23 Oct 2025

Weekly Angling Report -October 23rd 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Casting around North Devon, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Lure Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

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 31^st 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.

21 Oct 2025

Fluff Chuckers / Arundell Grayling Cup 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

*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.*

13 Oct 2025

Lower Tamar Multi Species Success

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

David Bastian has been having a great time down at Lower Tamar, not only getting amongst the Carp but also enjoying some great multi species angling with catching numbers of cracking Bream, Roach and Perch, demonstrating what a fantastic venue Lower is.

9 Oct 2025

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

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

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 hairand 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

Mark Lewis

Andy Merrick

Myself

Andy Grey

Tom Downing

Dave Lewis

9 Oct 2025

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Fishery Focus, Sidebar | 0

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…

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

7 Oct 2025

OAKTREE FISHERY – FISHING MATCH

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

REMEMBERING GEORGE

Oaktree Fishery are holding a celebration of the life of the late, great George Eury who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The celebration will take the form of a fishing match with all profits going to Devon Air Ambulance

Places are expected to go fast so get your name down asap for a great cause

Plenty of prizes, breakfast and dinner available!! For full details simply click the link below

Oaktree Fishery

5 Oct 2025

A Danglers Diary – September 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

I sometimes wonder what anglers want to read on North Devon Angling News in addition to the latest news from around the region. I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look back at the beginning of each month at the venues I have fished over the preceding month and the triumphs and trials I have encountered.

In early September Pauline and I celebrated our 40^th wedding anniversary. It is a testament to Pauline that she has accepted my obsession with angling throughout those fiorty plus years supporting me great with patience. (Most of the time; for there are times when I have undoubtedly overstepped the mark a little).

We celebrated at the Tarr Steps Inn beside the glorious River Barle that once teemed with salmon during the Autumn months. I remember catching a silver grilse on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral back in 1997. The river like many has suffered a dramatic decline in its salmon stocks though its wild brown trout are still abundant.

In the Exmoor Town of Dulverton it was good to see minnows shoaling in the leat that runs past Rothwell & Dunsworth the book shop that always has a tempting array of fishing books.

An antique cased perch catches my eye…whats the story behind it?

The Glorious Wye

Whilst the River Wye in Herefordshire frequently makes the headlines regarding effluent from Chicken farms and agriculture it is still a beautiful rIver. its salmon runs have plummeted but it is still home to some wonderful Coarse fish. I extracted a few bronze flanked chub on a trip in the middle of September.

This chub found rolled meat to its liking.

Evening light on a tranquil Wye.

HOME WATERS

The quiver tip back on home ground…

CORNISH REEF

The annual trip to fish in the Looe Basher was once again an enjoyable excursion visiting familar haunts.

A brace of comber for myself and Chris Hayton

Spectacular red gurnard

Dominick is king of ling catching his third in three years.

Broken tips for two!

An un-welcome sign on the quayside where I spent many hours fishing as a child. Floatfishing for pollock after dark on Autumn evenings remembered with great fondness.

IN HOPE OF SALMON

THOSE WILD BROWNS ALWAYS OBLIGE

The beauty of a wild brown trout from the higher reaches of a local river.

Many thanks to Anglers Paradise for inviting Pauline and I to their 40 year celebrations.

5 Oct 2025

A Celebration of Forty years at Anglers Paradise

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

The Angler’s Paradise complex created by Zyg Gregorek celebrated forty years in September 2025. The venue has become one of the region’s top fisheries boasting over thirty lakes that are home to a vast range of freshwater species including specimen carp, grass carp, orfe, tench, perch, pike, trout and catfish to name but a few. The holiday complex has brought a wealth of happy memories for many family generations and it’s waters are now a thriving natural eco-system. The fishery is testament to the vision of Zyg who transformed a marshy piece of scrubland to create Anglers Paradise a for-runner that has become the template for complexes across the country. The venture is very much a family business with Zyg’s daughter Zenia Drury-Gregorek and her husband Joe very much at the helm continuing the sterling work undertaken by Zyg and his wife Rose. My wife and I joined the celebrations last weekend to witness a thriving community of anglers and their families forged over the past four decades.

Trophies and memories from around the world

Zenia and son Zee-Jay demonstrate fish care and how to get the best catfish pics

Bingo Time!

Zenia and Zyg working with the Angling Trust at a previous event.

A specimen tiger trout caught from the trout lake

Team working

The latest capture from the Nirvana syndicate lake….CLINT WITH THE FREAK OF THE NIRVANA SYNDICATE, ‘JOY’ at 54lb 8oz
This fish is stacking on the lb’s and has plenty more growing to do. Will Joy be our first 60?
Silverback is among the elusive and if the other fish are anything to go by he may already be at 60lb…

16 Sep 2025

Bideford and District Angling Club September’Monthly Coarse Competition

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

A wet and bedraggled bunch of happy anglers!

Bideford and District Angling Club

September’Monthly coarse competition

Results:

1st Craig Crash Lamey 56lb 2oz

2nd Kevin Shears 39lb 1oz

3rd Keith Copland 36lb 10oz

4th Keith Mountjoy 33lb 10oz

5th Warren Thornton 29lb 1oz

6th Paul Elworthy 28lb 12oz

17 members fished.

Continuous rain and cold blustery winds left our contestants soaked , but didn’t deter the fish from having a feed.

First and second places have come from each end of George’s lake.

Craig has drawn peg 14 and caught his winning net of carp on the pole using sweetcorn over Micros.

League leader, Kevin, has fished peg 1 in the shallow end and had a late run of carp on the long pole to secure second place.

Committee member , Keith has come third on peg 19.

12 Sep 2025

WEEKLY ANGLING REPORT – September 14th -2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

BIDEFORD SECURE IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER PLYMOUTH

Bideford & District Angling Club secured an impressive victory against Plymouth and District Angling Club at Bake Lakes. Bideford totalled weight was 147lb 6oz with Plymouth only managing 35lb 14oz. The individual winner on the day was Bideford’s Craig Lamey. The combined weight totals after the two legs were Bideford 447lb15oz to Plymouth’s 150lb 12oz.

42lb carp – Stafford Moor

Scott Cowling banked a fine mirror carp of 42lb whilst fishing Stafford Moor’s Lodge Lake. The venue also produced eight fish for Rob Gibbon and his friends the biggest 36lb.

Smoothound Dominate

Smoothound dominated Bideford Angling Clubs monthly sea rover with Stephen Found landing a fine specimen of 14lb 10oz. Andrew Clements was runner up with a thornback ray of 9lb 2oz. Dale Kiff and Jenson Kiff took the remaining places with smoothound scaling 9lb 11oz, 9lb 9oz, 8lb 1oz and 7lb 4oz.

Bass Wins Appledore Rover

Michael Hammett took top spot in Appledore Shipbuilders rover with a bass of 4lb 5oz.

Triggerfish wins CMSAC Competition

Kevin Legge won Combe Martin SAC’s rover with a specimen triggerfish scaling 3lb 15oz. I took second and third place with thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb 14oz and 4lb 1oz.

Trevor Telling Memorial 2025

The Annual Trevor Telling Memorial Competition at Wimbleball was won by Colin Combe who boated five trout for a total weight of 12lb 8.5oz. The bank trophy was won by Roger Truscott who banked three trout for 5lb 12oz. The prizes were presented by well- known and respected fly fishing writer and instructor Peter Cockwill. All monies raised go to the Exeter Hospice Care Team.

As water levels at local reservoirs recover and water temperatures drop trout sport is expected to improve with late September and October often providing some of the seasons best sport.

RAIN BRINGS HOPE OF SILVER

Heavy rain showers have brought hope that salmon will move into North Devon’s rivers bring a late flourish to what has been a poor season with drought conditions dominating throughout the summer.

FLOUNDER FISHING SEASON

Late September is the traditional start of the flounder fishing season and competitions are already planned for the coming months. The Barnstaple Bait & Tackle Dan Miles Memorial Open Competition is on Sunday November 30^th and is proving a popular event with over 100 entrants in last year’s event. All proceeds go to Children’s Hospice South West Little Bridge House, Fremington.