Ian Blewett landed the above 5lb 12oz grilse whilst fishing for sea trout at a quarter to midnight on a Middle Taw beat. The recent rain has encouraged a trickle of salmon and sea trout into both the Taw and Torridge. Two salmon of 5lb and 11lb were caught on a Middle Taw beat on Friday. Rumours are circulating of a 14lb + sea trout from the River Mole?
On the Torridge four grilse were tempted from a Middle River Beat despite the river being very low.
Summer evening on a trout lake in early July lush green vegetation surrounding the mirror calm surface. Swallows swooping over the water with trout cruising clearly visible in crystal clear water.
I was enjoying an evening at Blakewell with their resident instructor Jeff Pearce. Jeff was as always kitted out with the latest top quality tackle from Snowbee a Spectre 5 weight rod matched to a 2 to 5 weight thistledown fly line that has recently won a prestigious European Fly Fishing Trade Award.
I had elected to contrast Jeff’s top of the range modern tackle by bringing along a 7ft Scottie Split Cane rod that I purchased from a work colleague last year. I later discovered that the rod had once been owned by Richard Mann a regular at Blakewell who sadly passed away last year. Whilst I am not a devout advocate of vintage tackle I do have a fondness for angling history and split cane rods have a certain feel that is somehow more in sync with nature than the steely modern perfection of carbon fibre.
We had decided to restrict ourselves to dry fly only on this warm and sultry evening planning to savour the visual delights of this method. It is surprising that so many anglers miss out on the best trout fishing summer has on offer by concentrating their efforts during the daytime hours often fishing office hours between 9.0am and 5.00pm when they could arrive at 5.00pm and fish until dusk when the fish undoubtedly become more active.
After a days work that had entailed a meeting in Plymouth I was relieved to eventually arrive at the lake at close to 6.30pm where I found Jeff chatting to a couple of visiting anglers.
Trout were clearly visible, some cruising and others were suspended lethargically almost motionless in the water
I tied a small grey duster to my 4lb point and worked the fly line until I had found the range of the target trout. Jeff was soon into action tempting a fish on a small caenis imitation. After a pleasing tussle a beautiful spotted brown trout of a couple of pounds was being admired.
It was obvious that the actively cruising trout were the fish to target as they were we guessed on the lookout for food. After a few refusals I dropped my fly into the path a cruising fish and watched as it nonchalantly swam up to the fly and slurped in my offering. The satisfying tightening of the line and well-bent rod followed this delightful moment of deception. This was the first decent sized trout I had hooked on the old Scottie as previous outings with the rod had been on the river where I had relished catching 4oz wild browns. This 2lb plus rainbow was a more severe test for the rod though I lent into the fish with total confidence enjoying every moment as the old cane absorbed every lunge.
As we fished on Jeff enjoyed success with a small sedge pattern twitching it a few times and then pausing. This often provoked a rise from the trout and a well bent rod. I followed suit tying on a sedge pattern myself and casting to active trout. This was fascinating fishing watching each fish’s reaction to the fly. There is surely no more enjoyable way to catch trout than with the dry fly?
Image by Jeff Pearce
As the sun slowly sank the trout became more active as the air-cooled and more flies hatched around the lake. There was no hurry to catch fish as we enjoyed the ambience of the summer lake. Chatting about fishing here and there and hatching plans for fly-fishing excursions in both saltwater and fresh. Jeff is a dedicated fly angler and relishes catching on this method above all others.
As the sun sank we took the opportunity to capture images of reflections in the water as the summer day ebbed away. A pair of kingfishers flashed across the water a pleasing glimpse of blue and orange. A heron wheeled above the trees emitting a primeval cry and resembling a pterodactyl that once flew millions of years ago. Such summer evenings are to be savored as the evenings once again begin to shorten as summers glorious peak of perfection passes.
On the river Torridge sea trout specialist Martin Weeks landed a fine sea trout of 10lb and lost a far bigger fish when the hook pulled free after the fish tried to empty his reel of line. Dr Jonathon Compson landed five sea trout averaging 1lb 8oz from an upper river beat and Paul Carter landed a 4lb grilse from a middle river beat. Graham Roberts also landed a grilse of 4lb and Adam Baron caught a 10lb salmon and a 3lb sea trout.
I fished a Middle Torridge beat and whilst I failed to tempt a salmon or sea trout I did manage to catch a beautiful brown trout of around 1lb. Unfortunately the picture suffered from some incompetence from me!
Taw regular Ian Blewett landed a fine brace of salmon from a Middle Taw beat. The fish both carefully released were estimated at 11lb and 8lb and were tempted on a home tied size 10 gold cascade.
Several large sea trout have been hooked including a massive fish that was played for over ten minutes before it headed back down river towards the sea and parted company with the unlucky angler.
The recent rain has brought a welcome rise in North Devon’s Rivers giving excellent prospects of salmon during the coming week.
I took a walk up the Lower reaches of the Lyn earlier today (June 30th) It looked absolutely perfect for spinning and I received confirmation that a salmon was caught from the river the previous day. This 7lb salmon was tempted on a worm presented on a de-barbed circle hook as supplied with the anglers permit purchased from the E.A. Permits are now available from Barbrook Petrol station from 7.00am. The Lyn is now 100% catch and release and as a result it is not fished by as many anglers as in past seasons. Whilst the reduction in angling pressure is undoubtedly good for the salmon stocks I cannot help but feel slightly sad as I remember my own days on the river a couple of decades ago when after a spate like this anglers would hurry to the river in large numbers from miles around. There was quite a community back then and many of those characters have passed away. As I jumped up onto familiar rocks to study the water and search for the sight of a salmon I remembered those anglers and almost expected to glimpse them searching the water with worm or spinner.
On a wet summers day I can think of no better place to be. The river holds many happy memories and whilst I only saw this magnificent river as its salmon and sea trout run started to decline I had a glimpse of what it once produced and in my forthcoming book I can reveal some of its former glories.
The Torridge has also risen and should be fish-able within a couple of days as the turbidity drops out of the water. Day tickets are available at Little Warham Fishery and at the Half Moon at Sheepwash.
Day Tickets are also available on the Taw from the Rising Sun at Umberleigh who can also provide tickets for the Weir Marsh and Brightly Beats controlled by Ivan Huxtable.
Sadly we don’t have any grayling in North Devon but there are a few just over the border in Somerset where Nick Hart operates out of Exe Valley Fishery.
Nick Hart takes a lot of photos of people with fish but every now and again something a little bit different happens like this one today. Here a mate (Phil) holds the net while his mate (Alan) displays his first ever Grayling caught on a #16 cdc elk dry during a session on the River Exe. Just love their expressions, shows the buzz to be had from fishing.
The latest report from South West Lakes. Looks like a few anglers need to get up to Wistlandpound (our local water) that does offer some superb brown trout sport. Great value fishing
General:
With some of the highest temperatures across the country for many years, water temperatures rose quickly, especially in the shallower layers, to over 21ºc, resulting in catch rates falling towards the end of the month as fish became more lethargic. Water levels are still full or nearly so on all waters.
Fishing:
Kennick – Rods averaged 2.5 fish per angler over the first three weeks of June, with the fishing becoming more challenging toward the end of the month. The best Rainbow of the season – a beautiful fish of 7lbs – was caught by Mr. J. Bailey (from Esher) while fishing from the bank at the Narrows using a Black Bobbie on a sunk line. A 5lb Rainbow was caught by Mr. G.Hext, as part of a full bag, fishing from a boat.
The Narrows was the most productive area for both boat and bank anglers, with boats also catching well in the deeper water by the dam and in Clampitts Bay; the banks at the Top End and The Lawns also fished well. Dry patterns fished particularly well early in the month (especially Buzzer Emergers, Black Gnats, Black or Claret Hoppers and Daddies), while small nymph patterns fished on floating or sink-tip lines (particularly teams of Buzzers, Diawl Bachs and Damsel nymphs) caught well throughout the month. Towards the end of the month sinking lines fishing Boobies, Tadpoles and Fry patterns started to produce good results.
South West Lakes Trust will be stocking hardier Brown Trout during the warmer months of July and August in order to continue good catch rates.
Siblyback – Anglers also averaged just over 2.3 fish per rod over the month, with most fish being caught from Two Meadows, Stocky Bay and the North Bank. Afternoons and early evenings generally produced the best fishing and, while some fish were caught on dry patterns such as Sedges, Bibios, Hoppers and Beetles, the majority of fish were taken on nymph patterns (particularly Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, Diawl Bachs and Pheasant Tail Nymphs).
Burrator – The banks at Longstone Peninsula and the North West shoreline have produced the best fishing over the month, with Black Gants, Beetles, Buzzer Emergers and Hoppers all catching rising fish. The majority of fish, however, have been caught on sub-surface nymphs ( Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, Buzzers and teams of Black and Peacock Spiders) fished on either floating or intermediate lines, while deeper fish have taken pulled Vivas and Cats Whiskers, particularly towards the end of the month when surface temperatures exceeded 22 ºc and the fish took to the deeper water.
Stithians – Anglers again averaged over 2.5 fish per rod during the first three weeks of June before the high temperatures resulted in more challenging fishing as the fish retreated to sulk in the deeper water. Fish were well spread out, with Pub Bay, Carnmenellis and Yellowort Bay producing consistently good sport. Other productive locations included Chapel Bay, Pipe Bay, Goonlaze and the deeper water by the dam. With plenty of beetles and emerging Buzzers on the water, dry patterns proved to be the most successful method, with Beetles, f-flies, Hawthorns, Bob’s Bits and dry Sedge patterns all catching well. Small sub-surface nymphs (Buzzers, Orange Diawl Bachs, Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails and Damsel Nymphs) fished on a floating line and long leader also produced some outstanding results.
Drift – The water here is still crystal clear, with Badger Sett bank (where fish have been regularly rising) and the North Shore producing the most consistent sport, while boat anglers and float-tubes have enjoyed great fishing off the Woods and in the deeper water by the dam. Palmered Coch-y-bondhus and Hoppers have taken surface-feeding fish, although the majority of fish have been caught sub-surface on Damsel Nymphs, Diawl Bachs, Black Crunchers and Buzzer imitations. Malcom Griffiths (from Gloucester) caught the best fish of the month – a 3½lb Rainbow – while float tubing near the dam.
Roadford – The fishing here has produced some excellent results, with large catches (rods averaged 6.6 fish) and some wonderful fish. Daveys Bank has produced the best sport from the bank, while boat anglers have caught well at Goodacre Bay, by the dam and over the boils, with dark patterns all catching well – Dry Black Gnats, Beetles and Black Spiders fished in the surface film, as well as sub-surface Black Pennells, Bibio patterns, and teams of Black Buzzers fished on sink-tip lines with long leaders. Duncan Kier (from Belstone) caught (and returned) bags of 32 fish and 20 fish up to 3lb 1oz fishing from the boat, while David Best (from Newton Abbot) caught fish up to 2lb 10oz.
Fernworthy – Anglers have had a tremendous month at this picturesque Brown Trout water, averaging over 6.5 fish per rod. The annual arrival of the swarms of beetle have meant that the fish have been looking up to feed, resulting in excellent dry fly sport, with foam beetle patterns, Dry Bibios, Sedges and Spiders producing outstanding sport, with a few sub-surface feeders taking Hares Ears, Montanas and Damsel Nymphs. Fish have been feeding well throughout the day, with most fish caught by the permit hut and from the Lawns. The best fish caught during the month was a grown-on Brown Trout of 2lb 1oz using a Bracken Beetle, while Paul Ackland (from Plympton) caught and returned 32 fish using a Black Ethafoam Beetle – in his words, a ‘red letter’ day!
Colliford – The fishing has, at last, started to pick up at Colliford, with local angler Dean Boucher losing a fish estimated at over 5lb at the net, as a final run pulled the hook.
South West Lakes Trust is introducing two boats for anglers during July and August this season at Colliford. This is exciting news as it will be the first time anglers have ever had the opportunity to fish the deeper waters where the larger resident Brownies are known to be. For more information and to book, call 01566 771930.
Chris Hall (June 2017)
For more information, please contact:
Rosie Vine
Communications Manager
South West Lakes Trust
01566 771930
North Devon Angling News has been up and running for just over twelve months and I hope that it has been of benefit to the local angling community. My intention has always been to entertain and inform. The site would not work without regular news stories from anglers in North Devon and with huge support from my sponsors who have placed adverts with me. I try to give good value and welcome any new supporters who would like to come on-board.
I was going to put up a few highlights from the past year but on reflection this would be difficult as there are so many and I would undoubtedly over look so many so perhaps I should just encourage you to take a look back over your particular area of interest. And don’t forget to send your latest news and images. If you want to comment you can always do so via the Facebook or twitter feed or even using the telephone.
Jeff Pearce is a dedicated Fly Fishing enthusiast who takes his fly rod to the coast on a regular basis. His last two sessions have brought success with both bass and grey mullet.
(Above) Bass on the fly too! About 2lb, small Chartreuse Clouser minnow! #5Wt 8′ 6” Snowbee Spectre rod and reel
(Above) This hard fighting grey mullet estimated at 5lb was tempted on a black bass fly from a local beach!
This well deserved fresh 7lb salmon was caught by Stuart Eynon at Little Warham on Saturday morning( June 24th). After persisting with the low water levels and mainly fishing dusk till dawn for sea trout, this was a welcome surprise!
Amanda at Little Warham sent me this delightful image above of an enthusiastic group of young anglers who have been making an annual pilgrimage to the fishery. Lets hope they can all pose for the same picture in 2024 and that they will again enjoy success with the Torridge salmon.
The guys first came here in 94 by responding to an advert in the local rag by Group Captain Peter Norton-Smith. They were vetted by him and Terry and told that they were expected to catch! On their first day here fortunately one of the lads caught a salmon and then became annually welcome to the Fishery. Their number of salmon caught at Warham now exceed 100. It was great to have them back and great sitting outside the hut listening to the stories of the Fishery over the years. Terry’s reluctance to have four seventeen year old lads from the north east has certainly paid dividends for the fish numbers and its great being in touch with them and having that connection to the rivers history over the past 23 years! They still love the river just as much and their enthusiasm certainly hasn’t diminished and hopefully will continue to make their annual pilgrimage to Little Warham.