Roger Maher has been getting stuck into some of the new stock in Upper Tamar Lake Roger has landed three of the new fish which were stocked a month ago and they are doing well and looking great. A 19.06 pale looking fish which was stocked at 19.04 and a chunky mirror of 24.04 which was stocked at 22.12. Roger’s third new fish was one of the commons at 23.14 which was stocked at 23.04. Roger topped it all off with an original common golden coloured common of 19.06. Great work Roger!
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.
