MOTLEY CREW AND CATS IN PARADISE

Many thanks to my good friend Bruce Elston for sending North Devon & Exmoor Angling News a full report on their trip to Anglers Paradise. Whilst I was unable to attend due to grandad duties I was very much there in spirit and watched developments keenly on our Watts-App group.

It was with much anticipation that a motley crew of like minded anglers assembled at my place for breakfast, prior to annual cat fishing trip on carp and cat 2 at  Elderado. This was to be our fifth year targeting the catfish on this prolific lake and we always have a lot of laughs with a few nice fish thrown in along the way.
Unfortunately Wayne Thomas couldn’t make it this year so Noel Jones readily agreed to take his place.
With the bacon and egg butties and copious amounts of tea and coffee consumed we set about allotting swims by pulling names out of a hat. Unfortunately for Johnny ‘Fat bloke’ Hughes he drew the short straw and had to fish with me!
This year we had been lucky with the weather. With the lake booked months in advance, it is always a worry but with hot and sunny conditions forecast for the 48 hours of fishing we had ahead of us, things looked good. I have always found found this to be good conditions for tempting our whiskered friends.
Arriving at the lake we noticed a few carp spawning which was not ideal. Hopefully our large baits and agricultural tackle needed to tame the large catfish that reside here , would put off any carp fancying a snack after their amorous endeavours.
Barrow loads of gear were quickly deposited in our allotted swims. Well, quickly might be a bit of an exaggeration for this mostly retired and less than spritely bunch of old duffers! Anyway, eventually we were all settled in our swims and sat back in the sunshine awaiting events.
It wasn’t long before I spied a bent rod across the water and Tony Ball was playing the first cat of the session. Only a kitten
at around 8 pounds but it was a good start and fair play to the old fella for thinking outside the box and trying out a float paternoster
fished with worms.


Soon after Alan Palmer also landed a Kitten of a similar size, this was closely followed by a 29 pounder also to Mr Palmer.

Things were looking good and got even better when my alarm sounded and I was suddenly attracted to something that was intent on pulling my arm off. The cats have got bigger and bigger, year on year in this lake and this was definitely one of the bigger ones! Bitter experience of lost fish making it to snags or taking me around islands have meant that I have upgraded the gear I have been using to try and tame these beasts. Despite now using 30lb line, 3 1/2lb test Armorlites and big pit reels the big ones still lead you a merry dance. This one was no exception and decided it wanted to visit Noel in the swim  further up the lake to my left. Eventually it came around to my way of thinking and a nice cat of 40lb 8oz was juggled into
the net by Fatty Hughes.


The action continued with Richard ’Bully’ Bull landing a 20.12.


The cats were definitely on the munch and we were all expecting a busy night but apart from a couple of lost fish and a 15 for Bully it was relatively quiet. Oh, and Fatty Hughes had a micro cat on worms popped up to just under the surface.


As the new day dawned, Noel was woken by lovely looking common carp that took a liking for a half tin of luncheon meat which was soon outgunned on the heavy gear and sent back on its merry way.


Father and son Team, Mitch and Ben Andrews had been quiet (at least fish wise up to this point) but this was about to change. Ben stole the show on day two with two nice fish of 30.08 and 32.14.


As the second night descend on us we could hear the call of a Nightjar nearby but Mitch spoilt the moment by declaring that it was in fact a farting Walrus.
Mitch has had some nice cats in the past but has not had the best of luck on our annual trips so we were all rooting for him as time was starting to run out on the session. Thankfully at 10.45 his bite alarm sounded and this time he wasn’t to be denied and after a spirited battle a 22 pounder was his.

Several other cats were landed in the night including a 28 for Alan, a 27 for Ben and a 24 just before the first light for me.

Fatty contributed to proceedings with another micro cat on worms.


As the new day dawned with mist rising off the water my Alarm sounded for the last time and I was blessed with another 40 pounder to cap off what had been a fabulous trip. Unfortunately Elderado had a sting in its tail for poor Noel as despite the heavy gear he was using and not fishing too close to the snags a big fish managed to get into some sunken branches on the far bank just as he was about to pack up.
Still it was a great trip and fun was had by the old fogeys and a fitting end to our Elderado adventures. I say end as it is rumoured that it will not be available for day tickets next year. I had better make hay…

Anglers Paradise

Horwood Match report and Fishery update

Horwood’s regular Friday match turned up some cracking weights this week, using both lakes with the fish finally feeding after a difficult spawning period.

Lakes are looked after by Neilsen Jeffery and with good help from members both lakes are now looking fantastic, with all 16 pegs having great inside features and shelves to fish on. You can literally catch double figure carp from under your feet.

The hundreds of willows that have been planted help create good protection now and obviously being able to drive and park next to your peg is a great bonus.

Please contact Neilsen if you wish to have a look around and are interested in possibly joining the friendly group of fishers.

Contact Neilsen 0n 07484325343

Best weights from Fridays match below.

Bottom Lake

1st

Graham Curnow with 125.14lb 2nd 

Stuart Russell with 114.0lb 

3rd 

Mark Lynch with 99.15lb

Top lake

1st 

Gary Sullivan with 81.03lb

2nd 

Mario Manley with 34.07lb

BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT IN ANGLERS PARADISE HISTORY

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BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT IN ANGLERS PARADISE HISTORY
Lee Meakin, age 36 has made Anglers Paradise history and caught the complex record Catfish at 100lbs from the Main Lake!!
This is the heaviest fish to have ever been caught here and he is now the new RECORD HOLDER!!
As a Fishery, we are all incredibly proud to have grown these Cats on from babies to THIS!!
Lee shared –
“Well my dad said I wouldn’t catch a catfish, so I wanted to prove him wrong haha!! After having no bites on the carp all day, I put 2 rods out for a cat not expecting anything and like he said there is 2/3 in here and the last time 1 was caught, was either last year or 2 years ago but I thought why not try?! I am not going to catch if I don’t try, so out went 2 Dynamite Baits 21m halibut pellets in the middle of the lake and my other went out on big fishy boilie and a fishy pop up.
2 and a half hours later my halibut rod screams off and bringing it in half way felt like a small cat as it wasn’t fighting and coming towards me, only to get it close and off it screamed!!
30 minutes later it tired and I put my waders on to try help it in the net and get it on the bank and only then seeing the pure size of it I couldn’t believe it!!

ANGLER LANDS 2ND BIGGEST CATFISH (Above) 
Massive congratulations to Rob Halsey who has caught the 2nd biggest ever Catfish at 92lbs from the Main Lake!
2 in one week, just insane!!🤯
Rob shared –
“92lb Catfish from the main lake, caught on snowman rig with a 15mm Dynamite Baits monster tiger nut boilie and 10mm yellow pineapple pop up fished over bag of crushed boilies and pellet.
This fish run me ragged, from one side of the lake to the other and back again, but after 20 minutes or so, she was mine.
What a fish!”
Anglers Paradise

Latest Match Results from :- Bideford Angling Club

B.D.A.C.Rod and Reel match results date 25.5.25 at Tarka.  The weather was dry and sunny but quite windy all anglers caught fish with some good weights weighed in. First place today went to Martin Turner on peg 12 with a nice mixed bag of fish for 35lbs 15oz, second place was Nigel spurr on peg 19 with 31lbs 1oz with another nice mixed bag of fish, third place was Richard Jefferies on peg 11 with 29lbs and forth place was Stefan Clarke on peg 25 with 26lbs 12oz. Next Rod and Reel match will be on the 22.6.25 at Tarka.

Midweek Evening Competition

Tarka Swims. Results:
1st Rhys Eyles  60lb 7oz
2nd Craig Lamey 50lb 5oz
3rd Richard Jefferies 35lb 5oz
4th Ian Croxton 32lb.
12 fished.
Fantastic weights for our first evening competition of the summer.
Rhys has fished a blinder on peg 4 to put a terrific net of carp and tench on the scales.
His winning catch was taken on the long pole on meat.
Craig had a similar catch to take second place on peg 26, also using luncheon meat on the pole.
Richard stuck to his favourite pellet waggler for 3rd place on peg 14.

TARGETS

            I have drifted through my angling life fishing here and there for a wide range of species that has resulted in me visiting many venues both home and abroad. Whilst my motivation particularly these days revolves around enjoyment it can also be driven by chasing targets.

            There are certain fish that have those defining landmark weights and with several species a double figure fish without doubt is that target. The merits can change over the years as species growth rates change but old school anglers like myself have grown up with these ingrained definitions.

            Thirty years or more ago I fished a well known lake in Hampshire hoping for a double figure bream and caught a personal best of 8lb 14oz. A double figure bream is an impressive looking fish and whilst many carp anglers have little regard for them I have always considered big bream enigmatic fish.

            Last year I fished a couple of sessions at Lower Tamar Lake targeting a double as they are relatively abundant in this mature shallow lake on the Devon and Cornwall border. Last year I failed to tempt a single fish despite fishing close to my good friend Bruce Elston who caught five big bream to 13lb plus fishing in the next swim. The follow up solo trip a couple of weeks later was a blank.

            In specimen angling terms a couple of twenty four hour sessions is not a lot of effort but the fact that I hadn’t caught that double niggled me. My problem in fishing is that I chase fish in too many waters. Bass from the shore, tope on boats, shark, salmon, stillwater trout, wild trout from small streams, carp, catfish, LRF fishing, beach fishing, rock fishing, perch fishing, eels and so the list goes on.

            Late April and there are a few bream coming from the lake and so Bruce and I set out to once again target them. Bruce arrives before me and chats with Bob the bailiff who kindly changes his plan offering us the chance to fish one of the few swims on the lake that has adjacent swims.

            It’s a warm sunny day with a light south west breeze blowing from behind. We both spod out a bed of bait consisting of sweetcorn, pellets and dead maggots. I elect to fish with Remix Secret wafters recommended to me by Chris Connaughton of Barnstaple Bait and Tackle.

            The traps set its time to sit back and absorb the surroundings over a fresh brew of coffee. The sun is slowly sinking behind in the western sky, the field behind is a mass of seeded dandelions and long grass. Birdsong fills the ebbing spring day, chiff chaffs, wrens and water birds all contributing to natures random ensemble of random melody.  Swallows, fresh arrivals from distant lands swoop above the lake. Grebes glide across stillwater’s. It’s a fresh and vibrant time in natures calendar and to be here in expectation is bliss.

            It is great to share the day with a good friend and we chat of life and of fishing past and present. There is undoubtedly something special about a longer session and the connection with the daily turning of the world and natures timeless essence.

            The light fades as the sun sinks beneath the hill and the many colours start to fade to black and grey. The first stars slowly appear twinkling in a cloudless sky as the night shift takes over. Large horseshoe bats gyrating over the water feasting upon unseen midges and other insects. A tawny owl hoots from nearby trees, the occasional fish dimples the calm lake.

            Bruce’s thrill alarm breaks the spell and I dash to the adjacent swim to witness an eel writhing into the waiting net. The dangers of using maggots…Fortunately the fish is lip hooked and the barbless hook slips easily from the eel, a species that is sadly in decline.

            Shorty after this a bream of 8lb 14oz signals that we are in the right area, or at least Bruce is; This is followed 30 minutes or so later by a superb looking bream of 10lb 7oz once again for Bruce.

            I settle into my sleeping bag willing my bite alarm to emit its thrill call but its all calm and still as I slowly drift off into a shallow sleep.

            I wake as the sky starts to take on a pinkish glow the sun slowly rising from the east as another day begins with colours once again developing. The dawn chorus of late spring and early summer is one of life’s precious delights. Sadly and perhaps imperceptibly its vibrancy and fullness is fading as the worlds rich ecosystems are slowly destroyed by much of mankind’s stupidity and indifference.

            As the light levels rise so my hopes of success fade and I contemplate my lack of connection. My doubts grow as to rigs, bait and location?

            Then at 6:30am bleep, bleep and a slowly dancing bobbin. I lift the rod and feel a slow ponderous weight wallowing out in the lake. The line cuts the waters surface and I watch anxiously as my prize is drawn slowly towards the water’s edge and the waiting net.

I know it’s a bream by its languid performance at the lines end, but is it that elusive double?

A deep bronze flank appears, the bream slips over the rim of the capacious net. I look down at my prize and feel confident that I have eventually exceeded my target.

            I secure the net and wake Bruce, from his deep slumber next door. The scales confirm 10lb 12oz. It’s great to share these moments in life. Then as we celebrate the alarm on the middle rod sounds and once again I coax a bream to the waiting net. At 9lb 12oz its another beauty and the fact that it fails to make that double figure target is less relevant as the mark has now been ticked off.

            The story doesn’t end there though for Bruce’s alarm interrupts and I dash over with my brace of bream awaiting a photo safely in the net. I wield Bruce’s net as a huge slab rolls over its rim, 13lb 7oz a new personal best for Bruce. If Carling did fishing trips quips Bruce! Another bream of 11lb 8oz later adds to Bruce’s tally along with a small carp and another eel.

            I Slowly pack up a couple of hours later content in my success and ponder upon that short sequence of action when all came right as a shoal of bream drifted over my hook baits. The line between success and failure is indeed slender in both fishing and life.

Barnstaple Bait & Tackle – Doubles its size !

Chris Connaugton his son Alfie Joe (AJ) and Steve Pinn are the Barnstaple Bait and Tackle team giving a friendly welcome to anglers at the extenstion of the shop in Queen Street, Barnstaple just a short cast from Barnstaple Central Car Park. The shop has a wide range of tackle for all disiplines of angling. The team offer  comprehensive advice on all aspects of angling. The shop has now doubled in size giving more stock and more room to browse and of course chat with fellow anglers.

Bideford & District Angling Club Presentation Evening 2024

Another enjoyable night with Bideford & District Angling Club a pleasure to be a part of the evening. A very good attendance this year with a really positive vibe.

 

BDAC Coarse section 2024 cups and trophies.
Senior Match man Winner Craig Lamey 137pts
Senior Match man Runner up Paul Elworthy 103pts
Midweek series Winner Nathan Underwood 130pts
Midweek series runner up Kevin Shears 92pts
Pairs match Winners
Rhys Eyles and Darren Polden
Highest weight in competition. Rhys Eyles 69lb 12oz
Rod and reel league winner Richard Jefferies 128pts
Rod and reel runner up Darren Polden 112pts
Junior series Winner Ethan Broom. 46 points
Junior series runner up Lewis Hathaway 45 points
BDAC Sea Section 2024 Cups and Trophies.
1. Valentine bowl-most points in the monthly Rover. Andrew Clements 57 points
2. Keira short trophy-most points in the 48-hour. Stephen Found 18 points
3. Stephanie Vanstone-best specimen caught from the shore . Jon Stevens Bass 11lb 1 1/2 158.48%
4. Jason Talbot memorial plate-best ray caught from the shore. Stephen Found Thornback 12lb 9 139.58%
5. Snake plate-best Conger caught from the shore . Andrew Clements Conger 17lb 1 85.31%
6. Best round fish from the shore . Jon Stevens Bass 11lb 1 1/2 158.48%
7. Best specimen flat fish (no ray). Phil Vanstone / Stephen Found Dab 15oz 93.75%
8. Best specimen shark from the shore . Andrew Clements Smooth hound 14lb 9 1/4 145.76%
9. Winner of the end of season competition . Andrew Clements Small eyed Ray 9lb 9 106.250
10. Big Mike memorial vase . Craig Lamey Flounder 1Ib 5 3/4
BDAC Game Section 2024 Cups and Trophies
1st: Terry Dymond.
2nd: Dave Bailey.
BDAC: Highest Points in Monthly Comps. Terry Dymond 52 Points
BDAC: Runner Up Of Aggregate Points in Monthly Comps. Dave Bailey.
Best Rainbow Trout Caught. Dave Bailey 4Ib 2oz.
Best Brown Trout Caught From Reservoirs Fished. Dave Bailey.
BDAC: Combined Weight From All Reservoir Fished. Terry Dymond.
Chairmans Clubman of the Year. Steve Bailey.
The Club would like to thank, Nick Laws, Tom Wade and Wayne Thomas for presenting the trophies and making the evening a success.

Mainline Baits Carp Open Pairs Competitions 2025

The Mainline Baits Carp Pairs competitions are held at our 81 acre fishery, Upper Tamar Lake. The competitions are generously sponsored by carp fishing giants Mainline Baits.

There is £3,750 in prize money from South West Lakes Trust for each competition. Each person who enters will get a goody bag with some fantastic Mainline products inside. As well as four section prizes there will be a prize for the biggest fish.

First prize: £2,000

Second prize: £1,000

Third prize: £500

Fourth prize: £250

Fifth prize: 24hr or day permits

This a fun, exciting and inclusive competition. The three biggest fish caught by each pair will be added together to decide your final weight and determine your place on the leaderboard. This year we have added more prizes and limited the numbers to 28 pairs, so book now to avoid disappointment.

All tackle and equipment is transported to and from your swim and the price includes a post competition barbecue/ hot food on the Sunday.

2025 dates:

  • Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March
  • Friday 25 July to Sunday 27 July
  • Friday 10 October to Sunday 12 October

The competition is limited to 28 pairs. You can book your place online below.

For further information contact us on 01566 771930 or [email protected]

View competition rules here