Torridge Rivers Association
President: Lord Clinton
Chairman: Paul Ashworth Secretary: Charles Inniss
Beeches East Street Sheepwash Beaworthy Devon EX21 5NW
e-mail: [email protected]
NEWSREEL SPRING 2026
SUBSCRIPTIONS for 2026 are now due and are £20 .
The season so far: Salmon-wise it has been a most encouraging start to the season. Four fresh spring salmon have been caught: one of 10lb and three about about 8lb: one in the first week of the season at Riversmeet and three downstream from beam weir (two during Easter w/e). The salmon anglers have caught several trout up to 1.5lbs: all in good condition. With the weather warming the brown trout are starting to feed on the surface and there’s always the chance of an early running sea trout: these early fish are usually in the 3/5lb range.
The AGM: was held at The Half Moon on Friday 27th March. Over 40 members and guests attended. Our President Lord Clinton was able to join us and also the Fishery Protection Officer, Sam Fenner. Our guest speaker for the evening was Willie Entwistle, the Chair of the South West Rivers Association (SWRA), who gave an enlightening talk on the importance of the SWRA which represents all the 20 westcountry rivers. The main aim of the SWRA is to highlight the particular problems of our rivers (water quality and the declining numbers of migratory fish) at the highest level. After the meeting we all enjoyed the usual excellent buffet.
THE HATCHERY: once again the hatchery project has been most successful and over 20,000 swim -up fry were stocked out in the last week of March into tributaries of the Upper Torridge, Lew and Okement. Once the eggs have been stripped from the hens, fertilised, and laid out in the egg box trays they have to be checked daily with any dead eggs removed. Silt is the one ongoing problem which if allowed to build up in the trays kills the eggs through lack of oxygen. The hatchery team will be looking into ways the silt loading can possibly be reduced next winter. FISHERY REPORT: Sam Fenner, our fishery protection officer, provided vital support in catching up the broodstock for the hatchery from the fish pass at Monkokehampton Weir. Sam is the only fishery protection officer for the whole of Devon!! The results of the EA juvenile survey at Okement Castle on the Okement were quite outstanding: indeed probably the best for all the rivers in Devon and Cornwall!! It was, he reminded us, more important than ever for us all to be the eyes and ears of the river and report any concerns. THE TORRIDGE WEBCAM is now at Taddiport Bridge on the Lower Torridge. It is now live. BEAVERS: There is now at least one beaver colony in the Torridge catchment!! Like it or not we are going to have to live with beavers. A group of us recently attended a very informative presentation at Hatherleigh Community Centre re. the pros and cons of beavers in our rivers. Our concern was the effect of beaver dams on salmon reaching their spawning grounds. Your committee will be arranging a similar presentation at The Half Moon during the summer. Details to follow in due course.
