15 Mar 2017

Trout Fishing starts on local rivers

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

March 15th sees the start of the trout fishing season on running water and we are fortunate to have miles of wild brown trout fishing here in North Devon. What these trout lack in size they make up for in their beauty and tenacity giving a spirited fight on light tackle. Perhaps the real joy of wild trout fishing is the being beside our rivers as spring unwinds all around with wild flowers and birdsong reverberating through the air.

I could not resist a few casts today and tempted a beautifully marked brown trout with a just a few flicks into the fast flowing river. A small gold headed nymph will generally work well at this time with sparsely tied spider patterns also productive.

14 Mar 2017

Wistlandpound Opening 2017

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Wistlandpound Opens for fishing on March 15th after an initial stocking that was witnessed by Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club Secretary Steve Edmunds :-

Torre Trout put in the stocking yesterday. The initial stocking of 685 brown trout was as follows:

450 trout between 7″ and 10″
140 trout weighing 1lb,
80 weighing 1lb 8oz
15 weighing 2lb.

They put in 2000 last year and only a couple of hundred were shown on catch returns. Even allowing for a few anglers forgetting to put in returns and the cormorants having a few, we should have about 1600 from last year plus 685 this year so about 2300 stocked plus naturals. I also understand that S W Lakes intend putting some more in around June.

Wistlandpound Information – From SWLT

Two stocking of Brown trout. One stocking a few days before the season starts on 15th March and one in early May.
· Season is 15th March to 12th October in line with EA byelaws for brown trout fishing
· Less fish than last year but some larger size
· Majority of fish still 8-10 inch but a good number of fish at 1lb and 1.5lbs with a scattering of 2lb fish.
· The fishery is only in its second season as a Brown trout fishery –the idea is to build stock levels the first couple of seasons and depending on progress and interest in the fishing we would then alter the stocking accordingly moving forwards with larger fish etc. This is still the plan local support is vital to achieve this and continue to move forwards sustainability.

Prices are the same as last season £15.50 for full day, £13.50 for concession day, £5 for children, £195 for season ticket, £160 for concession season.
· Boat price is £10 per day for members
· Volunteers and WFFC members, Dave Bocock and Steve Edmunds will help with permit checking, managing boat bookings and asking dog owners to comply with the regulations (dogs on leads and out of the water)
· New swims have been opened up and will be maintained by new SWLT warden Chris Eyles with assistance from volunteers Dave and Steve
· SWLT are keen for more volunteers to assist with bailiffing / practical sessions – please contact me: [email protected]
· Day Permit agents are the same as before (including Challacombe Post Office, Calvert Trust reception etc)

14 Mar 2017

Great Carp sport at Stafford Moor

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

The mild conditions have really brought the carp on the feed at Stafford Moor where anglers are enjoying success on both Beatties and recently reopened Lodge Lake.

(Above)Jack Lord with his 25lb 3oz catch from Beatties lake on the inlet swim using Mainline Cell boilies.
(Above)Matt Luscombe had a new personal best of 27lb 6oz from the dam wall on Beatties Lake Matt had 2 fish out in 24 hours using good old Mainline Cell boilies.

(Above)Simon Jones who comes fishing here with friend Jon Osman. They fished up on the dam wall on lodge lake at the weekend had 6 fish out up to 22lb using Mainline cell pop ups .

Natasha Harrison with her 11lb catch from the spit on lodge lake using sticky Baits Manila boilies. Natasha had blanked at other fisheries for the last 7 times she has gone fishing so was pleased to just catch even if it wasn’t the biggest she still caught !

Steve Pinn “The BIvvy Tramp” sent me this report from the recently reopened Lodge Lake.

“These are the best of last week’s catches on Lodge lake which has been closed for most of Jan and Feb for maintenance work. We were rewarded as the first on there for some time with 21 fish between myself and ‘The Captain’ Keith Maker. I think Keith had more fish but I was delighted to get a cracking fish for Lodge lake and a pb for that lake at 25Ib 14oz plus the beautiful ‘apple slice’ mirror at 17Ib 4oz – a perfect example of how size doesn’t matter when they are that attractive. I also caught the scaley fish during that wonderful purple dawn. Bivvy Tramp.

6 Mar 2017

News of stocking Barnstaple & District Angling Association ‘s club course pond at Aller Nr. South Molton

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

With the help of Paul Carter from the Environmental Agency B&DAA have added stocks of Tench and Crucian Carp plus further quantities of ‘Silver Fish’ for this coming year. Further extensive tree work and pond access is in the pipe line to enable easier fishing access with close car parking.

The game section’s water at Newbridge will, weather permitting be fishable as soon as we get a drop in water heights. The club also has subsidised ‘private beats’ available to it’s members on a day ticket basis on the Upper Taw, Lower Torridge & the famous Blackpool Beat on the River Exe.

There are still membership vacancies in both Course & Game sections at £35 for the whole season.

For further details please contact John Webber [email protected]. or membership secretary Colin Ashby on 01271 323017.

5 Mar 2017

After dark carp – Stafford Moor

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Night time success at Stafford Moor

Gareth Simpson with his 23lb 14oz catch from the Summerhouse swim on Beattie’s lake using Sticky Baits Manilla pop ups.

26 Feb 2017

Carp on the feed at Stafford Moor

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Beatties has been fishing exceptionally well over the past week as South Westerly Winds blow in. ! Paul Combes put 5 ton of chalk into the lake to break down the silt and adjust the pH levels and since then the lake has been on top form.

Lodge lake is presently closed as improvement work is underway in preparation for the season ahead.

Below are a few carp caught in recent days.

( Below) Callum Darcey who had a new personal Best of 22lb from the summer house swim using Bait Works scent from hell boilies.

(Below)Jack Lord who had out 6 fish in 24 hours from the dam wall on Beattie’s up to 27lb 6oz using Mainline Cell boilies.

( Below)Charlie Elliot and Keith Green had 14 fish out between them up to 23lb 8oz . They were fishing on the beach swim on Beattie’s lake .Charlie was fishing using Sticky Baits krill pop ups and Keith was using fish it Baits coconut cream (carp mafia clothing ) both had a fab session

Beattie’s personal best(Short lived) for Steve Pinn of 23Ib on Dynamite tutti frutti (testing for Jo) balanced with plastic corn. This was the biggest of a 7 fish catch with good mate Keith Maker who had 4 fish including the 22 pounder on a manila wafter bait.

(Below) keith Maker

(Below)Steve and Keith Maker revisited the Moor after their above haul – Steve Pinn Personal Best changed again 24Ib. Steve and Keith Maker had 12 fish to 27Ib 12oz.

21 Feb 2017

A fine chub for Zaines birthday!

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sidebar, Uncategorised, Young At Heart | 0

Zenia Drury-Gregorek sent me this story and superb picture from proud parents who took young Zaine on a fishing adventure to running water in Shropshire.

5LB CHUB MAKES THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT – EVER!

During a holiday away ourselves to Shropshire, we took our eldest 6 year old son Fishing on his 6th Birthday to the River Severn in the hope of a Pike, he had the shock of his life when he struck into a hard fighting Chub and landed a New Personal Best at 5lbs! Zaine caught the Chub on a 5oz Deadbait Rudd too! He said “it was the best birthday present ever”, he’s even beaten his Mummy and Daddy’s Personal Bests!! He is officially hooked and already becoming a fine little angler!

19 Feb 2017

A Message from Bideford Angling Club

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Home, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Pete Skinner of Bideford & District Angling Club contacted me and asked me to stress that despite the closure of the clubhouse. Bideford and District Angling Club is very much still in existence, still running sea, game and coarse competitions and the Tarka swims lakes complex is still open and taking new memberships. All renewals and applications for membership can be made at Anglers Heaven, Market Place, Bideford. By kind consent of Tom Wade. The clubs results are a regular feature here on North Devon Angling News.

13 Feb 2017

ROADFORD FLY FAIR

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

South West Lakes Trust are holding their annual Fly Fair at Roadford Lake on Saturday February 25^th. This popular event is an ideal curtain raiser for the Spring Season with a range of tackle and Fly Tying equipment on display along with casting demonstrations, Kayaking, Float-tubing, cooking and plenty more to interest the angler. Special guests on the day include Charles Jardine, Mike Weaver and Gary Champion.

There is also the opportunity to purchase season tickets for local waters at a discount of 5%.

8 Feb 2017

FINE BAGS AT EXE VALLEY

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

(Above) Biggest trout of day to Danny Ford at 5lb 12oz

Wistlandpound Fly Fishing club enjoyed great sport when they visited Exe Valley Fishery for the second heat of their Winter Challenge series. Dave Mock won the competition with a five fish bag of 19lb that included a 4lb rainbow and a tagged trout that earned Dave a tenner. In runner up spot was Danny Ford with five for 18lb 12oz and third David Eldred with five for 18lb 8oz. The biggest trout was a fine rainbow of 5lb 12oz for Danny Ford. The trout averaged 3lb and battled hard in the cold clear water. Overall winner of the winter challenge after 2 heats was David Eldred with 28lb 9oz. The first heat was held at Blakewell Fishery early in January.