24 Nov 2022

Bulldog Trout on a wet and windy morning

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Local Fly Fisher and enthusiastic Fly Tyer  Eddie Tyas spoke with me recently to say how well Bulldog Trout Fishery was fishing with plenty of good quality hard fighting rainbows being caught. Always keen to wet a line I arranged to meet Eddie at the venue. Looking at the weather forecast I half expected a phone call suggesting  we call the trip off. Strong to gale force winds and heavy rain were on the way. On the optimistic side the worst of the weather wasn’t due until 11:00am.

As I pulled into car park at 9:00am large drops of rain were already dropping from a grey leaden sky  a gusty wind ruffling the water.

The water was slightly murky with the river swollen by heavy rain over previous days. After such a long dry summer the rain is of course to be welcomed but on a cold bleak November morning I did question our sanity. Tom Early suggested a bright white lure and this was what I put on after a few casts with my normally reliable olive damsel. Within a few casts a solid thump resulted in a rainbow of close to 3lb soon to be followed by a slightly smaller trout of just over 2lb.

Eddie persisted as heavy rain and wind increased, after a couple of hours Eddie did the sensible thing and called it a day. I was keen to get my last fish so persisted and tied on an even bigger white lure. After a couple of casts a savage pull resulted in my final trout of the day a well conditioned rainbow of just under 2lb. It was one of those rare occasions when I was actually glad to finish fishing for the day.

I hope to join Eddie again when the weather is a little less hostile..

21 Nov 2022

Free Lifejacket Clinic

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Are you involved in any type of watersports, including fishing from land?

Come along to our free lifejacket clinic and get advice about your lifejacket – Is it fit for purpose? Are the essential elements in date and in working order? When is it due for its next service? Not got a lifejacket or floatation devise and not sure which type to buy?

Appledore and Clovelly RNLI Water Safety Team are holding a free lifejacket clinic on Saturday 26 November between 10 am and 2 pm at Appledore Lifeboat Station and will provide advice and check over your lifejacket with you – and with the shop open you can buy your RNLI Christmas cards and presents at the same time, and meet the Face to Face Fundraising Team.

Please do not be the one we can’t save – Please come down and have your lifejacket checked.

 

Simon McCarthy of Summerlands Tackle
18 Nov 2022

Please DON’T EAT FARMED SALMON

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As Christmas approaches many will be stocking up on culinary delights. I am joining with Pete Tyjas of Fly Culture magazine to raise awareness of the environmental disaster that is salmon farming. Please consider the facts and do not endorse the industry by buying farmed salmon. More information on salmon farming can be found on the Wildfish website see link.  https://wildfish.org/weekly-sea-lice-statistics/?mc_cid=281e974a7d&mc_eid=ebe0241b5b

Click link below for Fly Culture Magazine

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15 Nov 2022

Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club – Winter Challenge

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The results for the first round of Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Clubs winter challenge.

1-Colin Combe  6.5lbs 3 Fish.
2-Dave Mock. 6lbs 3 fish.
3-Andre Muxworthy 5.5lbs 3 fish.
3-Nigel Bird 5.5lbs 3 fish.
5-Dave Richards 3.5lbs 2 fish.
This comp is run over 3 months and is the total weight over the 3 comps.
The next round is at Exe Valley Fishery on December 11th
13 Nov 2022

Barnstaple & District Angling Association

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Barnstaple & District Angling Association held their AGM at the Ebberly Arms on Tuesday, November 8th.

It was a pleasure to attend the meeting and share in the club members enthusiasm. John Webber the clubs Chairman is to be thanked for ensuring that the club continues to thrive and appears to be entering a new era of prosperity. The clubs roots stretch back over 100 years and it was fascinating to view some of the clubs historic trophies that carry the names of many well known local anglers.

I have been a member of the association on and off for close to fifty years and have many fond memorys of fishing with the club and on its waters. I am pleased to say that plans are being made to rebiuld the clubs hut on the River Taw. I have waxed lyrical on several occasions about the hut and the anglers that rested there as they talked of fish and fishing.

The clubs committee are enthiuastic and committed to the clubs future and that of the River Taw and the salmon and other species that swim within.

This  year the club has used un-taken honorariums  to give a little help to local worthy causes.

We  chose two , The Wave Project , who run surf  therapy programs to improve the mental health of children and young people. I watched them at Croyde beach .It was wonderful to see the beaming smiles on their faces  as they surfed in with the help from the volunteer surf mentors

Our other choice  was the local Barnstaple Ability Football Club, they are totally self funded and rely on just donations. They  have nearly 80 disabled & special needs adults playing football in the club., including 30 new members and Lynn Ashman who helps run the club said our donation will go towards buying new kit for these new members

 £150 to each one odf these commendable causes.

Full details on the club and membership can be found at the below link.

https://barnstapledistrictangling.co.uk

 

 

 

 

13 Nov 2022

Anglers urged to sign petition to tackle river pollution

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Keen local angler Tony Watkins is urging fellow anglers to sign a petition to promote efforts to improve water quality in rivers across the UK.

Increase penalties and fund increased enforcement for river pollution

We want the Government to amend legislation governing offences for polluting rivers, from industrial or agricultural sources, and fund increased enforcement action against polluters.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/627440?fbclid=IwAR2I2zbyByTLk76nZn8i1LuFl8wwN-iGPHkf6KDtYF79wLREY5nJg8zuNfs

“6,000 trout and salmon die in ‘largest ever fish kill in Devon’
The Environment Agency blames a “pollution incident” for the deaths of at least 6,000 fish in a Devon river.”

River Taw Fisheries & Conservation Association – Respond to Mole Pollution Incident

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/627440?fbclid=IwAR2I2zbyByTLk76nZn8i1LuFl8wwN-iGPHkf6KDtYF79wLREY5nJg8zuNfs

6 Nov 2022

South Molton Angling Club – At Bratton Water

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South Molton Angling Club met at Bratton Water to take part in the Mac Trophy competition that is fished throughout the year at Stillwaters across the region. Bratton water is sheltered from most winds and offers great sport with rainbow and brown trout stocked on a regular basis. Members caught steadily from the start with trout succumbing to various patterns and tactics.

I started using a small black goldhead viva lure with a small nymph fished on a dropper. This proved effective with my three fish bag tempted within a little over 1.5hours. The best fish was a stunning looking brown trout of around 2lb.

Other members tempted fish on orange lures and small buzzers. The fish were a mix of browns and rainbows the best close to 3lb.

The colours of autumn are showing on the tree’s within the valley but considering it is early November there are still plenty of leaves remaining. We commented on how the seasons are changing with the onset of winter getting later each year.

 

 

21 Oct 2022

SWLT Trout Fishing Report

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In spite of recent rainfall, water levels are still low in many of the reservoirs, with many still under 40% capacity. South West Lakes’ brown trout waters (Colliford, Fernworthy, and Roadford) closed for the 2022 season on 15 October. The remaining rainbow waters are due to stay open until 30 November.

Fishing:

Kennick – The fishing has been slow at Kennick this month, with little surface activity, and most fish being taken on a slow-fished sunk or sink-tip line, with the deeper water by the dam, central midwater, Clampitts Bay, and off the East Bank producing the best sport. Various Damsel patterns and lures (Cormorants, and various Boobies) have been responsible for most catches – however there were no particularly large fish or outstanding bags recorded.

 

Burrator – Rods averaged 2.7 fish per angler over the month, with Longstone, Pig Trough, and North Shore the most productive banks. Fish were still looking to the surface to feed, and Daddies, Claret Hoppers, and Hawthornes all tempted fish, although generally sub-surface nymphs (Damsels, Diawl Bachs, Montanas, and Buzzers) and lures (Orange Tadpoles, Black Goldheads, Orange Blobs, Boobies, and Flash Minnows) accounted for most of the catches. Floating and intermediate lines along with medium retrieves proved to be the most successful tactic. Matt Baines and Andy Cottam (from Plymouth) both caught full bags of five fish up to 2lb 8oz.

 

Siblyback – Water levels are very low (just getting back to 30% capacity), and the fishing has been hard. Stocky Bay and the deeper water by the dam have produced the best sport, with anglers catching fish on Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, and Bibios using an intermediate line.

 

Stithians – Water levels are still very low here – at the time of writing only 19% full. Floating lines with Daddies or a selection of wets (Bibios, Soldier Palmers, Damsels, and Dunkelds) were responsible for most catches, with Goonlaze and the deeper water by the dam the most productive banks to fish.

 

Fernworthy – This brown trout fishery continued to produce good fishing, with anglers averaging over three fish per rod, either on dry sedge patterns or Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Black Pennels, and Bibios. Levels have now started to rise here to 50% capacity, and fish were caught from banks all around the fishery.

Colliford – Weekly catch rates tailed off as the month progressed, from 5.4 fish per rod, to 2.8 fish per angler. A wide variety of patterns caught fish, with dries (Sedges, Beetles, Daddies, and Hoppers) fished on a floating line and long leader, accounting for many; other successful patterns included Soldier Palmers, Buzzers, Black and Peacock Spiders, Bibios, and Mini Muddlers. Fish were well spread out around the banks, with most locations producing fish. Chris Tilyard (from Fradddon) caught six browns in one session, while Myles Gerard (from Tiverton) caught three superb naturalised fish of 1lb each.

Roadford – North Wortha Point and Grinnacombe proved to be the most productive banks, with Bibios, Foam Beetles, Zulus, Hares Ears, and Soldier Palmers fished on a floating lines catching the fish. Alan Judd (from Seaton) caught a bag of five browns to 1lb, taking fish on or just below the surface.

Please see South West Lakes’ website (www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing) for more information on buying tickets (note that permit huts are not open), boat availability and booking, and forthcoming events.

 

Chris Hall (October 2022)