Top Sport on Bluefin
South West Lakes Trout Fisheries Report June 2021
Wistlandpound has been producing some good brown trout with several fish of over 1lb banked. Jason Hayes has had success with both brown trout and good quality Rudd. The Rudd are present in large numbers and can offer great sport on light fly tackle taking small dries and wets. Large wild browns feast on the Rudd fry and have been caught to over 3lb. The water clarity is excellent this season with no sign of the prolific algae blooms that have blighted the venue during recent seasons.
Kennick – The air and water continued to warm up in June, with a mid-month cold snap and heavy rain freshening the water. Weekly rod averages fell from 4.32 to 2.37 fish per angler as the month progressed. While some rising fish were taken on Beetles, Black Hoppers, Claret Snafflers, or Green Klinkhammers in the evening rise, most fish were caught subsurface with a slow figure-of-eight retrieve, using either nymphs (Diawl Bachs, Buzzers, and Montanas) or deeper fished lures (Tadpoles, Boobies, Cats Whiskers, and Kennick Killers). Favoured locations included the north end at Smithacott and the Causeway, Sycamore Wall, with boat anglers catching well in The Narrows and Boat Bay. Notable catches included nine rainbows to 3lb4oz by R.R., three rainbows to 3lb 8oz by Geoff V, and nine rainbows to 3lb caught by Malcome U.
The Snowbee Top Rod Competition was held on 13 June, and won by Alec Hoare of Abbotskerswell, with a bag of five fish weighing in at 8lb 12oz.
Siblyback – Some excellent fishing was enjoyed by Siblyback anglers, with rods averaging 3.16 fish per rod over the month. Plenty of beetle activity meant that fish were looking to the surface to feed, although with such plentiful food available, the fish were often very picky, and would ignore anglers’ offerings. Stocky Bay proved to be the most productive location, with a Damsel Nymph or Orange Gold Head nymph fished on a floating line and long leader proving successful in the deeper water by the dam. An Orange Blob fished as a dropper, with Black and Green Goldhead fished on the point also produced good results. John R had a couple of excellent sessions, catching eight rainbows to 2lb 6oz and eight rainbows to 2lb 8oz.
Burrator – Anglers enjoyed another great month’s fishing at Burrator, with anglers averaging 3.2 fish per rod, with the best locations being Longstone, Discovery Bank, and Sheepstor. As the month progressed, more Hawthorns and Beetles were evident, and plenty of surface activity (particularly during the morning and late afternoon), when floating lines and long leaders performed particularly well (especially when there was some cloud cover).Earlier in the month the fish tended to be at various depths – Mark M caught eleven fish on Black Buzzers and Pheasant Tail Nymphs, while Miles P caught twelve fish on a Pearly Spider and Tungsten Hares Ear.
Stithians – The fishing has really picked up at Stithians now – anglers averaged over 3.6 fish per rod, with early morning and evening sessions particularly productive. Numerous beetles blown onto the surface have produced some excellent dry fly fishing (Beetle patterns and Hoppers both caught well). Fish have been well spread out, and generally eager to feed near the surface – Mossops, Carnmenellis, and Yellowort Bay all proved to be excellent locations. Catches of note included bags of ten rainbows to 2lb caught by Tony C., seven fish to 2lb 9oz caught by Warren C., three rainbows to 2lb 8oz caught by Robert G., and ten rainbows and a small brown caught by John H.
Colliford – Weekly rod averages improved over the month, with the best week producing an average of 4.2 fish per angler. As is usual with Colliford, fish were well spread out around the lake, where keeping on the move with a stealthy approach produces good results. Fish have been feeding well throughout the day (with a lot of surface activity at first light and late evening), and if not on the surface, then no deeper than about one metre, so a floating line, often with a slow retrieve (or dry patterns fished statically), produced the best results, with fish often hitting the fly as it touched the water or on lift-off. Hoppers, Beetles, Sedges, Spiders, Hares Ears, Soldier Palmers and Buzzers all produced results, with the best bags including eleven browns caught on a Bibio by Philip H., Barbara L. catching thirteen browns to 1lb, and Daniel T. catching a bag of sixteen browns.
Fernworthy – Plenty of excellent bags were caught at Fernworthy in June, resulting in a rod average of just under four browns per angler. With plenty of insects being blown out of the woods onto the water, fish generally were feeding at or just below the surface, and smallish flies fished on the surface or just under with mixed retrieves produced the results. Fish fed well throughout the day, and would take eagerly even if not showing. Successful patterns included Zulu, Spiders, Black Nymphs, Gold Head Hares Ear, and Hoppers. The North Inlet and Permit Hut Bank both proved productive locations, with fish often fairly far out in the rippled water. Andrew Gooding enjoyed two good sessions catching twenty six fish; Andy W. caught ten browns to 2lb, as did Charles B., while Kevin Primmer caught twelve fish from a float tube, and David G. had fourteen fish.
Roadford – Here the fishing has been relatively quiet, with the fish still lying fairly deep (although some evenings have produced a reasonable rise), and a sinking line with a slow retrieve producing the best results; the fish moved nearer the surface to feed as the month progressed. Davies Bank, Grinnecombe, and the banks close to the centre proved to be the most productive. Duncan Kier caught the best bag – seven browns up to 1lb 8oz.
Cofton Cup Fishing Competition
I was sent this from Cofton Holidays a venue near Dawlish whilst not North Devon it might be of interest to some of the areas anglers.
63lb net wins top spot in the prestigious
South Devon’s highly regarded coarse fishing destination, Cofton Holidays, has crowned Andy Everill as winner of its spring Cofton Cup Fishing competition.
A keen fisherman, this is Andy’s third title at Cofton having previously won Cofton Cup II and Cofton Cup V. The multi award-winning holiday park, hosted the sixth competition on its Mamhead Match Lake over five days of intensive fishing. The field was narrowed down from 36 anglers in the opening rounds to 14 in the final, with the remainder battling it out for the Plate competition.
Competing against 14 experienced anglers, Andy Everill scooped the Cofton Cup and £500 in the final with a total of 63.02lb from Peg 25. Andy also walked away with the prize for the heaviest fish of the week; during his qualifying heat on day three, Andy landed a carp weighing in at a whopping 11.03lb, earning him another £50.
Runner-up, Steve Bond, achieved a total haul of 49.04lb from Peg 22, earning him £250. Previous Cofton Cup winner Bob Rand at Peg 10 earned £150 in third place with a net of 43.10lb.
In the Plate competition, Nigel Stanley came out on top with a catch of 39.06lb from Peg 14, earning him Plate Champion and £100. Dave Walton came in 2nd with his 35lb net from Peg 26 earning him £50, and Craig Smith came 3rd and won a £50 meal voucher with his 32.03lb net from Peg 25.
The competition was fierce and was made even more challenging by the wet and windy weather conditions. The event saw three qualifiers take place over the course of the week, culminating in Friday’s grand final:
Qualifier 1 results
1st – Geoff Boardman, Peg 15, 39.06lb
2nd – Michael Nunn, Peg 13, 63.13lb
3rd – Steve Bond, Peg 21, 54.08lb
4th – Stephen Bridel, Peg 3, 45.12lb
Best Runner Up – Phil Stickland, Peg 8, 42.09lb
Best Runner Up – Benny Johnson, Peg 5, 36.15lb
Qualifier 2 results
1st – Graham Nicklin, Peg 10, 51.09lb
2nd – Gary Hennessy, Peg 22, 43.02lb
3rd – Bob Rand, Peg 3, 39.06lb
4th – John Simpson, Peg 15, 35.05lb
Qualifier 3 results
1st – Andy Everill, Peg 3, 51.09lb
2nd – Lee Prophet, Peg 22, 65.07lb
3rd – Paul Bland, Peg 17, 49.02lb
4th – Steven Prophet, Peg 10, 36.06lb
Luke Broderick, Cofton Holidays Fisheries Manager, was thrilled with the competition: “As ever, the week has been tremendous fun and we’ve seen some outstanding fishing in what has been very testing conditions. In light of recent circumstances and events, it has been amazing to meet up in a Covid safe environment and see some familiar, friendly faces that we haven’t seen for a while. A big well done to everyone who took part in the competition and a massive congratulations to Andy Everill on his back-to-back wins. Is there anyone out there that can beat him?”
Cofton Holidays boasts five fishing lakes making it an ideal destination for any angling fan. To meet the demand for fishing holidays, Cofton will be revealing its new luxury fishing lodges later this year, just a minute’s walk from the lakes, featuring special storage areas for angling equipment.
Following its success, the Cofton Cup Fishing Competition will return in September. Places have already been snapped up, so bookings for the 2022 competitions have been opened to keen anglers who must stay at Cofton Holidays in order to compete. Cofton Cup VIII will run from 25th April 2022 and Cofton Cup IX will run from 10th October 2022.
Located close to the Exe Estuary and the seaside town of Teignmouth, Cofton’s five lakes are in the perfect location to enjoy a relaxing fishing holiday. Suitable for all angling abilities, the lakes are filled with carp varying in size including mirror carp, common carp and koi-cross commons. With 71 pegs to choose from, including pegs with disabled facilities, anglers are sure to find a favourite spot.
To book your holiday and your place for either of these competitions, visit www.coftonholidays.co.uk or call 01626 890111.
Set within 80 acres of glorious Devon countryside, Cofton Holidays has been a family-run holiday park for over 40 years. Guests return year after year to enjoy its beautiful and convenient location, extensive facilities and wide choice of accommodation types for all the family.
The award-winning, 5 star graded park is 20 minutes from the M5 Exeter and is ideal for family holidays in Devon. Dawlish Warren beach is 30 minutes’ walk through nature trails and the indoor and outdoor attractions of South Devon, Exeter and Dartmoor are all within easy reach.
Visitors to Cofton can choose from a range of holiday homes, cottages and lodges in the heart of the main park, or cottages and apartments on the estuary-view Eastdon Estate. Cofton also offers a choice of pitches for touring caravan holidays including hard-standing and RV pitches.
Cofton is open all year and can offer centrally-heated accommodation for all-weather holidays.
Stafford Moor – Open
BIDEFORD JUNIOR EVENT
Well done to Bideford for their efforts in promoting angling to a young generation.
Junior event No. 3 Results Over 14s
1st Adam Wheeler 8lb 5oz
2nd Tyler Scott 7lb 10oz
3rd Thomas Scott 6lb 12oz
Under 14 age group 1st Charlie Heddon 10lb 3oz 2nd Brodie Allin 8lb 12oz .
Using pegs 4 to 11 the junior event produced some great catches, in this , the third match of the series. Top weight on the day was youngster Charlie with a lovely double figure net of skimmers and tench ( and terch! ) on peg 7 in the 3 hour competition . Prizes were kindly donated by BaitTech and Summerlands.
North Devon Match Group Result
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Lure Fishing Season Starting to Pick Up.
General consensus is that the fishing year is running at least a month late with lure fishing for bass in particular only just starting to pick up. High Street Tackle in Ilfracombe is run by lure fishing enthusiast Danny Watson who tells me that interest in lure fishing is at an all time high. The shop stocks a vast range of lures from many major companies with hard plastics, soft plastics in every variation of weight size and colour. Advice is at hand as to how to rig and fish the lures. High Street tackle are sponsoring Combe Martin SAC,s annual lure fishing competition that runs from July 1st until September 5th. The competition is open to paid up club members with a first prize of up £200 of quality lure tackle with £100 for the runner up.
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Melbury Carp Catch
Braunton Bait Box – Competition Winner
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