (from Chagford) caught twelve browns to 1lb 8oz, using a floating line and long leader in one session.
Roadford – Deep fished lures (Wooly Bugger, Booby Damsel, and Tadpole) fished from a boat with a slow retrieve, particularly over the Boils, Shop Inlet, and Boat Bay produced the best results, although generally sport was slow and challenging.
Nathan Jennings enjoyed a session to remember during the Vader Baits Social event. Nathan banked thirteen carp including five twenties and fours thirties the best a mirror carp of 31lb 8oz.
Richard Stone fished on Beatties Lake and banked 11 carp all of which were caught on Mainline cell boilies.
The home team ,of 10, filled the top 2spots . Colin has fished the margins on peg 14 with maggot for the winning net, Richard,BDAC , has fished his favourite method, paste in the weedbed on 12, for his all carp second place net.
Chris representing PDCAC came a close third on his first visit to Tarka pole tactics on peg 22.
The venue has fished quite hard for some, the weather has remained dry and warm.
We , BDAC ,hope everyone enjoyed the day and hope to continue the fixture into next year’s calendar.
Eventually a fascination with what lives in that dimension beneath the rippled surface took over. My early recollections are of sitting beside the river with my father armed with a spool of line and a tobacco tin full of hooks and split shot. Our wriggly worm bait was clearly visible in the crystal clear waters. An eel materialized from downstream and moved sinuously towards it. The eel with its resemblance to a snake held me transfixed and its image remains imprinted on my mind. I cannot tell you whether it took the bait; perhaps it did and I have deleted the memory, as there is nothing worse than a small eel impaled on a hook to create a horrific tangle of line and slime.
Extract from “I Caught A Glimpse” By Wayne Thomas Published
By the Little Egret Press in 2019
I have always had a fascination with eels and have had a few half-hearted attempts at catching a specimen of over 3lb. Many of my friends in the Specimen angling fraternity have caught big eels and I have admired the images posted on social media and in photos in the days of old. Many waters hold big eels and many more are rumoured to hold big eels.
I have seen huge eels during my years working with South West Water fish that were sadly trapped in sluice valves on reservoir outlets. At least one eel would have been close to the British Record of 11lb 2oz.
The problem with catching a big eel is that they are truly wild and are seldom seen so locating them is not always easy. There are a dedicated few anglers who target the species and they are generally a secretive bunch who protect the waters that produce big eels. This is for two reasons; big eels are vulnerable to over fishing partially because they are relatively delicate and secondly because they seem to have an uncanny knack of learning quickly after being caught. My friend Steve Dawe explained a theory shared by many eel anglers that a virgin water will yield a few big eels and then suddenly switch off as if the eels have gone. A few years later that same water can again produce, yet as eels grow slowly and live for many years the eels are still the same fish.
My eel fishing excursions over the years have resulted in a few blanks and many encounters with tackle twisting bootlaces that are more trouble than they are worth.
A big freshwater eel of over 3lb is likely to be a fish of over 30 years old though on commercial lakes this is possibly impacted upon by an increased food source that enhances growth rates.
My good friend Steve Dawe is an eel enthusiast and over recent seasons I have obtained permission to fish waters that had never been eel fished. On both waters we caught brown trout on dead-baits and left after each session wondering if we had been chasing a fish that didn’t exist?
Over the years I have invested in several books on eel fishing including, The Eel Angler by Barry McConnell, Fishing for Big Eels by Brian Crawford and Eels by John Sidley. Reading these book’s, it is apparent that eel anglers tend to be dedicated fanatics who are prepared to invest many hours in pursuit of the mysterious and enigmatic eel.
After two blank sessions on non-productive waters Steve suggested we visit a water that had produced good eels and a healthy population of medium sized fish in the 2lb to 3lb size range.
I was now well versed in eel fishing rigs, tactics and waiting for a run all I needed was for an eel to take my bait.
Rollover indicator
I met up with Steve at the chosen water a couple of hour’s drive from my North Devon home. It was 7.00am with light drizzle falling and a warm muggy atmosphere enveloping the lake that lay in a wooded valley. Steve was already in position with baits just cast out as I arrived.
I set up in the adjacent swim and tackled up with Dyson rigs and small roach heads on each rod. After ten minutes Steve was into an eel of over 2lb that gave an exciting scrap despite its moderate size sending up plumes of silt as it gyrated in the water. I watched Steve carefully deal with the eel, I took a quick photo and watched it swim away.
Within moments my own bite alarm sounded as the rollover released line allowing it to stream freely from the open reel spool. I picked up the rod and struck into nothing! I missed two more runs before Steve was once again attached to an eel. This eel gave an equally good account of itself before being netted and scaled 2lb 4oz.
This was to prove to be Steve’s total eel haul for the day. I persisted with two eel rods missing a run or two every hour some of which were undoubtedly carp swimming into the line. On one occasion the line was streaming out and I struck to feel heavy resistance. There was a big swirl on the surface and for a moment we both thought eel! It was in fact a foul hooked carp of about 3lb!
Steve left one eel rod out and enjoyed float fishing in the margins where he caught a nice roach and a few carp. It would have been easy to be distracted as large carp cruised under the rod tips and slurped down surface food. Bubbles broke the surface as fish fed hard upon the silty lake bed.
I remained fully focused on an eel despite the continual frustration of missed runs. Some could be small eels or finicky eels whilst some could be carp nudging the baits and releasing the line from the delicate rollover indicator.
As mid afternoon passed doubts began to creep in that another eel blank was looming? Steve had to drive away to get a phone signal and wound his rods in for a while. Shortly after he left I eventually made contact with an eel; the type of eel I had often encountered in the past that probably weighed 1lb 8oz. A small eel for the venue but at least I hadn’t blanked.
I showed Steve the eel when he returned and slipped it back into the lake. We planned to pack up at around 6.00pm but fish on until 7.00pm if I had not caught an eel over 2lb.
At 5.45pm the indicator bleeped once again as the line was released from the rollover. I picked up the rod, paused as the line tightened and lifted into the fish. There was a big swirl and a cloud of silt as the rod was pulled over as something large pulled back in the murky water. The drag was set tight and I hung on as the rod hooped over. The eel shook its head and I felt savage lunges transmitted through the line and well bent rod. Steve grabbed the net and after a few anxious moments the prize was secure. This was without doubt a new personal best eel and a magnificent looking creature. The eel was quickly unhooked, fortunately it was lip hooked, the barbless size 4 slipping out easily with the forceps. The eel was laid out onto a wet unhooking matt and admired before having a number added to its credentials. At 4lb 8oz it is a fish that will remain etched in my memory and will undoubtedly be the first of more eels as I explore my local waters more.
Steve gave useful advice on photographing eels and I did my best to pose as I admired the eel. A truly magnificent fish that has fulfilled a long held desire that had been smouldering since that day with my father beside a summer river well over fifty years ago.
Many thanks must go to Steve who guided me to success and quipped as we packed away’ That’s the second trip now that you have commented that “your fish totals as much as both of yours”. My last trip with Steve had been to Chew Valley Lake where I had boated a 38lb pike. Once again right place, right time and a big slice of luck!!
Having read the recent book, The Catch By Mark Wormald I was keen to obtain a copy of West Country Fly Fishing by Anne Voss Bark. This book is referred to frequently in Wormald’s tome that reflects upon Ted Hughes his life and poetry much of which is West Country linked. My good friends Keith & Sandy Armishaw are owners of one of the countries top specialist angling book shops with a vast range of angling and countryside books. So it was a good excuse to call around for a catch up and browse through a vast selection of angling books.
I have not yet read West Country Fly Fishing but glancing through its pages and illustrations I am immediately struck by the richness of angling just 40 years ago and references to a previous golden era of fishing. It is tragic that our rivers have declined over the decades especially the once prolific runs of salmon and sea trout. Just forty years ago salmon were taken for the table as a matter of course. Today catch and release is the accepted normal as catches dwindle and anglers are determined to preserve the remaining stocks.
The many volumes of angling literature upon the shelves at River Reads are an invaluable insight into anglings rich history and very well worth visiting.
There is an extra dimension to lure fishing after dark with the visual senses restricted sound and feel take over. The savage jolt as a big bass hits the lure and rips line from a tight drag is electrifying. My latest excursion resulted in several bass the best a beauty of 7lb 7oz ( 69 cm) that increases my lead in the Combe Martin SAC Lure competition. A Mega-bass Spindle worm once again the successful pattern
A trout fishing taster day took place on Saturday 20 August as part of National Fishing Month.
The free event, kindly supported by Snowbee and Turrall, was based at Kennick reservoir and offered the chance for those interested in taking up the sport to have a go themselves with experienced anglers on hand to offer tuition as well as fly-tying demonstrations. It was also the perfect opportunity for anglers to come along and pick up some new techniques and tips and have a cup of tea and chat.
National Fishing Month (1st-31st August) celebrates the social, well-being and environmental benefits of angling and the uptake of places for the taster day was very encouraging with the event selling out quickly. The weather was kind and there was some useful cloud coverage and breeze at times. Participants were booked into one of three sessions throughout the day and were assigned to a coach who offered tuition and guidance. It was a great atmosphere, lots of laughs and a really good opportunity to experience fly-fishing in an informal and friendly setting.
Back at the lodge, there were fly-tying demonstrations to watch, a sale of fishing equipment and plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits and the chance to enter a raffle to win various angling items and permits. Thanks to the team from Turrall for their support with the day, in particular their contribution to the raffle and generous gift bags. Well done to the winners who will be contacted shortly.
We had some great feedback on the day and it was really good to see so many people enjoying the fishing as well as hearing future plans to continue the hobby going forward. We have also been asked to run more days like this so watch this space! A particular mention should go to the junior anglers who put in a lot of effort and showed some very promising talent- keep it up!
We would like to extend our gratitude to those who came along or helped on the day, without whom events like this would not be possible so a special thank you to: Simon Kidd (Snowbee), John Hern, Brian Ratcliff, Colin Nice, Andy Watson, Heather Lamacraft, Mike Kent, Geoff Stephens, Harry Chance and Laurence Skinner who gave us their time and expertise throughout the day and of course to Mark for his help and organisation.
Tight lines and hope to see you out on the water soon.
South Molton & District Angling Club carried out Riverfly and CSI monitoring sessions at Brayley Bridge and Brayford Bridge on Sunday the 21st of August included our chairman Ed Rands, Steve Bendle (Riverfly), Roger Bray (CSI), and club member Mike Coulson.
However, CSI results for both locations were excellent despite the low water levels. Riverfly count for Brayley Bridge results was a little low but the count at Brayford was more encouraging despite the water level being a little low.
