South West Lakes Trusts head of Coarse Fishing Ben Smeeth is leaving the trust after close to twenty years of sterling service. Ben will be missed by many in the angling community having contributed to a thriving Coarse fishing portfolio that includes several of North Devon’s favourite angling venues.
Ben Smeeth pictured at Upper Tamar Lake
“After nearly 20 years with the Trust it is time for a new challenge. I have made many friends and have worked with some fantastic colleagues during that time and am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given within the organisation. I feel very lucky to have worked on and around the amazing lakes for so long and I am very proud of the achievements that have been made. I am leaving to take up a fishery manager role with another organisation but leave with a heavy heart. I wish everyone at SW Lakes and everyone I have come to know during my time here a very happy, safe and prosperous future.
Ben Smeeth – Visitor Experience Manager North / Head of Coarse Fishing.”
The East Lyn River is one of my favourite locations a beautiful river that holds an array of personal angling memories accumulated over forty years. I arranged to catch up with North Devon’s new Environment Agency Fishery Officer Callum Underhill so this venue seemed a logical location to meet up and exchange notes.
Callum is filling the shoes of Paul Carter who retired from the Environment Agency after more than three decades patrolling and safeguarding North Devons waters. It was immediately apparent that Callum brings a great deal of dedication and passion to the role that involves a vast patch of North Devon with the Rivers Taw, Torridge and Lyn at the heart of operations.
A keen coarse angler originating from Somerset he is keen to expand his angling forays to include both Fly Fishing and Sea Angling. Before moving to the South West Callum worked as a fishery officer in the Midlands.
We walked the Lyn exchanging many fishy tales and lamenting the decline in salmon and sea trout stocks across the region. In particular we discussed the fabulous East Lyn and its excellent wild brown trout fishing that is available at a very reasonable £5.00 per day. This season has also seen several salmon caught and released close to 10lb.
We discussed a vast range of issues relating to North Devon including law enforcement, pollution, Climate change, regulations, Rod Licences and bylaws. We also discussed coastal issues and the work of IFCA and the overlap in responsibilities. Callum has a vast knowledge of the issues and the politics behind them and will I am sure prove a vital asset to North Devon assisting both anglers and conservation interests.
Anglers are encouraged to report any concerns regarding illegal fishing activity, poaching or pollution to the Environment Agency
Incident hotline
Telephone: 0800 80 70 60
24-hour service
Zenia Gregorek posted this on her social media page.
My buddy “Scar Face” the Catfish! A few pounds bigger than last year making her my new personal best Catfish at 37lbs.
“As always she gave me a great fight and it was great to see her again, I definitely have a special bond with this fish, she’s a precious one to me that’s for sure!!
Bideford Angling Club have done a sterling job in helping to promote angling amongst their Junior membership throughout the summer.
Results :
1st Thomas Scott 15lb 14oz
2nd Mia Bell 10lb 4oz
3rd Tyler Scott 10lb
4th Lilly Bell 9lb 14oz
5th Adam Wheeler 8lb 9oz
6th Charlie Heddon 6lb 5oz .
Lucky, the pessimistic weather forecast proved unfounded , and our Juniors enjoyed another lovely afternoon on Georges lake . Thomas fished the pole on peg 17 with corn for a great net of skimmers to win the last match of the series. Mia fished her first match on peg 16 and added a 3lb carp to her net of tench to finish 2nd. The final points tally resulted in a draw in the over 14’s for first place between the Scott brothers , 56 points apiece.Count back on weigh saw Thomas take the Gold medal. In the under 14’s category Charlie Heddon collected Gold with 42 points.
Huge well done to all competitors and helpers for making this event possible. Thanks to BaitTech, for generous donations of prizes , Mervyn Beal for sponsoring the medals also to Summerlands for their support.
John Deprielle took his 2 Sons fishing to Anglers Eldorado where they had a great time catching Golden Tench from the Top Lake & also a 34lb Catfish from the Cat & Carp Lake 2.
Quay Sports are looking for experienced anglers to join their friendly team at their new fishing tackle store – See Advert post below –
Job description
Company description
Quay Sports is a fishing tackle shop catering for all types of angling including carp, coarse, sea and game. We aim to provide a wide and extensive range of fishing tackle to the Devon area and online.
Job description
Quay Sports fishing tackle store require an enthusiastic and keen angler with an all-round knowledge of carp, coarse, match, sea & game fishing. Our busy Barnstaple based store needs another team member to help with daily tasks such as serving customers, offering guidance to customers, re-stocking and managing inventory, entering products onto a database, and various other store related jobs.
A good knowledge of angling is essential as we would expect the successful applicant to be able to offer advice to the customers on all aspects of angling.
Previous customer facing experience and I.T experience would also be advantageous.
We are looking for someone that has an approachable and cheerful character to fit in with our established and well harmonised team.
This is a permanent full time position with 28 days paid leave per annum.
In return we can offer an attractive salary working in a sector that you would love, great staff discounts and working within a friendly team.
Applications should include your CV but most importantly you’re angling knowledge and experience.
Reference ID: QS-1
Application deadline: 09/07/2021
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: From £16,700.00 per year depending on experience.
QUAY SPORTS – Opened on Saturday, June,26th with its staff greeting over 100 customers.
Chris Connaughton & Nick Cole at Quay Sports
I called into the newly opened Quay Sports conveniently located on the Roundswell Industrial Estate close to Lidl’s and Sainsbury’s. To find an extensive range of tackle to cater for all disciplines and levels of expertise. The company has already established a strong online presence with its Roddarch Tackle label and is expanding to offer an over the counter service for local anglers. Owner Mark Potter is supported by store manager Chris Connaughton who is well known on the local carp scene. Nick Cole is a keen sea angler. Local companies like Lakebed Leads are well represented along with many mainstream brands. One of the benefits of a tackle shop is the increased interaction between anglers with rigs, tactics and locations often hot topics. There is also the advantage of being able to see and handle the available tackle before purchasing.
The shop offers a discount to all blue light emergency service workers. They also produce a guide to fishing for beginners at a cost of 50p with all proceeds going to the Children’s Hospice.
North Devons anglers have a new tackle store opening on Saturday, June 26th. Located at Roundswell near Sainsburys it will be a convenient stop off for local anglers. I look forward to visiting in the near future. The recent upsurge in angling participation following the COVID outbreak will hopefully ensure that this and other local angling outlets prosper.
I spoke with Chris Connaughton (Above) Saturday, 8am – 5pm. We have free goody bags with every purchase including a remix baits sample for the carpers 😉🤣. We have also made a guide to fishing for beginners which will be available for free with our starter kits but also able to purchase in store with proceeds going to charity. Saturday, 8am – 5pm. We have free goody bags with every purchase including a remix baits sample for the carpers 😉🤣. We have also made a guide to fishing for beginners which will be available for free with our starter kits but also able to purchase in store with proceeds going to charity.( Above) a well known local carp angler who works at the store and is excited by this exciting new development that caters for all disciplines.
Saturday, 8am – 5pm. We have free goody bags with every purchase including a remix baits sample for the carpers 😉🤣. We have also made a guide to fishing for beginners which will be available for free with our starter kits but also able to purchase in store with proceeds going to charity.
I arrived at Anglers Eldorado’s Day Ticket Catfish lake where I was to join Bruce Elston, John Hughes and crew who had booked the lake for an exclusive three day fishing trip. I could only fish for twenty four hours due to other commitments but hoped I would at least witness the catching of one of these mysterious fish.
My catfish trips are few and far between as they are not abundant in Devon with just a handful of waters legally stocked. Anglers Paradise is undoubtedly the most prolific catfish venue in the county with several lakes holding the species. The Day ticket Lake hold cats to over fifty pounds with a good head of fish between thirty and forty pounds. Catfish are very powerful fish that test the tackle to the limit. They resemble a giant slug crossed with an eel and can grow in excess of 100lb in UK waters.
One of the joys of angling is undoubtedly the friendships that are forged whilst walking the waters edge. I have fished with Bruce on and off for close to forty years and knew John Hughes from my days chasing pike on the Somerset Levels in the early eighties. Angling paths so often converge with years in between yet these friendships seem timeless and are picked up as if no time has passed.
And so, we all six gathered for a walk around the lake chatting enthusiastically about the prospects from each swim and listening intently to Bruce’s intimate knowledge of the venue.
The lakes perimeter was decorated with an abundance of brightly coloured summer flowers with yellow flag iris in full bloom. We discussed the swims in detail and drew straws to see who would fish where.
We all set off with our heavy loads to set up for the vigil ahead. General tactics were to fish boilies over beds of pellets.
It took a couple of hours before all traps were set and the business of waiting began. Coffees and teas were brewed and snacks devoured. Conditions seemed ideal, warm with a light cloud. Birdsong reverberated around the lake mixed with the sound of angler’s chatter. The hours drifted pleasantly past in expectation rods poised, alarms set.
Early evening brought a welcome pizza delivery from Bruce’s wife. Rods were wound in and the meal enjoyed together on the bankside.
As the light levels began to fall so did the expectation as everyone hoped for a run. I was chatting to Pauline on the phone when my alarm screamed as line poured from the reel. I dropped the phone and grabbed the rod to enjoy a short battle with a common carp of around 9lb. Strange to be slightly disappointed when it’s not the target fish. On another day fishing the same tackle I would be delighted with the catch.
I re-positioned both rods before darkness and enjoyed the fading of light from the day until all colour has drained. I placed my crocs beside my bed-chair, rain pattered on the brolly and I drifted off to sleep.
At around 1.00am I awoke. Glancing out I saw lights coming from Bruce’s swim and assumed he had enjoyed success. A walk along the bank with the camera confirmed success and I was thrilled to capture the image of Bruce cradling a 22lb 3oz catfish.
A couple of hours later my alarm woke me from my sleep and I made only brief contact with either a carp or catfish.
An hour later I was again woken by the harsh call of the alarm and line streaming from the reel as the rod tip lurched hard left. Another carp was the culprit, a good looking common of around 12lb.
The summer dawn slowly broke and expectation remained high until I slowly dismantled camp leaving the baits in the water until the last minute as is my custom.
I ended up chatting at length with Bruce, John and Mitch before struggling up to the van with my barrowload of tackle.
Bruce sent me a full report the following day with the catfish playing hard to get on this occasion. The total score being cats of 19lb 3oz and 22lb 3oz to Bruce. An 11lb 7oz cat to John. A carp of 9lb to Tony, a carp of 13lb to Mitch and a 12lb carp for Bruce. Ben had a catfish that was foul-hooked so didn’t count a shame as it would have been his first.
Bruce 12lb carp
Bruce cat 19lb 3ozJohn Hughes 11lb 7oz catfish
All are eager to return next year and do it all again. When perhaps the cats will be on the munch and weigh even heavier!
The East Lyn River is one of my favourite locations a beautiful river that holds an array of personal angling memories accumulated over forty years. I arranged to catch up with North Devon’s new Environment Agency Fishery Officer Callum Underhill so this venue seemed a logical location to meet up and exchange notes.
