5 Oct 2017

Business as usual at Blakewell as new season gets underway!

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Its business as usual at Blakewell Fishery that has just reopened after closing for essential maintenance. The road closure does not impact upon access to the fishery where anglers are enjoying sport with hard fighting rainbows with plenty of quality trout between 3lb and 5lb.

The lake is not the only restocking to have taken place the tackle shop has also seen a restocking with plenty of tackle to tempt the visiting angler.

Above – Blakewell’s well stocked tackle store.

A smiling angler and typical Blakewell rainbow.

3 Oct 2017

Local Angling Guide moves to the Big City

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I have known local angling Guide Nick Hart for many years and fished with him on numerous occasions on local waters. Nick has supported North Devon Angling News since it formation in 2016 and that support has been much appreciated. After twenty odd years of guiding Nick is taking on a new role  as fishing manager!  at the London based Farlows store located at 9 Pall Mall, a business with an incredible 177 years of history, by Royal appointment and intrinsically linked to the DNA of fly fishing.

Congratulations to Nick in his new venture.

http://www.nickhartflyfishing.com/blog/2017/10/why-i-am-swapping-my-waders-for-a-life-with-farlows/

2 Oct 2017

Game Fishing News

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The salmon fishing season on the River Taw came to an end last Saturday and rods enjoyed some late season sport on the Weir Marsh and Brightly Day Ticket beats. Len Francis landed salmon of 9lb and 5lb. John Shrimpton a 9lb salmon and Graham Nichols a grilse of 5lb. Over on the Torridge around at least a dozen salmon were caught during September with most from Mid to upper river beats.

(Below)England Junior Fly Fishing Team Member Seth Tuson caught his first salmon from a middle river Torridge beat.

Torridge Fishers can enjoy salmon fishing on the Torridge until October 14th but must obtain a special permit from Charles Inniss prior to fishing that is strictly catch and release with single barb-less hooks only.

Following a Committee Meeting the River Taw Fishery Association  has decided to follow the lead of the Angling Trust and South West Rivers Trust in its response to the Environment Agency Consultation on Managing Salmon Fisheries. In brief the, RTFA considers that all salmon netting should be stopped and that rod fishermen should continue to operate under voluntary catch and release while aiming for a very high release rate and adhering to appropriate good practice.

Salmon anglers are being urged to respond the consultation by visiting the E.A website and completing the relevant documentation. Submissions must be completed by October

Fly Fishers missing the river can ensure they keep their casting action in good shape by fishing for the hard fighting rainbow and brown trout in local stillwaters. Blakewell, Bratton Water and Exe Valley.

17 Sep 2017

Blakewell Closing for One week- Maintenance In-preparation for Autumn Season

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The lake will be closed for essential maintenance for up to one week from Tuesday 19th September 2017 we intend to re-open on Monday 26th September.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will endeavor to complete the work sooner and we will advise via our website email & Facebook if this is the case.
All our other facilities at Blakewell are open as usual, including the family fishing ponds and the cafe.

 

15 Sep 2017

FISHING FOR LIFE AT BLAKEWELL

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Jeff Pearce Blakewells resident Instructor sent me this short article on a project to help those with breast cancer.

 

‘Fishing for Life’ Organisation come to Blakewell

 

‘Fishing for Life’ is an organization, which provides fly, fishing sessions for people who all have one thing in common – breast cancer.

The organisation formed back in 2007 after learning how fly fishing techniques had been proven to be very beneficial to build up tissues and muscle for anyone suffering from breast cancer.

On the 6th September I had the pleasure of being invited along to the launch of their North Devon & 9th group at Blakewell fishery.

Interest in the group has been promising and 10 people have so far shown an interest in attending the North Devon group. The group will be meeting monthly in the future between 2pm and 4pm on the first Wednesday of each month.

As well as those attendees suffering from breast cancer, we had a group of nurses attend who wanted to learn more about the organisation and how fly fishing could help. As you can see from the above photo, having received some tuition they were soon captivated by the sport and keen to try and catch their first trout too!

Across the lake the ladies were engrossed in the tactics & seemed to be genuinely enjoying the sport. In fact, so much so that when afternoon tea was being served back at the café, one of the ladies just couldn’t be prized from the lake. Eventually returning carrying a decent trout and a big smile on her face!

It is hoped this group can now go from strength to strength and a decent number will make the monthly meet. It is further intended that if the weather is inclement during the winter months a fly tying workshop with a general will be held in the café instead, no doubt by this time there will be plenty of fishy tales to be told.

So, if you are one of these people who all have one thing in common – breast cancer and would like to come along or know anyone else who might benefit from joining this group, you can ring Gillian on 01398 371244 or check out their website at http://www.southwestfishingforlife.org.uk

11 Sep 2017

Salmon on Day ticket Taw water

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The recent rain has resulted in a succession of spates that has brought salmon into the rivers where anglers have enjoyed success when the river drops sufficiently to fish. The Weir Marsh and Brightly Beats on the Taw produced several salmon including fish of 11lb and 4lb to the rod of Len Francis, 7lb to the rod of Graham Nichols and 9lb and 7l to Bob Lewington.

Day tickets can be obtained from the Rising Sun at Umberleigh.

 

9 Sep 2017

EAT SLEEP FISH – A Top Read

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Eat Sleep fish is a free online publication that contains some excellent writing predominantly fly-fishing article from all over the world of angling.