8 Feb 2017

FINE BAGS AT EXE VALLEY

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

(Above) Biggest trout of day to Danny Ford at 5lb 12oz

Wistlandpound Fly Fishing club enjoyed great sport when they visited Exe Valley Fishery for the second heat of their Winter Challenge series. Dave Mock won the competition with a five fish bag of 19lb that included a 4lb rainbow and a tagged trout that earned Dave a tenner. In runner up spot was Danny Ford with five for 18lb 12oz and third David Eldred with five for 18lb 8oz. The biggest trout was a fine rainbow of 5lb 12oz for Danny Ford. The trout averaged 3lb and battled hard in the cold clear water. Overall winner of the winter challenge after 2 heats was David Eldred with 28lb 9oz. The first heat was held at Blakewell Fishery early in January.

7 Feb 2017

A Stafford Moor Twenty

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Keith Maker with his 20lb 2oz from the Summer house swim on Beattie’s lake using Sticky Baits Manilla boilie’s.

(Above) Keith Maker who had 3 fish out from the summerhouse swim on Beattie’s lake using Sticky Baits Manilla Wafters and carp company caviar and cranberry boilies up to 19lb.

6 Feb 2017

North Devon Match Group Winter League No4 Oaktree Lakes

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

1st Andy Gray 56lb 13oz

2nd John Lisle 41lb 3rd

3rd Tom Downing 18lb 9oz

4th James Grogan 17lb 1oz

5th John Lovell 12lb 6oz

6th Ian Owen 10lb 12oz

Martin Turner reports :- Interesting event using both top and bottom lakes , 7 anglers on each, cold easterly conditions ensured that fishing proved quite tough, Andy Gray found a dozen carp willing to take his pole fished maggot on the bottom of the near shelf , John Lisle took second with a similar bag from the margins on the bottom lake, Tom Downings near 20lb of skimmers on the top lake was taken on the long pole.

5 Feb 2017

Holsworthy Sea Anglers- Enjoy top sport on “Bluefin”.

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Many thanks to Paul Cozens for the report he posted on their club trip off Ilfracombe. A stunning conger and plenty of spurdog.

Holsworthy Sea Anglers enjoyed a great day afloat with skipper John Barbeary and crewman Paul on the Bluefin out of Ilfracombe. The ten anglers; Andrew Braunton, Robert Gould, Steve Dawe, Adrian Pett, James Pett, Brian Hopcraft, Stuart Lockyer, Graham Verral, Steven McDonald and Paul Cozens. After an hours stop close in for some doggies and a bonus 25lb conger for Adrian Pett they pushed out to the spurdog mark. Over went the mackerel and squid baits and it wasn’t long before they were hauling the spurs aboard along with a few bull huss to 12lb and a very welcome 45lb to 50lb conger for club eel specialist Steve Dawe. The spurdog fishing was frantic with the party losing track of the numbers caught with many of them over 15lb and best one going 17lb to Steve Dawe a new personal best. Steven McDonald had the most spurdog ending up with 14 of them!!
Paul Cozens stated that it was once again a great days fishing aboard Bluefin.

5 Feb 2017

NORTH DEVON TACKLE CLUB – SLADE RESULT

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Slade Reservoir was the venue North Devon Tackles latest match and members enjoyed some great silver fish sport on this challenging winter venue. Simon Poynter leading the way with an excellent bag of 26lb 2oz. In runner up spot was Barry Lee with11lb7oz and third Andy Gratton with 9lb 4oz.

5 Feb 2017

SLIPPERY AS AN EEL

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Combe Martin SAC member Ross Stanway fished a rock mark near Ilfracombe and hooked a specimen conger weighing 22lb 8.5oz after carefully weighing the eel in a weigh sack it was time for a photo. The eel proved camera shy and took its opportunity upon being released from the weigh sack and in Ross’s words; “Took off like a Bob sleigh team down over the rocks.”

The eel was one of twelve eels caught with four of them over 10lb.(Above) 10lb eel that posed for the camera!

Ilfracombe shore marks are producing conger, whiting, dogfish and occasional ray. Proceed with caution particular if fishing at Capstone one of North Devon’s most productive marks but also one with many dangers.

5 Feb 2017

BIG SPUR IS DELIVERED

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Veals Mail Order Managing director Harry Brake has undertaken several trips to North Devon in search of the elusive spurdog and was rewarded with a fine personal best scaling 13lb 10oz. The fish was tempted with mackerel head and guts whipped on to a pair of Varivas 6/0 Big Mouth Extras, 25lb Varivas yellow sport.

4 Feb 2017

Exe Valley Introduces Catch & Release Permit Options

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

The latest News from Nick Hart at Exe Valley

February 4, 2017

During the 15 years that I have been involved with Exe Valley Fishery, firstly as an instructor and then as the manager, the only option available has been to catch & kill any Trout caught.

However times are changing rapidly and increasingly I talk with anglers who don’t want to dispatch fish and fill their freezers. I also meet plenty of anglers who are put off by the thought of reaching their limit and then having to head home prematurely, cutting short their enjoyment & experience.

Therefore after a number of successful catch & release events, such as this one in December 2016, I have decided to introduce a new trial permit.

The Catch & Release options will start on Tuesday 7th February 2017 and will be available until Sunday 9th April 2017. During this time we will listen to your thoughts and welcome feedback. If the fishery is well supported during these changes the options will be made available throughout the year, other than during periods of high water temperatures. Full details will be available at the fishery regarding the rules applied to catch & release. The key points include:

– Catch & Release available on Anchor Lake only

– Rubber mesh nets only (we can loan nets)

– Barbless flies only (not debarbed – barbless flies will be available for purchase in the shop)

– Fish to be released must not be removed from the water.

– No Boobies.

– Kill tickets – Fish limit must be killed prior to Catch & Release.

Catch & Release Permit Options & Prices (07.02.17 to 09.04.17)

10 Fish Catch & Release Only – £25

2 Fish Kill & 2 Fish Release – £30

3 Fish Kill & 3 Fish Release – £35

4 Fish Kill & 4 Fish Release – £40

5 Fish Kill & 5 Fish Release – £45

Although there is an increase in permit prices, the first for several seasons, the new structure with the inclusion of catch & release offers some of the best value small stillwater fishing in the West Country if not the UK.

4 Feb 2017

Spurdog still there to be caught

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

There is still time to land a spurdog from the shoreline this winter with several landed during the past week by anglers targetting the species. James Atkinson landed a brace of spurs weighing 10lb 7oz and 8lb 4.5oz both fish were tempted using a squid mackerel and herring cocktail.

Jon Patten also enjoyed success landing a brace of spurs weighing 11lb 1oz and 12lb 10oz using large mackerel baits.

4 Feb 2017

TIME FOR A PERCH

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Perch are undoubtedly a joy to catch in many ways with their striking colours, defiant spiky fins and willingness to feed throughout the colder months. The waters of North Devon have large perch in good numbers but never take this for granted for there was a time when a devastating disease depleted stocks of perch all across the country. I can remember perch being plentiful in many Devon waters and then becoming almost non existent for several years. Big perch also tend to be subject to boom and bust with a water producing some massive specimens for two or three seasons before that particular year class dies out. I well remember targeting large perch in Melbury reservoir and landing several to 3lb 14oz. This was exciting fishing but from what I can gather the large perch at this venue have all but disappeared. Of coarse where big perch have flourished once they can once again and all it needs if someone to give it a try.

(Above) Chris Lambert Upper Tamar perch

Upper and Lower Tamar both contain large populations of specimen perch with every chance of 4lb plus specimens. Many smaller still waters also contain specimen perch including, Legge Farm, Oaktree, Riverton, Slade Reservoir, Stafford Moor, Anglers Paradise, Furzebray, Spires Lakes, Jennets and many others.

Another delight of perch fishing is the variety of successful methods that can be employed including livebaiting, baitfishing and lure fishing.

A keen perch fisher is North Devon based Dan Spearman who tempted these beauty’s to 2lb 13oz from an undisclosed local still-water.

If you want to learn more about perch fishing I suggest yo track down the excellent book dedicated to the species entitled “The Biggest Fish of All” The Perch Fishers.