Images from the waters edge

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There is far more to fishing than simply catching fish which is just as well. I don’t always want to carry a large camera to the waters edge especially when traveling light with the fly rod or lure rod. Below are few images captured on the Go Pro that often gives a totally different perspective. On a recent holiday to Cornwall I spent several hours casting a team of flies to huge shoals of golden grey mullet. At one point  hundreds of silver flanks could be seen as wave crashed onto the sands giving a window into a watery world. To blank in such surroundings is not too bad.

 

A short session on a shallow rock mark casting into Cornwalls crystal clear water brought some success with this colourful ballan wrasse.
 Back home I visited a local trout stream to enjoy a few hours flicking a dry fly into its clear tumbling waters. The quick splashy rises proved difficult to connect with and only a couple of small spotted beauties stayed on the hook long enough to bring to the hand and admire.
A few hours beside a summer stream is so good. To glimpse a pair kingfishers flit past in a flash of electric blue and to stand in the cool flowing waters a delight.

 

After the first flush of summer we now enter those calm days after the excitement of spring and early. As the days slowly shorten, the trees take on a slightly darker hue, the mewing of young buzzards drifts across the valley, the screeching of swifts are all signs of the passing year. As an angler it is an exciting time for there is so much to look forward to casting in many waters.

Cofton Cup Fishing Competition

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I was sent this from Cofton Holidays a venue near Dawlish whilst not North Devon it might be of interest to some of the areas anglers.

 

63lb net wins top spot in the prestigious

South Devon’s highly regarded coarse fishing destination, Cofton Holidays, has crowned Andy Everill as winner of its spring Cofton Cup Fishing competition.

A keen fisherman, this is Andy’s third title at Cofton having previously won Cofton Cup II and Cofton Cup V. The multi award-winning holiday park, hosted the sixth competition on its Mamhead Match Lake over five days of intensive fishing. The field was narrowed down from 36 anglers in the opening rounds to 14 in the final, with the remainder battling it out for the Plate competition.

Competing against 14 experienced anglers, Andy Everill scooped the Cofton Cup and £500 in the final with a total of 63.02lb from Peg 25. Andy also walked away with the prize for the heaviest fish of the week; during his qualifying heat on day three, Andy landed a carp weighing in at a whopping 11.03lb, earning him another £50.

Runner-up, Steve Bond, achieved a total haul of 49.04lb from Peg 22, earning him £250. Previous Cofton Cup winner Bob Rand at Peg 10 earned £150 in third place with a net of 43.10lb.

In the Plate competition, Nigel Stanley came out on top with a catch of 39.06lb from Peg 14, earning him Plate Champion and £100. Dave Walton came in 2nd with his 35lb net from Peg 26 earning him £50, and Craig Smith came 3rd and won a £50 meal voucher with his 32.03lb net from Peg 25.

The competition was fierce and was made even more challenging by the wet and windy weather conditions. The event saw three qualifiers take place over the course of the week, culminating in Friday’s grand final:

Qualifier 1 results

1st – Geoff Boardman, Peg 15, 39.06lb

2nd – Michael Nunn, Peg 13, 63.13lb

3rd – Steve Bond, Peg 21, 54.08lb

4th – Stephen Bridel, Peg 3, 45.12lb

Best Runner Up – Phil Stickland, Peg 8, 42.09lb

Best Runner Up – Benny Johnson, Peg 5, 36.15lb

Qualifier 2 results

1st – Graham Nicklin, Peg 10, 51.09lb

2nd – Gary Hennessy, Peg 22, 43.02lb

3rd – Bob Rand, Peg 3, 39.06lb

4th – John Simpson, Peg 15, 35.05lb

Qualifier 3 results

1st – Andy Everill, Peg 3, 51.09lb

2nd – Lee Prophet, Peg 22, 65.07lb

3rd – Paul Bland, Peg 17, 49.02lb

4th – Steven Prophet, Peg 10, 36.06lb

Luke Broderick, Cofton Holidays Fisheries Manager, was thrilled with the competition: “As ever, the week has been tremendous fun and we’ve seen some outstanding fishing in what has been very testing conditions. In light of recent circumstances and events, it has been amazing to meet up in a Covid safe environment and see some familiar, friendly faces that we haven’t seen for a while. A big well done to everyone who took part in the competition and a massive congratulations to Andy Everill on his back-to-back wins. Is there anyone out there that can beat him?”

Cofton Holidays boasts five fishing lakes making it an ideal destination for any angling fan. To meet the demand for fishing holidays, Cofton will be revealing its new luxury fishing lodges later this year, just a minute’s walk from the lakes, featuring special storage areas for angling equipment.

Following its success, the Cofton Cup Fishing Competition will return in September. Places have already been snapped up, so bookings for the 2022 competitions have been opened to keen anglers who must stay at Cofton Holidays in order to compete. Cofton Cup VIII will run from 25th April 2022 and Cofton Cup IX will run from 10th October 2022.

Located close to the Exe Estuary and the seaside town of Teignmouth, Cofton’s five lakes are in the perfect location to enjoy a relaxing fishing holiday. Suitable for all angling abilities, the lakes are filled with carp varying in size including mirror carp, common carp and koi-cross commons. With 71 pegs to choose from, including pegs with disabled facilities, anglers are sure to find a favourite spot.

To book your holiday and your place for either of these competitions, visit www.coftonholidays.co.uk or call 01626 890111.

Set within 80 acres of glorious Devon countryside, Cofton Holidays has been a family-run holiday park for over 40 years. Guests return year after year to enjoy its beautiful and convenient location, extensive facilities and wide choice of accommodation types for all the family.

The award-winning, 5 star graded park is 20 minutes from the M5 Exeter and is ideal for family holidays in Devon. Dawlish Warren beach is 30 minutes’ walk through nature trails and the indoor and outdoor attractions of South Devon, Exeter and Dartmoor are all within easy reach.

Visitors to Cofton can choose from a range of holiday homes, cottages and lodges in the heart of the main park, or cottages and apartments on the estuary-view Eastdon Estate. Cofton also offers a choice of pitches for touring caravan holidays including hard-standing and RV pitches.

Cofton is open all year and can offer centrally-heated accommodation for all-weather holidays.

News From Paradise – The Big Fish Off ITV4

Big Fish Off
The latest series of the Big Fish Off is scheduled to air on ITV4 starting on the 29th March at 8pm. Not sure when the episode that was shot here is on, but there are sure to be some cracking episodes with a load of laughs, can’t wait. The show will be discussed on Soccer AM this Saturday,17th March and there will also be clips from the forthcoming series.

The Big One
If you’re planning on visiting The Big One Show between the 24th and 25th March in Farnborough, Hampshire, then make sure you pay the Anglers Paradise Team a visit! They will be on stand 28a along with Deception Angling. Zyg and Zenia will be there to greet you. Over the course of the weekend there is an opportunity to win a holiday for 8 people. For a lucky few, or probably the early birds, they’ll be a chance to take away a sample of the “Twist” which is one of the Paradise Baits range, produced exclusively by Burton Bait Rollers.
All the big angling names will be there, as well as their products and hopefully there will be some cracking deals to be had. “We hope to see you there for our 1st ever show, we are very excited!!”

Fish Moving Well
Lee Abbott one of our estate staff lost a big fish on Kraking Carp the other day. Fish are moving well now that the milder climes are here, were glad to see the back of the cold spell we had the other week, even we experienced snow even though it “never snows in Devon”

(Above)A sample of a the carp resident in the Day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake.

Special Easter Offer
We still have Fisherman’s Majestic on offer (sleeps 4) on March 31st normally £900 a week, for the offer price of £700. Fabulous views across Dartmoor at a saving of over 20%. Offer is on a first come first served basis. Come and join Rose and myself for. Apart from the offer there is still are a limited number of villas available over Easter.

Anglers Paradise

Latest reports from Anglers Paradise – Including a massive catfish!

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(Above) Zenia Drury-Gregorek, 33, (-; I got a rare window to fish on my favourite lake, the picturesque Koi Lake and just before leaving to pick the kids up I caught this stunner, using a cocktail of maggots float fishing on the bottom. God I love fishing and it was so GREAT to be out there.I really hope to encourage more ladies to fish as it’s simply magical.

Gavin Simpson, 40 from Wellingborough caught an amazing Personal Best 6lb 12oz Golden Orfe from the Main Carp Lake which is just 1lb 9oz short of the British Record! After about 4 hours of fishing he had a great bite, and he knew this fish felt different straight away. Gavin Said – “As I played it towards the net I saw this huge orange flank and thought WOW! I put the net under it and couldn’t believe what I was seeing, the most enormous Golden Orfe I had ever seen, what an amazing fish! It weighed in at 6lb 12oz, I had to check what the British Record was as I was sure it couldn’t be a lot more. I was right, the current record is 8lb 5oz, this fish was just 1lb 9oz off of the British record!
What a great fish and what a great memory for a trip that was a present from my wife Kerry for my 40th Birthday. I am sure there is a British record to be had in that lake for someone. Get yourself to Anglers Paradise, buy yourself one of Zyggy’s magic hats or hoodies and get yourself in those record books! I’m ‘Orfe’ there again soon myself to try and catch a bigger one!”

Paul Shepperd from Southampton is now the NEW CATFISH COMPLEX RECORD HOLDER – with a 74lb 8oz Catfish from the Main Carp Lake beating Sean Tacy’s weight by exactly 1lb that was caught 2 weeks after!!!
Paul went from 8 years of trying to catch Cat with no success until last year when he caught his 1st to then catching this Monster! Paul baited his swim with 14ml pellets, soaked overnight in Korda halibut goo, using a nine inch hook link with a long hair, with a korda size 6 curved shank hook. Paul Said – “Thank you to my wife and all the lads who helped with netting and weighing this monster. Also, Joe, the estate manager, the rig clinic guru, said this cat only has to eat a 10lb carp to be 84lbs. So there’s the challenge ladies and gents, beat that!
Thank you to the Paradise family for making this dream come true. See you next May. Also just to add to this great weeks fishing, I also met my fishing hero’s Ali Hamidi and Dean Macey at Anglers Paradise. Certainly a Week to remember!”

Anglers Paradise

 

 

 

NORWAY BELOW ZERO ADVENTURE

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North Devon Anglers Kevin Legge and Craig McCloughlin of Braunton Baits made the long trek to Norway for a week fishing at Saltstraumen Brygge Fish Camp in search of the specimen fish that reside within the prolific icy waters. Fishing from the rocky shoreline in temperatures as low as minus15 degrees they landed numerous halibut and cod. The highlight of the trip was a huge cod of 51lb 12oz to the rod of Paul Rogers of Rock Grip.

(Above) Paul Rogers 51lb 12oz cod

Fishing is about more than just fish its also about the places and sights you see such as the spellbinding Northern Lights.(Above)

A stunningly marked cod for Craig

(Above ) Kevin Legge with a fine cod

Shore caught halibut for Kevin and Craig

A rocky shoreline big fish and snow capped peaks,

How do you thaw your bait in frozen rock pools?

JOY IN COSTA RICA

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North Devon angler Colin Joy escaped from the cold English winter to the warmer climes of Costa Rica where he enjoyed fine sport with rooster fish and barracuda. The rooster fish weighed 80lb and the barracuda 30lb. Whilst its not North Devon it certainly beats dogfish on the local coastline and gives a glimpse of far off shores with blue skies and big fish.

 

 

Anglers Paradise

CLAWFORD FISHERY – BREAM, TENCH & GOLDEN RUDD plus much more!

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14068449_10208448069457419_5308460876799212087_oJohn Forster enjoyed a session on Gregorys Lake at the Clawford Fisheries, the session was by kind permission of the Lakes owner John Ray. The lake is normally residents only and is well stocked with bream, tench and rudd. John landed a fine brace of bream totaling 11lb 11oz and several quality tench along with numerous golden rudd.

Johns tactics were to fish 2 lines. With Andy Seerys micros dampened down with Corn over the top of Groundbait with corn over the top Depth 4ft, fished slightly over-depth with 0.5 float 0.15 main0.13 bottom 16 B911 hook

14068393_10208448070097435_8600966960259534025_o

There are plenty of opportunities for day ticket anglers at Clawford that boasts over a dozen lakes totalling 40 acres nestled in a tranquil valley estate covering 78 acres. www.clawford.co.uk

See link to my visit to the fishery last year.

A brace of carp