Kevin Pike has set a new Appledore Shipbuilders Angling Club record boating a huge tope of 70lb whilst fishing off the North Devon Coast. Kevin was fishing from his own private boat with fellow club member Mike Toogood who also enjoyed success boating another huge tope of 68lb 8oz. The capture of two tope of this size in one session is an amazing feat that will be remembered for years to come as a red letter day proving the oft said saying that it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
Salmon and sea trout anglers across the region have had their spirits lifted following the recent heavy rain hopeful that the salmon and sea trout waiting in the estuaries will forge upriver offering the chance to enjoy that thrilling encounter with the most iconic of silver flanked fish.
I headed for the River Torridge to find the river at a perfect height but with the water a turbid brown and full of sediment I was not hopeful. Salmon fishing is a frustrating game with those perfect conditions often only fleeting. There will be a moment as the water clears following a spate and runs the colour of ale when the fresh run salmon rise freely to the fly as it swings across the river.
Salmon run up river as they smell the freshwater influx following a spate. The initial rush of water is often foul after a prolonged dry spell so the fish will often pause until the water quality improves. The fish that run up river are often intent on their journey and ignore the anglers offerings. There comes a time though as the fish rest for a moment when they can snatch at that tantalising creature that flutters across the current. The reasons salmon take a fly or lure have been debated by anglers far wiser than I. The fact is that they sometimes do and if you have faith and persist that delightful moment of connection will come.
Despite the imperfect conditions I fished carefully down through the river absorbing the vibrant surroundings of early summer. Relishing the constantly flowing river, the glimpse of electric blue as a kingfisher darted past. The birdsong resonating all around and the abundant wildflowers that thrive along the river bank. I also noted that all is not well in our world as I gazed at the ash trees suffering from the onset of ash die back. It is estimated that up to 95% of ash trees will succumb around 25% of our woodland!
Grey skies and ash die back
Hopefully I will report on a salmon or two over the coming days for there are plenty of salmon in the river they have been leaping in the estuary for weeks and have been seen forging up over the weirs.
Plenty of reports of stunning pictures from the prolific Stafford Moor Fishery.
(Below)James Malone and friend Kristen banked 13 fish up to 29lb 14oz which was Rhys new personal best well done Rhys 👍
The guys fished in the summer hut swim on Beatties lake.
What a team! What a superb venue! What an amazing weekend!!!! wrote Matthew Whiteside after visiting Stafford Moor for a social fishing trip on Beatties Lake.
Vader Baits Elite Team it was awesome to get out bankside with you! We have waited like everyone else to get out and get fishing again!! Stafford Moor Fishery was our first venue! Paul and Jo not only run one of the most beautiful venues in Devon but there attention to detail, their care for their anglers and their care for their lakes is the best I’ve ever seen! Jo was an absolute star over the hard times of trying to rearrange bookings for lots of anglers over this terrible time but she absolutely nailed it !!! I would recommend other fisheries to take note as this is the standard to run your establishment at without a doubt I’m so impressed and Vader Baits will be definitely be running lots more of its events from here!!! With such a superb back drop and so many of us biting at the bit to get on the bank again this felt really special as soon as we got there. The hear was the only thing that was to hamper the fishing a little it was so hot but it was’t long before one of the new Vader young guns was into a really old lovely mirror! Infact Aaron was into the fish before I’d even got my bivvy up, net out or rods made…Adrian Lazarus known as Lazamidi in the Vader ranks stole the show tho! With a little grizzle that he though he may well be in one of the tougher swims turned out he had two of the biggest fish of the event and went on to win the bait package and the very special Vader Baits carp cup 👊
Most of the team managed at least a couple of carp and others having 3 or 4 and unfortunately for a couple of the team it wasnt their day !!! In the end I think we had something like 25 carp over the weekend and in the conditions that was great work from the team and an absolutely awesome event !!! Again thank you team roll on our next social back at Stafford Moor and again massive thanks to Paul and Jo you guys have been brilliant!!!!
Joey Gould had 21 fish out up to 29lb which is a new pb for Joe from the inlet swim on Beatties lake. All fish were caught on our house pellet and Sticky Baits Krill boilies.
(Below) James Russell who fished on swim 15 (Albert square) and had 4 fish out up to 31lb 12oz
During the 1980’s and 90’s I did a fair amount of carp fishing and enjoyed some success catching carp on a regular basis including a few fish over twenty pounds. My carp fishing sorties in the past couple of decades have been few and far between partly due to a perception that carp fishing requires lots of time and a desire to catch other species has taken precedent.
The spectacular catches of carp I report on has to a degree tempted me back to carp fishing albeit on an occasional basis. The complexities of carp fishing are perhaps a bit of a challenge but with modern tackle rigs and baits catching carp is or at least should be easier than it has ever been. I recently fished at Jennett’s reservoir near Bideford with James and arrived full of confidence. The weather had broken and a North West Wind was blowing down the lake after weeks of hot weather and the carp having recently spawned I expected a good result. As did keen and experienced local carp angler Rob Kendal who had already banked one carp before we arrived.
Rob Kendall 17lb 10oz
James and I fished a peg apart maintaining the required social distance, one bait close to the far bank and another in the nearside margin.
The day drifted past James was pleased to catch a couple of bream on the margin rod and enjoyed chatting with his mate from the cricket club fishing in the next peg along.
Rob Kendall added another carp but was surprised at the lack of action considering the conditions. We made a few brews with the Kelly Kettle and cooked up some sausages. The day drifted past and we took in the surroundings, watched the squirrels and birds going about their daily routines.
James decided to leave mid afternoon and catch up with a few jobs at home. Ever optimistic I stayed on spurred on by the sight of carp rolling close to where I had put my baits. Any time I expected those bobbins to lift and the Delkim to bleep its warning. As the light began to fade I decided to head for home and packed away everything except the rods. As I turned to reel in the rod tip nodded and I pick up the rod hopeful of a last minute carp. it was a bream of around 2lb. I left with lots of questions in my head and doubting my ability to catch carp. I think I will have to invest a little more of that time soon.
Blakewell Fishery has been in fine form since it reopened in Mid-May with numerous double figure trout tempted. Pete Masters banked a 12lb rainbow and Graham Thorne a stunning 15lb rainbow. Andy Facey banked a rainbow of 10lb. Rick Perry banked a brace of double figure rainbows weighing 13lb and 12lb. Chris Bryan banked a rainbow of 9lb 3oz. Small imitative patterns are proving most successful.
Eighteen seniors fishing in Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover that was won by Jazza John with a bull huss of 10lb 2oz. James Atkinson took second and third with small eyed ray of 8lb 8oz and 7lb 7oz.
Bideford Angling Clubs Rover was won by Paul Downing who caught a smoothound of 9lb 10oz. Stephen Found was runner up with a bull huss of 9lb 4.25oz and Tarrant Wotton third with a smoothound of 8lb 12oz. Forth place went to Tom Downing with a smoothound of 8lb 6oz and fifth Tony Gooch with a huss of 7lb 2oz. Pail Ackland was sixth with a smoothound of 6lb 13oz.
The first catch report from Upper Tamar since re-opening. There have been a huge amount of fish caught! Roger Maher and his sons had an amazing session catching 29 carp between them with 15 over 20lbs including ‘The Peach’ at 30.06 and ‘Leanne’s mirror’ at 28.08.
Nash Tackle Consultant Jordan John Marsh from Bude fished his local water Lower Tamar Lake to bank carp of 14lb and 10lb along with a fine specimen bream of close to ten pound.
