Large numbers of small mullet bode well for the future though they made it hard to connect with the larger specimens that could be glimpsed on the flooding tide. The annual event was concluded with breakfast in Lynmouth Pavillion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spectacular red gurnard
Broken tips for two!
IN HOPE OF SALMON
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.
Bingo Time!
Team working
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!
The salmon and trout fishing season on North Devon’s rivers has closed with a flourish as September rains have rejuvenated the rivers to bring a very welcome flush of cleaner oxygenated water. Since late Spring the rivers have languished with low levels and high temperatures resulting in fishing being suspended for an unprecedented number of weeks.
September rod catches for salmon and sea trout on both the Taw and Torridge undoubtedly make up a significant percentage of the years total with an estimated thirty to forty salmon caught on both rivers throughout the month. This has been great news and a positive end to the season.
Ian Blewett secretary of the River Taw Fisheries and Conservation Association closed his season in style tempting four salmon from the Taw during the final days of the season.
The historic Little Warham Fishery is changing hands after close to ten years in the custodianship of Anthony Wilmington and Amanda Milner. Anthony and his family are moving to a new location in the Torridge Valley where their deep roots with the river and its fish will continue. In a fitting close to an era Anthony tempted the biggest salmon from the Torridge this year estimated at over 20lb his second fish in a week as the river fined down following the big spate. Tony Bennett and James Crawford also enjoyed success during closing week of the season at Little Warham.
The fishing was excellent and everyone enjoyed themselves. Lunchtime at the hut was full of reminiscing, and little Brook (now seven!) closed our time at Little Warham with the very last cast of the day.
As you can imagine, it was quite emotional for us both, reflecting on everything we’ve experienced here. From arriving to a house untouched for 50 years, to developing the holiday lets, to all the riverbank conservation and restoration Anthony has carried out — it’s been quite a journey. The fishing has been the icing on the cake, along with the lifelong friends we’ve made. All of this has deepened our connection to North Devon and to the Torridge.
What means the most to us is knowing we leave behind a lasting legacy at Little Warham — not only through the restored banks and healthier waters, but also in the spirit of community and friendship that has grown here. It feels good to know that the work and care invested will continue to benefit others long after our chapter closes.
Our next venture will carry those roots forward. We’ll continue offering holiday lets, while Anthony expands his passion for guiding and tuition on both the Taw and the Torridge — opening the sport up to less able anglers as well. He’ll also be available for consultancy and support to riparian owners, drawing on his hands-on experience with the riverbank restoration and specialist tree operations. And of course, we’ll remain active in campaigning against river pollution, with the support of Fish Legal.
I said to Anthony that he couldn’t have wished for a better fish to mark his last week here — the biggest of the season on the Torridge. Really, you couldn’t ask for more.
Seth Tuson tempted a fine sea trout from a beat lower down the Torridge.
My own river season ended with two sessions in the closing week. The first to a Middle River Torridge beat that I have fished regularly over the past fifteen or so years. The conditions appeared to be perfect with the river carrying a healthy tinge of colour as it fined down following the long awaited spate. It was a delight to drift the fly across familiar lies and I expected a pull at any moment. It wasn’t to be however and I couldn’t help but reflect upon previous September days when I had caught salmon and seen plenty of fish showing. It seems that salmon fishing these days is very much like the National Lottery. You have to buy a ticket to have a chance but winning is so often just a dream.
I closed the season searching the Upper reaches of a Taw tributary where I found feisty wild brown trout with flanks of bronze and olive hues decorated with crimson spots. These jewelled delights have been at my lines end since I was a child and still bring that same sense of joy.
My sea angling journey started many years ago fishing from the Banjo Pier in Looe, South Cornwall so each year when we return to join what has become known as the Looe Basher group many memories are rekindled. I was booked onto the Reef Fishing trip on the Friday of the week which turned out to be a lucky break as two days of the six booked for the group ended up being cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Looe Basher is organised with military precision by Lee Armishaw of Watersmeet Publications who navigates many hurdles to put together this highly enjoyable convergance of friends each Autumn.
I joined six other anglers on Dan Margetts, Sowenna and we sailed out of Looe on a grey morning eager to connect with the many species that dwell on the offshore reefs. The previous days highlight had been the sighting of a fin whale breaching close to the boat.
I hope to cover the trip in a future Sea Angler Feature so will not go into too much detail. But the trip resulted in some stunning fish that brought much colour to the grey Autumn day. Two of us boated nine species each on the day with a total of at least a dozen species to the boat including three comber.
The week concluded with a gathering and a delicious meal in the Golden Guinea where the annual ‘Evans Top Rod award’ was presented to Dickie Howell who landed ten species in a single session and assisted Dan Margetts with crewing. ‘The Evans Top Rod engraved Tankard is presented in fond memory of Peter Evans who was a regular attendee of the Looe Basher. He brought a warm presence, optimism and humour to the event and is greatly missed following his passing earlier this year.
Jack Perks was also congratulated in catching a comber to bring his tally of Uk species to 100!
BIDEFORD SECURE IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER PLYMOUTH
Bideford & District Angling Club secured an impressive victory against Plymouth and District Angling Club at Bake Lakes. Bideford totalled weight was 147lb 6oz with Plymouth only managing 35lb 14oz. The individual winner on the day was Bideford’s Craig Lamey. The combined weight totals after the two legs were Bideford 447lb15oz to Plymouth’s 150lb 12oz.
42lb carp – Stafford Moor
Scott Cowling banked a fine mirror carp of 42lb whilst fishing Stafford Moor’s Lodge Lake. The venue also produced eight fish for Rob Gibbon and his friends the biggest 36lb.
Smoothound Dominate
Smoothound dominated Bideford Angling Clubs monthly sea rover with Stephen Found landing a fine specimen of 14lb 10oz. Andrew Clements was runner up with a thornback ray of 9lb 2oz. Dale Kiff and Jenson Kiff took the remaining places with smoothound scaling 9lb 11oz, 9lb 9oz, 8lb 1oz and 7lb 4oz.
Bass Wins Appledore Rover
Michael Hammett took top spot in Appledore Shipbuilders rover with a bass of 4lb 5oz.
Triggerfish wins CMSAC Competition
Kevin Legge won Combe Martin SAC’s rover with a specimen triggerfish scaling 3lb 15oz. I took second and third place with thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb 14oz and 4lb 1oz.
Trevor Telling Memorial 2025
The Annual Trevor Telling Memorial Competition at Wimbleball was won by Colin Combe who boated five trout for a total weight of 12lb 8.5oz. The bank trophy was won by Roger Truscott who banked three trout for 5lb 12oz. The prizes were presented by well- known and respected fly fishing writer and instructor Peter Cockwill. All monies raised go to the Exeter Hospice Care Team.
As water levels at local reservoirs recover and water temperatures drop trout sport is expected to improve with late September and October often providing some of the seasons best sport.
RAIN BRINGS HOPE OF SILVER
Heavy rain showers have brought hope that salmon will move into North Devon’s rivers bring a late flourish to what has been a poor season with drought conditions dominating throughout the summer.
FLOUNDER FISHING SEASON
Late September is the traditional start of the flounder fishing season and competitions are already planned for the coming months. The Barnstaple Bait & Tackle Dan Miles Memorial Open Competition is on Sunday November 30th and is proving a popular event with over 100 entrants in last year’s event. All proceeds go to Children’s Hospice South West Little Bridge House, Fremington.
Six boats went out and 2 anglers fished from the bank. The day started out wet and was held up by an overhead thunder storm with lots of lightening, and no one fancied being fried by wagling a carbon conductor round 
. The morning was slow to get going, the fish weren’t sure what the atmospheric pressure was doing. Gusty winds made casting from the boats or bank a challenge but everyone persisted and some were well rewarded. 5 fishermen were actually in their own competition and represented the Wistland Pound fly fishing club. Some entered the TT Memorial match and Colin Combe won boat trophy and a BTL of Jamieson’s whiskey with a total of 5 fish weighing a very respectable 12 lbs 81/2 Oz. His best three for our match came in at 8 lbs 12oz, well done to Colin and the other guys from their club.
The bank fishing was tough due to the low water, steep banks and the prevailing wind. However Andrew Hull ( last years winner) managed to land a lovely 2 lb 10oz beauty whilst Roger Truscott managed to land 3 fish with a total weight of 5lbs 11 Oz. Roger took the bank Trophy and a BTL of Jamieson’s Whiskey. The well known Fly fishing instructor and writer Peter Cockwill who knew Trevor well heard about the competition and asked to come along and regal his stories of teaching Trevor the finer arts of fly fishing when Peter managed the fishing lakes at Wintershall estate in Surrey and Trevor managed the farm, thankyou Peter, a great story and also for donating 2 of his books to 2 very lucky people. One was awarded to Richard Smith for catching his first ever Trout on the fly ( in fact he landed 2 and lost one at the net) and one was also given to Arthur, Trevor’s grandson who one day may even be as good a fisherman as Trevor and keep the spirit and practice of fly fishing in future generations. A total of 26 fish were caught with a total weight of 56 lbs for the day a great effort by everyone. Thanks go to Andrew Sheen, Chris Davis, Richard Smith, Colin Combe, André Muxworthy, Nigel Bird, Dave Mock, Roger Prout. Roger Truscott and Andrew Hull. All great fishermen and regulars of Wimbleball . Special thanks go to Mark Underhill for hosting the competition at his fishery, Karen Telling for closing the match Daughter Charlotte with young Arthur and hubby Mattius ( you never know, we may have a ladies competition next year) for supporting and cheering everyone on. All monies raised will go to the Exeter Hospice care team to help them continue to support sufferers and families thru very difficult times. Looking forward to next year’s match already and working with Jeff Pearce to ensure that even more people come along and enjoy the day. Alan Cross
Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club – Competition Result
1st – Colin Combe 12lbs 8.5 oz
2nd – Dave Eldrid 12lbs 5 oz
3rd -Nigel Bird 7lbs 10oz
4th -Andre Muxworthy 7lbs 8oz
5th -Dave Mock 5lbs 4oz
