Weekly ANGLING REPORT – November 13th 2025

Devon’s Largest Carp

Clint Miller has caught what is believed to be Devon’s largest carp from Angler’s Paradise’s Nirvana Syndicate. The carp known as Silverback weighed an impressive 59lb 2oz and is Clint’s second carp of over 50lb from the lake. A fishery source says, “As a fishery, we are very proud of what we are achieving across the whole site. The project will always be ongoing, but we will continue to strive to be one of the best fisheries in the country.

2026 will be another big year for Anglers Paradise, with plans to develop more lakes to offer outstanding fishing for all. The Nirvana Syndicate is a small piece of a big puzzle, it is meeting all expectations. We expect two 60s by the end of next year. It really is the lake of dreams!
Anglers Paradise
            The exceptionally mild weather so far this Autumn has resulted in ideal conditions for carp anglers across the region with good fish banked from many venues. At this time of year carp are often at their peak weight as they feed hard prior to the onset of colder weather. In the past fifty years the waters containing carp over thirty pounds have expanded with anglers expectations ever higher. The higher weights of carp is probably a result of a combination of a warmer climate, anglers quality baits and selective breeding. It will be fascinating to follow the growth rate of carp across the decades to see if this trend continues.

 

As we move closer to Christmas the angling competition fixture list starts to get congested as clubs and organisations hold their annual festive events. In the coming weeks Flounder anglers will be vying for success in the Taw and Torridge Estuaries. On November 30th The BBT Dan Mile Redmore Memorial Competition offers a wide selection of prizes with proceeds from the competition going to Children’s Hospice South West. Entry forms are available at Barnstaple Bait and Tackle.

Bideford Angling Club hold their popular Christmas Flounder Competition on December 14th.

Martin Turner won Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly Coarse Match at their home venue Tarka Swims with 29lb 12oz. Antony Bentley was runner up with 29lb 8oz and Nathan Underwood third with 25lb.

Bulldog Fishery host their latest popular Trout Fishing Competition on November 30th  and event that will undoubtedly see good numbers of large trout caught by competitors.

Barnstaple and District Angling Club hold their AGM at the Ebberly Arms on Tuesday, November 18th. The Westcountry Rivers Trust are giving a presentation to members. The club has seen a significant upturn in recent seasons with a real focus on the value of their waters both game and coarse along with the natural world that thrives within.

 

ANGLING REPORT – November 6th, 2025

ANGLING REPORT

Flounder Season in full swing

The flounder season is in full swing with regular competitions being held in the estuary. Triple Hook Clubs South West Water Open was won by Robbie Hancock with a flounder of 1lb 71/2oz. Runner up was Steve Baker with a flounder of 1lb 67/8oz and Garry Vaughan third with a flounder of 1lb 61/4oz. Triple Hook Clubs Open last Sunday was won by Paul Ackland with a fine flounder of 1lb 111/4oz. Runner up was Mario Manley with a flounder of 1lb 63/8oz, third Mark Hancock was third with a flounder of 1lb 51/2oz and Kevin Hancock forth with a flounder of 1lb 41/2oz.

( Above) Paul Ackland won Bideford Angling Clubs monthly sea rover with a flounder scaling 1lb 121/2oz.

The estuary is also producing good numbers of bass with many being tempted with baits intended for flounder. Increased rainfall and colder weather is perhaps needed to result in increased catches of the humble flounder that provide easy fishing close to the town. One of the beauties of flounder fishing is that it can be enjoyed by anglers of all ages and abilities.

BASS FISHING

            Jamie Steward has secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League sponsored by High Street Tackle. The event ran from April 1st until October 31st with club members registering their top five lure caught bass. Jamie registered five bass for 354cm with Mark Drewer runner up with five bass for 351cm. The longest bass of 77cm was caught by Mark Drewer.

MATCH FISHING

Gary McClair won this year’s Stafford Moor November Silvers Festival with 31lb from Woodpecker Lake.

Bideford and District Angling Clubs team of fifteen travelled to Bude Canal for the second leg of their interclub match with Bude Angling Club. The match was a close run affair with Bude winning with 234 points to Bideford’s 230 points. Bideford secured overall victory carrying a thirty point advantage from the first heat held on their home water.

North Devon Match Group fished their latest Match at Oaktree Fishery where Paul Morris took top spot on the bottom lake with 62lb 10oz. Andy Preston was runner up with 38lb 2oz. On the top lake Nathan Underwood took top spot with 110lb 10oz. Daniel Underwood was runner up with 74lb 2oz.

Big trout continue to provide sport at Bulldog Trout Fishery with brown trout close to double figures featuring in recent catches. Mike Latham won the fisheries latest competition with six trout for 26lb 13oz. Nick Tamlin was runner up with six trout for 21lb 11oz and Ian Connabeer third with six trout for 13lb 10oz. Biggest fish of the day was a 9lb 10oz brown trout caught by Mike Latham.

Weekly Angling Report, October 30th, 2025

BIG WEIGHTS AT STAFFORD MOOR

North Devon Match Groups latest Match at Stafford Moor was won by Nathan Underwood with 132lb 8oz. Tom Downing was runner up with 123lb 4oz.
The latest Open Match at the Moor was won by Mark Wyne with 108lb10oz.
The October Fisho 2025 Final was fished at Stafford Moor’s Woodpecker lake last Sunday. The winner of section one was Mark Layzell with 157lb 1oz and the winner of section 2 Martin Preston with 139lb8oz.

BIDEFORD & DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB
Bideford Angling Clubs Rod N Reel Match on their home water was won by Richard Jefferies with 31lb 1oz. Runner up was Reg Sutton with 29lb 1oz and third Keith Copland with 23lb 14oz.

LURE FISHING SUCCESS

Lure anglers have been enjoying some late season bass sport with several fine specimens taken from estuary marks. Jason Hayes and his friend banked a fine brace of bass each measuring 72cm.

SEA ANGLING

Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour sea rover was won by Paul Ackland with a dogfish scaling 2lb 2oz.

Kevin Legge took first and second place in Combe Martin SAC’s October Rover with small eyed ray weighing 8lb 12oz and 6lb 13oz. Third place was taken by Nick Phillips with a bull huss of 6lb 4oz.

Strong North West winds have curtailed the end of season boat fishing season out of Ilfracombe with many trips cancelled throughout October. This late Autumn period is historically a time of plenty for shore angling enthusiasts with a vast range of species worth targeting. If species fishing is your thing then Ilfracombe Pier and many local beaches can provide red mullet and perhaps sole. Big bass, ray, smoothound and even tope can be tempted from the surf beaches if conditions permit. Grey mullet sport is at its peak in harbours with five pound plus fish a real possibility. The flounder season is also in full swing with these obliging flatfish a popular target in both the Taw and Torridge estuaries.

TROUT FISHING

Wimbleball Reservoir is producing great sport from both bank and boat as Autumn brings cooler conditions with fish feasting on fry in the margins.

At Bulldog Fishery quality brown trout have been the reward for anglers visiting the lake with good numbers banked along with rainbow trout and spartic’s. Several big brown trout have been stocked recently and are proving surprisingly elusive with anglers glimpsing the fish in the clear water and occasionally hooking big fish that break free or slip the hook after stripping yards of line from the reel. It is always fascinating how big fish can remain uncaught for months even in relatively small waters.

FISHING WISDOM – By Dominic Garnett

FISHING WISDOM

A Miscellany of Angling Anecdotes, Facts and Folklore.

By Dominic Garnett

GMC Publications. ISBN 9781784947200

Dominic’s latest book delivers an array of wisdom and comment in his unique and at times quirky entertaining style. The book strips angling back to basics in the first few chapters adding clarity to tactics that will sharpen any anglers approach to the varied waters into which lines are cast.

The design of the book certainly oozes tradition and it is in many ways a timeless tome packed with information for anglers making their first tentative casts or reflecting upon a life time searching for that connection with those creatures that dwell within a fascinating and mysterious realm.

Dom is a multi-discipline angler like myself and I can relate to much within the book and found myself benefitting from the straight forward analysis of angling. It also stimulated my own thoughts on why we fish and its wider benefits.

As those darker winter nights approach it is a book well worth delving into deserving a place on any anglers bookshelf. My own personal favourite section is perhaps the Fishing and Culture section that celebrates anglings rich history and mythology.

It is a book that will never become outdated for its key themes are the timeless essence of angling through the ages.

Dominic Garnett ( Right) with a rare comber caught off Looe in Cornwall

Weekly Angling Report -October 23rd 2025

UNDERWOOD SECURES WIN AT BIDEFORD CLUB WATER

Bideford Angling Clubs monthly Coarse Match on their home water was won by Nathan Underwood with 84lb 2oz. Runner up was Darren Polden with 52lb 12oz and third Keith Mountjoy with 39lb 14oz.

Jamie Steward caught a stunning lure caught bass of 71cm to give him a narrow lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure fishing league sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe with five bass for 353cm. The league ends on October 31st with several members in contention. Runner up spot is currently held by Mark Drewer with five bass for 351cm and Seth Tuson third with five bass for. 347.5cm.

Combe Martin SAC members have been catching specimen mullet from the North Devon Coastline with Daniel Welch catching a 4lb 2oz specimen and Graham Snow a specimen of 4lb 1.5oz.

 

The Fluff Chucker’s Fly Fishing Group followed up on a successful Brown Trout Masters series with a West Country Grayling Cup hosted by the Arundell on the Devon and Cornwall border. Roger Truscott once again demonstrated his skill with the Fly Rod winning the event with a fine grayling of 45cm. Runner up was Rodney Wevill. Winner of the morning session was Gary Brazier and Ozzie Gough winner of the afternoon session.

Grayling offer winter sport on a limited number of rivers across Devon with the Arundell waters offering fishing on the Tamar and its tributaries. The Upper Exe waters controlled by the Dulverton Anglers Association offer several miles of fishing for these ladies of the stream.

Bulldog Fishery is in fine form with big brown trout, spartic’s and rainbows being caught. The venue is launching its winter competition program of events with the first competition this Sunday.

Several North Devon based anglers have travelled to Cornwall and South Devon ports to sample the exciting tuna fishing that is currently thriving to bring a welcome boost to local economies. I joined four good friends out of Looe to share an awesome angling adventure that saw us bring nine tuna to the boats side all between 200lb and 300lb. The power of these fish is immense and a true test of an anglers stamina. It is truly amazing to witness such an abundance of life as these magnificent fish feast upon a shoal of fish along with dolphins and sea birds. It is to be hoped that this valuable catch and release big game fishery can thrive and focus minds on the long term conservation of our coastal waters.

Fluff Chuckers / Arundell Grayling Cup 2025

Overall Winner of the West Country Grayling cup was Roger Truscott and also winner of the biggest fish of the day with a fine 45cm fish

Overall winner Roger Truscott

Biggest fish of the day. Roger Truscott

Winner of Morning Session Gary Brazier

Runner up Rodney Wevill

Winner of afternoon session Ozzie Gough

Runner up. Graham Alcock Smith

Many thanks to Ozzie Gough for his account of the competition below :-

 

We had an early meet at The Arundell hotel on a cold but thankfully dry autumn day. Meeting with both new and old faces, who had the same keen expression upon their faces. And after a lovely bap we split into groups and sessions, Everyone geared up and hit the river. I pulled home beat for the afternoon session and was paired with a lovely chap named Philip Hoskins. After conducting Philip for his AM session I quickly realised it wasn’t going to be an easy session at all with Phil covering the water thoroughly and only managing a few small par and a lovely but out of season brownie of about 25cm. I geared my self up with 2 methods-euro nymph and Clink’n’dink. After covering water with reasonable efficiency and missing a few bites and with the clock running down. I dialled down my gear for simplicity and with the goal of 1 good grayling I put on a heavier self tied nymph to try get down to the bottom of the pool and after a few casts I got into my first scorable fish which was a lovely 30cm grayling which massively boosted my confidence after a lost grayling and an OOS trouts. After that with not long to go I covered a few more pools but to no avail. We headed up to the hotel as the rain began to come down and met with other anglers and realised the day had been a real struggle for the majority catching a fish or unfortunately blanking. However 1 man did extremely well and landed a 45cm grayling on his first ever session targeting them, so well done Roger and congratulations on winning the event . I was extremely pleased to get second place and was privileged to be a part of the event. A massive thanks to Rodney Wevill for all his hard work setting up such an incredible event. And I cannot wait for the next one.

 

(Above) Ozzie searching the water during the summer months.

Looking back at a project that has brought joy to many……Great Memories

Neilsen Jeffery shared this post on Facebook today and he has kindly allowed me to share here on North Devon Angling News.

It’s a really positive post showing how flourishing Bideford Angling Lakes started since being dug out of a field over twenty years ago. Credit must go to Nielsen and Paul Carter of the Environment Agency who worked closely and tirelessly to create a lasting legacy.

On a personal level it brings home how long I have been contributing to the local angling scene with my reporting in the NDJ and here on North Devon Angling News.

Since this endeavour Neilson has continued to build angling opportunities with Horwood Lakes offering excellent fishing for both match and pleasure anglers.

Neilsens post

One good thing I’ve found out today about moving house is that you go through everything tucked away in the loft, I came across these great memories from 20 years ago when I actually had a bit of hair😊and I took on a massive challenge to build a lake for the local club solely helped by Paul Carter from the EA three years later it was completed and three years of bloody hard work I might add, however a great achievement if I might say so myself and very proud😂😂
First photo L-R
Danny Hill
Paul Carter
Simon McCarthy
Andy Merrick
Myself
Andy Grey
Dave Lewis

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE

A few words from Zenia at Anglers Paradise

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE 🥳💃🕺🪩✨✨✨ What a great weekend it was…literally Fun…Fishing and Friends! The party went down a storm, our Chef Paul Casey did a great job with the food, Emma Knight did us proud with her live performance of beautiful acoustic music 🎶 to start the night, great live music in the bar and then one hell of a disco!! People danced, got merry and most importantly enjoyed celebrating 40 years of Anglers Paradise! It was lovely to have special friends attend in the likes of Mark and Judith Pitchers, Dean Macey, Daryl Hodges and Ian Jones from Dynamite, the GoCatch Team, Bob Roberts & Sue, Bill and Virginia Rushmer and of course all our amazing guests that joined us for the party of the year!! We are pleased to say that the GoCatch Team have filmed the Weekend’s shenanigans and we can’t wait to see it and share it with you all! Thank you to all that joined us in making it a weekend to remember…

Anglers Paradise
WINNERS 🏆🥇🥈🥉OF THE 40TH CELEBRATION OF ANGLERS PARADISE DYNAMITE 🧨 SPECIES CHALLENGE!
Well, not only did we party like it was 1985 last weekend but we also had a Species Challenge amongst the party goers! The baliffs said it was like watching Tom and Jerry around the Lakes!
The results and Winners were –
1st Place🥇DAN WILLIAMS-SHARPE – 10 Species
2nd Place🥈SAM WAHID – 8 Species (caught from 4 different Lakes)
3rd Place 🥉 MARK HAWITT – 8 Species (caught from 3 different Lakes)
Great angling boys! Congratulations and well done to you all!
Catch sheets are in the comments!
A MASSIVE THANK YOU to Dynamite Baits for the AMAZING Prizes that the winners went home with (cars were definitely full on departure!!)
Thank you to Alex Lister for helping with the Presentation and being a representative for Dynamite 🧨 💪🏻