22 Jun 2025

PUTSBOROUGH 2025 – OPEN RESULTS

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Combe Martin SACs Annual Putsborough Open eventually got underway on the longest day of the year after rescheduling due to an oversight regarding the Spring Bank holiday and severe weather warnings.

The weather proved to be perfect as thirty eight anglers descended on the venue as the sun slowly set casting its golden rays upon sand and sea. I had been slightly apprehensive about the event as my good friend and club secretary Nick Phillips was unable to attend and as we have run this event together for over forty years a solo effort was a little daunting.

It was great to see a good number of familiar faces at the booking in and I am always encouraged by this annual migration to this splendid venue and value the long lasting cooperation of the Putsborough estate and in particular Trevor the security officer who always greets and guides participants to the assembly point.

With all booked in I opted to take the long walk to join fellow club members Kevin Legge and Craig Mcloughlin at the end of the line halfway along the beach. I set up shortly after 9.00pm and was pleased to take a look back along the beach at the anglers wading out into the surf to cast their baits.

Photo – Lee Algar

There is something special and slightly poignant about the longest day as the year turns and we look to the ebbing of another year.

With rods poised and lines stretching into the watery dimension I savoured the scene before strolling over for a chat with Kevin who wound in a small school bass as we talked.

A few moments after arriving back at my rods  I noticed a sharp tap on the rod tip followed by a slow pulling over and ticking ratchet. I picked up the rod and pulled into what for a moment felt like a good fish. To my dismay all went solid. Was it a big ray hugging the bottom? Surely I couldn’t be snagged up on the expanse of clean sand? After applying maximum pressure with the rod for a few minutes I placed the rod back in the rest slackened the clutch and waited to see what happened. With no further movement I picked up the rod, pointed the rod to the sea and walked slowly back. Suddenly the tackle pulled free and I wound in a mangled bait. Had I lost a big ray or had I found a snag?

A short while later I caught a small ray of just over 4lb that was an encouraging start. I added another small ray and a smoothound to my own tally but knew I was unlikely to feature in the prize list.

The next three hours passed by in a familiar scene as the tide flooded and stars winked high above in those familiar timeless reassuring constellations.

I packed up at midnight to trudge back across the sand and prepare for the arrival of competitors and the sorting of fish entries. I knew that Kevin and Craig had tempted good fish and was intrigued to see what else had been caught.

At this point I will give my heartfelt thanks to Craig McLoughlin of Braunton Bait Box for offering to assist with the sorting of entries. As anglers arrived back there were undoubtedly mixed fortunes but overall catches were encouraging with good numbers of small-eyed ray and smoothound along with a few bass, a solitary sole and refreshingly few dogfish.

Hopefully we got the results together with accuracy. Many thanks go to all those who supported the event by attending. Special thanks to our generous sponsors Sakuma and Barnstaple Bait and Tackle. The club greatly appreciate the ongoing support of Putsborough Estate in permitting us access to this beautiful venue.

Results of the 2025 – Putsborough Open

1st – Craig Mcloughlin – Small eyed ray – 9lb 8oz        95%

2nd – Stephen Found – smoothound – 9lb 2.5oz         91%

3rd – Craig Mcloughlin – small eyed ray – 8lb 5oz         83%

4th – Nathan Clements – small eyed ray  – 7lb 14.5oz  78%

5th – Kevin Legge – small eyed ray –  7lb 8oz                  75%

6th – Lee Algar – bass – 5lb 13oz.                                      72.5%

 

7th – Rob Hancock  – smoothound – 7lb 2oz                    71%

8th – Stephen Found – smoothound  – 6lb 15.25oz.       69%

9th – Tony Gussin – small eyed ray – 6lb 14oz                 68.7%

10th – Steve Webb – small eyed ray – 6lb 13oz              68.1%

Top Junior – Ted Childs – small eyed ray  – only fish registered by a junior angler.

Received a tee-shirt and a gift voucher from our sponsor Barnstaple Bait and Tackle.

Craig Mcloughlin received the £150 cash first prize and choice from the prize table.

Runner up Stephen Found received £50 cash and choice of prizes from the table.

The top ten chose prize bundles from our generous sponsors Sakuma who have supported the event for many years. Combe Martin SAC look forward to hosting the event again next year and welcome any constructive comments to help the event prosper.

20 Jun 2025

PUTSBOROUGH OPEN – INFORMATION UPDATE

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Putsborough Open – Please note Ocean Fest is taking place in Croyde so this could result in delays if approaching via this route. Consider alternative routes.

Please weigh all fish in imperial pounds and ounces not metric or US. If you do not have compatible scales please convert weights prior to meet up.

Low water is at 9:00pm expect fish from the start smoothound, small-eyed-ray are likely to dominate if they dont show a dogfish could win you a prize.  As always there is an extensive prize table with a prizes down to tenth place plus a special junior prize. Junior entry is £5.00 or full price optional giving chance to win top prize.

Note if you catch a  worthy specimen please give me call and I will try and get to you with a camera.Please try and secure an image of all fish with the exception of dogfish.

SEE Specimen list below : –

20 Jun 2025

FLY CULTURE – GATHERING – June 19th – 2025

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The Fly Culture Gathering at The Fox & Hounds Eggesford was a simple affair that like many things that work so well masked a great deal of effort from its primary organiser Pete Tyjas. Seventy or so passionate Fly Anglers gathered in a riverside field in mid-summer as the River Taw glided timeless on its journey to the open sea.

Fly Culture is a community that embraces the joys of fly fishing and the pursuit of fish and happiness in wild surroundings. In this modern world it highlights the good that can come from Social Media for much communication is undoubtedly derived from modern media despite the aging demographic.

There were anglers from far and wide at the gathering and it was great to catch up with those that have become friends over the years and make new acquaintances. The first hour of the evening drifted with the current as beer and burgers were relished and conversation’s of life fish and fishing flowed.

 

Pete then called order as a series of speakers delivered a fascinating narrative that told of small and beautiful trout from Devon’s brooks and rivers. The passion for elusive Atlantic salmon and that magical connection.  The art of tempting wily trout and what trout prefer to eat based upon in depth observations. World-wide obsessions with Arctic grayling from Northern waters. Tarpon and bonefish from tropical seas. Fishing, mental health and being with nature.

Michelle Werrett reads from her book – Song Of the Streams

Harry Chance told of Dartmoor’s jewels and much more…

Peter Cockwill – Inspired with stories from Arctic grayling adventures.
Snowbee’s Simon Kidd talked of the competitive fly fishing world and other fishy tales.

Peter Hayes delved deep into trout behaviour and how to tempt the wily fish.
A captivated audience
Matthew Wright entertained with tales of tropical adventures and life as a fly angler.

 

I left shortly after 9:00pm with plans for next year’s fishing already brewing. So many fish, so much water and so little time as life’s tide ebbs ever faster.

And then there are the lawns, the garage window and the decorating. Still in between jobs I can always enjoy reading Fly Culture and plotting a few more casts.

18 Jun 2025

SEA ANGLING – Latest news

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Peter Robinson won Combe Martin SAC’s June Rover with a boat caught Small-Eyed-Ray of 8lb 4oz. Runner up was Daniel Welch with a small-eyed ray of 6lb 4oz. Both fish were on Predator 2 during the clubs boat trip.

Note the clubs boat trip at Minehead is featured in the July edition Sea Angler on sale Friday 20th June.

Bidefords 48-hour results

1st Paul Ackland Sole 1lb 10 1/2oz 94.642%
2nd Andrew Clements Smoothhound 9lb 4oz 92.5%
3rd Dale Kiff  Smoothhound 8lb 10oz 86.250%
Combe Martin SAC member Jason Hayes enjoyed a shore session the remmber beaching five top to an estimated 30lb during a recent session.
A quick report on South Molton Angling Clubs latest trip evening trip to clovelly from their Chairman Ed Rands
A reasonably calm sea awaited us when we arrived at 4:30.
We were soon anchored on the “gore” 10 minutes from the harbour.
It wasn’t long before the fish started coming with the inevitable dogfish, a few smoothound and huss and then my highlight of tope putting in an appearance.
Danny boyles had one chase the bait right to the surface and then took it and 5 minutes later his first ever tope of around 17lb was landed, he ended up with 2 and jim rickets did the same catching his first, followed by another.
We also had a few scad and mackerel.
The fishing slowed up so we headed home at about 9.
Good fun, good fishing and we got home before they closed the road at clovelly Cross.
Thanks to everyone that attended and kev harris (non member), danny boyles and Craig for driving.
Tightlines and enjoy the weather.
Ed
18 Jun 2025

Combe Martin SAC – Lure Fishing Update

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Mark Drewer has taken a lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League submitting a brace of 70cm bass plus a 64cm fish to add to his existing entries. He now has a total of 326.5 for five bass.  His fish were caught on Wolf Needlefish and white gravity sticks.

Fellow member Ross Stanway also enjoyed success with a brace of bass of 66cm each.

1st – Mark Drewer – 326.5

2nd – Seth Tuson – 316

3rd- Reece Woolgar- 263

4th- Ross Stanway – 132

5th- Robert Hurst – 121.5

6th- Wayne Thomas -53cm

15 Jun 2025

PREDATOR 2 – COMBE MARTIN SAC – BOAT TRIP

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June 12th 2025 was Combe Martin SAC’s first club boat trip out of Ilfracombe aboard Predator 2 with Dan Welch. I hope that it will be a new chapter in the clubs long history and I look forward to plenty more trips with Dan who works hard to find the fish that are all too often hard to find.

We headed up channel as a result of strong Westerly winds that would have made the waters closer to the mouth of the Bristol Channel uncomfortable. It is always enjoyable watching the familiar coastline from the boat as those landmarks pass by along with a lifetime of memories. The headland of Rillage and the coastguard station, Widmouth Head, Watermouth and the Sexton Burrow, Burrow Nose. Broadsands, Sandy Cove, Combe Martin, Wild Pear Beach and Little Hangman. North Devon’s dramatic northern edge looked splendid with verdant lush green providing a glorious back drop. As we surveyed this beauty I also reflected on the access that has been lost to us as anglers over the last fifty or so years. Restrictions due to private ownership and Coastal erosion all contributing and exacerbated by human behaviour, an increasing population and of course funding for access projects.

Past Combe Martin Bay and the dramatic sea cliffs immortalised in the book “The Hidden Edge of Exmoor”.  Access to this shoreline restricted by geographical splendour has always been difficult and it is fascinating to reflect upon past generations who descended these cliffs to harvest natures gifts.

“While over a thousand people may have climbed Mount Everest and may thousands may have walked England’s South West Coast Path, very few have traversed the whole of the Exmoor Coast down at sea level along what we have called The Hidden Edge of Exmoor. The Exmoor Traverse is a serious mountaineering venture that is compounded by a tide that can rise vertically at six feet an hour and by cliffs that tower over six hundred feet in places. Out of sight of civilization it is an awe-inspiring wilderness, boasting the highest marine cliff in England, a waterfall as high as Niagara and a colony of ancient stunted yew trees that may prove to be the largest in Britain.”

The book goes on to record the historical stories of those who descended the cliffs in Victorian times to gather birds eggs, laver, driftwood and botanical data. Not to mention the scars still visible on the cliffs from mining operations.

On this day as a brisk west wind blew up channel it was without a doubt the dramatic scenery that stole the show for the fishing proved difficult. The morning started well as we dropped anchor off Woody Bay. We hoped for tope that had been abundant over recent days. These proved elusive but a couple of small eyed ray proved encouraging along with a few huss and the inevitable dogfish. A couple of pollock succumbed to baits when we moved a little inshore over the rough ground to avoid the stronger tide and this prompted a short lure session with several pollock brought to the boat.

An 8lb 4oz small eyed ray for Peter Robinson
One of several huss caught but not as big as the one that dropped the bait later in the session!
Skipper Dan Welch with a 6lb 4oz small eyed ray

 

Nick Phillips with a lure caught pollock

 

Wayne Thomas with a pollock tempted on a Fillish minnow
Jack Phillips with a pollock caught on bait.

The wind was steadily increasing as we moved out to fish offshore where we once again hoped to find the hard fighting tope.  The wind buffeted the boat causing it sit awkardly at anchor making keeping contact with our baits challenging resulting in a few minor tangles. There was little that Dan could do and we chose to move closer inshore seeking shelter and perhaps that illusive tope. An hour passed and with just a few dogfish Dan suggested we call it a day and paused for few mackerel on the way home to top up our bait freezers and perhaps savour for tea.

A few drifts in a lively sea off Rillage produced a few nice mackerel one of which was consumed a couple of hours later after pan frying with a dash of pepper and lemon juice. We all look forward eagerly to the next trip when we hope for better weather and a few more fish.

The Waverley passes us as we drift for mackerel providing a timeless view as it steams past.

 

11 Jun 2025

One cast is all it takes to make a memorable day!

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I always relish my trips to Wimbleball savouring each day at this wonderful fishery located deep in the heart of Exmoor. Early to mid-June is undoubtedly one of the best times to visit with Exmoor’s valleys alive with the vibrancy of early summer. Hedgerows and trees that wonderful verdant green that lasts all too briefly before taking on the darker hues of July and August.

I arrived at the boat launching pontoons shortly after 8.00am and set up a pair of rods and tackle before pouring a coffee from my flask and enjoyed the view whilst I waited for my good friend and fellow Snowbee Ambassador Jeff Pearce to arrive.

            It was a mellow cloudy morning with a gentle breeze blowing from the West and there was the chance of sunny spells as the day progressed. Perfect conditions I thought but Jeff cautioned my optimism as catch returns reflected that the fishing had not been easy despite a very high stocking campaign.

            We were fishing from a boat giving the freedom to search for the fish across the lakes 370 acres. After a cheery greeting Jeff and I discussed our plan for the day. It was hoped that the beetles would be on the water as good numbers of fish had been tempted when conditions were right as the trout feasted upon this annual glut of food.

            We decided to commence activities in the deeply wooded Upton Arm an area that has a unique atmosphere with its steep wooded banks flanking the water. Far up at the head of the arm all was calm as bird song drifted through the air. We made our first casts searching the water as we drifted slowly.

            After fifteen minutes or so we moved to the middle area of the arm and resumed our search. I glimpsed a couple of good sized rainbows and made contact with a wild brown trout that shed the hook after an all too brief tussle.

            A second drift brought no action and so we headed for the deep water off the dam that seems to produce fish on a regular basis throughout the year.

            I was now using a fast sinking line with my favourite olive damsel on the point and a cormorant on a dropper. I was confident of success and seeing very little surface activity assumed the fish were deep. Jeff however persisted with a floating line and a more subtle imitative approach.

            We drifted slowly adjacent to the dam area rope cordon and I scanned the water as I always do with my polarised glasses giving a glimpse into the water through the surface glare.

Two good sized rainbows swam purposely through the clear water. I immediately swapped over from the sinking line and lure set up to a floating line with a foam beetle pattern on the point and a larger foam hopper three feet further back.

            I watched the water intently and spied another couple of trout. I placed my flies a few feet in front of the cruising fish. The trout inspected the offering but showed disdain. Jeffs floating beetle proved more appetising and was slurped down by a hard fighting rainbow of around 2lb.

            This was exciting fishing and my turn soon came as I dropped my flies in front of a trout that gave a good account on my 5-wt set up before shedding the hook.

            It was obvious that the trout were on the look out for surface food as close study of the water revealed plenty of cruising fish.

            There are often defining moments in a day’s fishing that can live long in the memory. One such moment came on this day as I watched a good sized rainbow cruising just beneath the surface. I extended my Snowbee Thistledown line and dropped my fly’s five feet in front of the trout.

            I watched with anticipation as the trout converged upon my offering. I gave Jeff a running commentary as the trout paused and inspected my offering circling warily before slurping the beetle from the surface in a delightful ring of deception upon the calm water.

            I lifted the rod to feel that thrilling moment of connection. The trout powered away the light rod taking on a steep curve and the trusted Snowbee Fly reel singing as line was ripped off at a rate of knots. This was undoubtedly a good fish and considerably larger than my initial estimate as I had seen it take my fly. After several powerful runs the fish dived deep stripping line from the reel as I put as much strain on the 6lb b.s point as I dared.

The 10ft 5-Wt rod  was well hooped over as I relished the opportunity to test my tackle as the fish shook its head far below the boat in over 60ft of water.  The fish held its position deep down the rod absorbing each lunge as for a few moments it was stalemate. Maximum pressure was applied and slowly the fish came up in the clear water and we glimpsed a deep silver flank. I readied the net; Jeff exclaimed that it was probably a double and I breathed a sigh of relief when the rainbow was safely within the folds of the net.

            The fish was in splendid condition with deep flanks and wide spade like tail. I slipped the small barbless hook from its jaws. Held it in the net for several minutes and lifted it from the water for a quick photo before slipping the fish back into the depths.

            We fished on a for a while missing several fish before it went quiet and we decided to search elsewhere. We headed to the far end of the lake to search Bessom’s and the shallower water. Several bank anglers were enjoying good sport in the area.

            There were no fish visibly rising so I decided to try lure tactics again. Jeff wisely persisted with dry beetle pattern and soon rose a fish. Switching back to my dry fly tactics I too enjoyed success and in the next hour we added three more fish to the days tally missing numerous takes as we failed to connect with the fly that was hard to watch as the brisk breeze rippled the surface.

            A lesson learnt was that the fish were undoubtedly looking for beetles on the surface. Whilst there were very few beetles showing the fish were still preoccupied with this food source and would intercept our artificial whilst ignoring lures.

            We returned to the boat jetty shortly after 6.00pm reflecting upon a rewarding day afloat on this jewel of water high on Exmoor. It had not been an easy day and that one opportunist cast had made it another day to remember. It is always worth reflecting that it only takes one cast in the right place at the right time.