B.D.A.C Rod and Reel match results date 29.12.24 at Tarka. Today was the final Rod and Reel match of the year,12 anglers fished and the weather was calm with some misty rain at time. Fishing today was hard with the fish not wanting to feed much but all anglers caught fish.1st place today went to Keith Mountjoy on peg 17 with a nice net of carp for 23lbs 7oz 2nd place went to Darren polden on peg 10 with a mixed bag of 19lbs 6oz 3rd place went to Keith Copland on peg 18 with 19lbs 3oz and 4th place was Martin Turner on peg 19 with 11lbs 2oz. The overall winner of the Rod and Reel matches for 2024 went to Richard Jefferies with 128 points and 2nd place went to Darren polden with 112 points and 3rd place was Stephen Paul Sheller on 107.
Well done today Keith Mountjoy on your win and well done to Richard Jefferies on winner the league, I would like to thank everyone who as taken part in this year’s Rod and Reel league and I wish you all a Happy New Year.
I lost Internet connection for over a week following Storm Darragh hence a lack of reports on the website. Please see a brief round up of news. A Merry Christmas to all readers and all the best fishes for 2025
Bideford and District Angling Clubs Christmas Competition
Keith Mountjoy secured top spot in Bideford and District Angling Clubs Christmas Competition held on their home water Tarka Swims with a fine net of 31lb 6oz. Martin Turner was runner up with 25lb 2oz and Craig Lamey third with 21lb 13oz. Nineteen members braved the tail end of Storm Darragh that decimated fixtures that weekend.
SEA RESULTS
Jon Stevens won Bideford Angling Club 48 hour Sea Rover with thornback ray weighing 11lb 10.5oz
Combe Martin SAC
Ollie Passmore won Combe Martin SAC’s Christmas competition with a bass of 4lb 11oz.
Several quality bass have been caught by Combe Martin SAC members over recent weeks with Kyle Bishop tempting a fine bass of 9lb 9oz and Ollie Passmore a bass of 8lb 4oz.
Shane Hookway fished a rock mark to tempt a fine bull huss of 11lb 12oz.
Appledore Shipbuilders
Only 14 fish came to the scales with the majority released after weigh in swimming away strong.
Winning was Toby Evans with a Flounder of 1lb 7 1/4ozs. Nikki Atkinson was second with another flounder of 1lb 6 3/4ozs and Andrew Atkinson was 3rd with a Flounder of 1lb 5 3/4ozs. Everyone who entered walked away with a Christmas fare prize as there were more prizes than fish caught!
It was also the December winter league this weekend.
Andrew Atkinson took all 3 places with Poutings of 2lb 0 1/4ozs, 1lb 6ozs and a whiting of 1lb 3 1/4ozs.
It’s December so it seems Ok to start talking Christmas. We are very fortunate in North Devon to have fishing tackle shops in all of our major towns and as local anglers we really need to support them. With Christmas just a couple of weeks away now is the time to buy that fishy present. It might be that you have to pay a little more as compared to the internet but there is no postage, a good after sales service, you get to see what you’re buying and you ensure that you have somewhere to buy fresh bait. Not to mention the vital social benefits of meeting fellow anglers whilst browsing those lines of tempting produce.
BARNSTAPLE
Barnstaple Bait and Tackle offers an excellent range of tackle for all disciplines and is convenienly located in Queen Street, close to the central Car Park and Bus Station. The shop is owned by Chris Connaughton a well known and respected local angler.
ILFRACOMBE
Danny Watson (Above right ) is a lure fishing fanatic a fact that is reflected when-ever you walk into his tackle shop in Ilfracombe High Street. Thousands of lures to tempt every angler and every fish. Danny supplies local charter boats with lures and tackle and has an extensive knowledge on how lures work and their design features. In addition to the vast array of lures the shop also carries an extensive range of sea tackle and coarse fishing essentials.
BIDEFORD
Anglers Heaven is owned by Tom Wade and has recently undergone a significant extension with a large retail area offering fishing tackle for all disciplines. Tom also stocks a range of shooting and country sports equipment.
BRAUNTON
The Braunton Bait Box is run by keen local angler Craig McCloughlin and offers a good range of sea angling tackle and quaility bait. The shop also has a range of coarse fishing tackle and is a stockist for Chillcheater clothing of Braunton.
Reed – Chillcheater is a North Devon Based company located in Braunton that offers a wide range of high quality outdoor clothing that has gained a reputation amongst local anglers for keeping them warm and dry in the worst of conditions.
EXMOOR
Lance Nicholson’s shop is located in the lively Exmoor town of Dulverton and offers a wide range of game fishing tackle and country clothing. It is also an excellent source on information on where to fish and what is happening across the Upper Exe and Barle catchments.
CORNWALL
The Arundell is a traditional country hotel on the Cornish Border that offers excellent river fishing throughout the year. The hotel has a tackle shop that stocks an excellent range of top end tackle from Orvis. This is undoubtedly the top venue for West Country winter grayling.
Anglers Heaven in Bideford has had a significant extension with a vast range of products from top brands now available for anglers of all disciplines. I called into the shop last week with my wife Pauline and was very impressed. in addition to top quailty tackle Tom Wade also keeps a good supply of fresh live and frozen bait.
GRAND OPENING/BLACK FRIDAY SALE Friday 29th/Saturday 30th November
Join Tom Wade and family for the new shop extension party.
Bideford and District Angling Club held their AGM at Bideford Con Club on Friday November 15th, the event was very well attended. The club is North Devon’s largest angling club with a membership of over 500 that includes over fifty Junior members many undoubtedly attracted by the clubs two well maintained fishing lakes. Tarka Swims consists of Georges Lake and Karen’s Lake that between them provide excellent pleasure, match and carp fishing. The lakes manager Steve Bailey resigned from the post after many years of sterling service and was presented with gifts from the club in appreciation. The new lake manager is Mike Jones.
Club Secretary – Mervyn Beal says :- Farewell Steve. At last nights AGM the club said farewell to our outgoing Tarka Swims manager. Over the past 20yrs Steve has been the backbone of our club, his grit determination, hard work and commitment has made Tarka Swims what it is today. On behalf of the committee and club members we would like to say a massive thank you Steve and to Lorraine for giving up so much family time over the years. Hopefully you can now enjoy more family time and get some well earned fishing in. Thank you.
The clubs holds well attended coarse fishing Matchs each month and a summer series of events for Junior anglers. The club also hosts regular sea angling competitions and game fishing events.
Bideford and District Angling Club Match Secretary’s Report 2024
The Senior matches on George’s Lake, Tarka Swims have once again, been very well supported. With an average of 20 members regularly competing.
Our Junior Section has also been extremely well supported with 35 different youngsters enjoying the 3-hour Saturday events held throughout the summer. The 5-match series was won by Ethan Broom on 46 points, close second Lewis Hathaway on 45 points.
The 10 match, Summer Evening Series attracted 22 different anglers, we were blessed with some great weather for the 3-hour contests. Runaway winner was Nathan Underwood on 130 points with Kevin Shears 2nd on 92 points. The 3-hour pairs event was won by Rhys Elyes and Darren Polden with a remarkable total of 96lb 12oz.
Richard’s ‘Rod and Reel Only’ Competitions have been fully attended; organiser Richard Jefferies currently leads the league with 2 matches remaining.
At present, in the monthly Sunday Matches, Craig Lamey has an unassailable lead with Nathan in 2nd place.
Our 2-leg team match against Plymouth resulted in a resounding victory for us 713lb to 219lb. I hope to set up a more challenging contest against Bude Canal anglers.
This club offers a fantastic variation of disciplines; from the game beat on the Torridge to boat trips, shore fishing contests and, of course, the Tarka events. The lakes provide a host of opportunities to get involved; as members we need to be mindful that the membership is diverse and each of us find pleasure and fulfilment in our chosen pastime whether helping with the working parties, camping out overnight after the ‘Big One’ or witnessing the joy of watching the juniors catching their first fish.
Openness and understanding are essential if the club is to prosper; division is not healthy. As a club we must be respectful of members choices.
Regular matches, I believe, provide a very useful indicator as to the condition of the water and its inhabitants. Recorded results provide accurate information and trends can be monitored.
Once again, I must thank those people who have supported events but especially those who have ensured that they run smoothly. Mervyn for his support scrutinising and publishing results. Steve and his team for providing us with a well maintained and safe environment to enjoy our chosen discipline.
Finally, I must comment on the shock of the closure of the institution that was Summerland’s Tackle; we wish the family well and thank them for all their support over many years.
Martin Turner stands for another term as club match secretary.
As Winter approaches the number of anglers venturing out will inevitably drop but those that continue to fish will enjoy some of the years most exciting fishing. Make sure you support your local tackle shop.
Combe Martin SAC member Ollie Passmore with a fine trigger fish caught as the summer species depart.
When your rod hoops over and line starts screaming off is a hard feeling to beat. Proper scrap and big thanks for the top landing skills and pic from a good mate @kevlegg This girl going 36lb 10! Roll on winter and hopefully be blessed to catch another and can beat my pb
@sakuma_fishing 8/0 manta extra and 7/0 Octopus circle as my pennel hook can’t rate enough. New sakuma wire for my bite trace!
And as we approach those Christmas shopping days remember the angler always needs something!
Bideford Angling Club and Barnstaple Angling Association both hold their AGM’s in November. If your consiodering joining these clubs or are members already its good opportunity to meet fellow members and find out whats what.
Dear Members,
If anyone has any proposals for the AGM 15th Nov, they must be received by midnight tonight, with a proposer and seconder. sent to [email protected]
Thank you
Mervyn Club Secretary.
Barnstaple & District Angling Club AGM will be held in the Ebberly Arms, Bear Street, Barnstaple on Tuesday 12th November at 7.30pm. There is free evening parking in the car park at the rear. This is always a friendly social evening, and we are expecting a good attendance as in previous years.
High pressure system and a very cold night has curtailed the catches , but league leader , Craig has put together a very impressive net of carp , 40lb clear of second, on peg13, this has extended his lead to 29 points over last year’s winner.
Winning tactic was 6mm luncheon meat pole fished in the margins.
Second place has taken Paul into joint second spot in the league on 87 points.
His chosen technique on peg 17 was red maggot over micros and maggots in the deeper water on the pole.
Stephen’s third place was off peg 19 , method feeder and pole tactics.
B.D.A.C. Rod and Reel match results date 22.9.24 at Tarka.
Today was a very wet day with fishing very slow at times for some anglers,15 anglers fished the match today and all caught fish. Today winner was Antony Bentley on peg 10 with a fine bag of fish for 44lbs 6oz, second place was Keith Mountjoy on peg 9 with 30lbs 7oz, 3rd place was Warren Thornton on peg 22 with a nice mixed bag of fish for 22lbs 3oz and 4th place today went to Darren polden on peg 21 with a mixes bag of fish for 21lbs. The next Rod and Reel match will be on the 27.10.24 at Tarka. Well done on your win today Antony Bentley.
Dear Members,
