A cracking picture of angler and mullet on location far better than those picture we used to see at the club house or in the back garden.
1st Antony Smith thin lipped mullet 3lb 14oz
2nd Andrew Clements smooth-hound 7lb
3rd Nathan Clements thin lipped mullet 2lb 9oz
Some stunning fish have been banked at Furzebray now that the carp have finished spawning.
(Below) 33lb 12oz mirror from Willow Lake a new lake record!
(Below) Mark Downing with a stunning 21lb 12oz home grown mirror from the Lawns.. This is one of 5 for Mark last night which included the leather at 30+
(Below) Glen Stanton with two crackers from the Island lake before spawning, The rudd mouth linear at 29+ and Measles at 34+
(Below)Chris Bissett also fished on the Copse last week and banked some lovely fish including a 29lb 12oz and a 20+ Zip.
Combe Martin SAC member Dave Brooke landed this fine11lb 11oz bull huss on a trip to a local rock mark.
Well done to Jonathon Holdaway who has banked ‘The Peach’ from Upper Tamar at just under 32lbs. This smashed his PB by 7lbs and was part of a two fish catch which included a 16.12 common both caught on Sticky Manilla pop ups tipped with a small pink krill pop up. The 20 hour session was successful after a move at 6am after hearing fish crashing……..
Bratton Water has a well deserved reputation for its quality brown trout fishing with fish to double figures banked in recent seasons. The best in recent weeks has a been a fine brown of 5lb 2oz to the rod of T.Evans of Barnstaple. The brown trout are however often hard to tempt and the hordes of small rudd often intercept the small imitative patterns before the browns get there. Mike has recently stocked a few rainbows that are being caught on a variety of patterns. The more aggressive rainbows are also feeding on the rudd fry in the margins giving an opportunity for the angler to stalk these fish. Mike informs me that the fishery is presently weed free despite the warm weather. The rudd whilst a nuisance at times will in the longer term lead to some big brown trout as they wax fat on the abundant food supply.
Sea anglers are enjoying mixed sport along the coast with bass, mullet and smoothound. It is also good to hear reports of a few mackerel and herring from the boats.
(Below)Nick Job enjoyed a good night fishing with his mate Ian Hooper targetting smoothound they landed several hounds the best this fine specimen of 12lb 4oz. Ian landed hounds to 8lb 13oz.
(Below) Nick Phillips was targetting grey mullet when this 7lb 12oz bass seized his bread hook bait.
(Above) Nathan Clements caught this fine grey mullet on his first attempt after the species this season.
Daniel Welch took his daughter Effie fishing for grey mullet and they both enjoyed success with Dan landing the above mullet of 4lb 4oz whilst his daughter enjoyed success with a nice mullet of 3lb 3oz.
(Above)Ryan Turner banked six fish out up to 27lb from the beach swim on Beatties lake this weekend, all caught on Sticky Baits Krill and bloodworm boilies, Ryan was using KD rigs and fished out in the open water.
(Above)Lee Jordan banked five fish from swim 6 (the outlet swim) on lodge lake all caught on Sticky baits krill boilies and pva bags with crushed boilies.
Globe Trotting North Devon angler Jon Patten has been selected by the Angling Trust to represent Team GB within a team of four anglers fishing in the World Big Game Championship’s. They will be fishing in Frontignan, Southern France against 28 teams from around the globe targeting Bluefin tuna and broadbill. Shimano, Sea-Power UK Costa, Reeds Chill-Cheaters, Jims Lures and Veal’s Mail Order sponsor Jon who fishes worldwide. Jon’s wide experience of angling for big game fish will be be a valuable asset for the team. The competitors will be fishing using a technique known as chunking using sardine and herring baits.
Two Counties Festival 2018
Sponsored by Sensas & Matchcraft Tackle.
Many thanks to Simon Poynter for the below results, report and fabulous images.
RESULTS
Day 1
(A) Section winner – Gavin Butler 33-5
(B) Section winner – Michael Buchwalder 37-1
(C) Section winner – Nick Jones 32-12
(D) Section winner – Vince Brown 46-4
(E) Section winner – Steve Clarke 36-5
(F) Section winner – Scott Russell 33-9
(G) Section winner – Tim Bruce 22-8
(H) Section winner – Christopher Morris 12-10
Day 2
(A) Section winner – Steve Cable 19-11
(B) Section winner – Tim Bruce 32-11
(C) Section winner – Richard Chave 33-3
(D) Section winner – Hadrian Whittle 38-12
(E) Section winner – Alex Murray 24-9
(F) Section winner – Gazza Thornton 30-0
(G) Section winner – Michael Buchwalder 35-5
(H) Section winner – Carl Steffen 39-3
Day 3
(A) Section winner – John Price 33-3
(B) Section winner – Gavin Butler 37-11
(C) Section winner – Michael Buchwalder 30-6
(D) Section winner – Chris Morris 34-8
(E) Section winner – Graham West 30-9
(F) Section winner – Rory Jones 27-4
(G) Section winner – Richard Chave 20-6
(H) Section winner – Zac Newton 29-2
Matchcraft 4 rod holder winners:
Vince Brown, Carl Steffen & Gavin Butler
Biggest Perch:
Vince Brown 3-15
Best Match Weight in Festival:
Vince Brown 46-4
Mystery Weight Prize (18lb 13oz)
Boz Phillips 18-12
Two Counties Festival 2018
Sponsored by Sensas & Matchcraft Tackle.
RESULTS
Day 1
(A) Section winner – Gavin Butler 33-5
(B) Section winner – Michael Buchwalder 37-1
(C) Section winner – Nick Jones 32-12
(D) Section winner – Vince Brown 46-4
(E) Section winner – Steve Clarke 36-5
(F) Section winner – Scott Russell 33-9
(G) Section winner – Tim Bruce 22-8
(H) Section winner – Christopher Morris 12-10
Day 2
(A) Section winner – Steve Cable 19-11
(B) Section winner – Tim Bruce 32-11
(C) Section winner – Richard Chave 33-3
(D) Section winner – Hadrian Whittle 38-12
(E) Section winner – Alex Murray 24-9
(F) Section winner – Gazza Thornton 30-0
(G) Section winner – Michael Buchwalder 35-5
(H) Section winner – Carl Steffen 39-3
Day 3
(A) Section winner – John Price 33-3
(B) Section winner – Gavin Butler 37-11
(C) Section winner – Michael Buchwalder 30-6
(D) Section winner – Chris Morris 34-8
(E) Section winner – Graham West 30-9
(F) Section winner – Rory Jones 27-4
(G) Section winner – Richard Chave 20-6
(H) Section winner – Zac Newton 29-2
Matchcraft 4 rod holder winners:
Vince Brown, Carl Steffen & Gavin Butler
Biggest Perch:
Vince Brown 3-15
Best Match Weight in Festival:
Vince Brown 46-4
Mystery Weight Prize (18lb 13oz)
Boz Phillips 18-12
Best Match Weight in Festival:
Vince Brown 46-4
Mystery Weight Prize (18lb 13oz)
Boz Phillips 18-12
OVERALL POSITIONS:
1st Michael Buchwalder 3pts (102-12)
2nd Gavin Butler 4pts (98-7)
3rd Tim Bruce 4pts (76-4)
4th Chris Morris 4pts (72-1)
5th Hadrian Whittle 5pts (98-14)
6th Carl Steffen 5pts (98-11)
7th Graham West 5pts (88-1)
8th Richard Chave 5pts (71-00)
9th Steve Cable 6pts (59-10)
10th Rory Jones 7pts (69-1)
11th Alex Bates 7pts (65-15)
12th Mark Charnell 8pts (66-15)
13th Nick Jones 9pts (77-5)
14th Scott Russell 9pts (74-8)
15th Ben Lawrence 9pts (70-7)
16th Josh Pace 9pts (67-1)
17th Zac Newton 9pts (63-6)
18th John Waples 9pts (46-9)
19th Vince Brown 10pts (81-10)
20th Keith Gooderham 10pts (60-14)
21st Duncan Hill 10pts (59-13)
22nd Nigel Garrett 11pts (64-15)
23rd John Price 11pts (61-4)
24th Darren Lawrence 11pts (54-2)
25th Steven Lipsy Hughes 12pts (62-15)
26th Rob Chambers 12pts (56-14)
27th Steve Lovell 12pts (51-1)
28th Peter Thomas 12pts (47-1)
29th Steve Clarke 13pts (68-12)
30th Jim Lawrie 13pts (62-6)
31st Gazza Thornton 13pts (60-9)
32nd Rob Fuller 13pts (52-2)
33rd Boz Phillips 13pts (48-4)
34th Alex Bradley 14pts (54-0)
35th Trevor Vernalls 14pts (52-15)
36th Rob Hewison 14pts (51-12)
37th Peter Wills 14pts (48-3)
38th Dave Walton 15pts (51-2)
39th Norman Martin 15pts (39-9)
40th Scott Puddy 16pts (50-5)
41st Matt Rowntree 16pts (47-3)
42nd Trevor Stacey 17pts (34-15)
43rd Adrian Ball 17pts (34-0)
44th Pete Patton 17pts (33-4)
45th Ricky Knott 18pts (36-0)
46th Mick Lane 18pts (34-11)
47th Alan Keleher 19pts (30-11)
Anglers placed 48th to 56th did not finish.
Massive congratulations to Preston Innovations backed Michael Buchwalder who showed his true class to win the 2018 Two Counties Festival on his first visit to the venue.
Michael recorded 3 section wins & had over 100lb of silvers along the way.
A few “thanks”…
Many thanks to Ben and the S.W.L.T staff (Bob the boatman & Gary) without them there would not be a festival.
Massive thank you to Bram Brandwijk at Matchcraft Tackle over in Holland, for his kind sponsorship of this years event, moving forward Bram has (today) agreed to sponsor the 2019 event which is great news!
Thanks to Sensas UK & M5 Angling for sponsoring fantastic Sensas prizes Simon Hebditch I will be in touch ref next year!!
Thank you to Steven Lipsy Hughes for keeping us all entertained one way or another over the three days, thanks also for doing a “whip round” for me, feeling humbled as a result mate – your really shouldn’t have, but thank you.
Above all thank you to you guys (the anglers on the festival) who make it what it is, a pleasure to run & I am sure a pleasure to fish!
Chris Bonds has been taking advantage of mirror calm seas to venture out of Ilfracombe on his own boat to land good numbers of pollock on Sidewinder lures. The best of the fish have between 5lb 7lb and offer excellent sport on light tackle.
