Bratton Water is nestled in a sheltered valley beside Bratton Stream and offers fine sport with free rising brown and rainbow trout. Eddy Hazeldon enjoyed a four-hour session at the water with his sixteen-year-old daughter Charlotte and landed a brace of trout each averaging 3lb.
Long time member of Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club Bob Gooding fished the water to land a stunning brown trout of 8lb.
Small imitative patterns tend to work well at this water with dry flies always worth a try especially during warm summer evening’s.
Whilst many will be grumbling about recent rain in localized areas salmon and sea trout anglers will have a little hope in their hearts. After an exceptionally dry April and May local rivers have been at uncomfortably low levels with migratory fish reluctant or unable to progress upriver. Both salmon and sea trout fishing have virtually ground to a halt. A quick look at the Environment Agency gauging stations indicates a substantial rise in the Upper and middle Torridge that should give encouragement that a few fish will move over Beam Weir. The initial flush of water after a prolonged drought is often very dirty and this can deter fish from moving into the system. As the water clears fish should run giving anglers a chance of sport. Ideally we need a sustained period of rain to maintain the river level for a few weeks.
The Taw does not seem to have benefited to the same extent as the Torridge but even here a small rise could bring a few sea trout and salmon into the Lower reaches.
The Lyn seems to missed out on the rainfall and is still exceptionally low.
Blakewell Fishery is in top spring form with anglers enjoying fine sport as summer sunshine raises the water temperature encouraging good hatches of fly. Gavin Colwill from Bude a regular visitor to the fishery landed a fine brace of rainbows weighing 16lb and 14lb part of six fish bag that totalled 38lb.
The Fisheries Spring Competition saw some fine bags of trout despite the bright sunshine that was enjoyed by the competitors. Chris Rorstad won the events top prize of a twenty fish season ticket for Blakewell with a six fish bag weighing 18lb 2oz. In runner up spot was Stuart Avion with six trout for 17lb 6oz and third Neil Young with six for 16lb 11oz. The day was punctuated with a BBQ where anglers enjoyed their food and few beers whilst discussing past and future forays in search of trout.
Numerous double figure trout have featured in catches over recent weeks with some large fish glimpsed in the clear water as they cruise the margins.
Andy Facey with 12lb 8oz Blakewell Rainbow
BRATTON WATER
John Vaughan took top spot at Triple Hooks Clubs Fly fishing competition at Bratton Water with a four fish bag of 12lb 4oz that included a rainbow trout of 6lb. Robbie Hancock was runner up with a four fish bag of 11lb 3oz and Dennis Toleman third with four trout for 10lb. Bags were a mixture of brown trout and rainbow trout with fish moving well early and late in the day.
