Sam Stevens caught his first English forty at Hacche Moor landing the big original leney at its biggest ever weight of 42lb 8oz.
Bideford & District Angling Club – Rod N Reel match Result
B.D.A.C 1st Rod and Reel match results date 23/10/22. 8 anglers fished the first match and all caught fish. The weather was fine with a bit of wind every now and then and the sun was shining from time to time with fishing slow at times. 1st place went to Richard jefferies on peg 12 with 17lbs 11oz he fished a feeder in the margins one of his carp was 10lbs 2oz. 2nd place went to Sheila Found on peg 9 with 14lbs 6oz on the feeder and 3rd place was Colin Gorman on peg 18 with 13lbs 2oz.
Wimbleball – Autumn Sport
Simon Peters boated this fine rainbow from Wimbleball Reservoir. As water temperatures start to drop and rain oxygenates the water prospects are good for the remaining couple of months at Wimbleball. Boat fishing only at present due to the exceptionally low water levels.
SWLT Trout Fishing Report
In spite of recent rainfall, water levels are still low in many of the reservoirs, with many still under 40% capacity. South West Lakes’ brown trout waters (Colliford, Fernworthy, and Roadford) closed for the 2022 season on 15 October. The remaining rainbow waters are due to stay open until 30 November.
Fishing:
Kennick – The fishing has been slow at Kennick this month, with little surface activity, and most fish being taken on a slow-fished sunk or sink-tip line, with the deeper water by the dam, central midwater, Clampitts Bay, and off the East Bank producing the best sport. Various Damsel patterns and lures (Cormorants, and various Boobies) have been responsible for most catches – however there were no particularly large fish or outstanding bags recorded.
Burrator – Rods averaged 2.7 fish per angler over the month, with Longstone, Pig Trough, and North Shore the most productive banks. Fish were still looking to the surface to feed, and Daddies, Claret Hoppers, and Hawthornes all tempted fish, although generally sub-surface nymphs (Damsels, Diawl Bachs, Montanas, and Buzzers) and lures (Orange Tadpoles, Black Goldheads, Orange Blobs, Boobies, and Flash Minnows) accounted for most of the catches. Floating and intermediate lines along with medium retrieves proved to be the most successful tactic. Matt Baines and Andy Cottam (from Plymouth) both caught full bags of five fish up to 2lb 8oz.
Siblyback – Water levels are very low (just getting back to 30% capacity), and the fishing has been hard. Stocky Bay and the deeper water by the dam have produced the best sport, with anglers catching fish on Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, and Bibios using an intermediate line.
Stithians – Water levels are still very low here – at the time of writing only 19% full. Floating lines with Daddies or a selection of wets (Bibios, Soldier Palmers, Damsels, and Dunkelds) were responsible for most catches, with Goonlaze and the deeper water by the dam the most productive banks to fish.
Fernworthy – This brown trout fishery continued to produce good fishing, with anglers averaging over three fish per rod, either on dry sedge patterns or Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Black Pennels, and Bibios. Levels have now started to rise here to 50% capacity, and fish were caught from banks all around the fishery.
Colliford – Weekly catch rates tailed off as the month progressed, from 5.4 fish per rod, to 2.8 fish per angler. A wide variety of patterns caught fish, with dries (Sedges, Beetles, Daddies, and Hoppers) fished on a floating line and long leader, accounting for many; other successful patterns included Soldier Palmers, Buzzers, Black and Peacock Spiders, Bibios, and Mini Muddlers. Fish were well spread out around the banks, with most locations producing fish. Chris Tilyard (from Fradddon) caught six browns in one session, while Myles Gerard (from Tiverton) caught three superb naturalised fish of 1lb each.
Roadford – North Wortha Point and Grinnacombe proved to be the most productive banks, with Bibios, Foam Beetles, Zulus, Hares Ears, and Soldier Palmers fished on a floating lines catching the fish. Alan Judd (from Seaton) caught a bag of five browns to 1lb, taking fish on or just below the surface.
Please see South West Lakes’ website (www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing) for more information on buying tickets (note that permit huts are not open), boat availability and booking, and forthcoming events.
Chris Hall (October 2022)
Summerlands – Promote Life Saving Jackets
NEWS (longer post than normal but please read and share if you can)… Sea safety has been brought right to the forefront this week and I cannot reiterate again how grateful I am that all ended well last weekend. FIRST NEWS Just to remind everyone that we stock two sorts of life jackets instore, both Crewsaver and both the automatic type which we recommend, different sorts all available to order too. Rearming kits are available and Appledore Station will also be holding a lifejacket clinic, date to be confirmed…**Payment plans are available for lifejackets please see below for details. SECOND NEWS As many of you are aware Simon is an Appledore RNLI crew member and Appledore Station will be bringing the boat along side Appledore Quay this weekend from 3.30pm – 5pm so please pop down and have a look around and make a donation if you can. **We are aware that everything is all a bit tight at the moment and payment plans are available instore for lifejackets (subject to eligibility) Please ask for details in store. A donation is also made to Appledore RNLI for each one purchased from us at Summerlands Tackle. Thanks for reading.Take care and tight lines always 
North Devon Quay Sports Angling Club -Match
Match results from Killock Farm Coarse Fishery very hard match with 17 anglers on the bank and the results did show come the weight in.
1st on the day with late run of some quality carp was Stephen Barrell 50lb 12oz
2nd Christoper Morris 24lb 13oz
3rd Ian Croxton 17lb 14oz.
4th Steve Hayman 17lb 8oz.
5th Barry Lee 17lb.
Next match will be held at Simpsons Valley lower fuzzy lake limited pegs available so will post up event in couple weeks time for you to book into. November 13th..
Plus our Xmas Match is changed venues to accommodate our good turn out of numbers from hare pie to Lakeside View which is very good fun Xmas event amd worth attending.
Rescued Angler Launches Crowdfunding for the RNLI
Following on from my previous post Jamie has asked if I could share the below on my website.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lyndse-and-jamie-steward-rnli-ilfracombe?utm_term=mPZrnaDY8 please could you share this on your page and help me raise money for the RNLI ilfracombe as they saved my life on Saturday night the least I can do is raise them some money. I will be walking 100k with my wife in the lakedistrict to help them like they helped me. 🙏 also I want to try and raise awareness on an anglers safety and try and get as many anglers as I can to buy a crew saver life jacket or floatation device. These should become an essential part of our kit. Regards Jamie
Since publishing my initial article on this near miss I have received considerable feedback and believe that the local RNLI will be launching an awareness campaign on safety. I will liaise with them to help promore awareness of the dangers and how to increase survival rates if things go wrong.
Local tackle shops are joining in the general effort to raise awareness.
Quay Sports posted the below guidance
Good morning Folks.
Although here in store we are always keen to remind our customers to be safe out there when fishing, we felt that after recent events out on the coast, it would be a good time to start focusing on the safety aspect of fishing and sea fishing in particular.
So with this in mind we have decided to improve and upgrade our range of lifesavers and equipment to help anglers be safer and therefore enjoy their fishing more. We have already had a delivery of the tried and tested Fladen rescue system and are about to place an order for some quality automatic life jackets (these will be charged at the lowest price possible we can do! It’s not about making money it’s about encouraging people to use them, keep safe and let’s be honest we all love a bargain).
Please feel free contact us about anything related to water safety.
Here’s a reminder of some simple steps that can be taken as a first line of defence before you go fishing .
1. Always tell somebody where you are going and your expected time of return.
2. Check the weather, not just the rain but the wind and very importantly the sea swell.
3. Check the tide times and then check them again.
4. Always have the correct equipment to land your prize fish, either a suitable net or decent Gaff. Long handled versions of nets and gaffs are available and can make things much easier to land fish.
5.
Never go fishing in potentially dangerous areas on your own, a friend could save your life.
6. If you do intend to go fishing on your own, wear a life jacket or rescue suit, and preferably take a waterproof VHF radio and a well charged waterproof headtorch.
7.In extreme cases carry a rescue flare.
8. And probably the most important rule, “watch out for each other, two sets of eyes are better than one, look after each other out there and if your not sure about anything related to tides and marks, ask somebody with experience their advise, we are all always learning in fishing so don’t be a hero ask somebody, we are always happy to help here in store.
Be safe! 
and enjoy your angling.
and enjoy your angling.
Simon McCarthy at Summerlands works on the lifeboat and has been involved in many local rescues and is keen to offer advice to any anglers who vist the shop at Westward Ho!
Jennets Carp
Aaron Bunning: “Had another great day at Jennets reservoir. I managed to get 5 carp with 3 of them 20’s to 26lb. Nash Bait Scopex Squid wafters over a large bed of freebies once again producing the goods”.
Flounder Season off to a Promising start
Nick Braunton sent a short report on the flounder season starting in the Taw Estaury. He enjoyed a recent session catching and returning severl nice flounder to 1lb 6oz. I asked him if crabs were stripping the baits and he informed me that he had no problem with crabs stripping the bait but large numbers of small bass were whittling the baits away. This is perhaps an encouraging sign for the future.
Flounder sport should take off when heavy rain flushes out the estuary and a few sharp frosts deter the crabs.
Minehead – Teddie Boy – Blonde Ray on the Feed
Mid October is a great time to venture out of Minehead with a wide range of opportunities on offer. I had booked onto Teddie Boy Charters with my son James Thomas, Rob Scoines and a friend from my working life Derek Walters. There were three other anglers already booked onto the boat two of whom turned out to be ex Combe Martin SAC members who I had last met up with twenty years or so ago.
Mike Webber is one of the UK’s youngest charter skippers but has accumulated a mass of knowledge beyond his years after crewing with his father Steve of Osprey Charters for many seasons.
The plan was to enjoy some of the mixed general fishing on offer close to Minehead. Ray, huss, conger, smoothound and bass were all on the agenda.
Sailing from Minehead is always very tide dependant and today’s departure was at 11:00am allowing us time to grab a Full English at the local spoons before grabbing bait from Mike’s Speedbait outlet.
We gathered on the Quay just before 11:00am and chatted about the day ahead noting the autumn shades of the trees on the hillside overlooking the harbour. It was good to exchange a few words with Mike’s father Steve who has taken myself and other CMSAC members out to sea on many occasions.
The boat turned West out of the harbour and steamed down channel to a mark off Porlock Weir where Mike predicted huss, conger and the chance of a ray. The first mark proved a little snaggy and we lost a couple of rigs and hauled up numerous small conger.
Mike up anchored and moved the boat a few hundred yards before resetting the anchor. This proved to be cleared ground and we lost no more rigs. The conger were undoubtedly present in good numbers and a succession of hard fighting eels were brought to the boat. Derek hooked into an eel that put a substantial bend into his rod before eventually being brought to the boat. The eel estimated at around 15lb was hauled in for a quick photo. Next drop down Derek was into an even bigger eel that was released boat side.
A couple of decent huss were brought into the boat along with a thornback and a blonde ray. As the tide eased the action slowed and Mike said it was time to head up channel for a blonde ray.
This new mark was clean ground so Mike stated that conger should be less plentiful. Wrong! A succession of small eels seized our baits intended for blonde ray. Mike was however proved correct as the tide eased to low water. Rob Scoines hooked a decent fish that proved to be a lovely looking blonde of around 8lb.
This was followed a few minutes later when I hooked a good fish that put a healthy bend in my rod before eventually being pulled over the rim of the net. I estimated the ray at around 12lb and slipped it quickly back after a photo. A few years ago, I would have been keen to put a number to the fish but these days I seem to have lost that urgent need for gathering statistics.
A few moments later it was Robs turn to do battle and this fish definitely deserved a number and was recorded at 16lb 3oz a specimen rating of 107%. Another blonde of close to double figure was also boated by our fellow boat fishers from Bristol.
As the tide began to flood the bites again eased as the blonde ray appeared to switch off. It was now time to move once again to our final mark of the day half a mile or so off Dunster.
It was now early evening and the sky was painted in wispy pink clouds. We all savoured the magical fading light over fresh brews of tea and coffee. These moments of quiet contemplation and expectation are to some extent what fishing is all about.
A few eels gave strong bites and tussles in the strong tide. A couple of thornback were also added to the days tally along with a hard fighting smoothound for Rob.
