ANGLERS PARADISE FOUNDER ZYG GREGOREK HAS DIED
I am sad to report that Zyg Gregorek founder of Anglers Paradise has died. Zyg leaves a lasting legacy in Anglers Paradise a holiday complex with lakes that has become famous across the angling world. Zyg excavated lakes driven by an ambitious vision. He worked tirelessly with his family to grow the complex from a marshy plot of land back in the early eighties to become the thriving holiday venue of today.
Zany Zyg as he was often affectionately referred to was a larger than life character who travelled the world in search of specimen fish. His robust humour and passion for angling endearing him to many within a wide angling community. A trip to the Safari bar at the heart of Anglers Paradise gives a glimpse into a life well lived, its walls adorned with trophy fish and images that reflect many big names from across the angling world and beyond.
Zyg his family and the angling community have helped to raise many thousands of pounds for good causes and local charities.
Zyg’s infamous homebrewed wine fuelled many late nights of fun and laughter as anglers and their families gathered after a hard days fishing forging many lifelong friendships.
The angling world will be poorer without Zyg, his legacy lives on with the Gregorek family, the fabulous fish and the lakes that provide a great platform for the future of angling.
The fishing did prove difficult and it was very much a one chance day with five trout banked between the eight keen competitors. My own tactics were very much based on fishing a team of flies I had confidence in a black bead head woolly bugger on the point and two small black flies on the droppers. I persisted with this for 98% of the day only changing the point fly for a few casts on a whim. I had four takes throughout the day and converted just the one that produced a stunning wild brown of 38.5 cm.
On difficult days like this its often just a case of roving about trying here and there and keeping the fly in the water as much as possible in the hope that a feeding fish sees the lure.
Whn the algal bloom clears as it does every year sport will improve and those wild browns will succumb to good angling. Several good fish were lost and I’m sure the lake holds some really big specimen brown that grow large predating on the abundance of rudd fry.
Many thanks to Rodney for organising the events. I look forward to the next round at the picturesque Fernworthy high on Dartmoor.
Many thanks to my wife Pauline for a few additional images of the day.
Click on link below to see starter kit :-
Click on image for link….
I promised Rodney Wevill who organises the Fluff Chucker events that that I would give an update on Wistlandpound before the next Brown Trout Masters event on May 2nd. So on April 18th I set off for quick fish around the lake. On arrival it was pleasing to hear the call of chiff chaffs in the fresh green trees. Parking in the lower Car park I walked down across the dam noting that the reservoir level is around 4ft below top water level. There was also a green tinge to the water indicating an algae bloom a frequent issue this reservoir over the years.
Wistlandpound is 41 acres and is close to my home in North Devon. I have fished at the venue since the late 1970’s and have witnessed several phase of fishing at the venue. It was once a premier rainbow trout fishery but was downgraded a few years ago to become a natural brown trout water. Trout are no longer stocked into the lake but a healthy stock remain in the reservoir and there is the potential for some large specimens. Rudd are now abundant in the reservoir and undoubtedly provide food for the venues larger brown trout. Recent season have seen fish caught to 3lb with larger fish glimpsed as they smash into fry during late summer.
I walked along to the South bank where a good stretch of bank is fishable. I covered this stretch of water casting and stepping to cover as much water as possible. See Map below :-
The South bank gives access to deep water with some weed offering food for both trout and Rudd. The eastern end of the lake offer some access to extensive weedy shallows that can fish well especially when the water level is down a little giving casting space behind. There are two areas of accessible bank on the North Shore that can be productive if the boat launching area isn’t being used.
Despite searching all fishable areas I drew a blank on this short reconnoitre of the water. It will be interesting to see what is caught during the Fluff Chucker’s event. I generally fish a team of flie’s with black lures, black spiders and PTN’s generally working well along with Zulus and other traditional wets.
President: Lord Clinton
Chairman: Paul Ashworth Secretary: Charles Inniss
Beeches East Street Sheepwash Beaworthy Devon EX21 5NW
e-mail: [email protected]
NEWSREEL SPRING 2026
SUBSCRIPTIONS for 2026 are now due and are £20 .
The season so far: Salmon-wise it has been a most encouraging start to the season. Four fresh spring salmon have been caught: one of 10lb and three about about 8lb: one in the first week of the season at Riversmeet and three downstream from beam weir (two during Easter w/e). The salmon anglers have caught several trout up to 1.5lbs: all in good condition. With the weather warming the brown trout are starting to feed on the surface and there’s always the chance of an early running sea trout: these early fish are usually in the 3/5lb range.
The AGM: was held at The Half Moon on Friday 27th March. Over 40 members and guests attended. Our President Lord Clinton was able to join us and also the Fishery Protection Officer, Sam Fenner. Our guest speaker for the evening was Willie Entwistle, the Chair of the South West Rivers Association (SWRA), who gave an enlightening talk on the importance of the SWRA which represents all the 20 westcountry rivers. The main aim of the SWRA is to highlight the particular problems of our rivers (water quality and the declining numbers of migratory fish) at the highest level. After the meeting we all enjoyed the usual excellent buffet.
THE HATCHERY: once again the hatchery project has been most successful and over 20,000 swim -up fry were stocked out in the last week of March into tributaries of the Upper Torridge, Lew and Okement. Once the eggs have been stripped from the hens, fertilised, and laid out in the egg box trays they have to be checked daily with any dead eggs removed. Silt is the one ongoing problem which if allowed to build up in the trays kills the eggs through lack of oxygen. The hatchery team will be looking into ways the silt loading can possibly be reduced next winter. FISHERY REPORT: Sam Fenner, our fishery protection officer, provided vital support in catching up the broodstock for the hatchery from the fish pass at Monkokehampton Weir. Sam is the only fishery protection officer for the whole of Devon!! The results of the EA juvenile survey at Okement Castle on the Okement were quite outstanding: indeed probably the best for all the rivers in Devon and Cornwall!! It was, he reminded us, more important than ever for us all to be the eyes and ears of the river and report any concerns. THE TORRIDGE WEBCAM is now at Taddiport Bridge on the Lower Torridge. It is now live. BEAVERS: There is now at least one beaver colony in the Torridge catchment!! Like it or not we are going to have to live with beavers. A group of us recently attended a very informative presentation at Hatherleigh Community Centre re. the pros and cons of beavers in our rivers. Our concern was the effect of beaver dams on salmon reaching their spawning grounds. Your committee will be arranging a similar presentation at The Half Moon during the summer. Details to follow in due course.