North Devon Match Group Versus Bideford AC Report from John Forster

posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0
North Devon Match Group Versus Bideford AC Report from John Forster
 At the mega Stafford Moor Fishery Friends we had the first interclub against Bideford AC
With the Draw being done with Bideford choosing the bag with even numbers and the 2 lakes being used being Willow and Woodpecker of we went ,i drew peg 1 on Woodpecker which is a bit of a hit and miss peg , however i liked the look of it and hoped for the best
as the match progressed there was a fair bit of banter flying between the carp boys who we re also fishing a match on the speci lake actually really nice guy ,
i had set up 3 pole lines and a hybrid line and started on the method hitting 2 in the first 15 minutes ,
The pole lines were very quiet so back onto the tip this was the story all the way through the match
I would liketo say a big thanks To Martin Turner for sorting this for Bideford
To Jo and Paul for all the work they put into making Stafford one of if not the best Fishery in the UK ,
But at the end of the day NDMG 200 PTS BIDEFORD 151 POINTS
at the end i weighed in 112lb 03 to win the section and Nathan Underwood had 133.07 to win the Lake ,
Lake Winner
Woodpecker Nathan Underwood 133.07
Willow Paul Morris 112.00
Section Winners
Woodpecker
John Forster 112.03
Phil Bailey 127.05
Woodpecker
Christopher Morris 94,07
Martin Turner 76.12

Plan “B” Brings A Pleasing Twenty – Lower Slade

The weather scuppered the boat trip out of Minehead with the wind due to swing West to North West by midday. A difficult call for the skipper but the right one as the weather men got it right. And so it was plan B. I had loaded the carp gear into the van the previous night thinking I might set out early but it was 6.30am by the time I woke up and close to 8.00am by the time I was on the road with dark thundery clouds in the morning sky.

It was precipitating down profusely when I arrived at Lower Slade and I watched a fellow angler pushing his barrow into the bay. With this area no longer an option I settled on a roadside swim that gave access to areas where I had previously enjoyed success. Whilst I haven’t fished Slade much for carp in recent years I don’t believe they change their habits to dramatically frequenting the same old areas with the wind influencing this.

By the time I had three rods out and some bait scattered about it was around 9.30am. The showers had passed by and the sky was blue with wisps of white cloud and the lush green growth of late spring was all around. A robin alighted upon the rods and searched for crumbs of bait around my feet.

After an hour or so I decided to check one of the baits and recast. As I prepared to recast the bite alarm on the right rod blipped and the bobbin bounced a couple of times. I grabbed the rod and wound down to feel a heavy weight as a good fish shook its head. The fish gave a good run around giving a few anxious moments as it found some weed, becoming solid for few moments before steady pressure coaxed it free. Eventually it swirled close to the bank and moments  later it was safely within the net.

The scales put a number on it of 21lb 14oz; a pleasing result and another carp ticked off my challenge to bank a carp from each SWLT North Devon Lake this season. I had charged my camera battery the previous night and had remembered to grab the camera on the way out of the house but had forgotten to put the battery in! Fortunately these days we always have our phone with a camera! Hence the slight grainy image.

The rest of the day drifted past and for a while it seemed as if summer had arrived as the call of the cuckoo echoed around the valley. I packed up late afternoon as a cool North-West wind sprung up as predicted.

 

 

Taking a walk beside the tumbling waters of the East Lyn

After the rain and clouds it is a relief to walk beside the tumbling waters of the East Lyn as they race towards the Bristol Channel. Over forty years ago I caught my first salmon from this river an event that is etched upon my mind. The numbers of salmon that now run this river have dramatically declined though of course as an angler I cannot help wonder what now swims within this raging torrent. It’s running too high to fish today as any fish hooked would surely be lost in the maelstrom unfair on the fish and pointless for the angler.

After one of the driest Aprils on record May’s rain has restored the balance and the coming weeks give promise across North Devons rivers with salmon and sea trout likely to be well distributed throughout. Time to pause and take in natures beauty as Spring bursts towards summer invigorated by weather fronts pushing in from the Atlantic.

 

ww

Bideford Angling Club – Midweek Evening Match

posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

It’s good to see the return of Bideford Angling Clubs Evening Summer League series heralding those longer summer evenings. Im always dismayed at how quickly the series passes by ! Many thanks to Martin for his regular updates.

Coarse section Tarka swims evening match No.1

Results:

1st Kevin Shears 27lb 5oz

2nd Les Polden 26lb 12oz

3rd  Nathan Underwood 21lb 4oz

4th Steve Ashton 13lb 12oz

5th Martin Turner 13lb 10oz

16 fished. Kevin made the perfect start to the evening series with a lovely net of bream caught on peg 16 in the margins on corn. Les fished on peg 8 and added 2 good carp, late on , to a good net of smaller fish on maggot for a close 2nd. Nathan fished long pole on peg 4 for third spot. Steve’s net of smaller skimmers caught over So simple groundbait was enough for 4th place.

Lower Tamar Lake Carp & bream catch

Lower Tamar’s most recent exclusive booking was enjoyed by Dave Bellew and friends. 16 carp caught with the best common at 26.06lbs and Mirror 22lb. The biggest bream was 11.04lbs.
Lower Tamar can be booked exclusively – 16 swims, toilet, shower, great fishing, stunning surroundings! Please drop Ben Smeeth a message at South West Lakes Trust.

Plenty of Personal bests from Stafford Moor

posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar | 0
(Above) Drew Davey who fished up on Albert Square on Lodge Lake. Drew had 8 fish out up to 26lb which is a new pb !!
All Drew’s fish were caught on CC Moore 15mm pacific tuna boilies over 10mm Pacific tuna / house pellets and corn.
(Above) Dan Wallis banked 11 fish out from the inlet swim on Beatties lake. All fish were caught on CC Moore NS1 wafters.
(Above) Matt Thomas fished up on lodge lake in swim 15 (Albert Square) Matt had a total of 14 fish out up to 32lb 2oz which is now Matts new pb.
All fish were caught on Sticky baits krill boilies and house pellet.

UPPER TAMAR- Garbolino UK FEEDER CHAMPIONSHIPS (15/5/2021)

posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0
UPPER TAMAR- Garbolino UK FEEDER CHAMPIONSHIPS (15/5/2021)
QUALIFIER 1 – Results
Great day had by all on Saturday:
With every section being won with over 25lb there was 700lb+ of silvers between 39 anglers.
Winner on the day was Paul Purchase, Paul was on peg 20 on the Cornwall bank, Paul fished for everything, caught a few nice perch, skimmers and roach (around 100 fish) for a 32lb 4oz total. Well done Paul.
Section Winners:
Cornwall Bank
1-7: Garry Thornton 27lb 7oz
8-14: Scott Russell 28lb 5oz
15-21: Paul Purchase 32lb 4oz
Devon Bank
1-7: Nick Chedzoy 28lb 4oz
8-14: Nigel Garrett 25lb 13oz
15-21: (joint winners) Chris Ware & Graham West 25lb 14oz
Top 2 in each section book a place on the TWO DAY GRAND FINAL in August, please see qualifiers below:
Nick Chedzoy
Alex Murray
Nigel Garrett
Stuartshelley Burridge
Chris Ware
Graham West
Garry Thornton
James Carty
Scott Russell
Christian Whitfield
Paul Purchase
Jack Jones
Congratulations to all of the winners.
Massive thanks to Simon Poynter for running this great competition series.

Fly Fishing Club Return to the water with screaming reels

Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club resumed activities at Wimbleball Reservoir after a twelve month lay off due to the COVID pandemic. Spirits were buoyant as members congregated at the ticket hut prior to heading out to the lake. Two pairs of anglers were taking to boats and the remaining three including myself were fishing from the bank.

Heavy thundery showers were forecast and a gentle breeze was pushing up into Bessom’s Bay and Ruggs. The three of us who had opted to fish the bank headed to this area.

Pulling into the parking area I was delighted to see a splash of vivid yellow with cowslips in full bloom a pleasing sight and less common in the West than the dominant primroses.

Wimbleball is undoubtedly the jewel in South West Reservoir fishing with a growing reputation throughout the Fly Fishing fraternity. Wading out into the cool clear water I put out a floating line and a team of three flies. After fifteen minutes using small imitative patterns I changed tactics slightly adding a damsel an olive damsel to the point and bright orange blob to the top dropper. This brought instant success as a rainbow hit the lure hard giving a spirited account before being drawn over the net. A couple of casts later another rainbow hit the blob and was safely netted.

With a brace secured I was now fishing in the zone expectant of a take at any second. A few missed pulls followed enough to keep me alert and fishing with that confidence that ensures total emersion in the task at hand.

(Above) Andre Muxworthy & Paul Grisley fishing in the rain!

By midday the rain was lashing down and it was far from warm. Angry clouds drifted past. I noticed a few fish rise and one or two Alder flies were showing. I changed my team of flies putting a bead head black Montana on the point, an Alder fly on the top leaving a black buzzer on the middle dropper. Slowing the retrieve right down I soon found action hooking into an impressive rainbow that erupted from the water before taking the fly line down to the backing. Five minutes later a full tailed rainbow of over 4lb 8oz was being admired on the bank. This was followed by another impressive rainbow over 4lb and a final fish of around 3lb. This sadly brought my fishing for the day to a close as being a competition all anglers had bought five fish tickets. My normal option is to buy a catch and release ticket.

I chatted to fellow anglers for a while before enjoying  a coffee and sandwich as the rain persisted. It was now close to 2.00pm with a couple of hours left until the weigh in back at the permit hut.

I drove back to the hut and took a stroll to the waters edge. A brief spell of sunshine transformed the scene as water sports enthusiasts enjoyed the day. There is plenty of space on the Lake for all with anglers, windsurfers and dingy sailors all catered for.

Just after 4.00pm club members gathered for the weigh in and all had tales of hard fighting rainbows with a couple of snapped tippets in the mix. Biggest fish of the day was an impressive rainbow of 6lb 7oz that had taken Andre Muxworthy over fifteen minutes to get into the boat. All members had caught with four limit bags and several fish of over 4lb.

Andre Muxworthy with the biggest trout of the day at 6lb 7oz

The results of the Edwards Cup:-

1st Andre Muxworthy – Five Fish – 16lb 6oz – Best Fish 6lb 7oz

2nd Colin Combe – Five Fish – 15lb 8oz – Best Fish – 5lb 8oz

3rd – Wayne Thomas – Five Fish – Best Fish – 4lb 10oz

4th – David Eldred – Four Fish – 12lb 10oz

5th – Paul Grisley – Five Fish – 12lb

6th – Nigel Bird – One fish – 2lb 8oz

7th Dave Mock – One fish 2lb 7oz..