Bull Huss are showing from marks along North Devon’s rocky coast. Dan Spearman caught a 10lb 10oz specimen and Ali Laird caught a 10lb 6oz specimen and Rob Scoines tempted a plump huss of 7lb 11oz.
SOUTH MOLTON ANGLERS ENJOY DOUBLES BONANZA AT BLAKEWELL
SOUTH MOLTON ANGLERS ENJOY DOUBLES BONANZA AT BLAKEWELL
I joined several members of the South Molton Angling Club Blakewell Fishery. What a contrast in weather conditions compared to last weeks Christmas competition that saw anglers greeted by frost and mist rising from the water. This week was dark and overcast with occasional outbreaks of heavy rain.
The dark and gloomy conditions did little to dampen the enthusiasm and good humour of the South Molton anglers who were all pleased to be out in the fresh air casting a line.
I decided to head for the area that had been producing the previous week and started off with my favourite olive damsel nymph. After half an hour without a pull I decided to try a different pattern. I could see that other anglers were catching steadily so the trout were obviously feeding. I glimpsed a big rainbow cruising just a rod length that convinced me to stay put. A bead headed black lure soon brought a rainbow of around 1lb 8oz. A few casts later I glimpsed the large rainbow again this time converging on my lure! The mouth opened and the line drew tight, the rod hooped over and a few anxious moments followed, a big trout lunged to and fro before being coaxed over the rim of the net. At thirteen pound it was a fish to bring a broad smile and set the hands a tremble.
Amazingly twenty minutes later I caught sight of another big trout as it followed my lure nailing it just a few yards from the bank. This one pulled the scales to 11lb a very pleasing brace of trout for 24lb.
Shortly after this on the opposite bank Matt Kingdon was into another Blakewell beauty that pulled the scales to 14lb 6oz. After completing my own limit I wondered over to get a picture of Matts and found he had a fine rainbow of of 9lb 12oz to go with it.
Amazingly back on the bank where I had enjoyed success Jim Ricketts was battling a good fish and we all watched on as his good friend wielded a net that was slightly undersized. We all felt relieved for him when the 12lb 14oz rainbow was safely banked.
The club had enjoyed a great Sunday mornings sport despite the gloom laden sky. Six big rainbows were banked by lunchtime along with plenty of table sized fish.
Big Conger Takes cod bait
Combe Martin SAC member fished an up Channel mark for cod using a squid and lugworm cocktail and was rewarded with hard fighting conger scaling 23lb 2oz.
Double Figure Bass
Combe Martin SAC Member Kevin Legge tempted this fine 10lb 12oz bass from a North Devon Beach using an Ammo baits Joey mackerel.
The bass was carefully returned after this quick photo was taken.
bass
Stunning Winter Carp Action at the Moor
Stafford Moor continues to produce some stunning carp despite the cold winter conditions.
(Below) Darren Bakers fabulous 27lb 8oz ghostie caught from the beach swim on Beatties lake.
(Below) Mike Stemp who had 2 fish out from swim one up on lodge lake up to 29lb 8oz caught on Sticky bits krill boilies.
(Below) Chris Blythe fished on swim 15 (Albert square) up on lodge lake and banked this 28lb beauty out on Jh baits Klf and carbon baits mini seed mix.
(Below) Andy Barnes & Ian Kendall enjoyed success banking carp of 27lb 7oz and Andy had a 19lb 14oz mirror from swim 14 (beach 1 swim) up on lodge lake both caught on Sticky baits Manilla boilies and cloudy Manilla.
(Below) Jimmy Knight and Jordan Rowe who had 11 fish out including Jordan’s 33lb 12oz beauty from the beach swim on Beatties lake, all fish were caught on Sticky baits krill boilies.
South West Lakes Trust Trout Fisheries Report
South West Lakes Trust Trout Fisheries Report
December 2020
General:
All of South West Lakes’ rainbow trout fisheries will stay open until 24 December. Please see website for details on tickets and prices as well as the latest Covid19 advice and restrictions – www.swlakesfishing.co.uk. Note that tickets may only be purchased online or over the telephone on 01566 771930. Water temperatures have been falling over all of the sites and, with stocking continuing through the month, the fishing has continued to be good with the fish lying in deeper water as the month progressed.
At Kennick the boat anglers enjoyed the best sport. Mr. M.Ure netted 14 fish, while Andy Birkett from Plymouth caught a bag of 13 fish up to 2lb 12oz in one session while drifting off the East Wall, pulling small white fry patterns about six feet down, and 12 fish on another visit. Matt Baines caught the best fish of the month – a rainbow of 3lb 5oz. Kevin Primmer caught rainbows of 3lb 4oz and 3lb in a bag of four fish.
Burrator continued to produce consistent sport using deeper fished gold-head patterns (Blue-flash Damsels and Montanas) and sunk lures, with plenty of fish up to 2lb caught, as well as a good number of blue trout.
The fishing at Stithians showed a marked improvement, with a number of reasonable bags (John Henderson caught nine fish up to 2lbs+ using orange patterns) and plenty of fish around 2lb being caught, the best being 2lb 8oz, mainly on sunk nymphs and lures, although George Eustace did manage to pick up a rainbow on an Olive and Black Hopper.
Season Summary:
In spite of the Covid restrictions, and the ‘stop-start’ availability of fishing, the 2020 season produced some good fishing across the region, especially at Burrator, Kennick and Siblyback, while the fishing improved toward the end of the season at Stithians and Roadford produced some outstanding sport in the last few months.
The season started with the hugely successful Fly Fair at Roadford at the end of February, with many anglers in attendance, exhibits, trade stands and demonstrations. The Peninsula Classic Bank Competition at Kennick in October was won (for the fourth time) by Andy Gooding (from Liverton), catching five rainbows weighing in at 10lb 5oz, using Damsel Nymphs and a Black and Green Lure.
The new fishing club at Siblyback continued to build up numbers and hosted a number of events this season, including competitions, fly tying evenings and other social gatherings and are continuing to welcome new members (contact: derek.aungerbtinternet.com).
Fisheries Summary:
Siblyback: Best fish – 8lb 4oz rainbow, caught by George Hext; the best brown was a 4lb fish caught by Stephen Pearce. Fishery rod average 2.7 fish
Kennick: Best fish – 5lb 10z rainbow caught by Kevin Primmer. Fishery rod average 2.7 fish
Stithians: Best fish – 4lb 8oz rainbow caught by Roger Marks. Fishery rod average 1.4 fish
Burrator: Best fish – 5lb 8oz rainbow caught by Paul Lee; the best brown was a 4lb fish caught by Kevin Sellar. Fishery rod average 3.5 fish
Colliford: Best fish – 3lb brown trout caught by Dean Boucher. Fishery rod average 2.6 fish
Fernworthy: Rod average 2.7 fish, up to 2lb 4oz
Roadford: Best fish – 3lb 8oz brown trout caught by Duncan Kier; fishery rod average 4.4 fish
The season opening dates and prices for 2020 will be posted (along with other information) on the website and on the ‘Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust’ Facebook page.
SHORE SPECIMENS FOR CMSAC Members
Combe Martin SAC members are venturing out in the cold to enjoy winter sport and compete in the clubs month long December competition.
Combe Martin SAC member Dan Welch caught this double figure specimen Bull Huss of 9lb 13oz. Fellow club member Mark Jones caught a thornback ray of 12lb 2oz to take the lead in the clubs December competition.
WINTER CARP FOR FURZEBRAY SYNDICATE
Furzebray Winter Syndicate members Simon McCarthy (Summerlands Tackle) banked the mirror carp known as Sovereign at a weight of 40lb 4oz and Chris Connaughton-Mono banked the carp known as Dropscale at a weight of 42lb. Both anglers used Remix Baits www.remixbaits.co.uk
SEA ANGLING ROUND UP
Cold North and East winds combined with high pressure seldom bring good results for sea anglers at this time of year. The wind is forecast to back to the South later in the month when sport should improve.
Bideford Rover results
1st Dick Talbot flounder 1lb 7oz
2nd Dick Talbot flounder 1lb 5oz
Dick caught his brace of flounder from the River Torridge estuary to win first and second in the clubs. monthly rover.
Triple Hook Club Suspend competitions.
Barnstaple’s Triple Hook Club have made the decision to suspend all competitions until 2021 when the COVID situation has eased.
Combe Martin SAC
Combe Martin SAC are holding a monthly competitions for the first half of their club year. At present Rob Sciones is leading the event with a small eyed ray of 9lb 10oz.
Blakewell Christmas Competition 2020
Blakewell Fisheries Christmas Competition is always an enjoyable social occasion in North Devon Fly-Fishers Calendar and it was good to be back amongst familiar faces albeit more socially distanced than in normal times.
It was a cold and frosty morning with a vivid blue sky and mist rising from the lake as the warmth of the sun beamed down. Eighteen anglers were taking part in this years scaled down event and after a welcome glass of port we all headed out to the lake. As is normal trout were hooked within the first few seconds of the start as flies were cast onto the calm surface.
I elected to use an olive damsel nymph with a small buzzer on a dropper. Within fifteen minutes I had three rainbow trout in the bag which was my mornings quota. This left me a couple of hours to wonder around the lake capturing images of the lake and the anglers.
Dinner was served at 12:30; a hot pasty and a pint. The afternoon session saw me persevere with the same team of flies. As is often the case catching became a little more of a challenge but after a couple of moves I completed my five fish limit.
The lake had fished well with plenty of hard fighting rainbows averaging between 1lb 8oz and 2lb. Amongst these were a few outsize specimen rainbows. The winter sunshine and colours around the lake were stunning and it was great to see a steady stream of families arriving to select their Christmas trees.
The winning angler was Trevor Whyborn with his five fish bag of 18lb 6oz that included the biggest rainbow of the day at 11lb 11oz. In runner up spot was John Buxton with five for 17lb 4oz and third Gary Matthews with two trout for 12lb 3oz.
Once again many thanks to John and Richard Nickell for hosting this annual event after what has been a challenging year in many ways. The COVID outbreak inevitably had its impact but not so much perhaps as the ongoing warm summers that cause difficulties for trout fisheries the length and breadth of the country. It is noticeable that smaller Stillwater trout fisheries like Blakewell are at their best during the cooler winter months.
