Ben Pearman fished a 48-hour session at Slade Reservoir and tempted three carp to mid doubles using good old traditional bait sweetcorn.
Slade has produced several twenty pound plus carp this summer and offers discerning anglers a change from the more popular commercial waters.
It is hoped that the present rain will bring the very low River Torridge up and encourage a few more salmon and sea trout into the river. I fished the river today ( Saturday August 20th) and found three salmon lying up in a deep pool. I carefully covered the fish using a small stoats tail pattern with no interest shown. I hen changed to a bead headed long tailed black pattern and fished it as if casting a nymph to a trout. On the second cast a salmon turned and seized the offering twisting and turning for a few moments before the hook hold gave way. Whilst I had blanked it was good to hook my first salmon of the season. Its always a joy to be at the rivers edge to see a salmon and glimpse a kingfisher is reward enough.
Dr Jonathon Compson landing eleven sea trout in two late evening sessions. Martin Weeks has also enjoyed success landing several sea trout averaging 1lb to 2lb and a couple of grilse in the 3lb to 4lb range fishing at night for sea trout. Last weekend saw a small spate hit the rivers that should encourage a few more fish into the rivers.
Below is the latest newsletter from the River Torridge Fishery Association an organization well worth joining if you care for the river, its salmon and its health.
NEWSREEL: SUMMER 2016
Fishery Update: two good spates in June and another at the beginning of August have kept the river at a reasonable level. Salmon and sea trout catches have been similar to recent years. There has been a run of grilse (approx 4lb) and these are now well spread throughout the catchment. Interestingly some have been caught by anglers fishing for sea trout after dark. At least two double figure sea trout have been caught and released. The brown trout fishing has been good, but as in recent years most of the fish have been caught with a nymph or wet fly.
The Hatchery: it’s that time of the year again: in early November we will be trapping the broodstock of five hens and six cocks. This winter we are again planning to rear upto 30,000 swim-up fry to stock out into the headwaters next spring. Running the hatchery is an expensive operation and we do need your support if we are going to be able to continue to stock those tributaries that currently demonstrate low juvenile numbers.
Juvenile Surveys: your association has commissioned the West Country Rivers Trust to undertake an extensive juvenile survey programme. Over the next three years. 40 sites will be surveyed. This will give us a far better understanding of which sections of the catchment are failing. The cost to the Association will be in excess of £6,000. Again your support is essential to enable this project to be completed.
The Annual Fundraising Dinner and Draw: will take place at The Half Moon, Sheepwash on Saturday 8th October. Please book direct with The Half Moon: tel: 01409231376.
The Annual Fundraising Raffle: enclosed are four books of five tickets. Please buy or even better sell to your friends. Then return the completed counterfoils/money to Charles Inniss at the above address. There will be the usual excellent prize list. If additional draw books are required or if you are able to donate a prize, please contact either Charles Inniss or Paul Ashworth on 01805804143.
Salmon Season Extension: the salmon season will again be extended by a fortnight until the 14th October. Special permits can be obtained from the Secretary. During the extension period fishing must be with single barbless hooks and all fish must be released.
Salmon Bye-law: a reminder that all salmon over 70cms (approx 7lb) must, after 1st August, be released. The Association encourages the release of all salmon and just as important all sea trout.
The River Torridge Fishery Association
President: Lord Clinton
Chairman: Paul Ashworth
Secretary: Charles Inniss Tel: 01409231237 e-mail: [email protected]
Report from Tony at Furzebray
Clover was banked on August 18th by Damien Beal at a massive weight of 38lb!! This fish is just unbelievable it just keeps growing and at this rate should be pushing 40+ by the spring… The weed here at the mo is not to everyones liking but this is what weed and clear water does to the fish!! never seen her looking so good 🙂 🙂 Well done Damien on a great capture.
Paul Dunn has landed a fine mirror carp of 30lb fishing Stafford Moors Beatties Lake. Mainline cell boilie’s were once again the successful bait.
Brandon Galley fished Beatties Dam wall to land a 19lb Mirror using home made boilies. Brandon’s grandad Warren also enjoyed success as pictured below.
Harry Collins (Below) with 2 of his catches from Beattie’s lake using mainline cell one is a 22lb 10oz & 22lb 5oz.
Dave Forster smashed his personal best at Furzebray Carp lakes with Blackspot yesterday at a stonking 35.10!!! a great weight after spawning.
Tony Kingdom’s latest report from Furzebray tells of some superb specimen carp all in pristine condition as these pictures show
There have been some great fish out of Furzebray over the last few weeks including Dropscale at 34+ for Barny Jackson, Chris Bissett had Angies common and 3 scales both 30+, Lee-roy had a stunning 27+ plated mirror, and Dan coffey had dannys fish at 25+
South Molton Anglers boat trip off Clovelly aboard Independent charters saw members enjoy a variety filled day with several species coming to the boat including tope,mackerel, horse mackerel, bull huss, pollock, bass, black bream, pouting and the inevitable dogfish. Club sea trip co-ordinator Eddie Rand’s declared ‘good weather and good company!’
Josh Vernon with his son Charlie fished Stafford Moor’s Beatties lake using Sticky Baits Krill boilies 16mm purchased from the sites well stocked shop. These are some of the specimen carp they tempted!
Charlie Grant aged 9, from Reading caught his FIRST EVER Catfish of 18lbs 4oz from the Easy Access Lake at Anglers Paradise on Luncheon Meat whilst fishing with his Dad Rich Grant and brother Joe. Zenia Gregorek says “It’s moments like these, that make us love what we do and when you see Families like the Grants enjoying the sport together and making memories like this, is just perfect.Charlie’s face is priceless and has certainly made us all Smile with him. The Passion that boy has for Fishing is just great and we were thrilled to present him as the Winner of Fish Of The Week!!”
Many lifetime anglers start their journey whilst on summer holidays with their families; all credit to such venues as Anglers Paradise for providing such an idyllic starting place.
Ryan Owen (Right) from Manchester came for his annual holiday at Anglers Paradise and on his last day decided to give Nirvana’s Day Ticket the Specimen Cat Lake a try in the hope of a BIG Cat! Literally, Ryan had packed up all his stuff ready to go, when at the last minute his last rod left in the water screamed off! After a 15 Minute Battle, Ryan landed a New personal Best 60lb 4oz Whopper of a Catfish using Krill Boilies on a size 8 barbless hook fishing in deep open water.
Louie Nightingill, aged 13 from Worthing, West Sussex caught an Amazing Personal Best 67lb 10oz Catfish from the Main Carp Lake at Anglers Paradise on Halibut Pellets. The fact that Louie is only 13 and managed to land this beast all by himself and not be pulled in is such an achievement, he even beat his Dad who caught a 52lb Cat during the same session, Louie NEVER expected to catch one bigger, but he did!! Not many 13 Year Olds have a PB Like this beside their name!!