4 May 2026

Torridge Fly Fishing Club

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Located at Gammaton Reservoirs ( 2 four acre lakes). Annual membership £190 . Members can catch up to 6 fish a week (4 taken or C&R)
Day tickets £28 (3 fish) available from Barnstaple Bait & Tackle & Tarka Country Pursuits, Torrington.Also you can use the QR code below to purchase tickets.
Membership enquiries to Robert Chugg: 07491931003. Email : [email protected]
4 May 2026

SEA ANGLING HOTS UP AS SPRING UNFOLDS

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APPLEDORE SHIPBUILDERS May Rover

9 People fished the May rover today. It was nice to have a calm day although the rain did get a few people wet!

Congratulations must go to Josh Atkinson the winner of the Competition with a Personal best Smoothound of 16lb 14 1/4oz.

Josh also came second with another fantastic Smothound of 15lb 15 3/4ozs. Andrew Atkinson was 3rd with a Specimen Smothound of 11lb 1 1/4ozs.

BIDEFORD ANGLING CLUB – MAY ROVER

 Results

1st Jon Stevens Smoothound 10lb 3 1/2oz 102.187%

2nd Stephen Found Bass 7lb 1 1/4oz 101.115%

3rd Antony Smith Small-eyed Ray 8lb 12 1/2oz

Other fish caught Jon Stevens Bull Huss 9lb 5oz Antony Smith Smalleyed Ray 6lb 13oz Andrew Clements Thornback Ray 6lb 8 1/2oz

ILFRACOMBE BOAT FISHING

Dan Welch took a party of anglers on Predator 2 to wrecks out of Ilfracombe where they employed lure fishing tactics to temps quality pollock and ling.

They are also catching good numbers of stunning wrasse from reefs on lures.

My first lure fishing session of the season proved encouraging with two small bass succumbing to my lure. It was good to be back chasing these silver beauties in the shallow rocky waters of North Devon.

4 May 2026

ANGLERS PARADISE FOUNDER ZYG GREGOREK HAS DIED

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ANGLERS PARADISE FOUNDER ZYG GREGOREK HAS DIED

I am sad to report that Zyg Gregorek founder of Anglers Paradise has died. Zyg leaves a lasting legacy in Anglers Paradise a holiday complex with lakes that has become famous across the angling world. Zyg excavated lakes driven by an ambitious vision. He worked tirelessly with his family to grow the complex from a marshy plot of land back in the early eighties to become the thriving holiday venue of today.

Zany Zyg as he was often affectionately referred to was  a larger than life character who travelled the world in search of specimen fish. His robust humour and passion for angling endearing him to many within a wide angling community. A trip to the Safari bar at the heart of Anglers Paradise gives a glimpse into a life well lived, its walls adorned with trophy fish and images that reflect many big names from across the angling world and beyond.

 

Zyg his family and the angling community have helped to raise many thousands of pounds for good causes and local charities.

Zyg’s infamous homebrewed wine fuelled many late nights of fun and laughter as anglers and their families gathered after a hard days fishing forging many lifelong friendships.

 The angling world will be poorer without Zyg, his legacy lives on with the Gregorek family, the fabulous fish and the lakes that provide a great platform for the future of angling.

3 May 2026

Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters Round 2.. WISTLANDPOUND

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Report by Rodney Wevill

A day of two half’s on Wistlandpound Reservoir for the 2nd round of the Brown trout masters.
The morning was warm , bright and calm and slow fishing, only 2 browns to the net in the morning, 1 each for Paul McEvoy and Keith Burnett , 33cm and 35cm
Pete Williams and Rodders found a shoal of Rudd and had hour of fun, we must have had 25 plus between us , most taking a Mini Scruffy tiger and black lure.
The later afternoon brought some hard rain and three more angler caught 1 fish each, Rodney Wevill with a 38cm, Wayne Thomas with another fine 38cm and Andrew Gooding with a 30cm.
Must anglers reporting losing fish in the afternoon.
So 5 fish in total on a difficult day, but the standard of fish caught was very good, all full tailed and very plump .
Today was a little bit of a trial, we weren’t sure about adding Wistlandpound to the Brown Trout master series, with it being a non stocked water,
But everyone liked the venue, loved the condition of the fish and it added another challenge to the overall competition.
So that’s a yes we will be back in 2027 👍
We also had the pleasure of John Deprieelle and his camara skills.
John was filming the event and discussing tactics with Rodders on behalf of Turrall Flies and SWLT so keep your eyes peeled for the short film’s release.
Once again a massive thank you to Turrall Flies, YETI Europe , Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room and Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust
For all the prizes and continued support.
Results
1 Wayne Thomas
2. Rodney Wevill
3. Keith Burnett
4. Paul Mc Evoy
5. Andrew Gooding
6.John Huckins
6. Pete Williams
Overall Standings after 2 Rounds
1. Keith Burnett. 4 points
2. Wayne Thomas. 5
3. Andrew Gooding. 7
4. Rodney Wevlll. 8
5. Paul McEvoy. 10
6. Pete Williams. 12
6. John Huckins. 12
7. Tony Chipman. 17
8. Gary Brazier. 19
9. Garry Boyde. 20
9. Dave Perks. 20
9. Steve Retallack. 20
Next round June 6th Fernworthy.
The day from a personal perspective.
Wistlandpound is local to me so it was a pleasant change to fish an event that didnt require an early rise and two hour drive. It was also a great start to the day with The Whistling Bean on hand with great coffee and breakfast rolls.
I was concerned that the algal bloom would impact upon the fishing but conditions were the same for everyone and it is a beautiful place to spend a day.

The fishing did prove difficult and it was very much a one chance day with five trout banked between the eight keen competitors. My own tactics were very much based on fishing a team of flies I had confidence in a black bead head woolly bugger on the point and two small black flies on the droppers. I persisted with this for 98% of the day only changing the point fly for a few casts on a whim. I had four takes throughout the day and converted just the one that produced a stunning wild brown of 38.5 cm.

On difficult days like this its often just a case of roving about trying here and there and keeping the fly in the water as much as possible in the hope that a feeding fish sees the lure.

Whn the algal bloom clears as it does every year sport will improve and those wild browns will succumb to good angling. Several good fish were lost and I’m sure the lake holds some really big specimen brown that grow large predating on the abundance of rudd fry.

Many thanks to Rodney for organising the events. I look forward to the next round at the picturesque Fernworthy high on Dartmoor.

Many thanks to my wife Pauline for a few additional images of the day.