Combe Martin SAC member John Shapland tempted this fine specimen thick lipped grey mullet weighing 4lb 7oz on his latest trip.
Fifty Three Pound Carp
Matt Jacques has smashed his PB by a massive 16lb. Matt banked the lakes biggest resident at a weight of 53lb!
Matt returned to Anglers Paradises Kracking Carp Lake with Joe Drury for their second social of the year.
Joe was rudely awoken by a head torch at 2am with Matt trying to get the message across that he had a fish in the net! On inspection they realised Matt had only gone and landed ‘Silverback’, the lakes largest resident. It’s only the second time it’s been caught this year, and both times falling to the mighty Monster Tiger Nut range by Dynamite Baits!!
Good Start to Flounder Season
It’s been a good start to the flounder fishing season in the Taw estuary with plenty of quality flounder being tempted. These obliging flatfish offer relaxing fishing amidst the splendid scent of the estuary. Ian Laird caught four flounder over 1lb on light tackle the best 1lb 8oz.
Torridge Carp Lakes Latest Catches
Torridge Carp Lakes have been fishing well with fish to over thirty pounds gracing the bank. Chris Bissett caught a stunning 32lb 14oz fully scald mirror carp. Stephen Thorne banked fish off 22lb 8oz, 20lb 6oz and 16lb 6oz. Taro Bell banked a 26lb 8oz mirror carp. Shaun Holland caught a 23lb mirror whilst his young daughter Harmonie banked a 20lb 3oz mirror.
Bideford Angling Club – Monthly Coarse match
Fifteen Bideford Club members fished the Tarka competition this month with some great weights being caught 14 people weighed in and with 11 people weighing in over 20lbs. First place went to Stephen cracker with a cracking bag of fish weighing 40lbs 10oz. In second place was John Lisle with 40lb 8oz third place was Roger Ackroyd with 39lbs 13oz forth place was Les Polden with 39lbs 4oz and fifth place went to Craig Lamey with 38lb 10oz Stephen Cracker was fishing on peg 21 and was fishing 13 metres to the island using worm over micro pellets to take today’s WIN well done.
Mainline Baits Carp Pairs Competition – Upper Tamar Lake
Dave Bellew and Jack Hardisty have won the Mainline Baits carp pairs at Upper Tamar scooping £2000 for their efforts.
Runners up were Stefan Dziadulewicz and Richard Sanders and they won £1000
Third spot and £500 went to Paul Arrowsmith and Andrew Grant.
Dan Gay won largest fish with a 24.09 mirror winning Mainline PVA and Spod mix and a cap. Partner Kris Ingiszi won smallest carp with a 6.15 common also winning Mainline PVA and Spod mix and a cap. Dan and Chris also won section 4 (pegs 27-35) and won 5kg of Mainline freezer baits.
For full results visit the swlakes.co.uk website where the full results will be posted. Congratulations to all the winners and a massive thank you to sponsors Mainline Baits. Also a huge thank you to Bob, Jamie, Rich and Ian for marshalling over the weekend.
Fine October Mullet brace
October is perhaps the best month of the year to target thick lipped grey mullet as they feed hard prior to winter arriving.
Combe Martin SAC member Daniel Welch is keen mullet and angler and targets the species all year. His latest trip saw him bank a brace of mullet weighing 4lb 3oz and 3lb 13oz.
Appledore Shipbuilders = October Boat Competition
Two Boats fished Appledore Shipbuilder’s October boat competition. The winner was Andrew Atkinson with a Small Eyed Ray of 9lb 2ozs. Second was David Atkinson with a Dogfish of 3lb 0ozs and 3rd was Owen Atkinson with a Bull Huss of 10lb 4ozs.
Stafford Moor = October Festival Results
Stafford Moors October Festival saw anglers put together some stunning bags of fish. The winner Ben Evenden had a grand total of 368lb 12oz to score a perfect 4 points. In second place was Perry Stone with five points and 421lb 8oz. Third was Mark Cullerton with six points and 314lb 8oz.
Lost treasures of childhood days
How many of those reading this started their fishing journey dangling a worm in a small stream? I remember well many hours spent exploring the River Umber that flows through the village of Combe Martin where I was fortunate to grow up. Those early years taught me a lot about fish and fishing and chatting with others who grew up in North Devon I know I am not alone.
Those beautiful wild trout with olive, gold and buttercup yellow flanks decorated with crimson spots were abundant in the main river and tiny tributaries that feed into it on the journey to the sea. I walked the river a few days ago hoping to glimpse a trout as I have on a few occasions in recent years. The river seems tiny now through an adults eyes and it is hard to believe I caught trout of over 1lb from this tiny brook.
My own observations and that of others is that trout are now very scarce in this once bountiful stream. How many other rivers have suffered a similar fate? I suspect that the generation of youngsters that live in Combe Martin now would not suspect the presence of trout in the river and would accept the present state as normal. It is sad that we have lost so much.
As I am now over sixty those days were close to fifty years ago. Fifty years is a long time to us but it’s just a moment in natures vast history and it is devastating how rapidly we are destroying what we once had. I suspect that sewage is a major factor in the decline of the River Umber.
I would be interested to hear other recollections on North Devon rivers and record a few memories before what we once had is forgotten.
