14 Sep 2022

ASHLEY BUNNING – NEW HEAD OF ANGLING AT SOUTH WEST LAKES

by | posted in: Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Fishery Focus, Sidebar | 0

Having met Ashley Bunning while he was working at Anglers Paradise I feel sure he will promote angling across SWLT’s waters following on from the excellent work undertaken by Ben Smeeth in recent years.

Meet Ashley, our new Head of Angling

September 2022 

Hi all, I’m Ashley Bunning, the new Head of Angling at South West Lakes.

I am a keen angler who has fished the South West Lakes reservoirs all my life. I grew up in Holsworthy and when I finished school I moved away from home and studied Fishery Management and Aquaculture to a Bachelor of Science level at Sparsholt College in Winchester.

After completing my course, I worked at various fisheries around the country, then settled at Anglers Paradise in Devon for the last six years.

Over the years I have volunteered for South West Lakes and when the opportunity came about to have a role here as Head of Angling I jumped at the chance! I look forward to pushing fishing forward and improving the experience for anglers on our waters.

 

13 Sep 2022

Paradise Catfish – 58lb

by | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0
Report from Zenia at Anglers Paradise.
Jamie took his Dad Paul Noone to Nirvana’s Specimen Cat Lake to catch his first ever Catfish, and boy did he do that!!!
Paul caught his first ever Catfish at 30lbs, then lost one to a hook pull and then goes and catches a massive 58lber!!!
Anglers Paradise
12 Sep 2022

Quay Sports BLIND PAIRS MATCH AT HORWOOD

by | posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0
BLIND PAIRS MATCH RESULTS.
TODAYS MATCH HELD at Horwood lakes. Awesome venue! 15 anglers lined the banks for this fun match spread across both lakes.
BIG THANK YOU TOO ALL For one minute silence held in respect of HRH Queen Elizabeth
 Top three pairs on the day were Graham Curnow and Barry Lee with 6 points and 61lb 4oz
Second was Kevin Wilton and Kevin Grant with 7 points and 67lb7oz. Third was Norman Martin and Martin Scoynes with 7pts and 55lb14oz.
 It was reported as a  brilliant day with trophies supplied by Quay Sports.  Plenty of friendly banter along the bank and many new faces the club is slowly growing which is absolutely great so if I fancy ago at match fishing please come along all welcome.
12 Sep 2022

Bideford and District Angling Club Coarse Section September monthly competition

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Results:
1st Nathan Underwood  39lb 9oz
2nd John Lisle  38lb
3rd Keith Copland 28lb 11oz
4th Paul Elworhty  28lb 1oz
5th Les Polden  27lb 14oz
6th Colin Cherrington. 26lb 8oz
7th Roger Ackroyd  23lb 10oz
8th Cyril Found  23lb 2oz
22 anglers fished.
The weather held and we enjoyed a mild day with a southerly breeze. The ‘unstoppable’ Nathan has drawn the golden peg 18, and fished his paste on the long pole technique for yet another victory!
John ,on peg 13, fell just short for his second place, another pole and paste carp net.
Keith was best of the rest off peg 11, another carp net this time cage feeder and maggot.
Paul’s trip up from Tiverton produced the best silvers net to pole and maggot on peg 6, and 4th spot.
The league leader ,Craig ,saw his lead reduced to just 2 points, to in form Nathan.
12 Sep 2022

Casting into the ever flowing river

by | posted in: At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

The intricacies of nature

A mild and mellow early Autumn day as I cast a line across the familiar River Torridge. I had fished the beat three days previously and was optimistic that the turbidity would have dropped out but the water was still murkier than I would like. The water level had dropped back and was lower than ideal.

After such a long dry summer surely there was hope that a few salmon had forged up river on the small spate that had preceded my visit?

Hope is vital in fishing of course as in life. When we fail to catch a common phrase quoted is that if we caught fish every trip our hobby would be called catching instead of fishing.

Autumn was undoubtedly hanging in the air as I fished. A few trees were showing signs of the oncoming season and the occasional leaf drifted downriver. Blackberrys, mushrooms and hazelnuts all indications of the transitioning of the season. Grey Squirrels were busy leaping in the branches high above another subtle sign of the season.

The recent passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth has enveloped the nation in a melancholic mood that I have perhaps brought to the river. I cannot help but think that if this was just ten years ago salmon would at least be showing. The decline of salmon is a great concern and I am sure I am not alone in fearing the demise of these iconic fish within a relatively short time.

As always the casting of a fly and drifting it across the current was therapeutic and despite my pessimism I remained hopeful. The continuity of the flowing river is always reassuring and the pull of life from a plump wild brownie was welcomed.

After several difficult years of political turmoil, pandemic, war and the rising cost of living it  is easy to be despondent. Life goes on like the river, a new King takes the reign politics will rumble along as always. England will win the cricket and just maybe things will take a turn for the better.

There are just three weeks left of the season and we can only hope for more rain and a big spate to bring those silver bars into the river. They have been seen leaping in the estuary so that hope of success remains.

10 Sep 2022

South Molton Anglers Off Ilfracombe

by | posted in: At the Waters Edge, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

I joined South Molton Angling Club for a trip out of Ilfracombe aboard Bluefins skippered by John Barbeary. On assembling on the boat we discussed our options for the day. We could head out to Lundy and target tope and pollock or perhaps fish closer to our own coast targeting bass, tope, huss and conger. It was one of the biggest tides of the year and the big tides had coloured the water raising a question mark over the likelihood of good lure fishing for bass,

After a short discussion we decided to fish closer inshore hoping for tope in Woolacombe Bay followed by a session after bass over a reef and then to anchor at various marks for some general bottom fishing.

It was one the club members first boat fishing trips so even a dogfish brought a broad smile to the face of George Belcher-Truss  as he swung it aboard. A few huss followed with Andy Gray and Ed Rands boating huss of close to 10lb.

As the tide eased away we  moved a couple of times and at each mark enjoyed sport with huss and small conger.

A move to fish a reef saw several scad brought to the boat but no bass. The scad were welcome as fresh bait to tempt tope on our next session at anchor.

Stephen Edmunds swings in a string full of scad.

The next mark at anchor saw Richard Power boat a pleasing tope of around 25lb that gave a good account of itself. Several other fish were hooked at this mark but managed to shake the hook free.

As the tide pull increased John suggested a quick drift over a wreck where he had received reports of pollock. This proved to be unproductive.

John was undoubtedly frustrated at the lack of fish in numbers and tried several marks in an attempt to locate feeding fish.A few more huss were tempted over rough ground close to the rugged and spectacular More Point.

John Barbeary ponders another move.

With warm sunshine and a calming sea it was good to be afloat off the spectacular North Devon Coast, a Coast that can at times be challenging with fish hard to find. Fishing is often unpredictable with each season different. I chatted with John about this summers season and John told of a good summer with large numbers of mackerel in June and July bringing back memories of the good old days. The next couple of month offer the chance of good tope, bass and constant good numbers of Bull Huss.

 

 

9 Sep 2022

CMSAC – LURE FISHING COMPETITION UPDATE

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The Combe Martin SAC Lure Fishing Competition is free to all paid up members and is sponsored by High Street Tackle. Wayne Thomas has extended his lead in the competition catching a bass of 74.5cm and another of 68.5cm to give a total of three bass for 212cm. Both fish were tempted after dark using Megabass Spindle Worms.

Results so far :-

1st – Wayne Thomas – three bass – 74.5cm  68.5 cm 69 cm Total  212cm

2nd – Daniel Welch – three bass – 68cm 66cm 61cm  Total 195cm

3rd – Solly Welch – Three bass – 58cm 58cm 57cm Total 173cm

4th – James Corner – two bass 62cm and 60cm Total 122cm

Biggest Bass – Wayne Thomas 74.5cm, 69cm and 68.5cm  Daniel Welch – 68cm

9 Sep 2022

End of season hope – Salmon Forecast

by | posted in: At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

 

Recent rainfall has brought a moderate rise in the River Torridge and a small rise on the River Taw. After months of drought conditions salmon anglers will be hoping for a spell of good fishing as the season enters its final weeks.

I drifted a fly over familiar lies on the River Torridge and whilst I did not tempt a fish in the murky water I feel hopeful that fish will be tempted over the coming days. It was good to be back at the waters edge and glimpse the electric blue of a kingfisher as I cast my line.