Aaron Bunning targeted Upper Tamar lake on the Cornwall and Devon border and caught this lovely mirror at 21lb exactly. Aaron also had a double figure common and both fish fell to Scopex Squid fluro pop ups over 2kgs of 20mm freebies. This continues Aaron’s fine run on the venue…….
I joined South Molton Angling Members on a trip out off Clovelly aboard Shimano sponsored ‘Independent’ Charters skippered by Doug Walls.
We met at Clovelly at 8:00am all keen to head out for another adventure at sea that commenced with the transfer of anglers and gear from the pebbly foreshore to the waiting boat a hundred or so yards offshore.
All on board and Doug gave an outline of the days plan. We would be venturing past Hartland Point to sample the fishing grounds West of Hartland at the Mouth of the Bristol Channel expectations were high for a variety of species. I have fished these grounds in the past and know full well that they can give excellent sport.
The journey to the mark is an integral part of any day at sea and spirits were high as we rounded Hartland Point race where several porpoises were showing in the surging waters. The cliffs from Clovelly round to Morwenstow are wild and for the most part inaccessible those parts that can be accessed carry a rich vein of history including many a shipwreck.
The first stop was to a reef where we drifted for pollock, mackerel or bass. First into action was Mike Good who swung aboard a pleasing pollock of around 4lb.
(below) Mike Good with a 4lb pollock.
After a few drifts and a few more pollock Doug decided to drop anchor and see if we could entice a few tope, bream or huss. Within minutes of the baits hitting the bottom rods were nodding as a succession of bull huss seized our baits.
There were a variety of tactics employed with some choosing big baits for tope or huss and others small baits for bream and other species. Black bream are great sport and good eating and it was great to see one of these come aboard to Ed Rands who was using back lug and squid baits.
After an hour or so the tide eased and sport tailed off. A move to a mark further West was Doug’s choice and we steamed several miles before once again dropping the anchor. Soon after settling Mike Good hooked the best fish of the day a fin perfect black bream of 2lb 8oz.
A couple more bream followed but sadly it was not a good as we had hoped for and bites were few and far between. I always feel for the skipper at times like this for they have put the anglers on good ground but the fish are either not there or not playing the game. As time and tide ebbed away there were a few flurry’s of action with Ed Rands boating the biggest fish of the day a bull huss of 8lb 8oz. The day ended with ten species caught including, bull huss, dogfish, corkwing wrasse, mackerel, scad, pollock, smoothound, pouting, poor cod and black bream.
(Above)
I hope to return to waters off Clovelly next year with the South Molton anglers and enjoy a day afloat with Independent Charters. Doug kept us supplied with tea and coffee all day and did his best to put us on the fish.
Tarka Swims
1st Martin Turner 43lb 2oz
2nd John Lisle 13lb 8oz
3rd Steve Bailey 11lb 8oz
4th Ian Sedgewick 10lb 15oz
4th Keith Copland 8lb 1oz
5th Ian Owen 6lb 11oz
12 fished . Another weekend of scorching temperatures saw some good sport , Martin Turner landed 17lb of bream and 4 carp for a winning total on favoured peg I , he caught on pellet waggler and long pole shallow with maggot. John had a good bream and a carp on peg Q for second , club secretary Steve landed a nice net of small bream and one carp off peg S for third , fourth spot was filled by Ian who lost several carp but landed 2 on bread from peg X. Keith’s all bream net won the silvers pot.The halftime icecreams from Reg Sutton 
were most welcome ! Due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ the evening match on Wednesday will be postponed and re fished on the evening of the 1st August.
Melbury Reservoir results – 24/06/18
Winner on the day was Normam “paul” Martin who caught skimmers (mainly) and roach on the tip, placing 29lb 2oz on the scales.
2nd was Kevin Wilton who had 17lb 12oz on the pole.
3rd overall was Dean Vickery with 16lb 9oz on the pole.
Zyggy Gregorek posted this news today as he prepares to head off once again on globe trotting exploits in search of big fish.
“My first 20lb 2oz Mirror Carp this year, caught at our 5’C’S Syndicate match on the Main Lake on the 1st July trying out my new T Shirt which I’m taking to Cape Verde and it’s now been christened with my 1st 20 this year. This T shirt is definitely lucky so all the Sharks, Tuna and Marlin beware in a week’s time. Zyggy will be after you with my new Tshirt which I had specially printed”.
Frank Connolly and his son Kieren Connollyfrom Essex Lodge lake on swims 5 & 6 on the dam wall. They banked twenty carp between them all caught on DSTR baits.
Stef Jones and Matt Druce enjoyed some fine sport over the weekend in Bideford Bay and beyond landing tope to 35lb and spurdog to 16lb 2oz along with bull huss.
Smoothound are still providing some rod bending action along the coast. Paul Hutchings landed six including two over 10lb in a short after work session this week.
I joined members of Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club at Exe Valley Fishery on Sunday June 10th and with a sunny day in prospect I wondered how hard the fishing would be as blue skies and sunshine are not always an ideal recipe for good sport. It was great to arrive and meet up with Nick Hart who manages the fishery with his wife Sue. Nick and I always have plenty to discuss and it was a while since we had last met and there was plenty to catch up on especially with NIck now working away in a prestigious role with Farlow’s in London.
Exe Valley has introduced an enlightened day ticket strategy that incorporates catch and release with catch and kill offering a wide range of options at different prices. The club members elected to purchase a three fish ticket that entitled the angler to retain three trout and then continue fishing releasing the next three trout. Catch and release fishing is strictly barb-less hooks, rubber meshed nets and fish to be returned as soon as possible with minimal handling.
After chatting with Nick almost half an hour of the competition had already passed by before I strolled out to the lake that looked stunning on this hazy summers day. Several members had already caught their three fish quota and were enjoying a chat and a drink from their flasks.
With trout rising freely all around I decided on using a light weight outfit presenting a small Cul de canard dry fly pattern on a 4lb tippet.
Casting to individual rising fish it was not long before I enjoyed the satisfaction of connection as a trout leisurely devoured the dry fly in that delightful moment of deception savored by trout anglers over many decades.
A few yards along the bank fellow club member Nigel Bird was also enjoying dry fly action practicing catch and release after completing his three fish quota.
Two more trout succumbed to my dry fly in quick succession and gave spirited tussles on the light tackle I was employing. Casting a dry fly to individual feeding fish was great fun and very rewarding fishing. The last of my three fish on catch and release proved to be my best trout of the day and I estimated it at just over three pounds a fish that made my reel sing as it tested my light weight outfit.
With my fishing over for the day it was time to take a stroll around the lake with my camera and capture a few images of this delightful fishery.
Vivid flag Iris brought a pleasing splash of yellow whilst brightly coloured damsel flies flitted amorously amongst the lakeside reeds and lush plants.
By early afternoon all members had caught their allocation of three trout and it was time to weigh in. Winner by a very large margin was Dave Richards with a three fish bag of 18lb 4oz that included a fine brace of rainbows caught within his first few casts weighing 8lb 8oz and 7lb 8oz.
Runner up was Dave Mock with 8lb and third Colin Combe with 6lb 12oz.
