8 Dec 2019

Flounder Fishing Competition Results & Bideford Christmas Competition

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Bideford Christmas competition results

An impressive 72 anglers lined the banks of a wind swept Torridge Estuary to take part in Bideford Angling Clubs Christmas Competition and plenty of flounder were tempted.

1st R. Slade flounder 1lb 9 1/2oz
2nd D. Jenkins flounder 1lb 5 1/2oz
3rd D. Talbot flounder 1lb 4 3/4oz
4th M. John’s flounder 1lb 4 1/4oz
5th R. Harris flounder 1lb 3 1/4oz
6th A. Mccourt flounder 1lb 3oz
7th M. Druce flounder 1lb 1 3/4oz
8th C. Curtis flounder 1lb 1 3/4oz
9th D. Bailey flounder 1lb 1 3/4oz
10th A. Clements flounder 1lb 1 1/2oz
Prizes went all the way to 26th place.
JUNIORS
1ST B. Lee flounder 0.310g
2nd B. Lee flounder 0.306g
3rd B. J. Less flounder 0.302g
4th B. Phipps flounder 0.288g
5th B. Phipps flounder 0.256


Nathan Clements wrote :-
“I would like to say thank you to everyone that fished today 72 angler’s produced 39 flounder it’s been a brilliant day.
Thanks to Paul and Lisa done a fantastic job again.
Thank you to all are sponsors.
Thanks to the reds for letting us host the competition.
Congratulations to all the winners
See you all again next year”

Appledore Shipbuilders Christmas Competition

Appledore Shipbuilders fished their Christmas comp today. Winner  and 2nd was Owen Atkinson with Flounders of 1lb 14 3/4ozs and 1lb 12ozs 3rd was Cameron Atkinson with a flounder of 1lb 2 3/8ozs 22 members fished.

TRIPLE HOOK CLUB – Open Flounder Including Ladies and Junior Open

 

Twenty-Three anglers fishing in Triple Hook Clubs Open Flounder Match with good numbers of flounder landed. Mark Beer was first in the senior section with a flounder of 1lb 6.75oz. In runner up spot was Joan Cairns with a flounder of 1lb 4.5oz.

In the Junior section Lennox Pine took top spot with a flounder of 1lb 63/8oz and Levi Beer was runner up with a flounder of 1lb 33/8oz. Ian Cairns was runner up in club only Junior section with a flounder of 1lb.

The ladies section was secured by Joan Cairns with her flounder of 1lb 4.5oz. Runner up in the ladies section was Levi Beer with her flounder of 1lb 33/8oz.

 

8 Dec 2019

BLAKEWELL CHRISTMAS COMPETITION 2019

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Twenty seven anglers arrived to fish Blakewell’s Annual Christmas Competition despite the pending arrival of Storm Atiyah with winds forecast to reach up to 70mph. The competition is always an enjoyable day of socializing. Many of the anglers fish this competition each year catching up on the latest gossip from the South West Angling world with stories of places visited and of fishing adventures across the world.

I always find it slightly alarming how quickly this event seems to come around as the years drift past to merge into memories. Coffees, port and greetings are exchanged before the draw. The format is well known to all the regulars with six pegs drawn with an hour to be spent at each peg rotating around the lake throughout the day. With the storm forecast John and Richard Nickell wisely decide upon a slight change to this years timetable bring the competitions close to 2.30pm With dinner closing the event enabling anglers to retreat to the warmth of the tea room as the predicted storm arrives.

At 9.30am we set off for the lake full of expectation with those first few casts often productive. I draw a peg at the top corner of the Lake and have a grandstand view across the water where I observe several bent rods within minutes of the start.

To my surprise the first hour passes without any action to my rod and I am pleased to move to a new area. I have elected to fish a black tailed marabou lure with a bright green head on the point and two spider type flies on the droppers. After twenty minutes in my second zone I hook a rainbow of around 1lb 8oz and feel relieved to get the scoreboard ticking over. Persistence over the next hour sees another three trout caught the best a very pleasing fish of 4lb.

A vicious squall suddenly sweeps across the lake. Lashing rain and hail driven by a raging wind that bends the trees and sends branches drifting down the lake. At this point some anglers appear to be ready to pack away. Others like myself grit our teeth and try to soldier on.

Fortunately the squall is short lived and sunshine once again breaks through the clouds bringing a welcome splash of light and colour to the day. I make another move and soon connect with two more trout to complete my six fish bag.

With mission complete I take a walk around the lake capturing a few fishy moments as competitors chat and share the day. By 2.30pm everyone is ready for a hot dish of chilli con-carne a mince pie and a cool beer.

 

Many thanks again to John and Richard Nickell for their hospitality and good humour. Hard to believe its 12 months since we heard Richards cheery patter of optimism for the coming year. Once again a steady stream of families walkaway with their Christmas trees a sense of cheery optimism in the winter air.

 

Competition Results :-

1st Alan Evans – six trout – 14lb 10oz

2nd – Paul Grisley – Six trout – 14lb 2oz

3rd – Mark Buxton – Six trout 12lb 4oz

( Above) Biggest Fish – Alan Evans – Rainbow trout  – 6lb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Dec 2019

Great Torrington Army Cadet’s Fly Fishing for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 2019

by | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Young At Heart | 0

This year’s course started on 2nd April 2019 with a basic Introduction into Fly Fishing, over the past 7 months 4 cadets from Great Torrington Detachment have worked hard learning the different elements required to be proficient fly fishermen, these included types of Rods, Reels, Flies, Lines, Leaders & Casting.

On 16th April we had a visit from Paul Carter, Environment Agency Fisheries Officer to talk about his job and Licencing.

As well as Paul we had another visitor, Alan Crawley, River Warden for the Commons Conservators to talk about the work he’s been doing to improve access to the river by installing steps etc.

The Cadets found this evening really interesting.

15th June was our fly tying day where the cadets were instructed in the art of fly tying, this was also an opportunity for them to tie a selection of flies ready for the lake days to follow, all the cadets successfully managed to tie 6 reasonably flies by the end of the day.

13th July was our first Lake day, Simpsons Valley Trout & Course Fishery, near Holsworthy. This day proved to be challenging and despite everyone’s best efforts no fish were caught, but the cadets did get a lot of experience.

27th July should have been our second lake days, Bratton Water Fly Fishery, Barnstaple. Unfortunately due to so much other training happening that weekend which some of the group were involved in, we had to cancel.

30th November was our third lake day, Blakewell Trout Fishery, Barnstaple. This day started with a guided tour around the farm to see and learn about the fish, how water levels, oxygen level and temperatures affect the fish’s growth & wellbeing.

Fishing was challenging with fish following lures and turning away at the last moment, the cadet didn’t let this put them off but persevered in their quest to catch and land their first fish.

By the end of the day the cadets had all caught a fish to take home, best result ever, a perfect end to the course.

The Cadets and Instructors would like to thank the following people for their continued support,

Paul Carter                   Environment Agency Fisheries Officer

Alan Crawley                 River Warden for the Commons Conservators

Paul Cozens                  Simpsons Valley Trout & Course Fishery

Andrew Moores            Simpsons Valley Trout & Course Fishery

Mike Williams               Bratton Water Fly Fishery

Richard Nickell              Blakewell Fishery

John Nickell                  Blakewell Fishery

 

 

 

3 Dec 2019

I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE – A Great Winter Read

by | posted in: Article, Carp Fishing, Casting around North Devon, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sidebar, Young At Heart | 0

I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE – Fishing In North Devon

            I have been privileged to enjoy over forty years fishing North Devon’s varied waters enjoying both success and failure. The places and the many people I have met along the way have greatly enriched the journey and as the years pass I realise that all we ever get is a fleeting glimpse of a period in angling history.

In this book I tell a few of my own stories of North Devon angling along with recollections from others; some from an earlier generation who enjoyed fishing in those good old days.

I have no favourite species of fish just the one I am fishing for at the time and this book reflects this with every discipline of angling represented. From the small crimson spotted trout of tumbling streams to the huge shark that roam the Atlantic Ocean.

Angling is in essence an attempt to reach into a different dimension. Its fascination has for me never ceased and I always believe that the next cast will be the one that connects, that marvellous moment of completed deception. The anglers I have interviewed in writing this book reflect upon past times when they too glimpsed piscatorial events that they enjoyed recalling. Stories of lost fisheries, big fish, record fish of angler’s their attitudes and love of fishing.

I hope that I manage to share and convey the joys of angling in North Devon and provide a glimpse into a century of marvellous fishing.

 

Just a fleeting glimpse,

Of Memories gone,

A hopeful glimpse of what may come,

 

When its bitter cold outside its often good to settle down by the fire to read a good book.  ” I Caught A Glimpse” has an array of fishing stories from North Devon with all disciplines catered for if your interested check out this review from Dominic Garnett and the comments from my friend Paul French.

https://dgfishing.co.uk/winter-coarse-fishing-and-new-angling-books-reviewed/?fbclid=IwAR1STJpBKb5FDftACxckmT4Gjl9zb5UknO9M0eyvbEQuhmITPgH2TQLF5As

I received this email from my friend Paul French who took the book on a cruise.

“We’ve recently returned from a cruise to Norway which provided me with ample time to read your book and what a thoroughly good read it was too! The passion you undoubtably have for this pastime of ours is embodied in the words on each and every page. The part mix of autobiographical and part historical is I believe a unique blende and certainly not something I’ve seen attempted elsewhere. It couldn’t have been an easy project to undertake and metaphorically reading between the lines the reader may understandably not appreciate the hours and days of research you have put into it. You’ve smashed it, all round my kind of book. 

All we need now is a Glimpse of the next one”.

https://thelittleegretpress.co.uk/product-category/author/wayne-thomas/

Available from The Little Egret Press or drop me a PM via my Facebook Page or North Devon Angling News.

 

 

3 Dec 2019

Stafford Moor – Winter Carp Form

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Stafford Moor continues to reward anglers despite the cold weather. Below is are some of the recent catches.

Barry Lee banked carp from the dam wall on Beatties Lake all caught on C C Moore live system wafters in Almond goo over a small amount of hemp & corn feed. (Below)

Sam Heno who fished on the inlet swim on Beatties lake ,Sam had 6 fish out all caught on C C Moore live system boilies. (Below)

(Below) Simon White who hasn’t been to Stafford Moor for 10 years so a lot for him to take in change wise on site but all good Simon has 5 fish out up to 29lb all caught in swim 1 on lodge lake all caught on C C Moore 10mm live system boilies tipped off with Sticky baits peach & pepper.

Keith Medlin  fished up on swim 2 on Lodge Lake and now has the new lake record of 33lb 2oz.  Keith had 10 fish out in total all caught on Sticky Baits 20mm Manilla boilies which were glugged with Manilla and Sticky’s peach n pepper pop up snow man style. (Below)

2 Dec 2019

Sea Angling Latest

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Jamie Steward caught this brace of flounder weighing 1lb 5oz and 1lb 6oz during a pleasure fishing session on the Taw Estuary. With calm conditions and easterly air stream fishing was hard over the weekend with most competition anglers targeting flounder. Out on the coast whispers of few early spurdog and a few codling.

APPLEDORE SHIPBUILDERS ROVER

1st Jazza John. Flounder 1lb 10 1/2ozs
2nd Richard Boon Flounder 1lb 8ozs
3rd Terry Dymond Flounder 1lb 5 1/8ozs
18 seniors and 2 Juniors Fished

Bidefords Rover Results

1st Terry Dymond flounder 1lb 5 1/8oz

 

2 Dec 2019

North Devon Tackle AC -CHRISTMAS MATCH RESULTS

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Wooda Lakes – 1/12/19

Good to see a nice turn out on such a cold day.
The match was split between Lake 3 & Lake 4.

Winner on the day (winning lake 3) was Wayne Mitchhell
Wayne fished the pole with maggots / caster and had 40 carp for 103lb 1oz total……. a brilliant weight considering it was a hard day for most.

Second on the day was Stephen Barrell, Stephen fished similar to Wayne, again with maggots, to put 85lb 11oz on the scales, to comfortably win lake 4.

TOP 4 EACH LAKE:

Lake 3

1st Wayne Mitchell  – 103lb 1oz
2nd  Norman Martin – 45lb 12oz
3rd Andrew Gratton – 33lb 2oz
4th Kev Grant – 16lb 14oz

Lake 4

1st Stephen Barrel 85lb 11oz
2nd Simon Poynter 17lb 1oz
3rd Dave Nichols 14lb 12oz
4th  Gord Maeers 12lb 13oz

Thank you to all that attended today, bearing gifts, adorning Xmas hats!!! (even the homemade ones!!)

The match was fished in a great atmosphere & I hope you all enjoyed it.

Thanks to Mark & Michael Seward for coming all the way down from Reading to fish the match.

Well that’s it for another year…….

The last “thank you” and without doubt the biggest, must go to Kevin Wilton for running these matches for us all.

Hope to see you all at the presentation evening on the 24th January.

 

2 Dec 2019

North Devon Match Group Winter League No.3 @ Stafford Moor results

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North Devon Match Group Winter League No.3 @ Stafford Moor results:

1st Tim Brown 54lb 10oz

2nd Stephen Craker 49lb 12oz

3rd Martin Turner 41lb 5oz

4th Kevin Shears 40lb 12oz

5th Nathan Underwood  30lb

6th John Bailey 29lb 14oz

7th  Paul Elworthy 29lb 5oz

8th John Lisle 26lb 7oz

20 anglers fished.

Stafford Moor lakes. Oak and Woodpecker were used for today’s competition. The cold snap certainly dampened the appetite of the residents .Oak has provided the top three wieghts , winner on the day was new member Tim Brown he has landed over 50lb on the pole and soft pellets from peg 20 . Second was match regular Stephen Craker  with a margin caught net on corn off peg 6 on Oak , Martin Turner has taken 3rd spot on peg 12 also on Oak , bomb and bread and 6mm hard pellets on the pole. Top net on Woodpecker and 4th overall was Kevin Shears on peg 11 Nathan was 5th on the next peg ,12.