19 Jul 2020

North Devon Match Group Championship No 7 Darracott Reservoir results:

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Many thanks to Martin Turner for his regular match reports from both the North Devon Match Group and Bideford Club. Good to see a tight match with small silvers making up the weights instead of bulky carp. Whilst there is undoubtedly more rod bending in the commercial match’s full of carp there is more refined skill in extracting a net of small fish to compile a net.

North Devon Match Group Championship No 7 Darracott Reservoir results:

1st Tom Downing 9lb 6oz

2nd Mark Richards 8lb 2oz

3rd John Forster 7lb 12oz

4th Graham Currington 6lb 3oz

5th Graham Colman 5lb 5oz .

12 fished, Warm conditions led to a close match , Tom’s run continues with another victory from the far side with a great net of mainly small rudd taken on a whip, Mark found some better quality roach on the long pole for second place, John led the way for those who elected to concentrate on the feeder, his 3rd spot came to pellets on the first peg over the dam,

19 Jul 2020

CMSAC – Where have the mullet gone?

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During the writing of my book “ I Caught A Glimpse” recorded the memories of several anglers and one particular place that had a big impact on many anglers lives was the bend at Bishops Tawton. I wrote a piece on this a while back ; https://www.northdevonanglingnews.co.uk/2016/08/27/the-bend/

I returned to this location once again with members of the Combe Martin SAC in search of thin lipped grey mullet. On this very pleasant and sunny summers day it was good to cast a line once again into familiar waters. This was the one of the clubs first events since lockdown and only a handful of us were present.

Strangely the entire estuary from Rock Park up past Bishops Tawton seemed devoid of mullet with not a swirl or glimpse to be seen. A couple of small bass succumbed to our baited spinners and solitary flounder. Plenty of mullet had been caught from the estuary back in June but they have disappeared since. Where have they gone? There is no legal netting in the estuary so I can only assume they have migrated elsewhere.

On the big bend I was intrigued to find an angler in a bivvy. It turned out to be an angler who has been fishing the river for several years trying to unlock its secrets and see if those ancestors of those big roach still dwell.

Walking the riverside patch beside Venn Stream to the river there is a sense of timelessness with the gurgling waters and the resting tombstones in the churchyard.

 

18 Jul 2020

Reel Deal Sport off Ilfracombe

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Anglers have enjoyed some superb sport off Ilfracombe aboard Reel Deal with Skipper Dan Hawkins. Tope fishing as at times been hectic with a few larger predators showing including blue shark to 90lb plus and a some chunky porbeagle. One large porbeagle even enjoying a chunk of fresh bass for dinner! The anglers have also enjoyed frequent glimpse of dolphins and whale in the deeps.

16 Jul 2020

Old Trophies bring back a few memories

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We had a bit of a lockdown clear out like many others and in the shed was a box of old trophies many of them from a while back. Whilst Pauline suggested it was a shame to throw them out I decided the re-cycling centre would be their resting place but just to preserve them a bit longer I took a few photos. I hope the images bring back a few happy memories.

Lynton Rodbenders, Barnstaple Rod N Reelers, THe National Federation of Sea Anglers. Wyvern Division, South West Federation of Sea Anglers

 

 

( Above)Peter King was the owner of the tackle shop in Bear Street Barnstaple and an active member of several North Devon Sea Angling Clubs. He was also a keen salmon angler.

(Above) A selection of trophies from the Ilfracombe Fishing Festival that was organised by the Ilfracombe and District Angling Club. Looking back those week long festivals were amongst the happiest days of my fishing life.

 

The North Devon Sea Angling Association ran a competition league encouraging friendly competition between the regions many clubs.

Combe Martin SAC competitions back in the 1970’s were all bag weight competitions like most clubs of the time. My 52lb 13oz haul set a club record for a 6 hour match. 6 mullet and 3 conger if I remember correctly from Camels Eye!

 

(Above) Pauline pointed out that I really have been fishing the North Devon Coast for a long time!