Anglers Paradise is well known for its Coarse Fishing but it also has a trout lake offering Fly-Fishing and lure fishing for a range of species. The option of lure fishing for trout might be advantageous for those who have not mastered the art of Fly- Fishing. In my limited experience in most lakes the fly will out fish the lure most days.
The fishing is catch and release with barbless hooks only.
Trout Lake (Fly fishing or Lure fishing) for various species of Trout and our predator Lake Valhalla (Lure fishing only)for some fun Pike action.
Zenia Gregory and her family enjoyed a couple of hours family time on their trout lake and caught Tiger, Rainbow, Blue and a Brownie Trout. Joe caught a Pike yesterday from Valhalla Lake on a lure.
Day Tickets are £20
To book your session, please call 01409221559 strictly between 9am to 4.30pm.
Anglers Paradise near Halwill Junction is a well known complex of fishing lakes and holiday lodges founded in 1981 by the ever colourful character Zyg Gregorek. Boasting over thirty lakes there are a wide range of options for anglers with tiddlers to specimens of many species. The core value of the venue is family oriented with many families returning year after year to enjoy the friendly atmosphere and excellent fishing.
A fishery like Anglers Paradise requires careful management of stocks and maintenance to each lake. A popular event in the Paradise calendar is the annual netting event that takes place in early November. Each year regular guests, members of the 5 C’s
(Crazy Crafty Cunning Carp Catchers) and staff embark upon the netting of a nominated lake.
I was pleased to attend this years netting and record the event for North Devon Angling News. Each year a different lake is netted the fish removed and kept in stock ponds whilst the lake is de-silted. The fish are sorted and distributed across the venue ensuring that the diverse nature of the fishery is maintained.
This year’s nominated lake was Octopussy last netted over ten years ago. The stock consisted of specimen carp, catfish and numerous silver fish.
I arrived shortly after 9.00am and followed Zenia and her son Zee Jay to find a busy team already at work lakeside hauling nets and floundering about in glorious oodles of thick cold slimy mud. Dark clouds loomed on the horizon as heavy squalls passed frequently to be punctuated by sunny spells that created spectacular rainbows. The leaves glowed in full autumn glory as laughter and banter filled the air.
I was immediately impressed at the smoothness of the operation. The net was drawn in by those on the ropes. The catchers catching the fish and placing them in soft sacks and slings. These were then elevated to the top of the bank by a human conveyor belt and then placed in tanks of water. When the tanks were full of precious cargo they were taken to a series of stock ponds ready for sorting and restocking over the coming weeks.
As I walked from Octopussy to the stock ponds I was thrilled to catch sight of a kingfisher, its vivid electric blue colours a magnificent sight in the autumn sunshine. The complex is undoubtedly an oasis for wildlife within the rolling Devon hills.
It was fascinating to witness the range of fish present in this moderately sized lake. Specimen carp to over twenty pounds, catfish nudging forty pounds and plenty of doubles. There were also huge numbers of golden flanked rudd, the occasional golden tench, tiny fry a few good sized eels and several grass carp.
Zenia chatted enthusiastically about Anglers Paradise, her work with the Angling Trust and her role with tackle giants Shakespeare promoting fishing for families and children. The COVID pandemic has had a positive impact on many aspects of angling with many people discovering the pastime and others rediscovering its joys. The contact with nature and the outdoors is acknowledged as having huge benefits for mental health.
The role of social media was also discussed with both positive and negative aspects considered. An integral part of the modern world it can at times distract from the core aspects of fishing feeding egos with some fishing for likes instead of fish!
Ashley Bunning has been a part of the venue’s fishery team for several years and his passion about the fishing and the future of Anglers Paradise was apparent as we chatted. Ashley is like myself a keen all rounder casting his lines in both fresh and salt-waters across the UK.
As the mornings work drew to a close I asked Ashley if he could gather the forty plus team together for a team photo. Fortunately, the sun broke through as the muddy masses posed together as one big happy team celebrating a job well done.
Minutes later the rain belted down in epic proportions as I walked back to my van to climb out of my waders and waterproofs. I called into the Safari Bar for a chat with Zyg who greeted me warmly before proceeding with recollections of his years at Anglers Paradise and beyond. The walls of the bar are a fascinating testament to a lifetime of fishing and adventure enjoyed by a larger than life character. Photos of famous anglers, celebrity’s, a fine collection of taxidermy and casts of the many fish caught by Zyg along with other treasures collected on his travels around the globe. Anglers Paradise shows what can be achieved with determination, hard work and perhaps a touch of mischief along the way.
The 2021 Netting week raised an impressive £2,763.35 for local charities. The week culminating with a firework display on bonfire night. Chatting with the guests I know that many will be back next year to once again frolic in the mud and wrestle with the fish.
Zenia’s summary of the week below
NETTING WEEK FUNDRAISING SUCCESS 🥳🎉🥳
Well, what can we say – what a fantastic week it has been!!
We are truly blown away with everyone’s generosity and are overwhelmed with how much we raised in a week!! Here is a rundown of what ‘we all’ raised…
Burgers and hotdogs (kindly donated by Warrens’s Butchers in Launceston) – £138
Bingo – Mick & Dawn Whitfield – £405
Nail painting – Cristal – £45
Curry Night – Zyg & Rose/Anglers Paradise – £199
Badges – Di Mepham – £74
Race Night – Paul Beamont, Tackleshop Goblin aka Richard Flynn – £100
Massive Congratulations to Sam Whapshot who caught a personal best 46lb 12oz Mirror known as Parrot beating his previous PB by 23lbs!!!
With little previous experience in carp angling Sam didn’t expect too much action on the notoriously difficult Kracking Carp Lake on the Complex, but he had brother in law Tommy Flower there to guide him.
Sam and Tommy delicately placed their solid bags with minimal disturbance which where filled with K.S.C Pellet with a Banoffee Wafter hookbait.
Well as they say the rest was history….Sam went and totally obliterated his PB of 23lb with this monstrous mirror at 46lb 12oz!
Matt Jacques has smashed his PB by a massive 16lb. Matt banked the lakes biggest resident at a weight of 53lb!
Matt returned to Anglers Paradises Kracking Carp Lake with Joe Drury for their second social of the year.
Joe was rudely awoken by a head torch at 2am with Matt trying to get the message across that he had a fish in the net! On inspection they realised Matt had only gone and landed ‘Silverback’, the lakes largest resident. It’s only the second time it’s been caught this year, and both times falling to the mighty Monster Tiger Nut range by Dynamite Baits!!
Sam Passmore, 27 from Plymouth luck continues with another Kracking fish from Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake! A 36lb 11oz caught on a manilla pop up, fished over a bed of boilies.
Massive congratulations to Sam Passmore 27, from Plymouth who felt he had the fishing gods looking over him when he caught a personal best 44lb 4oz Mirror known as Parrot and a 29lb 13oz Mirror.
Both Carp were caught using 18mm Krill wafters from Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake.
Zenia Gregorek posted this on her social media page.
My buddy “Scar Face” the Catfish! A few pounds bigger than last year making her my new personal best Catfish at 37lbs.
“As always she gave me a great fight and it was great to see her again, I definitely have a special bond with this fish, she’s a precious one to me that’s for sure!!
01409221559 strictly between 9am to 4.30pm.
Sam Passmore, 27 from Plymouth luck continues with another Kracking fish from Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake! A 36lb 11oz caught on a manilla pop up, fished over a bed of boilies.
