October and early November can offer some of the best mullet fishing of the year as these fish often feed hard prior to the onset of winter. In past decades the end of October signalled the end of the mullet fishing season but now these wily fish can be caught throughout the year. Harbours and rock marks are well worth fishing throughout North Devon.
Sam Stevens caught his first English forty at Hacche Moor landing the big original leney at its biggest ever weight of 42lb 8oz.
B.D.A.C 1st Rod and Reel match results date 23/10/22. 8 anglers fished the first match and all caught fish. The weather was fine with a bit of wind every now and then and the sun was shining from time to time with fishing slow at times. 1st place went to Richard jefferies on peg 12 with 17lbs 11oz he fished a feeder in the margins one of his carp was 10lbs 2oz. 2nd place went to Sheila Found on peg 9 with 14lbs 6oz on the feeder and 3rd place was Colin Gorman on peg 18 with 13lbs 2oz.
Simon Peters boated this fine rainbow from Wimbleball Reservoir. As water temperatures start to drop and rain oxygenates the water prospects are good for the remaining couple of months at Wimbleball. Boat fishing only at present due to the exceptionally low water levels.
In spite of recent rainfall, water levels are still low in many of the reservoirs, with many still under 40% capacity. South West Lakes’ brown trout waters (Colliford, Fernworthy, and Roadford) closed for the 2022 season on 15 October. The remaining rainbow waters are due to stay open until 30 November.
Fishing:
Kennick – The fishing has been slow at Kennick this month, with little surface activity, and most fish being taken on a slow-fished sunk or sink-tip line, with the deeper water by the dam, central midwater, Clampitts Bay, and off the East Bank producing the best sport. Various Damsel patterns and lures (Cormorants, and various Boobies) have been responsible for most catches – however there were no particularly large fish or outstanding bags recorded.
Burrator – Rods averaged 2.7 fish per angler over the month, with Longstone, Pig Trough, and North Shore the most productive banks. Fish were still looking to the surface to feed, and Daddies, Claret Hoppers, and Hawthornes all tempted fish, although generally sub-surface nymphs (Damsels, Diawl Bachs, Montanas, and Buzzers) and lures (Orange Tadpoles, Black Goldheads, Orange Blobs, Boobies, and Flash Minnows) accounted for most of the catches. Floating and intermediate lines along with medium retrieves proved to be the most successful tactic. Matt Baines and Andy Cottam (from Plymouth) both caught full bags of five fish up to 2lb 8oz.
Siblyback – Water levels are very low (just getting back to 30% capacity), and the fishing has been hard. Stocky Bay and the deeper water by the dam have produced the best sport, with anglers catching fish on Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, and Bibios using an intermediate line.
Stithians – Water levels are still very low here – at the time of writing only 19% full. Floating lines with Daddies or a selection of wets (Bibios, Soldier Palmers, Damsels, and Dunkelds) were responsible for most catches, with Goonlaze and the deeper water by the dam the most productive banks to fish.
Fernworthy – This brown trout fishery continued to produce good fishing, with anglers averaging over three fish per rod, either on dry sedge patterns or Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Black Pennels, and Bibios. Levels have now started to rise here to 50% capacity, and fish were caught from banks all around the fishery.
Colliford – Weekly catch rates tailed off as the month progressed, from 5.4 fish per rod, to 2.8 fish per angler. A wide variety of patterns caught fish, with dries (Sedges, Beetles, Daddies, and Hoppers) fished on a floating line and long leader, accounting for many; other successful patterns included Soldier Palmers, Buzzers, Black and Peacock Spiders, Bibios, and Mini Muddlers. Fish were well spread out around the banks, with most locations producing fish. Chris Tilyard (from Fradddon) caught six browns in one session, while Myles Gerard (from Tiverton) caught three superb naturalised fish of 1lb each.
Roadford – North Wortha Point and Grinnacombe proved to be the most productive banks, with Bibios, Foam Beetles, Zulus, Hares Ears, and Soldier Palmers fished on a floating lines catching the fish. Alan Judd (from Seaton) caught a bag of five browns to 1lb, taking fish on or just below the surface.
Please see South West Lakes’ website (www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing) for more information on buying tickets (note that permit huts are not open), boat availability and booking, and forthcoming events.
Chris Hall (October 2022)
NEWS (longer post than normal but please read and share if you can)… Sea safety has been brought right to the forefront this week and I cannot reiterate again how grateful I am that all ended well last weekend. FIRST NEWS Just to remind everyone that we stock two sorts of life jackets instore, both Crewsaver and both the automatic type which we recommend, different sorts all available to order too. Rearming kits are available and Appledore Station will also be holding a lifejacket clinic, date to be confirmed…**Payment plans are available for lifejackets please see below for details. SECOND NEWS As many of you are aware Simon is an Appledore RNLI crew member and Appledore Station will be bringing the boat along side Appledore Quay this weekend from 3.30pm – 5pm so please pop down and have a look around and make a donation if you can. **We are aware that everything is all a bit tight at the moment and payment plans are available instore for lifejackets (subject to eligibility) Please ask for details in store. A donation is also made to Appledore RNLI for each one purchased from us at Summerlands Tackle. Thanks for reading.
Following on from my previous post Jamie has asked if I could share the below on my website.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lyndse-and-jamie-steward-rnli-ilfracombe?utm_term=mPZrnaDY8 please could you share this on your page and help me raise money for the RNLI ilfracombe as they saved my life on Saturday night the least I can do is raise them some money. I will be walking 100k with my wife in the lakedistrict to help them like they helped me. 🙏 also I want to try and raise awareness on an anglers safety and try and get as many anglers as I can to buy a crew saver life jacket or floatation device. These should become an essential part of our kit. Regards Jamie
Since publishing my initial article on this near miss I have received considerable feedback and believe that the local RNLI will be launching an awareness campaign on safety. I will liaise with them to help promore awareness of the dangers and how to increase survival rates if things go wrong.
Local tackle shops are joining in the general effort to raise awareness.
Quay Sports posted the below guidance
and enjoy your angling.
Simon McCarthy at Summerlands works on the lifeboat and has been involved in many local rescues and is keen to offer advice to any anglers who vist the shop at Westward Ho!
Aaron Bunning: “Had another great day at Jennets reservoir. I managed to get 5 carp with 3 of them 20’s to 26lb. Nash Bait Scopex Squid wafters over a large bed of freebies once again producing the goods”.
Nick Braunton sent a short report on the flounder season starting in the Taw Estaury. He enjoyed a recent session catching and returning severl nice flounder to 1lb 6oz. I asked him if crabs were stripping the baits and he informed me that he had no problem with crabs stripping the bait but large numbers of small bass were whittling the baits away. This is perhaps an encouraging sign for the future.
Flounder sport should take off when heavy rain flushes out the estuary and a few sharp frosts deter the crabs.
