Bidefords 48-hour results
1st Graham Snow Thin-lipped greymullet 5lb 4oz 131.250%
2nd Dale Kiff Smoothhound 10lb 13oz 108.125%
3rd Graham Snow Thin-lipped grey mullet 4lb 31/2oz 105.469%
BIDEFORD SEA ANGLING RESULT
BASS & BONITO for ILFRACOMBE BOATS
Lure anglers are enjoying superb sport off Ilfracombe with Reel Deal Charters and Predator 2 finding specimen bass and bonito to 10lb.
T0RRIDGE RIVERS ASSOCIATION – NEWSREEL: SUMMER 2025
The Annual Egg Box Dinner:
This is always a most enjoyable evening and hopefully our Fishery Protection Officer, Sam Fenner, will be able to join us. As usual the dinner will be at The Half Moon Inn: Saturday 20th September. It is always extremely popular so book early.
To book contact The Half Moon [email protected]: tel 01409231376
The Annual Raffle:
This year to save on the cost of printing raffle books and postage it has been decided to organise the raffle online. There will be a large board in the bar at The Half Moon with box numbers 1 to 1000. As members send in raffle monies (by cheque or BACS) I will write names into the boxes. Raffle tickets will cost £2: so for £10 you will have 5 tickets and for £20 ten chances to win one of the three excellent prizes. This is our major fundraising effort to help cover the cost of running the hatchery so please support generously.
Prizes: 1. Sportfish £100 voucher: 2.The Half Moon Inn £50 voucher: 3.Voucher for a case of 12 bottles of wine.
The Hatchery:
The EA has given us the go ahead to run the hatchery again this winter. Last year was a great success and in March 33,000 swim-up fry were stocked out into selected sites in the headwaters of the Torridge, Okement and Lew. Work is being undertaken to improve the safety of the site and the hatchery team are investigating ways to reduce the silt loading in the trays holding the eggs. All being well we will be trapping our broodstock during November.
The 2025 Season: following the pattern of recent years low flows seem to be the norm. The highlight has been a 15lb salmon caught on the second day of the season on the Madeira beat and anglers who have ventured out at night have enjoyed some success with the sea trout. During May and June the brown trout anglers enjoyed some excellent fishing with several fish over 2lb being caught.
Mike Weaver: the Devon River Reports:
A few weeks ago a guest staying at The Half Moon gave Adam old copies of the Trout and Salmon magazine with some going back to the early 1970’s and I was amazed to discover that over fifty years ago Mike Weaver was writing the Devon River Reports for the magazine and he is still, fifty years later, writing comprehensive monthly reports for the rivers in Devon. Well done Mike!! I have to admit these days I only buy the magazine to read the river reports.
In the April 1975 magazine Mike gave the rod returns of salmon and sea trout for the Devon rivers for 1974. The Torridge return was 156 down from 191 in 1973. The sea trout returns are astonishing. The total for all the Devon rivers was 3,778 of which the Taw return was 1,666 and the Torridge return 1,059. The two North Devon rivers accounted for over 75% of the Devon total.!! And almost certainly these returns did not include the large number of school peal which were caught. Taking into account there was much greater fishing effort in those days and spinning was allowed throughout the season but even so these returns show how dramatically stocks of both salmon and sea trout have declined in the last fifty years. Those were the days!!
Secretary: Charles Inniss Beeches Sheepwash
Beaworthy Devon EX21 5NW
e-mail: [email protected]
tel: 01409231237 (m)07464190944
WEEKLY – ANGLING REPORT – August 14th – 2025
posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Game Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar |
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BIG CARP FROM PARADISE SYNDICATE
George West enjoyed success at Angler’s Paradises Nirvana Syndicate lake banking a fine brace of mirror carp scaling 39lb each. The lake holds a stock of large carp grown on at the venue.
Comment
Carp fishing is constantly evolving as the desire to catch bigger carp drives the sector resulting in varied venues offering a gradual progression for carp anglers. Day ticket waters that offer large numbers of carp progressing to syndicate waters that have long waiting lists to enter with a high price tag that now exceeds the cost of a rod on an exclusive West Country salmon beat.
Match Fishing
Craig Lamey secured top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs monthly coarse match at their home water with 87lb 10oz. Nathan Underwood was runner up with 44lb 15oz and Keith Copland third with 44lb 10oz.
Sam Powell won last Sundays Stafford Moor Open Match with 248lb 5oz. The Saturday residents match was won by Martin Heard with 321lb 7oz.
Sea Angling
South Molton Angling Club members enjoyed a boat trip out of Lyme Regis where they enjoyed great sport catching eleven species that included black bream, thornback ray, and bull huss.
Stephen Found has been enjoying some great smoothound sport from the North Devon shore landing specimens of 14lb, 15lb 6oz and 18lb. Recent seasons have seen unprecedented numbers of these hard fighting fish move close inshore and at times moving into the estuary an area that historically did not see these fish in any numbers.
Several bonito have been caught from boats fishing the water at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. These powerful fish that average 2lb to 4lb are a hard fighting predatory fish that can be glimpsed as they erupt from the water as they smash into shoals of baitfish.
I enjoyed a day fishing for porbeagle shark on Ilfracombe boat Predator 2 and ventured to the recognised sharking grounds West of Hartland Point. Whilst we caught no shark we caught numerous tope, gurnard, bass, mackerel, gurnard and scad. Several shark have been caught in recent weeks but fishing seems to have been impacted upon by frequent algal blooms that are unusual for this time of year.
Rivers
Barnstaple and District Angling Club have once again suspended fishing on their river beats as high water temperatures and low oxygen levels bring grave concern for the rivers wildlife.
Comment
As I add the finishing touches to this week’s angling report the BBC news is reporting on the fact that ‘The UK’s seas have had their warmest start to the year since records began, helping to drive some dramatic changes in marine life and for its fishing communities’.
In my weekly angling report above I mention the influx of smoothound, unusual algal blooms and river temperatures that are concerning for fish survival. All of these could be linked to climate change and as an angler I observe these changes from the water’s edge.
I personally accept that the evidence points to rapid change in our climate and yet this is tempered by the fact that climate change is linked to events that have happened before as marine eco systems are cyclical and complex. Tuna are not new to UK waters and were abundant during the mid-twentieth century. Octopus population explosions occurred previously at the start and middle of the twentieth century. I would also point out that the frequently used phrase since records began is emotive terminology as since 1980 when records started is probably less alarming as forty odd years is little more than a blink of the eye in the evolving climate of the planet.
Ilfracombe Aquarium – Offers an intimate view into local waters
Ilfracombe Aquarium offers an insight into the abundant life that resides in the varied waters of North Devon and Exmoor. Situated in a corner of Ilfracombe’s busy Pier Car Park. Anyone with an interest in life beneath the surface will be fascinated by the abundance and variations of life in our regions waters. The colours of many fish a match for those of far off tropical seas.
Conservation is very much at the heart of the exhibits with information from Exmoor National Park, The National Trust and River Trusts displayed throughout. The Aquarium staff share their extensive knowledge of exhibits with plenty of personal observations to enliven their narrative.
Whilst the venue perhaps lacks the punch of the larger venues it offers a more intimate experience that can be savoured across the generations. I remember my own childhood visits to sea side aquariums with fondness and always relish getting up close to life in that other realm. The magic of gazing into clear rockpools and streams with a child’s eyes is rekindled in these smaller aquariums.
The Aquarium has supported Combe Martin Sea Angling Club’s annual Fun fish over the past twenty or so years and has once again offered a family ticket as a prize in this years event.
The Aquarium Café offers great coffee and light snacks that can be enjoyed on a warm day relaxing on the elevated decking overlooking the bustling pier and harbour.
Anglers Paradise – Syndicate Success
The new Nirvana syndicate lake is producing some stunning fish withon its first few weeks of opening. The lake was well knwon as the specimen catch and release trout lake and is one of the most picturesque lakes across the venue.
GEORGES SYNDICATE SUCCESS
Well done to George West who on his first session on the Nirvana Syndicate landed two 39lb+ Mirror Carp 
George said it felt he was on a mini France Carp fishing holiday with the hot sunshine and big fish, and thoroughly enjoyed his peaceful three nights on the lake. He also commented saying they are the hardest fighting fish he had ever caught!
Jay also got in on the action with a lively Grass Carp (pic in comments).
(pic in comments).The third session starts tomorrow as the lads on the weekend 2 rota take to the lake for the first time.
Weekly ANGLING REPORT – August 7th 20205
posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Casting around North Devon, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar, Young At Heart |
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Stunning Carp Brace
Shaun Thorne tempted a stunning brace of carp from Lower Tamar lake including a stunning common carp of 32lb 12oz and a mirror carp of 25lb 2oz. The lake on the Devon Cornish Border holds a stock of stunning specimen fish including carp, bream, roach, tench, perch and eels.
Carp sport
Carp anglers are enjoying sport across the regions lakes with Hacche Lane producing several thirty pound plus specimens. At Stafford Moor Owen Thrumble fished four nights on Beattie’s Lake to bank forty carp to 30lb 5oz. Adam Atkins banked sixteen carp to 35lb 7oz.
Bass Fishing
Bass anglers continue to enjoy good sport with lure tactics from both boat and shore. I took a good friend to a local shore mark recently and despite lots of weed in the water and a brisk wind we managed a fish each. I was delighted to introduce him to the excitement of bass fishing in shallow water and enjoyed his success as much as my own.
Rivers
High water temperatures are still a concern for river anglers across the region. Barnstaple and District Angling Association have extended their advice to members requesting a refrain from fishing until water temperatures drop below 20 degrees. Abundant algae is also causing concern as it clogs the river bed and reduces oxygen levels.
Match Fishing
Stafford Moor continues to produce excellent bags of fish for match anglers. Scott Puddy won the mid-week open match at the venue with 274lb 3oz and Rich Yeo won last weekends match with 250lb 1oz.
Sea Angling
Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly sea rover was dominated by smoothound with Richard Jefferies heading the field with a specimen of 11lb 9oz. Tony Gussin was runner up with a hound of 10lb 10oz and Dale Kiff third with a hound of 10lb 4oz.
Appledore Shipbuilders monthly rover was also dominated by smoothound with Andrew Atkinson taking first and second with hounds of 12lb 4.25oz and 9lb 3.75oz. Third was Michael Hammett with a hound of 8lb 12oz.
Comment
The summer holidays are now upon us and it is to be hoped that some young anglers will take their first steps into a pastime that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment at the water’s edge. The world today is very different to when I started fishing over fifty years ago. Many believe it is the online and gaming world that has taken many young people away from outdoor pursuits whilst others consider cost to be a major issue. Reflecting upon my own journey as a young angler I would suggest that the main obstacle is the lack of freedom given to young people in an increasingly protective society. This is perhaps ironic when the world of social media may well pose more threats to mental well- being than those physical dangers of a life at the water’s edge.
Bideford Angling Club have been running a brilliant series of Summer competitions for junior anglers at their home water. Bailey Bramley won the latest event with 7.840 kilo. Max Chapple was runner up with 6.085 kilo and Leo Davies third with 5.795 kilo. Twenty one young anglers took part in the latest match that has been generously supported by local tackle shops. This Saturday is the last in the series in which close to forty young anglers have taken part over the five events.
FLY FISHING FILM TOUR – CHAGFORD
The Fly Fishing Film Tour – Book Your Tickets Now! |
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Richie Blake — July 30, 2025 |
Dive into an evening of breathtaking cinematography, gripping adventure, and wild natural beauty with The Fly Fishing Film Tour. A must-see for anyone who loves rivers, stories, and the great outdoors. This internationally acclaimed collection of short films captures the thrill, serenity, and soul of fly fishing in some of the world’s most remote and stunning locations. From icy mountain streams to sun-drenched tropical flats, it’s a cinematic journey that goes far beyond fishing. It celebrates human connection, conservation, and the untamed spirit of nature.
Brought to the festival by TACA (Teign Angling & Conservation Association), the evening will open with a brief introduction to local efforts to restore and protect the River Teign, one of Dartmoor’s most cherished rivers. You’ll also have a chance to hear from experts during a post-screening Q&A. This screening is more than just entertainment and much deeper than the pastime of fly fishing – it’s a call to appreciate and protect the wild places we treasure. Expect an inspiring, feel-good atmosphere with stories that will resonate whether you’ve never picked up a fly rod or you live in your waders. Beautiful, moving, and often unexpectedly funny, this is storytelling that casts wide and lands deep.
🎉Celebrating 25 years of South West Lakes Trust 🎉
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CARP FISHING at Roadford Lake
We are pleased to announce that we will be offering carp fishing for a limited period on Roadford lake, as part of our ongoing removal programme.
A vast and beautiful lake covering a huge 780 plus acres set in stunning countryside Roadford offers the opportunity to fish in a unique environment which is very difficult to find in the UK. Much more akin to fishing on the big lakes on the continent, big skies and a big expanse of water offers anglers a unique opportunity for some very atmospheric fishing.
The fishing is from Friday Oct 17th until Nov 30th. Tickets are now available via the website at £25 for 24 hours and are limited to 12 anglers at any one time.
Please note: Our objective is to remove the Carp and improve the trout fishing along with the ecology of the lake. All fish caught must be placed in the holding tanks, and no fish are to be returned to the lake, these fish will then be collected by the fisheries team.
Strict Biosecurity measures will be in place and all anglers’ slings; nets and unhooking mats must be placed in the dip tanks provided. This is due to the presence of non-native invasive crayfish in Roadford, please help protect our fisheries in the southwest and further afield.
Book your ticket here: https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/roadford-lake-carp#d
