The recent rainfall brought a welcome rise in all of North Devons Rivers and anglers have been hopeful of a salmon or sea trout. The rivers are certainly looking much healthier with a lot of the algae flushed away. River Taw Fisheries Association member Mike George sent me these lovely images of the Middle Taw. Like many anglers Mike has enjoyed the beauty of the river but failed to hook the elusive salmon.
With reports of stunning rainbows to over 10lb and trout feasting on beetles I was keen to get back up to the beautiful Wimbleball lake again and do battle with its full tailed rainbows. Our son James was entering a Motorbike Enduro event a few miles away so it seemed a good excuse to meet up for a Father’s Day Picnic combined with a few hours fishing!
I commented to Pauline as we enjoyed the journey across Exmoor’s summer landscape that the fish often went off the feed around midday. An ominous comment as I would probably manage my first casts for around 11:30.
I left Pauline reading her book in the car and hastened to the waters edge looking for a place that would offer a little shelter from the brisk breeze along with a good chance of fish. Conditions were ideal and I soon found the perfect spot with the breeze blowing right to left. A few fish were rising just off the weed bed at the waters edge.
I tied a beetle imitation on the point, a diawl bach on the middle dropper and a black zulu on the top dropper. I waded carefully out and started searching the water. It wasn’t long before the line zipped tight; a pleasing 3lb plus rainbow was battling on a tight line. Ten minutes later a brace were secured and tea secured for the next night!
It was now catch and release time. I wandered back to the car to see if Pauline was ready to join me and take a few pictures whilst enjoying the warmth of the day. On arrival back at the waters edge it seemed the spell had been broken as my first couple of casts resulted in a minor tangle and the rhythm seemed to have deserted me. It soon returned however but it seemed my prediction had proved right for takes became few and far between.
James and Sophie arrived and enjoyed a tasty picnic; Social distancing of course. Several trout rose within casting range and I was soon back casting a line. Rising trout really are not good for my social skills! Despite several chances I failed to connect and at around 6.00pm we headed for home.
It will not be too long before I get back for a more serious fishing session ensuring I get there well before the fish have their afternoon siesta and perhaps hanging on for the evening rise as well!
David Jenkins and his son Charlie Jenkins enjoyed a good days boat fishing out of Watchet on Lorna Doone boating ten ray a brace of conger and the inevitable dogfish.
Several thirty pound plus carp have been banked at Stafford Moor over the past week.
(Above) David Bourne banked six fish to 30lb 3oz.
(Above) Fran Hayden caught four to 30lb
(Above) Harry Collins ad Chris Jordan banked seventeen carp to 29lb.
(Above) Phil Goode Banked thirteen fish to 29lb.
Matt Cross won Bideford Angling Clubs midweek evening match at Tarka Swims with 17lb 8oz. In runner up spot was Keith Mountjoy with 15lb 2oz and third Keith Copland with 15lb 1oz. Fourth was Martin Turner with 13lb 2oz and fifth Adam Wheeler with 13lb 1oz. Most fish were caught using pole and pellet tactics.
North Devon Match Groups Match at Oaktree was won convincingly by Tom Downing with 88lb 14oz. In runner up spot was Nathan Underwood with 42lb 13oz and in third Tim Brown with 40lb 6oz and fourth Martin Turner with 39lb 10oz.
The latest Open match at Stafford Moor saw Chris Davis secure victory with an impressive haul of 238lb. In runner up place was Des Shipp with 194lb 11oz and third James Cooper with 182lb 13oz.
Several colourful wrasse have been caught by anglers fishing the rocky coastline near Ilfracombe with Paul Lorrimore landing a beautiful fish of 3lb 15oz.
Antony Smith took the top two spots in Bideford Angling Clubs twenty four hour sea rover with smoothound scaling 9lb 12.5oz and 9lb 9oz. In third place was Tarrant Wotton with a bass of 6lb 7oz.
Boat anglers are enjoying great sport off Ilfracombe as tope move following the arrival of mackerel.
Toby Bassett and his father Rex Bassett enjoyed an amazing evening out on their boat , “we bagged up on a few dozen mackerel nice and quick ,then handed out a little way and started the tope fishing ..only 2 caught mine going about 15lb so no need to weigh it then after a little wait dad’s rod screamed off and a lovely conditioned 50lb fish graced the deck she behaved very well and swam off nice and strong new boat p.b and dad’s p.b! Bring on the next trip!
Gareth Hazelden had a session on Nirvana’s Day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake and caught a 34lb Mirror, Gareth caught the Mirror on a Mainline prototype bait on a hinged stiff rig with Korda end tackle fished tight to the island from swim 4.
James Gubb Fradgley fished off Lynmouth in his own Private Boat and caught a stunning ballan wrasse of 5lb 15oz that sets a new boat record for CMSAC.
My favourite place on a wet summers’ day has to be the River East Lyn the river tumbles down the boulder strewn valley. The lush green foliage of the trees and fauna always gives a fresh and vibrant feel.
The river has a wealth of memories for me and I recall the many days I have spent fishing for the river’s salmon and sea trout. Pauline and I walked the river two days running and it was sad to see just the one angler trying his luck. On a summer spate twenty or thirty years ago the river banks would have been full of anglers keen to catch a silver prize from the beer coloured water. These days far less anglers travel to this beautiful river as the runs of salmon and sea trout are but a shadow of those golden days of plenty.
The river is now 100% catch and release and perhaps this does not suit this river where spinner and worm reigns supreme. In the past the rivers fish were abundant and anglers harvest did little to dent the population. The demise of the salmon has also lead to the loss of a vibrant angling community. Having fished the river at the end of its era of abundance I have mixed feelings remembering those anglers I once knew and a sense of pleasure that I was able to cast my line in better days. How I wish that future generations could enjoy the sport we had just a generation ago.
It was very pleasing to see the replacement bridge at the lower part of the river that allows the option of a circular walk from the top of Torrs Road to either Blackpool Bridge or up the Watersmeet.
Today it was sad to see the tea rooms at Watersmeet deserted due to the COVID outbreak. The valley is normally alive with walkers and visitors but today it was far quieter.
