Blakewell Fishery continues its fine winter form for rainbow trout with Michael Featherstone travelling from Axeminster to land a fine brace weighing 10lb 4oz and 9lb 4oz.
BLAKEWELL WINTER TROUT
Blakewell Fishery hold their popular Christmas Competition on Sunday December 4th and there should be plenty of quality trout caught if previous competitions are anything to go by. This 6lb rainbow was part of a four fish bag weighing 14lb to the rod of Rodney Daniel. It will be interesting to see the total winning weight at the Christmas Competition. One big double can make all the difference!
Full report on the competition to follow Sunday or Monday night!
BLAKEWELL DOUBLE FIGURE RAINBOWS
Small still water trout fishery’s like Blakewell are perfect venues at this time of year as both brown and rainbow trout thrive in the lower water temperatures. They also provide the ideal antidote to the absence of salmon fishing on the rivers giving the opportunity to take a rod to the waters edge and feel that exciting life at the lines end. Fishing is seldom difficult with a damsel nymph/ lure fished on a long leader in conjunction with a floating line likely to work on most days. Several double figure trout have succumbed to anglers offerings over recent days and weeks.
(Above) Peter Bridges 11lb rainbow’ part of a bag totalling 24lb 4oz
(Above) Phil Colwill from Bude with a 15lb rainbow trout, part of a 25lb bag.
(Above) Kyle Bishop with a fine rainbow of 11lb 2oz.
A FINE BLAKEWELL DOUBLE
Tom Gingell from Clayhanger had a great trip to Blakewell Fishery landing this fine 13lb Rainbow and pleasing a brace of 4lb+ Brownies!
BLAKEWELL IN FINE FORM
Blakewell Fishery has produced some superb trout over the past few days with clear water and cooler temperatures fishing has been very rewarding. Kevin Keast travelled from Plymouth and was rewarded with a fine rainbow of 11lb 13oz.
John Harris also enjoyed great sport landing a brace of brown trout each weighing 3lb 8oz.
BLAKEWELL IN TOP AUTUMN FORM
Cooler water suits the trout far better than the warmth of summer making fishing at still waters such as Blakewell a joy. A real tonic for the salmon or sea trout angler whose fishing is now but a memory until next spring.
Ian Patch travelled from Weston- Super- Mare to fish at Blakewell and his journey was well worth the effort. Ian ended his day with a four fish bag including fish of 13lb 2oz, 4lb 10oz, 4lb 10oz and 4lb 2oz.
Richard Banks from Ilfracombe landed a fine rainbow of 13lb 2oz in a bag that totalled 26lb.
BLAKEWELL NEWSLETTER
The latest Newsletter from Blakewell Fishery
Well Summer has passed and we’re starting to get an autumn flavour with the leaves turning that lovely golden colour. The start of Autumn has seen the weather remain reasonably mild and settled which is producing perfect fishing conditions at our refurbished lake. Consequently, we are pleased we took the decision to drain the lake in August to undertake some extensive maintenance. The lake is now looking fabulous, completely weed free and fishing very well with a settled and comfortable water temperature of around 12 degrees. The trout have been in the top few inches for the first part of September and as you would expect they are happily taking Daddy’s off the surface especially when there has been a ripple. When it has been very bright, anglers have also been having good success in the top couple of feet with either a drowned daddy or gold head version.That time of the year when the trout like to take the daddy long legs off the surface! Apparently we are in for a bumper year for Daddy’s so best come to the tackle room and stock up as they’re already favourites with the Blakewell fish!
Don’t ignore the margins, some serious Rainbows have been seen cruising just a few feet from the bank! They’ve likely learnt that there are good pickings to be had close in where the water is much shallower and the fry can hide!
Jerry pictured above had seen some big fish cruising the margins and adopted a stalking approach to his fishing, very successful he was too! Fishing a 9wt Shakespere rod with a 6.4 lbs fluro Carbon Tippett he induced takes from two double figure rainbows just a foot out from the bank. The brace of rainbows weighed in at 18lb 2oz and 16lb 10oz, his fly was a gold head damsel with lure flash in the tail. Apparently a fly he swears by when stalking.
BLAKEWELL DOUBLES ON RE-OPENING
Anglers have enjoyed some great sport at the recently re-opened Blakewell Fishery.
A nice brace of trout! Not one but two doubles for Jerry Smith, I think that constitutes a good day’s fishing, with rainbows of 18lb 2oz & 16lb 10oz! (Below)
Jim & Debbie Barnes, best fish 5lb 4oz, caught on damsels and bloodworm patterns, although we’re into autumn small flies are still doing the damage the 5lber took a size 16 bloodworm pattern! Other anglers found black buzzers and black and peacock spiders to size 12 were working best… (Below)
BLAKEWELL RE-OPENS ON A GLORIOUS AUTUMN DAY
I called into Blakewell Fishery on the way home from Barnstaple just in time to meet Roger Ackriod weighing in a four fish bag of quality trout to 4lb 2oz tempted on blood-worm imitation.
Roger Ackriod
The fishery re-opened today September 10th after extensive weed clearing work on the lake that has certainly paid dividends with the water now crystal clear and the bank-side vegetation still lush and green. After a cup of tea and coffee Pauline and I took a walk around the lake to capture a few images on re-opening day. The early autumn sunshine shone into the clear water giving glimpses of several fine trout that I feel sure would have seized a well presented nymph. John Nickel informed me that several double figure rainbow trout have been stocked along with some pristine brown trout. The next few weeks will see some fine trout landed by visitors to this fine still-water with small imitative patterns most likely to succeed.
BLAKEWELL RE-OPENS
Blakewell’s Fly fishing Lake will re-open on Saturday 10th September ’16
Blakewell thank all customers for thier patience during the past couple of weeks,saying “time to dig out your gear, grease up your line and get down here to bag yourself some hard fighting trout!”
As autumn descends and temperatures drop these small still water trout fisheries come into their own providing the opportunity for great sport and a means of keeping in practice when the rivers close for salmon and sea trout fishing.
Blakewell in winter
