A cracking catch from Jason McEvoy at Upper Tamar.
Jason banked four fish to 20lb 2oz, with this mirror being the pick of the bunch.
All fish caught on a 18mm CC Moore Live system bottom bait.
Upper Tamar Carp
Bideford and District Angling Club Coarse Section Monthly Competition
Bideford and District Angling Club
Coarse section monthly competition
Results:
1st Martin Turner 39lb 7oz
2nd Dave Wood 19lb 5oz
3rd Nathan Underwood 16lb 13oz
4th Paul Elworthy 14lb 12oz
5th Stace N Dazza Polden 13lb 14oz
6th Stve Johnson 10lb 10oz
22 club members fished this, the second round of our year-long series.
Conditions, although dry and bright, were quite chilly in the South south Easterly stiff breeze.
Martin, BDAC. coarse section match secretary, drew the corner peg 13 , and fished a short pole with 6mm bread punch, for victory.
Our new member ,Dave, took second place in his first Bideford match with another short pole catch this time using yellow fuka bait on peg 9.
Mr. Consistent Nathan came in third with a couple of late carp on maggot over groundbait from peg 10.
Tiverton veteran Paul, on peg 17 landed a pole caught net of smaller fish on maggot for a well earned section and 4th spot.
LAKE RECORD CARP 44lb 12oz
Chris Connaughton who works at Quay Sports has banked a carp known as the bullet at a weight of 44lb 12oz from Hacche Moor Fishery near South Molton. The capture of such a fine carp highlights the journey carp fishing has been on over the past 70 years. In 1952 Richard Walker banked a carp weighing 44lb from the legendary Redmire Pool on the Welsh Borders. The carp made headlines and beat the previous record of 26lb caught by Albert Buckley in 1930. Walker’s record stood until 1980 when Chris Yates caught a carp of 51lb 8oz from the same pool. The record has been broken on numerous occasions since 1980 and I like I suspect many others have lost track of the carp record. Today’s carp anglers are very fortunate to have carp dwelling across the country that exceed those old milestones in fishing history. In North Devon there are numerous waters that contain carp of over forty pounds. This is a reflection on fishery owners, fish breeders, anglers’ baits and the potentially changing climate.
In North Devon we have several waters that would rival Redmire’s stock of carp.
New Lake Record
News from Hacche Moor Fishery
“Congratulations to Chris Connaughton on his capture of the “bullet” at a new personal best and lake record of 44.12… Chris has been quietly plugging away this winter and was probably starting to ask himself a few questions, truth be told, as he was yet to have a bite on his winter ticket after several nights angling. This soon changed thou as he opened his account with a lovely fully scaled mirror then the following day he had the bite he was after; the king of the pond at 44.12.. it’s first ever capture during the winter syndicate period too so well done mate.”
Chris is also the owner of Remix bait’s
Can’t believe I’m writing this second fish of my winter campaign on @hacchemoorfishery and I’ve got ‘The Bullet’ which is a new PB and a New lake record caught using ‘Cellnapple’ pop ups. Buzzing!!!
PARADISE CARP CATCH
Sam Passmore with a beautiful, clean 28lb 3oz Mirror from Nirvana’s Day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake.
Sam caught the Mirror using a hinge stiff rig made up of DSD end tackle and finished with a mad baits boosted wicked white cast to a showing fish.The only show in the 3 days of fishing and the only bite he had, and he landed it!
Sam shared – “Another fish from the lake that’s been so good to me and hopefully I’ll be back to finish the business when the time comes!
Rare Bluemouth Caught by Combe Martin SAC member
Combe Martin SAC member Shaun Quartly fished a beach in Somerset targetting ray and was surpised when he reeled in a small red coloured fish that swallowed the hooks down deep. The fish is believed to be a bluemouth a rare visitor to English waters. The fish weighed 6oz and is the first one ever recorded by a club member.
Shaun also landed a spotted ray and a dogfish.
ESTUARY BASS
Lee Mutter fished the Taw estuary offering worm baits purchased at Quay Sports. He was delighted to catch and return a fine bass of close to 6lb.
Bass are present in the estuary throughout the season but are strictly catch and release until March 1st when two bass per day can be retained.
A Rare Devon Grayling
Grayling are scarce in Devon with the River Exe and a few of its tributaries the only stronghold for these ladies of the stream. When I saw that well known South West Angler John Deprieelle had acquired a stretch of fishing on the Exe near Tiverton I was keen to try for the grayling that resided within the fishery.
See below link to video of the fishery produced by John Deprieelle.
Trotting a float down a river seemed the ideal opportunity to catch up with my good friend Martin Turner so on a cold and frosty morning Martin and I both full of cold set off for a stretch of river below Tiverton. Thick mist lay in the river valleys as we travelled to Tiverton stopping off at Wetherspoon’s for full English and a couple of coffees. This was no intensely serious fishing trip just two mates catching up putting the world to rights and hopefully catching a rare Devon grayling.
The fishery consists of around a third of a mile of river much of it difficult to access with steep wooded banks that added a sense of mystery and wildness I had not expected so close to the town. It is always exciting and perhaps slightly daunting to visit a fishery for the first time. John had described a salmon pool in the centre of the stretch that had a deep run that produced grayling on a regular basis.
We scrambled down the bank having located a well-worn fisherman’s path. This was no manicured fishing location but the river and the deep pool looked promising. We fired a few maggots to the head of the pool and set up our trotting tackles. Both of us had elected to use centre pins, mine an ancient Grice and Young Avon Royal Supreme. I paired this with a15ft Dr Redfin roach rod. https://cotswoldrods.co.uk/product/dr-redfin-15ft-float-rod/
I threaded a crimson topped grayling float onto the line, Martin set up with a more streamlined stick float. I waded out onto the rocks at the head of the pool whilst Martin fished from the rocks at the base of the bank. A steady trickle of maggots were introduced and we searched the deep water trotting maggots beneath floats that we struggled to see as the bright sunlight beamed through the trees.
After ten minutes or so my float dipped delightfully and the rod pulsed in my hands. A grayling of perhaps 8oz was guided into the net. Ten minutes later Martin’s float sank and he too enjoyed the plunging of a grayling as it used its large dorsal fin to sail to and FRO in the strong current. The grayling was probably close to a pound and crowned the day a success as we had both caught our target species a rare Devon grayling.
We fished on savouring the delights of trotting a float as dippers flitted past and warm winter sunshine shone into the swirling clear waters of the Exe. From time to time, we managed to tangle our lines as we fished a swim that was really only suitable for one; a good job we are good friends.
We missed a few bites but eventually decided to move on after a couple of hours. We moved to a faster shallower stretch in the Open fields where we could explore a few new swims. I hooked an out of season brownie of around 12oz and lost a reasonable fish hooked at the end of a long trot.
The sun slowly sank beneath the hills and a chill air descended upon the valley. Expectation had drained away and we were both content with our day having caught our target fish. We viewed a spectacular sky decorated in red and golden hues as we headed for home plotting further forays to waters both old and new.
WIMBLEBALL 2023 – Season Underway!
A full English at the George Inn at Brompton Regis with fellow fly fishers was the perfect way to prepare for a day afloat on Wimbleball on February 2nd, day 2 of the 2023 season. We talked of tactics, trout fishers, trout flies and the complexities of modern society before heading to the lake full of expectation.
News from Opening day gave confidence that the fish would be likely to oblige with some anglers catching over twenty trout.
Wimbleball Report – Opening day Report
What a start to our 2023 season… Beautiful start to the day, bit of a shame about the fresh cold westerly breeze, but some fantastic fishing was had with over 30 anglers fishing the opening day, & some great pics from the first couple of days will be posted over the next few days… Tactics included intermediate or sink tip line, small black flies & black & green lures seemed the top takers… Some great returns & some struggled while watching others next to them pulling them in, a few noteworthy catches included James March with 25 fish, Clive Blacker 19 fish, Phil Giles 18 fish, Don Mansell 16 fish, Richard Earnshaw 15 fish, with many others in the 5 to 14 fish bracket, best fish weighed was just over 4lb, many reporting fish in the 3 to 4lb bracket… Happy days & thank you for your support!
I was sharing a boat with Snowbee ambassador Jeff Pearce an option that would allow us to explore a large area of water without having to wade out into the chill waters of late winter. Early season fishing at Wimbleball is often as good or better from the bank providing the shoals of fish can be located.
It was great to be back out on this vast expanse of water nestled within Exmoor’s undulating landscape. Trees towered stark and bare around the lake that was now brim full with water following a wet winter. The last time I had visited the lake was desperately low following the severe drought of 2022 when the reservoir had dropped to around 20% resulting in a premature end to the trout fishing season.
The 2022 drought and heatwave proved extremely challenging for fish farming across the UK and will inevitably create issues for the coming season across the country. Anglers will need to accept moderate increases in permit prices and a shortage of big stock fish. It is to be hoped that 2023 brings a more normal summer with average rainfall.
I opted for an intermediate line with a black woolly bugger on the point and a small black and green nymph on a dropper. This followed advice from my fellow anglers at breakfast who suggested that any fly pattern would work providing it was predominantly black with a touch of green.
After a short unproductive drift into Cowmoor Bay we headed for the shallow end of the lake and dropped anchor in a sheltered bay close to an area of dense withy. Jeff and I started the process of searching the water.
It was reassuring to get into the steady motion of casting and retrieving. The line alighted upon the clear cold water and was allowed to sink for a few moments before commencing a slow figure of eight retrieve. It wasn’t long before the line pulled tight as the satisfying pull of the first trout of the season hit my dropper.
Turbo charged full tailed Wimbleball trout are amongst the hardest fighting fish in the country putting a pleasing curve into angler’s rods and ripping line through chilled fingers.
It was supposed to have been a bright day with sunny intervals but on this occasion Carol Kirkwood’s cheerful predictions on BBC Breakfast had proved over optimistic as a chill westerly wind with grey skies and occasional drizzle persisting throughout the day.
The consistent sport kept our spirits up as we savoured the start of a new season looking forward to the warmer brighter days of spring ahead. We ended the day sharing a catch of fifteen hard fighting rainbows the best estimated as close to 5lb.
I look forward to my return trip when those hard fighting rainbows will thrill again on what is widely recognised as the West Countries top Stillwater trout fishery.
At the end of the day pan fried trout with a sprinkling of Cornish Sea Salt -Lemon Pepper
South West Fly Fair returns to Roadford Lake
South West Fly Fair returns to Roadford Lake
The South West Fly Fair makes a welcome return to Roadford Lake on Sunday 26 February.
The fair is sponsored by Chevron Hackles and hosted by charity South West Lakes at Roadford Lake, between Launceston and Okehampton. The event is a highlight in the Westcountry’s angling calendar ahead of the new fishing season.
Doors open at 10am with a welcome from the fair’s patron and one of the country’s most respected fly-fishing gurus, Charles Jardine, at 10.15am.
Throughout the day there will be fly tying demonstrations from local and national experts, with a chance to ‘have a go’, as well as the opportunity to pick up useful tips and valuable advice.
Other activities include casting demonstrations, fly casting lessons and clinics for both newcomers to the sport and experienced anglers feeling a little rusty after the closed season.
There will be trout cooking demonstrations by Gary Champion and the opportunity to meet members of fly fishing clubs based at lakes across the South West as well as find out more about coaching and tuition available in the region.
Trade stands will be selling new and used tackle and equipment and a bar and refreshments will be available.
The event runs from 10am to 4pm and promises to be a fun and informative family day out with plenty of activities for all ages including arts and crafts.
Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Entry is £6 for adults and free for under 18s. Entry includes car parking and a raffle ticket for an all water permit worth £600. Tickets are available from www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing
For every season ticket purchased on the day South West Lakes will fund a taster session for a new entrant to fly fishing.
For more information please contact South West Lakes on 01566 771930 or email[email protected].
SEA ANGLING ROUND UP
Calmer conditions have resulted in a down turn in sea angling sport with specimen fish hard to find over the past week. Despite this some good fish were recorded by anglers fishing the first week of February a time of year when catches traditionally start to decline. The seasons and the migration of fish in our waters is without doubt under going change with reports of mackerel from Ilfracombe in the past week and the presence of grey mullet throughout the calendar year.
Appledore Shipbuilders
Thirteen Anglers fished the February rover today. It made a change to have nice weather for the rover after the last few competitions.
Although there was an easterly wind!
Kevin Pike was victorious with a fabulous Bull Huss of 11lb 7ozs. James Atkinson was second catching a fine Small Eyed Ray of 7lb 5 1/2ozs and 3rd was Chris Boon with a big Dogfish of 2lb 11 1/2ozs.
Bideford Angling Club -February Rover Results
1st Antony Smith Bull Huss 7lb 9oz 75.625%
2nd Andrew Clements Dog 2lb 3oz 72.916%
Combe Martin Sea Angling Club – Winter Rover 2 Results
Club seceretary Nick Phillips won with a specimen whiting scaling 1lb 10oz. Runner up was Wayne Thomas with dogfish of 2lb 8oz.
Whiting, dogfish, spotted ray and conger were also caught by members who fished marks across North Devon.
