Bideford and District Angling Club held their AGM at Bideford Con Club on Friday November 15th, the event was very well attended. The club is North Devon’s largest angling club with a membership of over 500 that includes over fifty Junior members many undoubtedly attracted by the clubs two well maintained fishing lakes. Tarka Swims consists of Georges Lake and Karen’s Lake that between them provide excellent pleasure, match and carp fishing. The lakes manager Steve Bailey resigned from the post after many years of sterling service and was presented with gifts from the club in appreciation. The new lake manager is Mike Jones.
Club Secretary – Mervyn Beal says :- Farewell Steve. At last nights AGM the club said farewell to our outgoing Tarka Swims manager. Over the past 20yrs Steve has been the backbone of our club, his grit determination, hard work and commitment has made Tarka Swims what it is today. On behalf of the committee and club members we would like to say a massive thank you Steve and to Lorraine for giving up so much family time over the years. Hopefully you can now enjoy more family time and get some well earned fishing in. Thank you.
The clubs holds well attended coarse fishing Matchs each month and a summer series of events for Junior anglers. The club also hosts regular sea angling competitions and game fishing events.
Bideford and District Angling Club Match Secretary’s Report 2024
The Senior matches on George’s Lake, Tarka Swims have once again, been very well supported. With an average of 20 members regularly competing.
Our Junior Section has also been extremely well supported with 35 different youngsters enjoying the 3-hour Saturday events held throughout the summer. The 5-match series was won by Ethan Broom on 46 points, close second Lewis Hathaway on 45 points.
The 10 match, Summer Evening Series attracted 22 different anglers, we were blessed with some great weather for the 3-hour contests. Runaway winner was Nathan Underwood on 130 points with Kevin Shears 2nd on 92 points. The 3-hour pairs event was won by Rhys Elyes and Darren Polden with a remarkable total of 96lb 12oz.
Richard’s ‘Rod and Reel Only’ Competitions have been fully attended; organiser Richard Jefferies currently leads the league with 2 matches remaining.
At present, in the monthly Sunday Matches, Craig Lamey has an unassailable lead with Nathan in 2nd place.
Our 2-leg team match against Plymouth resulted in a resounding victory for us 713lb to 219lb. I hope to set up a more challenging contest against Bude Canal anglers.
This club offers a fantastic variation of disciplines; from the game beat on the Torridge to boat trips, shore fishing contests and, of course, the Tarka events. The lakes provide a host of opportunities to get involved; as members we need to be mindful that the membership is diverse and each of us find pleasure and fulfilment in our chosen pastime whether helping with the working parties, camping out overnight after the ‘Big One’ or witnessing the joy of watching the juniors catching their first fish.
Openness and understanding are essential if the club is to prosper; division is not healthy. As a club we must be respectful of members choices.
Regular matches, I believe, provide a very useful indicator as to the condition of the water and its inhabitants. Recorded results provide accurate information and trends can be monitored.
Once again, I must thank those people who have supported events but especially those who have ensured that they run smoothly. Mervyn for his support scrutinising and publishing results. Steve and his team for providing us with a well maintained and safe environment to enjoy our chosen discipline.
Finally, I must comment on the shock of the closure of the institution that was Summerland’s Tackle; we wish the family well and thank them for all their support over many years.
Martin Turner stands for another term as club match secretary.
Bideford and District Angling Club held their presentation night at Bideford Conservative Club Friday February 23rd with close to forty members attending. I was privileged to join in presenting several awards along with Simon McCarthy from Summerlands Tackle. The evening was very enjoyable and a very positive vibe was apparent as members cheered the winners and added the occasional good natured banter to proceedings. It was very encouraging to hear of a very healthy number of Junior anglers taking part during the summer Coarse series. Many thanks to Adam Wheeler for taking some excellent pictures of the evening.
Bideford’s Triumphant Coarse Fishing Team who beat Plymouth in their annual inter-club Match
Season 2023 / 24
Matchmans Cup
Nathan Underwood
126 points
Runner-up
Kevin Shears
115 points.
Junior winner
Brodie Allin
57 points
Junior runner-up
Ted Blight
48 points
Evening series
Winner
Nathan Underwood
119 points
Evening Runner-up
Richard Jefferies
107 points
Pairs trophy winners
Roger Ackroyd
Craig Lamey
Top weight in competition
Darren Polden 71lbs
Stephen Found 55 pts
Valentine bowl – most points in the monthly Rover.
Nathan Clements Gilthead bream 8lb 2 1/4 203.515%
Stephanie Vanstone– Best specimen caught from the shore.
Stephen Found Thornback Ray 13lb 10 151.388%
Jason Talbot Memorial plate – Best specimen ray caught from the shore.
Tony Gussin Conger 14lb 5 71.562%
Snake plate – best specimen Conger caught from the shore.
Nathan Clements Gilthead bream 8lb 2 1/4oz
Best round fish from the shore
Stephen Found Flounder 2lb 4oz 112.5%
Best specimen flat fish caught from the shore
Stephen Found Smoothhound 14lb 5oz 143.125%
Best specimen shark from the shore.
Nathan Clements Small-eyed Ray 10lb 4oz 1/2 114.236%
Winner of end of season competition
Paul Ackland 4lb 1oz
Big Mike Memorial vase
Stephen Found total of 1160.118%
Species challenge cup
In the game fishing section John Mc Cullam and Terry Dymond dominated the results collecting five awards between them.
B.D.A.C Rod and reel match results at Tarka date 22.10.23 .
Today was the first of a 3 match series, the weather today was some what mixed with some rain and some sunshine at times. Fishing was hard at times, but still some good weights was weighed in. 1st place today went to Keith Copland on peg 9 with a good net of fish for 25lbs 13oz on the feeder, 2nd place went to Richard Jefferies on peg 14 with 23lbs 10oz fishing a pellet waggler, 3rd place was Stephen Paul Sheller on peg 21 with 23lbs 4oz and 4th place went to Martin Turner on peg 16 with 22lbs 9oz.
The next Rod and Reel match will be at Tarka on the 26.11.23.
The forecast for wind and heavy rain kept some of our regular youngsters away for this,the third event of the summer series ; however the weather wasn’t as bad as predicted and pegs 7 to 14 offered a degree of shelter.
Some nice catches were made with Brodie’s net of pole caught carp top wieght on the day,
Second place went to Lewis on peg 7, sweetcorn on the pole tactics.
Another very close match was enjoyed by most , the weather was mild and dry until the last hour.
The ropes off , ensured that a variety of techniques were able to be used , despite this the pole has dominated.
Last year’s winner Nathan moved into first position in the league with a convincing victory on peg 9, pole fished bread in the margins has accounted for a fine net of carp. Dave has fished similarly for second spot on peg 13.
Committee member Keith has fished with soft pellet on the long pole in open water on peg 6 for third and a section win.
Kevin’s fourth position was mainly silver fish on maggot off peg 10.
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.
This evening’s 3hour event was won by Kevin on peg 2 in the shallower end , his mixed bag was taken on caster and maggot on the pole, Martin’s second place net off peg 19 was made up of mainly bream and tench.
Stephen fished on peg 4 with soft pellet for 3rd. Nathan’s joint 4th with Les insurers he retains pole position in the league with 2 matches remaining.
20 fished . Tarka has again produced a fantastic match, dominated by in form Kevin who again drew peg 19 . His worm and groundbait approach on the short pole proved perfect. Nathan , despite lossing several carp, finished second using similar tactics on peg 16. Colin on peg 1 ended up third with a mainly carp net from the shallower peg. The drop in temperature and brisk westerly did little to stop fish from feeding , our next match is ,as always , the second Sunday of the month.
