Bude Bait and Tackle offers anglers in North Cornwall and North Devon a wide range of tackle covering all disciplines. Close to the coast and premier coarse angling venues the store is ideally placed to serve anglers within the area. I wish Chris and the team all the best for a successful and prosperous future. 
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.
First place today went to Martin Turner on peg 17 with a nice net full mainly carp for a weight of 36lbs 15oz, 2nd place was Kevin Shears on peg 4 with a weight of 32lbs 13oz ,3rd place was Stefan Clarke on peg 9 with 27lbs 1oz and 4th place today went to Antony Bentley on peg 6 with 27lbs. The next Rod and Reel match will be on the 26.4.26 at tarka. If you would like to book on to the next Rod and Reel match you can do so 30days before the match in advance on clubmate. 
The Fly Fishing community gathered at the Arundell for the first day of the West Country Trout Festival on March 14th the eve of a new River Fishing season. It proved to be a highly enjoyable day of learning, socialising and tackle browsing. My mind is overwhelmed with images, thoughts and plans for a new season so rather than try and report on the day with long winded narrative I will simply post images and relevant captions with links to relevant websites.
David Pilkington got the talks underway enthralling the audience by reading an extract from his highly anticipated book that reflects upon a lifetime at the water’s edge. His narrative tells of social change and declining salmon runs interspersed with rich and relevant humour.
David Oakley delivered a fascinating and informative talk on the work of the Wild Trout Trust. He highlighted the many issues that impact upon our rivers including; Agricultural pollution, Physical modifications, Waste Water, Urban pollution, Invasive species, Abstraction, Hydro and global warming.
He outlined the benefits of wood in rivers, The renaturalisation of rivers after years of misguided abuse. The importance of shade and the return to natural wiggling and meandering water courses.
Jeff Pearce presented ‘Echoes of the Run: Can salmon still thrive in our South West Rivers? Jeff has lived close to the River Fowey for much of his life and has an intimate connection with the river and its fish. He explained the sad plight of the salmon and the issues that threaten their survival as they migrate from high on Bodmin Moor to their Ocean feeding grounds and back to their birthplace.
Jeff showed the vital work being undertaken on the River to give the sea trout and salmon a fighting chance.
The impact of Colliford and Siblyback Reservoirs was highlighted along with the hatchery that is being used to compensate for the loss of vital spawning grounds.
Click on links below for more info: –
https://billparrydavies.vhx.tv/products/tidal-reach
William Entwisle
Discussed the expansive strategies being developed by SWRA, including their sea trout and salmon action plan and smolt augmentation initiatives. I missed much of this talk but picked up at its conclusion as William talked of a Noah’s Ark to help salmon to survive as the destructive fishing industry is regulated via international agreements.
Alex emphasised the value and unique importance of English Chalk Streams. There are 210 chalk streams across the world 160 of which are in England with the others in France. The delights of fishing throughout the seasons were described with tactics and approach outlined with in-depth analysis of the trout’s view of the world.
https://www.aardvarkmcleod.com/water_type/chalkstream/
Charles is a gifted teacher and introduced his inspiring Fishing for school program with vigour and passion. The bugs life world of River Fly transfixed the audience and introduced the universal value of Latin across the scientific community. He explained how viewing the abundance of life in rivers linked to art and broader learning. Full details of Fishing For Schools can be found at :-
What we Observe
Is not nature itself,
But nature exposed
to our method
of questioning.
Werner Heisenberg
From Charles talk of Latin and life within the water we moved on to a little psychology as Nigel Nunn introduced his world of fly tying. Asking; How trout see things and why they take a fly? Nigel’s non symmetrical scruffy flies are designed to give the illusion of life. A great deal of thought, observation and experimentation is behind the designs of Nigel’s creations that tempt wily trout across the globe.
Nigel related to the names of some of his flies an example being the Gypsy Queen a vibrant pink and green fly, alegedly named after an Irish saying:-
Pink and Green
Should never be seen
Except on the back of a gypsy queen.
Nigel agreed with my comment that one of the most important factors in fly choice is Confidence and belief in its effectiveness.
https://www.nigelnunnflies.com
Dom talks coarse fish on the fly the new frontier; exploring a wide range of West Country venues suggesting that Fly Fishing offers opportunites to target many species not tradionally targeted with Fly Tackle. Species targetted by Dom included perch, Rudd, pike, carp, bream, roach, chub and even huge catfish.
Jeff Pearce and Nigel Nunn creating tempting flies with a dash of banter and a cheery grin.
Exhibitors host a multitude of stands in the Tamar Room. Quality tackle, flies and holidays to tempt both angler and trout!
UNIQUE FLIES Offer fine quality barbless flies for river and lake
All the way from France
Casterbridge Fisheries (River Frome)
The River Frome home of the UK’s biggest grayling and stunning wild chalkstream trout.
Veniards & The Fly Emporium – Fly Tying materials and accessories at their finest.
Wimbleball Reservior Fly Fishery
Picaris The UK Distributor of Peux Fly Fishing, Fasna Fly Fishing and Diamond Back Fly Rods.
CHRIS ARNOLD – February 2026
COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS VITAL FOR ANGLING
Angling clubs traditionally hold their AGM’s at the start or end of the season and these events are an important social gathering for the membership. The meeting is a reset point for the club enabling members to guide the committee as to the direction the club should follow and an opportunity for the committee to engage with members.
I attended two AGM’s in the past week the first was that of South Molton & District Angling Club on February 10th and the second was Dulverton Anglers Association on February 12th.
South Molton & District Angling Club’s 57th AGM was held at South Molton’s Masonic Lodge. Close to thirty members attended and it was very much business as usual as club Chairman Ed Rands addressed the members and introduced the committee officers as they delivered their reports.
Before the formal meeting commenced Daniel Skeat’s and Karen Saunders of the West Country Rivers Trust gave an informative presentation outlying the valuable work undertaken across the region via the Teign and Taw Fisheries plan. The funding for much of this work is from the governments Water Restoration Fund.
Karen and Daniel gave an outline on work with the farming community to effectively manage maize crops to reduce soil run off that is causing serious issues for salmonids spawning sites.
Electro fishing results across the Taw catchment gave some room for optimism with fry counts encouraging across some sites.
The Taw shad eDNA survey results were inconclusive with only a tiny percentage of samples giving a positive indication of the presence of shad. It is known from anglers catches and observations that both twaite and allis shad are migrating into the River Taw and as this is an annual event spawning is probably taking place though there is not yet conclusive evidence.
The West Country Rivers Trust are working closely with the North Devon Biosphere , National Trust and other organisations to improve river and wetland habitat.
The club continues to thrive in an everchanging world with members enjoying excellent wild brown trout fishing on the River Bray. The long dry summer impacted upon fishing during the latter part of the season though a few migratory fish were contacted during the final days as rivers responded to rain.
The Dulverton Anglers Association AGM was held at the Anchor Inn, Exebridge, on Thursday, February 12th. The venue meeting room was packed with close to fifty members keen to support the club and hear a talk from Pete Tyjas the new editor of Trout and Salmon Magazine.
The hard working committee briefed the members on a successful year with the club in excellent financial health. The club now has close to 300 members who enjoy access to fishing on nine beats of the Upper Exe, Barle and Haddeo.
Habitat improvement was high on the agenda and it was clear that there is a dedicated team who carry out regular work across the associations waters.
Devon based Pete Tyjas was given a warm welcome and delivered an inspiring, entertaining and informative talk on West Country Fly Fishing, his life and Trout and Salmon Magazine.
The future of Fly Fishing and the direction of Trout and Salmon was high on the agenda with social media and AI constantly influencing society and readers habits. Pete oozes passion and optimism for the future believing that there could be a shift back towards traditional print media as what is seen online becomes increasingly false.
Angling can by its nature be a fundamentally solitary pursuit and yet its community is vital for it to thrive. Fly fishing like all disciplines of angling continues to evolve as long established traditions are challenged. Club meetings, talks, shows and tackle shops are at the heart of angling and fresh ideas are essential for the pastimes future.
The West Country Fly Fair is being held at Roadford Lake this Sunday and is always an enjoyble curtain raiser to the Spring and Summer Fly fishing season.
Dale Kiff won Bideford Angling Clubs 48hour Rover with a Bass of 5lb 10oz.