Ashley Bunning has been hauling in some superb carp at Melbury reservoir recently with seven carp to 26lb 2oz. All fish fell to a snowman with Burton Bait Rollers new test bait with a Scopex pop up. Ashley put about 30 freebies on each spot of the new test bait and ‘Magnet’. And also used Lakebed Leads 4oz distance leads. Ultima XR 14lb main line with Entity hook lengths.
Ben Smeeth Set me this picture of a stunning Upper Tamar Carp.
Oli Dietrich landed this cracking 26lb common from Upper Tamar last week. its not a fish we recognize which just goes to show there is plenty of unknown secrets lurking in Tamar!
General:
Although water temperatures dropped slightly (to around 18 ºc) in August, the reservoir fishing across the region proved challenging, particularly with Rainbows. Generally bag numbers and the size of fish caught were down on previous months, with Brown Trout, particularly in the evenings, providing the best sport. The Trout, particularly Rainbows, have been lethargic and not keen to feed, preferring to retire to the cooler, deeper waters of the fisheries. Water levels continue to drop, exposing fresh areas of bank.
Fishing:
Kennick – The Top End, Narrows and Boat Bay proved to be the most productive areas for both boat and bank anglers, with the best sport to be had in the mornings and evenings. The most popular fly patterns included Damsel Nymphs, Diawl Bachs and teams of Buzzers fished at varying depths, with deeper fish taking Boobies and Tadpoles. The occasional fish would rise to small midges and Black Gnats, particularly in the evenings. The best fish caught included a 3lb 12oz Rainbow, caught by Mr R Goss from Exeter, using a Booby and a 3lb 9oz Rainbow, caught by Phil Bryant from Ermington, using a Cruncher. Barry Ware from North Tawton caught a bag of 11 fish whilst fishing from the bank early in the month. The majority of fish stocked and caught during August were Brown Trout.
Siblyback – The majority of catches during August were taken either from Stocky Bay or Two Meadows, with late afternoons and evenings the best time to fish. Although few fish were feeding from the surface, the occasional fish could be tempted to rise to Hopper patterns, sub-surface Montanas and teams of Buzzers as well as deeper-fished weighted dark patterns (Black Tadpoles and Gold-head Nomads in particular) which proved to be the most successful method.
Burrator – The banks at Longstone Peninsula and the South Bank produced the best fishing over the month, with Bobs Bits, Buzzer Emergers and Black Gants all taking rising fish. The majority of fish, however, have again been caught on sub-surface nymphs (Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, Black Crunchers and Black and Peacock Spiders) fished on either sink-tip or intermediate lines, with more fish now being taken on dark lures (Boobies and Tadpoles) fished on sinking lines. Local angler Alan Lawson caught the best fish of the month, a 3lb 3oz Rainbow caught on a drowned Black Gnat.
Stithians – The presence of midges and beetles over the water meant that fish continued to look to the surface for food, with a variety of dry patterns, including Sedges, Hawthorns, various emergers patterns, Muddlers, F-Flies and Black and Peacock Spiders fished in the surface film, all producing results. The majority of fish, however, were taken on nymphs and wet patterns, particularly teams of Buzzers, Caddis pupa, Pheasant Tail Nymphs and Hares Ears. Fish were well spread out over the fishery, with the best locations including Pipe Bay, Sluice, Goonlaze Bank, Pub Bay, Carmenellis Bank and Yellowort Bay. Mr R Lambourne from Lanner caught a number of Rainbows of around 2lb using a dry Deerhair Sedge and Claret Emergers.
Roadford – With fish rising in the mornings and evenings, small dry patterns (Black Gnats and Black Spiders in the surface film) have been fishing well, particularly off the banks (Daveys and Gaddacombe). There are also large numbers of damsel and dragonfly nymphs present and Roadford’s Brown Trout are feasting on these. Damsel and large olive nymphs are producing good results. Boat anglers are enjoying success, either fishing nymphs into the banks or pulling muddlers and lures over the boils.
Colliford – Large Browns are chasing shoals of sticklebacks in the shallows near the dam – pulled lures and muddlers should produce some exciting sport.
Wistlandpound – Anglers averaged just under two fish per rod, with the best fishing in the deeper water by the dam and from the jetty, generally with small nymph patterns.
Chris Hall (August 2017)
Many thanks to Martin Turner’s weekly updates on North Devon Match Group and Bideford Angling Club Matches
1st Paul Elworthy 19lb 10oz
2nd Neilsen Jeffery 16lb 11oz
3rd Martin Turner 15lb 1oz
4th Andy Gray 13lb 6oz
5th John Lacey 13lb 1oz .
Paul drew a peg on the far bank and made the most of the deeper water with pole and corn for a winning bag of skimmers, Neilsen drew the end peg and fished worms on a small feeder for 2nd, Martins net was made up of roach and rudd.
Note Summerlands Tackle sell permits for South West Lakes Trust Fisheries.
SMASHING UPPER TAMAR……….Upper Tamar regular Aaron Bunning has been in great form landing 27 fish in just 4 nights!! Aaron has landed 8 mirrors and 19 commons with the largest fish being a 23lb mirror which was stocked only a few days before he caught it! The fish has been named ‘Single scale’. The biggest common was 16lbs but only five fish were under 10lbs. Aaron also caught a 19.09 mirror which he has had three times in two weeks and amazingly the same fish he caught 8 years ago at low double figures!! All the fish have been caught on premier baits matrix bottom baits with matching freebies. Awesome stuff Aaron!
19lb 9oz
15lb 2oz
Matt Ling did a quick session at Jennetts for 4 hours on the point and after losing a fish and blanking in the previous two sessions he decided to give it another go before his holiday finished and was rewarded with 2 fish in the short session. The largest was a 22lb 6oz common the other being a 11lb 4oz common both caught on multi rigs cast to the reeds on 12mm pop ups with a small scattering of freebies.
Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club held their Berry Shield Summer Competition for the single best trout a cool North West Breeze kept the fish down. I won the event with a 12oz brown one of three I tempted using a team of wet flies fished with a floating line. All three were tempted with a Montana nymph on the point. I also landed numerous golden rudd. Colin Combe was runner up with a brown trout of 10oz.
John Deprieelle had a cracking session on day ticket venue Jennetts reservoir in Bideford, Devon yesterday. John set his stall out for fishing Zig rigs and off the surface and managed 4 carp topped by a 24.08 Common which took a surface bait right at the end of the day.
South West Lakes Trout Fisheries Report (July 2017)
General:
Temperatures have remained high throughout the month and, with bright sunshine and water at around 20 ºc, the Trout, particularly Rainbows, have been lethargic and not keen to feed, preferring to retire to the cooler deeper waters of the fisheries. Water levels have now started to drop, exposing fresh areas of bank.
Fishing:
Kennick – The warm conditions meant that fishing proved challenging during the main parts of the day, with best results to be had early in the morning or in the evenings, with the Top End and the Narrows producing the best fishing for boat and bank anglers alike. Fish were still happy to feed near the surface, with Hoppers and dry Buzzer Emergers producing reasonable results, although sub-surface nymphs, particularly Damsel Nymphs and Diawl Bachs or teams of Buzzers, fished on an intermediate or sink-tip line caught the most fish, with the occasional Trout taking a deeper-fished Tadpole. The best fish caught in the month was a 4lb 8oz Rainbow, caught by Mr A. Dunstone from Plymouth, using a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear nymph fished from the bank at the Top End, as part of a full bag. During the hot weather the lake will now be stocked with Brown Trout.
Siblyback – Late afternoons and evenings produced the best fishing at Siblyback, when fish could be taken on Daddylonglegs and Dark Hoppers from the surface, or more successfully on a selection of sub-surface nymphs (Diawl Bachs, Buzzers and Montanas) fished on floating and intermediate lines. The best fish of the month was a 3lb 3oz Rainbow, caught by Dave Johns from Holsworthy.
Burrator – The banks at Longstone Peninsula and along to Sheepstor Dam have produced the best fishing over the month, with Hoppers, Hawthorns and Black Gants all taking rising fish. The majority of fish, however, have again been caught on sub-surface nymphs (Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, sunk Bibios and Kate Mclarens) fished on either floating or intermediate lines, while the occasional deeper fish have taken pulled Vivas and dark Cats Whiskers.
During the summer holiday period there is a special offer of a £5 reduction in ticket and boat prices – see the South West Lakes Trust website or contact the fishery for more details.
Stithians – In spite of the high temperatures, anglers averaged just under 2 fish per rod during the month. The most productive locations included Yellowort Bay, Chapel Bay, Pub Bay and Pipe Bay. With a lot of midges and brown beetles blown onto the water, fish are still looking up to feed and dry patterns have fished particularly well – in particular Beetles, Black Hoppers, Hawthorns, Bobs Bits and dark dry sedge patterns. A selection of small sub-surface nymphs have also produced some good results, particularly Hares ears, Buzzers, Diawl Bachs and Pheasant Tail Nymphs, when fished on sink-tip lines. The best fish caught during the month was a 3lb Brown Trout, caught by Mr R.Keast from Penryn, using a Gold-ribbed Hares Ear at Yellowort Bay.
Drift –Rods averaged 3.5 fish per angler, which included a number of full bags of both Rainbows and Brown Trout. Bank anglers achieved the best results fishing from Badger Sett Bank and the North Bank, while boats and float-tubes caught well off the woods and by the dam. Subsurface patterns fished on a floating line caught the most fish, with Diawl Bachs, Black Crunchers and small black nymphs, all producing good results, either singly or fished in teams.
Roadford – In spite of the hot weather, the Brownies at Roadford have continued to look to the surface to feed, particularly off the banks (Daveys and Gaddacombe), where fish have been taking a selection of small nymphs, wets (fished on sink-tip lines) and dry patterns (including Daddies and Beetles). Boat anglers have also enjoyed success while fishing into the banks and over the boils – Andy Birkett from Plymouth caught the best fish of the month, a stunning 5lb 8oz Brown (as part of a bag of 16 fish), while fishing a Soldier Palmer under the bubbles.
Fernworthy – Anglers have had a tremendous month at this picturesque Brown Trout water, averaging over 6.5 fish per rod. The annual arrival of the swarms of beetle have meant that the fish have been looking up to feed, resulting in excellent dry fly sport, with foam beetle patterns, Dry Bibios, Sedges and Spiders producing outstanding sport, with a few sub-surface feeders taking Hares Ears, Montanas and Damsel Nymphs. Fish have been feeding well throughout the day, with most fish caught by the permit hut and from the Lawns. The best fish caught during the month was a grown-on Brown Trout of 2lb 1oz using a Bracken Beetle, while Paul Ackland from Plympton caught and returned 32 fish using a Black Ethafoam Beetle – in his words, a ‘red letter’ day!
Colliford – The fishing has at last started to pick up at Colliford, with local angler Dean Boucher losing a fish estimated at over 5lb at the net, as a final run pulled the hook.