(Above) Nigel Bassett) banked 3 fish up to 28lb on swim 2 ( sunset bay up on lodge lake) Nigel caught on Sticky Baits Krill and Manilla boilies.
(Above) Malcolm Seymour who fished on big fish corner on Beatties lake in a day session had 2 carp to 25lb plus an eel 👍 in a day session all caught on Sticky Baits Krill white wafters and Krill bottom Baits.
(Above) Edward Reilly who fished up on swim 1 on lodge lake this weekend, Ed had a few fish out up to 28lb caught on Sticky Baits Krill 16mm boilies.
(Above) Darran Kerry and Darran Jeffery who had 6 fish out from swim 9 (the angle) on lodge lake this weekend including Darren’s new pb of 23lb.
(Above) Geoff Waring and Adrian Carnell who fished up on Albert square swim 15 on a day session and had 3 fish out up to 24lb they caught on Sticky Baits Krill Wafters.
(Above) Nicholas Billett had 3 fish out up to 27lb from swim 6 up on lodge lake.
(Above) New lake record of 34lb 10oz on Beatties lake from Graham Pollard who had 12 fish put in total from the summer hut swim fishing left to the island. Graham caught on C C Moore 15mm Pacific tuna boilies.
(Above) Marc Brownhill who had 8 carp out up to 24lb from swim 14 (beach 1) up on lodge lake all caught on Sticky Baits Krill and C C Moore Pacific tuna boilies.
Dan Cornwall caught a personal best 25lb 4oz Mirror and 24lb Common from the Specimen Carp Lake and won our JRC Fish Of The Week competition. Dan’s story –
“Having waited all year for my holiday at Anglers Paradise, the time had finally arrived! I had booked Julian Chidgey to help me during my trip, and we started on the Koi Lake. We patiently fed the swim, and I was over the moon when my first cast resulted in an 8lb 4oz Koi. I was keen to try for a big carp and Julian suggested the Main Carp Lake, I was really excited as this was only my second ever night fishing session. We looked at various rigs, methods and the Shimano Isolate boilies Julian suggested smelt amazing. We caught two Carp, the biggest was 18lb 8oz only just short of my PB.
Rounding the session off with my first Catfish. One method I really wanted to improve my skills with is surface fishing. Julian suggested trying Fat Boys and through steady feeding we soon had some carp feeding. We used a controller set up, and Julian showed me how to mend the line to allow for the strong wind and tow. We landed two doubles to 13lb 8oz before heading back to the lodge for breakfast.
After this, we went to the Specimen Carp Lake and Julian explained that free lining was really effective here. The carp were very wary but eventually we got a bite, only for the fish to snag me up. Julian was straight in the lake with the net and was soon swimming back with the fish of my dreams a 25lb 4oz dark, scaley Mirror! We then moved to another spot on the Lake and it was a repeat performance as it took ages for the carp to gain confidence. This time a big Common took the bait and again headed straight for the lillies, Julian was on hand to paddle out again and this time my prize was 24lb. Having spent all year trying to get my first 20lb, it was amazing to get two in a day! My trip to Anglers Paradise has been amazing, and I’m already looking forward to coming back next year!”
(Above) Chris Trethewey has been coming to Anglers Paradise for 20 years now and in all those years he’s been trying to catch a 8lb+ Koi but never succeeded…Until THIS year!!! Here he is with his personal best 10lb 8oz beautiful Koi from the Koi Lake.
(Above) Regular to Anglers Paradise David Trethewey had a session on our day ticket Xanadu Lake and caught not 1 but 3 Carp! He had a 19lb 12oz Common, a 18lb 14oz Mirror and a 15lb 6oz Common. David also caught a 27lb 8oz nad 26lb 5oz Mirror from the Specimen Carp Lake, he went home a very happy chappy!
(Above) Here is the charming Billie Jobi, age 4 with myself (Zenia Drury-Gregorek) who caught her first ever Perch from our recent ‘Nash Getting Kids Fishing Days’ at Anglers Eldorado, caught using some lovely wriggly maggots on a whip. She’s now hooked for life!
GIRLS FISH TOO AND DO IT BETTER!!
(Above)Here we have the lovely Eloise Wyatt with some of her stunning Koi catches from the Koi Lake giving her husband a run for his money again!! It really is great seeing so many more females enjoying the sport, here’s to seeing many more!
(Above) Great to see another couple enjoying Fishing together. Emily Wearden is new to Fishing but now she is loving it more than ever along with her partner James. To put the icing on the cake, she caught her 1st ever Catfish at 19lb 2oz from the Easy Access and her partner James also caught his first ever Cat of 19lbs.
James also proposed to Emily during their stay and she said YES!! Congratulations to you both!
Anglers ParadiseNEW KRACKING 30! This Carp clearly loves to munch as has put plenty of weight on in just 2 years and is now another Thirty at 33lbs 14oz from Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake caught by Dom Smith. This particular Fish was caught by Lee Drury 2 years ago as a low double and now it’s 33lbs 14oz!! Well Done Dom and thanks for sharing! Here’s a picture of Dom with the Mirror and Lee with it 2 years ago!
BIG CAT ALERT!
(Above)Scott Brown had a session on Nirvana’s Day Ticket Specimen Cat Lake before starting his week’s holiday with the Family at the Anglers Paradise Complex and caught a personal best 65lb 2oz Catfish using big chunks of luncheon meat
Stafford Moor continues to provide top carp fishing with numerous quality catches with a new lake record one of two fish to top thirty pounds.
(Below) Mark Wheeler banked 19 fish from swim 14 (beach 1) up on lodge lake in a 48 hour session up to 26lb 3oz all caught on TNT streamies , the best session he has ever had was Marks words!
(Below) Adrian Carnell and Geoff Waring who fished up on the dam wall on lodge lake on a day session and had fish up to 28lb caught on Sticky Baits Krill & Manilla boilies.
(Below) Ash Whitehouse who now has our new lake record on Beatties lake of 33lb 12oz !!!! Caught from peg 2 (the triangle ) Beatties lake on C C Moore Pacific tuna & Nash tangerine dream.
(Below) Dave Hadland who was fishing on the beach swim on Beatties lake with friend Dave Morris. They had 26 fish out between them ! Up to 28lb 14oz all caught on pellet and Sticky Baits Krill Walters on Ronnie rigs.
Bideford & District Angling Club Opened their club Lake Tarka Swims back in 2006 and it has been a resounding success for the club attracting a good number of Junior anglers and providing a valuable facility for local disabled anglers. In addition to this it has been the venue for the club’s regular matches that are held monthly throughout the year with popular mid-week evening matches during the summer months.
Tarka Swims Lake – Opened in 2002
On Saturday June 22ndthe club opened a new lake named ‘Karen’s Lake’. Construction of this lake commenced in March 2013 and the six years leading up to its opening have not been without difficulty with a few leaks along the way. The club’s membership have done a sterling job in completing the project with regular working parties and much behind the scenes work to obtain funding and expertise. The venture has been a partnership between Bideford Club and the Environment Agency with funding from rod licence revenue and local businesses. The lake has excellent access for disabled anglers along with toilet facilities.
Steve Bailey, Jude Gubb- Bideford Town Council, Paul Carter E.A, Karen Slade, Pete Skinner
Karen’s Lake has been stocked with around seventy carp over 10lb with the biggest close to twenty pounds. The lakes opening saw a large number of local anglers descend upon the lake with their families. It was a perfect summers day with warm sunshine and a vivid blue sky decorated with white cotton wool clouds drifting on a warm summer breeze.
Gazebo’s, barbecue and cupcakes gave the event a village fete atmosphere. The carp were active swirling in the weeds as some began to spawn amorously as the water warmed. Other carp could be seen cruising in the clear water occasionally slurping down a piece of floating crust.
The first carp officially caught from the lake within fifteen minutes was caught by Matt Cross and pulled the scales close to 17lb. A few minutes later Nathan England hooked a beautiful dark coloured common of 17lb 5oz; in a perfect script his son Jake England hooked a golden mirror carp to allow a father and son portrait. Several other carp were caught including a mirror carp to the rod of Junior angler Tyler Scott and another mirror to Dean Siford.
The carp will undoubtedly wise up quickly and become more of a challenge in the coming years but I am sure the lake will bring many hours of pleasure to local anglers. Both lakes are testament to the hard work of Bideford Angling Club and its supporters. The venues are a wildlife haven with dragonflies, amphibians, grass snakes, bird life and aquatic life abundant.
Jude Gubb, Matt Cross, Steve BaileyFather and Son – Nathan England and Jake England
Dean SifordTyler Scott in actionTyler Scott
Karen’s lake is members only and a very good reason to join this club that charges just £25.00 per year with a one off £20 joining fee. OAP Season is £18.00 . Juniors £3.00 per year.
Day Tickets for Tarka Swims Lake can be obtained from Summerlands Tackle.
Lloyd Kelly Stafford Moor with his friend Mark and fished off the dam wall on Beatties lake they banked 16 fish between them up to 27lb all caught on C C Moore live system And Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.
Amy Maunder and John Kneebone had a cracking 48 hour session on Lower Tamar recently landing 15 fish to just under 20lbs. All caught on Mainline cell boilies. Amy returned again and added another 7 fish in the next trip!
Great picture below with the anglers getting the water to produce a stunning image.
(Below)Rich Powell and Andy fished on the beach swim on Beatties Lake and banked 27 fish in an incredible session. Rich has a new personal best of 32lb 4oz and Andy has a new personal best of 26lb 2oz all caught on Sticky Baits Krill Walters and tuff ones.
(Below)Steve Stutt and brother Craig had 6 fish out from the beach swim on Beatties Lake up to 28lb 12oz by Steve all caught on Mainline essential cell pop ups in between the 2 islands 13.5 wraps.
Gareth Simpson had 5 fish out from the beach swim on Beatties lake this weekend, Gareth caught on Bait works Atlantic heat boilies.
(Below)Lewis Wheeler with Selina, Lloyd, squib & Hettie. They had 9 fish out caught on suid pop ups, Mainline essential cell & outrageous orange goo on swims 3 small island, 4 big fish corner & 5 lord island on Beatties lake.
(Below) Callum Gardiner & Dad & Charlie Bell who had 17 fish out from swim 8 (fraggle rock) on lodge lake all caught on pink pop ups over Sticky Baits Manilla boilies & hemp.
(Below) Adam Barnett and friend Lewis had 7 fish out on swim 14 (beach 1) on lodge lake this weekend all caught on Sticky Baits Manilla & Krill boilies.
Hacche Moor Fishery near South Molton is a recent addition to North Devons’ Day Ticket Carp Fishery portfolio and offers some superb fish in a stunning setting. I visited the lake for the first time this weekend full of optimism after hearing of some superb catches of fish. As is often the case my visit seemed to be ill timed to coincide with a bitterly cold North West Wind that appeared to have put the carp off the feed with only two fish banked by the four anglers fishing the bottom Lake. I failed to connect though I did have a couple of indications that could indicate that my rigs needed fine tuning.
I will return soon and try to make amends! A chat with the fishery manager Andrew Parkinson who runs this superb fishery give me confidence that the lakes will prosper and give North Devon Anglers another fine water with some big carp.
The lakes have matured nicely have well thought out swims all with wood Chip bases. There are also toilet facilities and running water. The lakes are surrounded with an otter fence so anglers are reminded to ensure that they always close the gate!
Landing nets, Unhooking matts and weigh slings are all provided at the fishery to reduce the risk of infection to the valuable stock.
(Below) Mitch Andow and friend Charlie had 40 fish from swim 12 on lodge lake in a 48 hour session this weekend. All fish caught on DNA Baits pb and pink peril pop ups over scattered DNA boilies fishing tight to the margins towards swim 11 again caught in the more shallow water.
Nicholas Billett fished up on Albert square swim 15 on lodge lake this weekend and had 16 fish up to 24lb all caught on Krill pop ups Nick said was it was a bit slow at first then then didn’t stop!!
