19 Jul 2017

Taw and Torridge Update

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(Above) Emma Tyjas with a fine Taw salmon

Rain brought a slight rise in local rivers that brought in a trickle of salmon and sea trout. On the Torridge Duncan Betts fished a mid river beat and landed four grilse, all fresh run fish of around 5lb.

Sea trout specialist Martin Weeks and his brother Ed fished two nights on the Middle Torridge to land 17 sea trout up to 3lb.

On the Taw salmon to 11lb were landed and a huge sea trout of over 14lb is rumoured to have been caught on the River Mole. Edwin Barclay landed a brace of fresh run 8lb salmon from the day ticket Weir Marsh and Brightly Beats of the River Taw.

 

At this time of year salmon and sea trout anglers fishing the lower beats are often privileged to witness the prehistoric looking sea lamprey spawning. These eel like fish are an encouraging sign, as they require good quality water in which to survive. Reaching lengths in excess of three feet they are often mistaken for eels but unlike eels they cannot be caught on rod and line.

(Above) Thomas Downing sent me this picture of a dead lamprey on the Torridge estuary

18 Jul 2017

Stunning carp at Lower Tamar

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Ashley Bunning has been among the fish at Lower Tamar, not catching anything bigger than 12lb but plenty of action. The larger fish are being a bit elusive at the moment! Ashley had this to say:
‘PVA sticks with Burton Bait Rollers ‘Puzzle’ and ‘Full S.P.’ with a ‘Plum and Garlic’ pop up was the winning method. Lakebed Leads 4oz distance leads which were dropped on the take, with Ultima ‘Vantage’ Shockleaders and XR mainline helped me hit the distances i needed and play the fish through the weed.’

16 Jul 2017

North Devon Match Group Championship

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NDMG Championship No 7 was held Held at Highampton Fishery .

1st Neilsen Jeffery 60lb 8oz

2nd Phil Jones 40lb 9oz

3rd  Martin Turner 39lb 11oz

Section A Kevin Shears 31lb 9oz

Section B John Lisle 24lb 1oz, .

14 anglers fished the comp, conditions were breezy,warm and damp. Neilsen fished with paste on the long pole for a convincing victory, new member Phil landed his 2nd place bag on the method feeder, Martin was third on banded pellet on pole and tip.

16 Jul 2017

Big Ballan

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Ross Stanway landed a fine ballan wrasse of 4lb 14oz from a North Devon Rock mark when he made an early start attempting to add new species in the clubs Species Hunt. Big ballan wrasse have been scarce over recent seasons with very few caught near the local specimen rating of 5lb.

It is unclear whether numbers have declined significantly or if less are caught because less anglers target them? In the clearer waters of Cornwall , South Devon and the Isle of Scilly large numbers of wrasse are tempted using soft plastic lures. It may well be worth trying for the species over some of North Devons Rocky marks during periods with improved water clarity.

Most wrasse are tempted using legered worm or crab baits.

 

16 Jul 2017

CMSAC Species Hunt 2017 – Its getting harder!

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John Shapland has a narrow lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Species Hunt with 25 species but concedes that its getting harder to add to the tally.

The thin lipped grey mullet above is a new PB for John.

Among Johns catches was this strange looking clingfish, his first of the species.

Daniel Welch is in runner up spot with 24 species.

In third place is Ross Stanway with 17 species

 

Fourth Rob Scoines with 12 species

(Above)  Lee Holden with a spotted ray – Lee is currently fifth in the species Hunt with 11 species!

15 Jul 2017

Bidefords Evening comp on Tarka Swims

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Bidefords Evening comp on Tarka Swims was won by Colin Gorman on peg E with a weight of 10lb 9oz, one good bream and a carp on prawn, fished on a method feeder, 2nd place went to Craig Crash Lamey on peg X with 9lb 3oz, Craig unfortunately landed a large carp after time which would have been enough for victory. 3rd place went to Pete Slade on peg A.

12 people enjoyed another warm evening and our league leader is Keith Copland on 50 closely followed by Peter and Colin both on 46

15 Jul 2017

A Trickle of fish into Taw and Torridge

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Ian Blewett landed the above 5lb 12oz grilse whilst fishing for sea trout at a quarter to midnight on a Middle Taw beat. The recent rain has encouraged a trickle of salmon and sea trout into both the Taw and Torridge. Two salmon of 5lb and 11lb were caught on a Middle Taw beat on Friday. Rumours are circulating of a 14lb + sea trout from the River Mole?

On the Torridge four grilse were tempted from a Middle River Beat despite the river being very low.