Dan Welch enjoyed an evening catching up with old fishing friends on a North Devon rock mark. They had a few fish Including this lovely bass of 8lb 4oz. “Taken on light gear fishing big baits with small weights the next best thing to lure fishing.”
SEASONS and CHANGING TIMES – A few thought from the waters edge.
Autumn seems to be setting in early this year with the salmon fishing seasons end almost upon us and no prospect of wetting a line with heavy rain bringing a big spate that has come too late to save what has been a lacklustre season as a result of low flows for much of the year. On the plus side the swollen rivers will enable salmon and sea trout to forge upriver and with no anglers or nets to impede their progress they will hopefully successfully spawn ensuring fish for future seasons.
Autumn colours are already showing on many trees on higher ground; martins and swallows are glimpsed as they head south battling the autumn gales as they start their epic journey. In a few weeks they will be swooping over a different landscape in Africa with elephants, lion and wildebeest instead of red deer, foxes and badgers. Each year these natural migrations take place and to some extent we take it all for granted expecting it all to continue year on year. Sadly things don’t always go on and we should watch with concern as nature faces troubled times. I read today of a threat to the Horse Chestnut trees and a shortage of conkers. Ash die back threatens to decimate our woodland.
As I drive around North Devon I am dismayed at the number of houses being built. Have we the infrastructure to cope? How will all of this impact upon the natural landscape and wildlife of North Devon? My recently published book “I Caught A Glimpse” reflects upon a North Devon I grew up in. Each year the stories within its pages seem far removed from the present day.
The coming months are often the best of the year for many anglers with carp already showing from our local lakes at impressive weights their bronze flanks reflecting autumns hues. Stillwater trout are likely to bring exciting sport. On the coast sea anglers will be relishing the chance to catch tope, bass, conger, Huss and grey mullet. In the estuary flounder anglers will enjoy simple fishing as rod tips rattle as bunches of ragworm are engulfed.
These autumn storms will of course pass and warm sunshine will bring reminders of summer warmth. November generally gives those first chill days but even then garfish and mackerel can bring a pleasant surprise on the coast. Part of the joy of angling is not knowing what will happen next and being out there by the water is a constant adventure. What better place to watch the drama of life on earth unfold?
South Molton Anglers take a trip aboard Bluefin
Eddie Rands of South Molton Anglers reports on their latest boat trip.
With a decent forecast we eagerly set off to ilfracombe.
We left on time and went to a nearby reef, tried a couple of drifts for a bass, nothing doing so off we steamed to Lundy.
We soon caught a few mackerel for bait and then proceeded to work our way round permitted area of the island with feathers and sidewinders drifting where we caught ballan wrasse, pollack,coalfish, pouting a few more mackerel and horse mackerel.
We then anchored up in some deeper water and caught a few dogfish, Huss and tope.
Stephen Baker, Matt Brady and Steve Edmonds broke their duck and landed at least 1 each.
We had a lovely day in a very scenic situation with a good bunch of chaps and again well looked after by John Barbery aboard Bluefin.
Looking forward to next time.
I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE – BOOK LAUNCH
After what seems like a long journey my book ” I Caught A Glimpse” has finally been published and I am delighted with the end result. The launch day at Blakewell Fishery proved to be an enjoyable event with a good number of local anglers attending to meet with publisher Wayne Cryer from the Little Egret Press and myself. The lush water gardens, pools of swirling trout and tea rooms bathed in bright sunshine proved the perfect setting. There was a steady stream of anglers arriving throughout the event and it was pleasing to see generations of North Devon Anglers mingling and reminiscing with several old friends reunited.
The book will be judged by its readers so I await feed back confident that I have produced a worthwhile tome. There is of course far more that I could have written about and this becomes increasingly obvious as I talk further with the anglers of North Devon.
A big thank you to all of those who attended the book launch from both Wayne Cryer and I.
On a hectic day Pauline and I then attended the Annual River Torridge Dinner at the Half Moon Inn. After a wonderful meal with members of the Association I was pleased to sign a few more copies of “I Caught A Glimpse”. Special thanks must go to Charles Inniss who wrote a foreword to the book and promoted the book enthusiastically to the Torridge Fishery members.
I must of course give a very big thanks to all who assisted me in writing the book for it was by no means a solo effort and those who helped are acknowledged within the book. Though I have to say I have undoubtedly missed a few.
Fine Autumn Sea Sport
Sea anglers have been enjoying some fine autumn sport from both boat and shore as summer temperatures linger on. Kevin Pike won Appledore Shipbuilders latest boat competition with a fine tope of 46lb. David Atkinson was runner up with a triggerfish of 3lb 81/2oz and Kevin Pike third with a triggerfish of 3lb. Triggerfish are a tropical fish that move into Britain’s Coastal waters during late summer and autumn and are a shoal fish that can offer great sport once located. Large numbers were first caught from the North Devon area in the mid-nineties. I recall one of these fish being caught in the early eighties when no one knew what type of fish it was. It is widely speculated that the arrival of triggerfish and gilthead bream is linked to climate change.
Olie Passmore and Kody Chugg fished a North Devon rock mark and landed trigger fish of 2lb 12oz and 2lb 14oz.
SEA ANGLING – Weekend Round Up
Rob Scoines took first prize in Combe Martin SAC’s Lyn Fish boating a small eyed ray scaling 9lb 11oz. The fish was one of twenty-eight he caught whilst fishing from Steve Webbers boat Osprey off Minehead. In runner up spot was Dan Welch with a boat caught small eyed ray of 8lb 6oz, Dan also took third with a boat caught bull Huss of 7lb 15oz. Jamie Steward also enjoyed success landing a 7lb 10oz small eyed ray but was unfortunately too late back to register his fish. Club members met up at the Rising Sun Lynmouth for the presentation where they enjoyed a splendid platter of fresh sandwiches and chips.
Dan Welch enjoyed an exceptional session fishing from his own boat out of Ilfracombe.
“Amazing day out on the boat started off on the bass resulted in 10 all around 4lb on a light set up with size 5 black minnows. Then moved in on the banks and had unbelievable ray fishing I landed between 25-30 small eye ray it would have been more but I ran out of bait. The best thing was I only had one dogfish all day.”
Members enjoyed a fine Autumn weekend with warm sunshine and clear water. Several grey mullet were also caught by members fishing the competition but none were big enough to register.
BIDEFORD CLUB
24 hour results
1st Stephen Found thick lipped mullet 4lb 2 3/4oz 101.171%
2nd Andrew Clements smooth hound 6lb 2oz 61.250%
Big Bass from North Devon Beach
Kevin Hill tempted this fine 10lb 11oz bass from a North Devon beach on a whole Joey mackerel intended for tope.
Autumn nights are coming
As those autumn nights start to extend its time to get out on the shore with a big bait for bass, huss, conger and maybe a tope. Daniel Welch and Ross Stanway enjoyed a session fishing lively water to land an 8lb huss and a bass of 4lb plus.
Time for a big bass
Autumn is the time for big bass and Olie Passmore got his campaign underway with this cracking fish of 7lb 8oz taken on a big mackerel bait.
Sea Fishing Results
Stephen Found secured top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly Sea Rover with a specimen thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb 63/4oz. In runner up spot was Julien Stainer with a conger of 19lb 111/2oz and third Paul Downing with a dogfish of 2lb. Forth Terry Dymond with a wrasse of 3lb 5oz.
Josh Atkinson took first and second in Appledore Shipbuilders monthly rover with small eyed ray scaling 9lb 12oz and 8lb 3/4oz. In third was Chris Slade with a smoothound of 9lb 123/4oz.