Its raining and whilst that’s bad for the visitors it’s good news for salmon and sea trout anglers. There have been a few salmon and sea trout trickling into the Taw with peel now throughout the Mole. Chris Steer landed an 8lb salmon from the Weir Marsh and Brightly beats of the Taw; a day ticket water available by contacting Ivan Huxtable on 01769540835.
Alternatively contact the Rising Sun at Umberleigh where day tickets are also available. The steady rain that is falling now should offer every prospect of sport on all three of our main North Devon Rivers the Taw, Torridge and Lyn.
A huge thresher shark has been boated by Nick Lane fishing aboard Dan Hawkins Ilfracombe based Charter boat Reel Deal. The shark calculated by formulae at 368lb was tempted using a whole mackerel hook bait and was landed after a powerful struggle lasting over an hour the fish leaping from the water twice before eventually being brought into the boat where it was measured and photographed before being released. The fish was taken from a mark off the North Cornwall coast around a two hour steam from Ilfracombe. Dan told me the fish swam away strongly, a wonderful sight for all on board.
The fish exceeds the present British Record of 323lb caught back in 1982.
Eighteen anglers fished Appledore Shipbuilders Bass comp at Westward Ho. Fishing was made difficult with large amounts of weed fouling the lines. Despite this four fish were landed with Paul Downing the winner with a bass of 6lb 61/2oz. In runner up spot was Cameron Atkinson with a bass of 5lb 1/2oz. In third place was Steve Ford with a bass of 4lb 14oz.
Joanne Combes keeps a steady stream of carp captures coming my way with some stunning images of captors and their successes.
Phil Bate with one of his catches a 20lb 15oz beauty fishing BQ Wafters in the dam wall on BeattiesInch Morgan with one of his many catches from the summerhouse swim on Beattie’s lake using sticky baits krill boilies here is his 20lb common (just one of his catches )Eddie Scott with just one of his 6 catches from lodge lake peg 14 using shoreline baits protein boilies .
Close to twenty members of Bratton Fleming Cricket club descended upon the normally tranquil waters of Bratton Water Trout Fishery for what will undoubtedly become an annual event. A mixture of experienced fly Fishers and first timers enjoyed the event that was blessed with warm summer sunshine. In the clear water small imitative patterns proved most successful with a gold headed pheasant tail nymph responsible for the demise of several of Bratton Waters hard fighting residents.
On arrival at the fishery I found experienced local trout fisherman and Bratton Water regular Glyn Rees who had enjoyed a good day at the water landing four brown trout to 4lb targetting the fish using dry fly tactics.
Whilst the fishing fraternity cast their offerings to the lakes trout the remaining members of the Cricket club prepared the BBQ and played a primitive form of cricket using bats made from old sticks. Others watched the anglers and helped with the netting of fish.
Most anglers landed their brace of trout despite the warm sunshine that beamed into the water. A pair of Polaroids were a distinct advantage enabling individual fish to be targetted with the two trout I caught both actually seen to take the tiny fly. The fish were a mixture of brown and rainbows with Debbie Tucker landing the biggest brown trout at 3lb 1oz. James Thomas landed a hard fighting of rainbow of 3lb 8oz that was leading the biggest fish of the day when we left the event to join another local event. Rob Scoines fresh back from a trip to Norway chasing big fish adapted to the finesse of trout fishing landing a brace of rainbows each weighing 2lb 9oz.
The Cricket club give special thanks to fishery owner Mike Williams for hosting the event that raised valuable funds for the Cricket Club.
Debbie Tucker with brace of Bratton Trout including a 3lb 1oz brown troutJames Thomas with a 3lb 8oz rainbow
Rob Scoines with his first brace of trout
Hard fighting troutSafely in the net, Sophie Welby nets a rainbow for James Thomas
The waiting net
Success!
Darrin Drew with a brace of rainbowsJames Thomas and myself with part of our catch.
Stephen Found was targetting thick lipped grey mullet in the River Torridge estuary when his bread flake presented on a size 8 hook to 6lb b,s line was seized by a fine specimen bass of 9lb. The fish battled for 25minutes before being successfully landed. Stephen is a member of Bideford Angling Club and lives in Holsworthy.
Over the years I have landed numerous species of fish whilst targetting mullet with bread flake including bass, wrasse, black bream,pollock, garfish and mackerel. The capture of big bass in the estuary is often accidental which raises the question of how many would be caught if anglers actually targetted them.
Sundays Open match on July 24th was fished Tanners and Woodpecker lakes. Both lakes fished hard today especially Tanners lake. Our winner of the day was Phill Harwick Woodpecker peg 34 with 107lb 6oz fishing 8mm pellet on the waggler well done Phill ! Full match results are shown below.
1st Phil Harwick Peg 34 Woodpecker: 107lbs 6oz
2nd Ricky Johnston Peg 16 Woodpecker: 79lbs 2oz
3rd – Paul Tidbal Peg 24 – Woodpeacker 76lb 9oz
4th – Dave Stockton Peg 6 Woodpeacker
Wednesday 27th July
Mid Week Open open on Tanners Lake, Winner was Mark Hayman peg 36 with 115lb 10oz fishing 11mm on the bomb. In in second place was Paul Goulding next door to Mark on peg 35 with 112lb 14oz fishing 8mm on the bomb.
Zyg Gregoreks famous fishing complex is well known as a holiday destination featuring on numerous angling shows over the years with many of the sports celebrity’s endorsing the venue. Many local anglers may overlook the many opportunities that exist for the day ticket angler. Whatever freshwater fish you chase there is a good chance that you can catch it at Angler’s Paradise as can be seen looking back through the news pages of North Devon Angling News.
Bideford & District Angling Clubs mid-week summer league has come to an end all to soon I am sure for those who have enjoyed the weekly fishing on their home water. Competition No10 was won by Matt Clare Cross with 12lb 10oz. In second was David Bailey with 8lb 12oz and in third Martin Turner on 4lb 12oz. Forth Craig Crash Lamey 3lb 4oz and fifth John Dyer…. Matt won the match on peg L with 2 pole caught carp, David Bailey took 2 fish on the lead on banded pellet.
Overall winner of the midweek series was John Lovell 82 pts 2nd Martin Turner 81pts 3rd David Bailey 4th Matt Clare Cross
