Angling Heritage are delighted to announce that Mr Torridge, Charles Inniss, author of the classic book Torridge Reflections is giving a talk about the River Torridge and its history, his life on the river and thoughts on the future at Torrington Museum (in the middle of Torrington) on Thursday 23rd August at 2.30pm. Entry is FREE, refreshments are provided so make sure that don’t miss this opportunity to meet the man and learn about the River Torridge.
Adrian Morgan and Neil Merriman have been having plenty of fish from Jennetts recently topped off with a 24lb 10oz common for Adrian. Majority of fish have been between 15-20lbs.
Tarka Swims Monthly Comp.
1st Steve Bailey 42lb 5oz
2nd Colin Gorman 34lb 15oz
3rd Tyler Scott 20lb 4oz
4th Martin Rushton 18lb 7oz
5th Martin Turner 15lb 2oz
Silver winner Richard Jefferies 8lb 8oz .
Todays match was fished by 15 competitors, in heavy rain showers, Steve drew on peg P. ,which was the golden peg on the day and therefore added a bonus £50 to his winnings. He fished into the dense weedbed and managed to extract some big carp on the pole on pellets and corn. Colin Gorman who finished in second spot, drew on the opposite corner on peg L, he has fished a method feeder with banded robin red pellets for 7 good carp, Junior member Tyler Scott who drew on peg K did very well to land 2 large carp on the pole for third place, Martin Turner fished the straight lead to land 4 carp on peg I for fourth place. The Silvers prize went to Richard Jefferies with a feeder caught net of skimmer bream from peg R. The overall standings with 4 matches remaining Martin Tuner 88 John Lisle 70 Steve Bailey 59
Darracott Reservoir Results 12/08/18
Winner on the day was Norman Martin
Norman fished a combination of the method feeder & the whip for a total of 31lb 7oz which included a 14lb 3oz carp.
2nd was day from the shallow end was Dean Vickery who put 200+ small roach / rudd on the scales for a 18lb 1oz total.
3rd was Peter Seward who had a 15lb 7oz mixed bag.
w
The recent change in the weather could bring a few opportunities for bait fishers in particular as the water colours up following a couple of months of calm hot weather. Several reports of mackerel from marks along the coast. A big mackerel bait will often sort out that monster bass with the next couple of months the prime time to get that double figure specimen. Bideford Angling Clubs Festival next weekend see poster below.
Bideford Angling Club 24 hour results
Graham Snow took the top two spots in Bideford Angling Clubs twenty four hour rover
1st Graham Snow mullet thick 3 lb 9 1/2oz
2nd Graham snow mullet thick 3 lb 2 1/2oz
3rd kyle Blackmore dogfish 1lb 14oz
(Below)Daniel Welch enjoyed an excellent evening session at a local harbour landing nine mullet to 4lb 15oz.
(Below)Stefan Jones spotted a window in the weather and decided to venture out on his boat. With a lively swell and big tide options were limited but a sheltered venue produced several smoothound, a bass of around 5lb, plenty of mackerel and a fine tope of close to 38lb.
Combe Martin SAC Member Kody Chugg landed this fine bull huss of 10lb 9oz during a session at a local rock mark.
Colin Balment fished the Dam wall on Lodge lake banking eleven carp up to 21lb 6oz all caught on Mainline Cell and prototype crab and krill boilies.
I had been looking forward to Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Clubs Competition at Wimbleball as I had been hearing good reports of hard fighting rainbows despite the hot summer weather. I was hopeful that the heavy rain prior to the trip would liven up the trout but dipping my hand in the lake it was obvious that the water temperature was still exceptionally warm. We were advised to fish deep and slow using a lure on the point and small imitative patterns on the droppers.
I was sharing a boat with Andre Muxworthy and we headed for the deep water off the dam. After a couple of hours searching the depths we had both failed to connect and realized that it was not going to be an easy day. Matt Kingdon was fishing with Paul Grisley and we noticed that they were catching a few drifting across the middle of the lake. Andre eventually hooked into a hard fighting rainbow that fought way above its weight before eventually sliding over the waiting net.
Up until this point I had not even had a pull and was starting to fear a blank trip. A move to another area eventually brought a change of fortune when I felt the welcome pull on the line and for a few seconds a bent rod. Sadly this one came adrift but it wasn’t too long before I hooked another that battled hard before succumbing. The next hour brought a few encouraging twitches through the line and my confidence climbed. Andre added a second rainbow shortly after this. I was using a black and green booby on the point with two droppers, a Diawl bach and a cormorant. It was now gone 2.00pm and the day was ebbing away far too quickly.
A move close the bank to start a fresh drift brought a solid take from a fish that fought deep before appearing beside the boat to reveal golden flanks and dark spots. A fine wild brown trout of 2lb that had unfortunately engulfed the fly and was bleeding profusely from its gills. Despite my attempts to release it turned belly up and floated away before being retrieved to take home for tea.
With just a few minutes remaining of the competition a savage take resulted in a full tailed rainbow that made the reel sing as it surged away cartwheeling out of the water. This fish was the heaviest of the day and scaled 3lb 8oz.
Back at the fishing hut for the results and Matt Kingdon once again proved how he has qualified to fish for England and the commonwealth having boated five trout. Matt had elected to fish on a catch and release ticket bringing back just two trout weighing 5lb 7oz. It was decided to award Matt the trophy his estimated total bag being around 12lb. Matt caught his fish on a variety of flies and changed his line three times during the day as the fish moved up and down in the water. Runner up was Dave Mock who fished from the bank to take three trout for 6lb 1oz. In third was myself with two for 5lb 9oz a bag that included the biggest trout of the day at 3lb 8oz.
August is a very difficult month for the still-water trout fishers and today’s result was far better than could be expected on many lakes at this time of year. As the water temperatures begin to drop I am sure Wimbleball will fish exceptionally well with September fishing something to look forward to as these full finned rainbows go on a feeding frenzy before autumn and winter set in. There is also every chance of big wild brown trout from the fry filled margins.
Jack Griffiths caught 26 carp up to 29lb 9oz from the beach swim on Beatties lake last week. His new personal best was the 29lb 9oz he caught . Jack had a good head of 20’s including a beautiful ghosty! He used a range of rigs mainly caught on Sticky Baits Krill on a slip d & krill on a single bottom he also caught a few using a single pop up on a chod. Jack fished to the island 10ft over the gravel bar.
I have been sharing Eat Sleep Fish with readers of North Devon Angling News for the past couple of years as it has been an excellent read. Sadly this is the last edition but against modern trends the Editorial Team are launching an exciting new venture in the form of a hard copy magazine entitled Fly Culture that will follow a similar line to the Eat Sleep Fish on-line magazine. I wish the team well in this as I believe there is a place in the market for the hard copy that gives the reader a more traditional product. Whilst I spend many hours at a computer there is something more tangible and rewarding about sitting down and browsing through a magazine with a cup of coffee or tea.
Danny Watson of High Sreet Tackle Ilfracombe has taken the lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing Competition landing a fine bass of 70cm.
The fish was also weighed before being returned and scaled 8lb 9oz.
Danny has kindly agreed to award the prize of an HTO Nebula Lure Rod to the runner up in the competition if he wins as High Street Tackle are sponsoring the competition. So there’s a challenge to club members get out there and claim the top spot and save Danny the embarrassment of winning his own competition!!!
Congratulations go to Danny and Ross in getting out there after dark and having the confidence to cast a lure its something I have been intending to do for ages.
Danny story below :-
Absolutely bloody buzzing man! Got a message from fellow club member Ross Stanway – ” Did I fancy a quick lure session in the dark,” was hardly going to say no was I? He quickly got into a fish of about 2lb, we were pleased. Then about half an hour later all hell broke loose and I was into this beast! My second night time lure bass – measured 70cm and weighed 8lb 9oz! It went like a steam train taking line like mad – it was absolutely mental. Lots of people know I have banged on about doing this for ages – now I have and believe me it is pretty mad. I did not expect something like this! I can’t stop grinning!!!
The fish was tempted on a white do live stick – High Street Tackle sell Laggin Dragons which are very similar.
