19 Feb 2018

Stafford Moor Carp catches

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(Above) Leon Vledder who fished up on swim 3 on lodge lake this weekend he had 7 fish out fishing with Nash candy nut crush and Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

Chris Dyer (Above) and Oliver Kind landed 8 fish between them up to 22lb from the Summer House swim in 48 hours on Beatties lake fishing with Sticky Baits signature squid and Sticky’s Manilla and krill boilies.

(Above) Lewis Jones and brother Wesley who fished up on the double swim 1 on Lodge lake they had 6 fish out up to 24lb 8oz in a 24 hour session fishing with Sticky Baits signature squid pop ups.

19 Feb 2018

A Handsome perch

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Ashley Bunning has followed up his capture of a common carp called ‘The Don’ at 34.04 from Upper Tamar Lake with this cracking Perch of 3.12 caught on an Eco Gear Ikajako soft lure fished from the perch boat.

Kevin Smith has also been in the action with this lovely 3.08 Perch from the same venue.

19 Feb 2018

North Devon Match Group Championship No. 2 Millpark Results

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North Devon Match Group Championship No. 2 Millpark Results

Many thanks to Martin once again for his report on the North Devon Match Groups match at Mill Pond. Some stunning nets of roach in this close run event. This has to be one of the best silver fish waters in the area! A venue I have many fond memories of as I caught my first coarse fish there almost fifty years ago!

1st Kevin Shears 29lb 6oz

2nd Pete Slade 27lb 4oz

3rd Martin Turner 27lb

4th Nathan Underwood 26lb 10oz


10 of our members enjoyed a rare mild early spring day on Millpark Berrynarbor, but try as we might we cannot put an end to Kevin’s remarkable run of wins!! He drew on the platform below the car park and amassed a super net of quality roach on caster on a short pole, Pete Slade drew on the stream side and took second spot with a 9lb carp and a nice net of skimmers and roach all on the pole and soft pellet, Martin came in third with an all roach net, Nathan’s bag included a nice chub.

(Above)Nathan Underwoods net included a fine chub a fish more often associated with running water!

 

19 Feb 2018

Sea Angling Club Results

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Barnstaple Triple Hook Club – Windy Shield Trophy competition was won by Mark Hancock with a dogfish of 2lb 13/4oz. In runner up spot was Dennis Toleman with a dogfish of 2lb 3/4oz. Dennis also told me that he caught a tasty codling of around 3lb 8oz.

 

Bideford Angling Clubs 24 Hour Rover

 1st Dick Talbot Thornback ray 9 lb 6oz 104.166%

2nd Nathan Clements small-eyed ray 9lb 5 103.472%

3rd kyle Blackmore spur 9lb 14oz 98.750%

Appledore Shipbuilders Winter League

Graham Snow specializes in catching grey mullet and proves that they are now an all round year round species to target.

1st – Graham Snow – grey mullet 3lb 47/8oz

2nd – Graham Snow – Grey Mullet 3lb 41/2oz

3rd Cameron Atkinson – whiting 151/8oz

19 Feb 2018

Threats to the vital arteries of the land!

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Spring seems to be in the air today and thoughts are turning to running water, spring salmon and crimson spotted wild trout that thrive in Devon streams.

We must not take these delights for granted as there are threats to these vital arteries of the land brought home to me as I read through the latest emails from Chairman of the River Taw Fisheries Association Alex Gibson.

Open the below link to see what a badly managed dairy operation can do. The pollution here was on the Taw system, but fortunately did not affect the main stem of the river. Nevertheless the damage to fish stocks was extensive. If you come across anything of this kind when at or around the river please report it immediately to the EA Emergency Hotline – 0800 807060

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dallyns-dairy-stream-thick-with-cattle-dung-near-barnstaple

 

The Pollution Threat from Sewage Treatment Works (STWs) on the Taw System

As we are all well aware, the importance of water quality in our river cannot be overstated.

The Committee has come across a new, to us, cause for concern in this area, namely the STWs on our system which are owned and managed by South West Water (SWW). Simply put – Are these STWs currently fit for purpose and will they be fit for purpose when all the planned house-building in our catchment’s towns and villages has been completed? For example, South Molton is planning over 1,200 homes and Chulmleigh over 90. Is the right amount of maintenance being carried out by SWW and is sufficient investment committed for the future?

There are at least 35 STWs on our system, all of which discharge into the main stem or its tributaries. SWW like other water companies runs STWs on the basis of “operator self-monitoring” which immediately raises an amber or even red warning light in our opinion. Also there is a question about how rigorous the Environment Agency is or indeed can be in this area given recent cut-backs.

This is not a Taw specific problem and we have raised it regionally with South West Rivers Association so that individual rivers in the south-west can take their own action. From discussions with Angling Trust we understand that they are aware that this is a national problem and are working with World Wildlife Fund.

As for the Taw specifically, we are working with Fish Legal to discover whether in relation to STWs the EA is fulfilling its role to protect and improve river quality under the Water Framework Directive and carrying out its duties towards fishermen. Other initiatives to raise awareness of this problem are being undertaken.

The Committee believes it is important that members are aware of this threat, particularly those who fish directly below STWs. Any obvious signs of pollution from STW sources should be reported to the EA emergency hot-line – 0800 807060. Also, as we understand more about the STW situation it may be that we will need to mount a campaign with the support of our membership.

Alex Gibson

 

 

19 Feb 2018

Celebrating 90 Years an angler!

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I joined Combe Martin Sea Angling Club in 1973 at the age of 12 and have been an active member over the past  45 years and when I reflect on this time with the club it is the dimension of people that dominates. Those far off days in the mid seventies cemented my love of sea angling and the sea and those of us who fished in those times owe a great deal to the generation of the day. NIck Phillips and I are amongst an ever dwindling number of relics from that era and as a result were delighted to be invited to the 90th birthday of longstanding club member Brian Huntley.

I remember Brian and the senior club members of the day. I guess they would have been in their forties back then and they would pick us juniors up every  Friday night and transport us to the rocky shoreline at Watermouth or to Ilfracombe Pier if it was too rough to fish the rocks. Looking back they were crazy days that I am so glad we enjoyed and survived. In today’s safety conscious world it would be considered irresponsible to drop a handful of teenagers on the the rocks and leave them to their own devices.

I took a look back through the clubs history on our website and found a mention of Brian who was MC at the clubs dinner at the Staghunters Inn at Brendon three years before I joined the club. If my maths serve me correct Brian would have been 42; so I would have met him first when he was 45.

Brian’s birthday celebrations were held at the Merry Harriers tea  rooms http://www.merryharriers.org.uk/

Nick and I found ourselves surrounded by a diverse number of party goers who had come together to celebrate a surprise party to celebrate Brian’s 90 years, it was apparent speaking with his daughter Jayne that his time with Combe Martin SAC had been a period that held great memories. Recent years have seen Brian face a few challenges with his health and in spite of this his character shone through. It must have been truly daunting to have been wheeled out to a chorus of Happy Birthday in front of  a room full of  many faces.

As we chatted at the table memories of those formative years with the Combe Martin SAC flooded back. Brian Huntley a sprightly and humorous chap who drove a Robin Reliant – Three Wheeler and wore a distinctive Breton Cap. ( A hat with French origins worn by mariners and Fishermen). Brian Huntley, Barry HIll, Owen Knill, Ian Lawson, Tom Clark were regulars on our weekly excursions to the shoreline. A generation that gave us a lot and Brian is I guess one of the last of that generation. In 1982 a very proud Brian Huntley donated the Sarah Rachel Trophy to the Combe Martin Sea Angling Club  in celebration of the birth of his daughter. When Nick and I met with Sarah it was slightly disconcerting to realise that this women with two young children is Brian’s daughter. It is alarming how life flies past and how we have become the old guys. I also realise looking back how rich our angling lives have been and that people are a very big part of the journey.

Extract from Combe Martin SAC Club history below :-

1970 The MC at this years Dinner at the Staghunters was Brian Huntley, ” who gave a very lively and worthwhile performance”.
We fall out with the CM boat owners over £6, so all boat trips are booked from Lynmouth.
Part of the path down to Sandy Cove is swept away, members bring along tools to clear the path and make it safe again to get down to the mark.
Juniors are allowed to fish Friday night competitions as long as they pay the senior subscriptions, but cannot enter fish for the Burgess Trophy.
Membership stands at 35 members.
Poor attendance is reported in the Friday night competitions. Four fish are registered for the Shore Shield and the winner with a Wrasse of 5lb, reported “a good entry of specimen fish”.
The Clubs balance stands at £33-2-6.
No nomination is made for Secretary as Barry Hill stands down due to lack of support received. Laurie Wilson carries on the role of Chairman and Secretary.
A Tankard is presented to Barry Hill for his work over the last eight years.
An auction is held at the Club’s Dinner to raise monies for Club funds.

16 Feb 2018

Stafford Moor Lodge Lake Carp

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Sean Chater (Above) landed a brace of carp from  swim 2 on lodge lake during a 24 hour session the best pulling the scales to 20lb 7oz. The fish were tempted fishing with Robins test bait tnt .

Darren Rundle (Above)  fished a day ticket session and was rewarded with a brace of carp including this fine looking specimen from Lodge Lake tempted with Sticky Baits 16mm Manilla Boilies.

 

14 Feb 2018

Netting Ban Latest

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I received this notification from the River Taw Fishery Association. This long awaited bye-law will not only protect salmon and sea trout stocks but will also help protect valuable sporting sea fish like bass and grey mullet.

 

The new IFCA netting byelaws for Devon & Severn have finally been signed by the Minister. This means an end to the salmon and sea trout by-catch in the Taw/Torridge estuary by those netting for bass and mullet. The only netting permitted after 1 March this year will be by the 3 licensed salmon netsmen, who are themselves under the threat of a possible ban, and by those netting sand eels. This is a major step, the result of a long and difficult process.

http://www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/

 

12 Feb 2018

Stafford Moor in fine Form

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Aaron Rundle (Below) who fished  swim 4 on Lodge Lake this weekend and banked 6  carp on pink pop ups.

Jacob Bracken (Above) fished  Beatties lake for the first time and used Sticky Baits Manilla and cell boilies to tempt three carp up to 23lb from end of the dam wall.

Here is John Atkins(Above) and son Adam Atkins who fished on Lodge Lake  for 48 hours had 13 fish between them John had the biggest out which scaled 24lb 2oz. They used Sticky Baits Manilla 16mm boilies and also sticky baits Buchenberry pop ups on a Ronnie rig.