I was pleased to have the opportunity to chat with Pete Tyjas for one of his recent Fly Culture Podcasts. See link below – If you download you can play it on the phone; a good way to entertain on a long car journey or in my wifes opinion ideal cure for insomnia.
Whilst many anglers focus on carp there are many other fine specimens lurking within local waters. Several South West Trust reservoirs have hidden secrets with 2lb roach reported from Upper Tamar, Lower Tamar and Lower Slade in recent seasons. Darracott is the latest venue to yield a specimen roach with Terry Ramsden tempting a fine 2lb specimen roach. Perch to over 4lb, bream into double figures and eels of over 7lb reside in several waters its just a case of unlocking the potential.
Terry Ramsden with a 2lb roach from Darracot Reservoir caught using feeder tactics he also had a 16lb carp and five good bream.
Gareth Lennox won Stafford Moors 2020 Fisho Festival and £1000 with a bag of mainly carp totalling 173lb 2oz.
It’s been a good season for bass fishing so far with both bait and lure anglers enjoying success. There have been good numbest of quality fish too with plenty of fish in four to six pound range. As the summer moves towards autumn bigger bass normally show with double figure fish expected. Big mackerel baits anchored out in the surf are often successful.
Kody Chugg enjoyed success with bass tempting three bass over 4lb the best 6lb 4oz during the past week. All taken on large fresh mackerel baits. . He also tempted a small eyed ray off k]just under 8lb from an up channel mark.
Dan Welch enjoyed an action packed lure fishing session in rough water conditions bringing nine fish up to 55cm ( Approx 5lb) to the shore.
With a boat trip off Ilfracombe cancelled due to a brisk wind I decided upon a short session with the lure rod in the hope of a bass. I timed my arrival at the mark two hours after low water as the flooding tide pushed over the shallow boulder strewn shoreline. The shallow water was a little murky with more suspended weed than I would like but if the lure can be presented I felt sure bass would be there. I had a Megabass spindle worm clipped the end of my line from the previous trip in similar conditions. This lure is weedless and can be fished nice and slowly in the snaggiest of water without fear of losing tackle.
I started searching the water close in where weed was not so prevalent and after a couple of casts there was a swirl and knock as a bass snatched at the lure. The next ten minutes were non eventful as I peached the mark carefully. A cast to an area of slightly clearer water brought a big swirl and an all too brief encounter.
My confidence was now high and as the tide pushed in my confidence grew. I followed the edge of the tide up and was rewarded as a bass hit the lure with thump. Line was ripped from the reel and the thin braid burnt my finger as I applied heavy pressure as the fish thrashed about in the weed. After a spirited tussle the bass was secured and at around 5lb despatched to take home for tea. I only take the occasional fish for the table returning any fish over 7lb and any under 4lb. Pan fried bass fillets are delicious!
I continued to search the shallow water and enjoyed another spited tussle with another bass of identical size that was slipped back into the shallow water. The fish swam strongly away and I hope to encounter the fish again in ten years time when it will perhaps be a double.
Combe Martin SAC member Dan Welch has been enjoying some superb fishing from both the boat and shore. Early morning images, bass, mackerel are all the essence of summer sport on our beautiful and rugged coastline. Many thanks to Dan for letting me publish his stunning images.
“loads of mackerel tonight haven’t had mackerel like that for 10-20 years” Dan told me
Bideford and District Angling Club Evening Series match No. 7 Tarka Swims George’s lake, results
1st Richard Jefferies 17lb 9oz
2nd Kevin Shears 15lb 1oz
3rd Stephen Craker 14lb 7oz
Joint 4th Les Polden Martin Turner 13lb 11oz
6th Tyler Scott 12lb 1oz
7th Reg Sutton11lb 8oz ,
18 fished, The penultimate match of the summer series was fished in warm still conditions, another close competition saw Richard at the top of the pile, with a catch of 6 carp on peg 13 , using his favoured strong line tactics with bread flake. Kevin lost a carp on pellet waggler which would have secured a hat trick of consecutive wins , instead he settled for 2nd on peg 18 , Stephen on peg 8 left it late but 2 decent carp in the closing stages made 3rd spot Martin’s joint 4th with Les has put him 7 points clear in the league with one match remaining.
