Appledore Shipbuilders 24 Hour Rover
1st – Tony Slade – blonde ray 13lb 5oz
2nd & 3rd Andrew Atkinson – flounder 1lb 135/8oz and 1lb 81/8oz
Stafford Moor – Christmas Match
Report from Joanne Combes
The Christmas match was held on Tanners & Woodpecker lakes. Had a continental payout top 4 was paid out plus a silvers pool and 4 x section winners.
Well done to Mark Hayman! who won from peg 7 on Woodys with 63lb 6oz fishing waggler on the deck.
In second place was Steve Ford peg 3 on Tanners with 35lb 14oz
I’m third place was Jim Lawrie peg 2 on Woodys with 57lb 3oz
In forth place was Mark Lazelle peg 9 Tanners with 27lb
Silvers winner was Rob Watts peg 6 Tanners with 10lb 10oz of silvers
Section winners Tanners :
Mark hill peg 1
Rob Watts peg 6
Section winners Woodys :
Paul Tidball peg 6
Phill Hardwick peg 24
Jo would like to thank everyone who fished the match Merry Christmas to all see you in 2017 !
We have a hangover match Sunday 8th January please let me know of you would like to join us thank you Jo
North Devon Match Group Christmas competition and final Championship results ;
1st Andy Gray 43lb 5oz
2nd Paul Ware 30lb 11oz
3rd Andy Brayley 30lb 7oz
4th Martin Turner 29lb 4oz
5th James Grogan 22lb 13oz
Good match , 16 anglers turned out,both top and bottom lakes were used, slight frost and still conditions proved challenging, The winner Andy Gray has caught on pole fished maggot Paul Ware used similar tactics for second ,Final League Table 1st Martin Turner 290pts 2nd Thomas Downing 270pts 3rd Neilsen Jeffery 235pts
John Forster caught this fine brace of perch totalling 4lb 4oz on red maggot.+2
JAMIE MILLERS – NORTH DEVON TACKLE
Jamie Miller is the owner of North Devon Tackle with extensive carp fishing experience and a great deal of knowledge gained during his employment in the bait manufacturing industry. Jamie is also an experienced coarse and sea angler and this is reflected in the shop where there is an extensive range of tackle and bait to cater for coarse, carp and sea angling. Jamie’s personal best carp is an impressive 47lb 4oz caught from a Sussex carp water. Jamie offers valuable advice and is a friendly and approachable individual,
The tackle shop located in Queens walk arcade just off the car park in Bear Street Barnstaple has an extensive range of bait and tackle from popular brands including Korda, Drennan, ESP, Guru, North Devon Company Lakebed Leads, Mainline Baits and Sticky Baits.The sea angler is also well catered for with Sakuma tackle and frozen baits from Devon Baits. They also stock fresh worm baits and maggots.
The shop has now been up and running for over 18 months and provides a valuable resource for North Devon anglers. With Christmas just a few days away Jamie pointed out that they have tackle vouchers available in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. There is certainly plenty to tempt any angler within the shops extensive range.
LODGE LAKE CARP
When I first read of carp they were considered a fish of the summer months and seldom fished for. How times have changed with many factors meaning that the carp are caught all year round with many anglers having the ambition of catching a carp in the snow. The lack of winter snow is perhaps one of the factors that ensure we catch carp all year that and the warm clothing and modern bivvys that make winter fishing far more comfortable. It would be good to get a picture on here of carp in the snow! There’s a challenge!!!
Steve Pinn sent me these superb images of winter carp caught from Stafford Moor’s Lodge lake. 5 fish, not bad for December. 20Ib 12oz (yellow fish) and 17Ib 8oz (orange) – both on CC Moore Northern Special pop ups on a bed of free-by live red maggots.
BLAKEWELL _ WINTER SPORT
That’s tea sorted; Andy Facey heads for home after a successful day at Blakewell.
Its a busy time at Blakewell as families descend to select their Christmas trees and perhaps chose a tasty goodie from the popular farm shop.
The still-Water trout angler combines a few hours casting for hard fighting trout with taking home fresh trout for tea. Andy Facey above landed six trout to 4lb 8oz in a bag totaling 16lb.
A well marked brown trout of 2lb 8oz for Trevor Whyborn tempted on a green and black gold head montana.
WINTER THOUGHTS
Another year has almost ended as we approach the Winter solstice on December 21st and whilst we have only just entered winter this date signals the journey towards the spring and rebirth. As an angler my thoughts are tempered far more by the changing environment than the man made calendar.
Much of my angling effort at this time of year is beside the sea casting baits into the darkness from the local rock marks. The mystery of the sea entrances and entices vigils beside the water in hope of spurdog, bull huss, ray, conger and perhaps cod. The changing climate is influencing what we catch and this provides an exciting ever evolving challenge.
As I grow older I know that my days clambering around the rocks are numbered. I have had a few near misses and grow increasingly aware of the risks. But I just love being beside the water the anticipation and the feeling of being out there in the elements.
Whilst the salmon and sea trout fishing is months away I still take an interest in their life’s journey and try to glimpse the fish spawning on the redds high on the moors. I peered over a bridge on Exmoor a few days ago, a salmons wasted carcass lay upon the gravels. I wondered if it had succeeded on its journey and contributed to the next generation?
How has the weather impacted upon this years spawning a big spate in mid November had helped the fish to forge to their spawning grounds but since then the rivers have shrunk back after a period of little rain. What happens this year will affect the fishing season around 2021.
Stillwater trout provide a temporary connection with fish of an adipose nature. Hard fighting rainbow trout in cold clear waters with the thrill of the take and a great excuse to be out enjoying the great winter outdoors.
I read of carp and plan to cast more for these fish next year if I can find the time. There are so many waters that hold carp these days but which water suits my style of fishing. Commercial fisheries offer the chance of a personal best and I am tempted to chase a thirty pounder. Yet a neglected overgrown pond that is seldom fished appeals more to my carp fishing soul.
If I find time I will target perch and pike over the coming months. Pike is surely the essence of winter coarse fishing. A red tipped float optimistically poised upon dark waters that reflect the skeletal trees and dead reeds of winter.
A foray after grayling in cold clear waters trotting a float or casting an upstream nymph. Perhaps a session after silver flanked roach with crimson fins. As I list the joys of winter fishing I no longer struggle with the melancholic atmosphere of the season for I know that I cannot hope to fit in all that I wish to do before the spring arrives full of promise. All too soon we will meet in a riverside Inn and discuss past seasons and enthusiastically embrace the start of new salmon season. Trout fishing will commence on rivers and reservoirs. In the words of Jethro Tull; “Life’s a long song,
But the tune ends too soon for us all”.
The Art of Fly Tying
I joined South Molton Angling Club members at the Coach and Horses Inn at South Molton where local Fly Tier Matt Kingdon gave a demonstration of his skills in creating flies and lures to tempt the wisest of trout. Matt used all the latest materials to whip together fur and feather in an impressive display of skill chatting as he tied about the factors that make a good fly, First rule is of course that the fly should be tied on a quality hook! Each fly is tied using features that create triggers to entice the trout, to do this the fly should appear natural in the water. To this I would add that the fly should appeal to the angler for with confidence in the fly comes success.
Local angling guide Bryan Martin also joined in tying a stoats tail salmon fly that I intend to put to good use next season!
Stoats Tail -Variant
In addition to vast range of materials used in tying the flies Matt also gave useful tips such as the use of Hard as nails available from Boot’s and Super drug for varnishing the heads of the flies.
FLY FAIR 2017
The South West Fly Fly Fair has become a very popular fixture on the game fishing calendar and is eagerly anticipated each year as a seasons eve event show casing everything Fly Fishing including Fly Tying, Fly Casting and Fly Fishing.
Significant Changes for Underperforming Wimbleball!
Wimbleball Reservoir has been a splendid location for trout fishers for many years but sadly its days as a premier trout fishery appear to be over as South West Lakes Trust have today sent out a letter indicating that the fisheries future is to change for the worse.
Dear All
May I take this opportunity to thank you for supporting Wimbleball fishery during the 2016 season.
I am writing to inform you that there will be significant changes next year and wanted to make you aware of these at an early stage before you plan your fishing for next season.
Unfortunately the fishery at Wimbleball has continued to underperform in the face of rising costs and as a charity we cannot continue to operate in this unsustainable way. Therefore in 2017 we will not be stocking the lake while we take the time to review the operation and identify the best way forward. We all know what a great fishery Wimbleball can be and its future remains important to us. However we also believe that it should only operate as a premier rainbow trout fishery if we are able to offer the very best experience to our anglers, so we are going to take this time to make the right decisions, both for the Charity and you, our customers.
During 2017 we will be offering low cost fishing for over wintered Rainbows, Blues and natural Browns. Browns will remain as catch and release to protect the very good natural stocks. In 2016 we stocked Rainbows to 7lbs and some cracking Blues, many of which were not caught and we anticipate there will be plenty of fish to catch in spring and early summer and some terrific brown trout fishing in August and September. There will be one type of ticket available (day permits) at £10.00 for up to 3 Rainbows. Catch and release is optional.
We will not be operating the boats for 2017 so fishing will be from the bank only. Some new areas of bank have been cleared by our Wardens.
The permits will be available online at www.swlakesfishing.co.uk or from the permit room on site.
For clubs and group bookings we would be happy to offer some really good rates for fishing at our other fisheries such as Kennick or Siblyback where we have terrific boat or bank fishing available. For individuals we would also be happy to discuss great rates for buying day tickets in bulk.
Wimbleball will remain a qualifying venue for the Best of the Best competition with the final being held at Kennick on 15th October.
While I appreciate that this will not be welcome news, I trust that you will understand our position and in the meantime I hope you will take advantage of the low cost option for 2017.
If you would like to discuss our plans further please do not hesitate to contact myself, Alex Forster or Ben Smeeth.
Your sincerely
Colin Vallance
Heritage and Environment Director, South West Lakes Trust
Managing Director, Wheal Martyn Trust