20 members enjoyed another pleasant evening on George’s lake.
Nathan, last year’s midweek series winner, drew on what’s now becoming the infamous, peg 4.
He has made no mistakes and fished the long pole for a clear victory. Luncheon meat over micros was his choice of tactics. Steve and Kevin have had a next peg battle on 21 and 22 , Steve has added 4 carp to his silvers bag to secure 2nd spot .
Ian has taken 3rd spot on peg 6 using both pole and feeder tactics.
Kevin’s mainly slivers net was taken on the pole on corn for 4th place overall.
Horwood’s regular Friday match turned up some cracking weights this week, using both lakes with the fish finally feeding after a difficult spawning period.
Lakes are looked after by Neilsen Jeffery and with good help from members both lakes are now looking fantastic, with all 16 pegs having great inside features and shelves to fish on. You can literally catch double figure carp from under your feet.
The hundreds of willows that have been planted help create good protection now and obviously being able to drive and park next to your peg is a great bonus.
Please contact Neilsen if you wish to have a look around and are interested in possibly joining the friendly group of fishers.
Lee Meakin, age 36 has made Anglers Paradise history and caught the complex record Catfish at 100lbs from the Main Lake!!
This is the heaviest fish to have ever been caught here and he is now the new RECORD HOLDER!!
As a Fishery, we are all incredibly proud to have grown these Cats on from babies to THIS!!
Lee shared –
“Well my dad said I wouldn’t catch a catfish, so I wanted to prove him wrong haha!! After having no bites on the carp all day, I put 2 rods out for a cat not expecting anything and like he said there is 2/3 in here and the last time 1 was caught, was either last year or 2 years ago but I thought why not try?! I am not going to catch if I don’t try, so out went 2 Dynamite Baits 21m halibut pellets in the middle of the lake and my other went out on big fishy boilie and a fishy pop up.
2 and a half hours later my halibut rod screams off and bringing it in half way felt like a small cat as it wasn’t fighting and coming towards me, only to get it close and off it screamed!!
30 minutes later it tired and I put my waders on to try help it in the net and get it on the bank and only then seeing the pure size of it I couldn’t believe it!!
ANGLER LANDS 2ND BIGGEST CATFISH (Above)
Massive congratulations to Rob Halsey who has caught the 2nd biggest ever Catfish at 92lbs from the Main Lake!
2 in one week, just insane!!
Rob shared –
“92lb Catfish from the main lake, caught on snowman rig with a 15mm Dynamite Baits monster tiger nut boilie and 10mm yellow pineapple pop up fished over bag of crushed boilies and pellet.
This fish run me ragged, from one side of the lake to the other and back again, but after 20 minutes or so, she was mine.
Predator 2 Skipper Daniel Welch took a party of anglers out off Ilfracombe to enjoy a short evening lure fishing session. “Great to get back out on the water for one of our evening lure trips. You will be glad to know we haven’t forgotten how to fish, with over 20 bass to the boat including some good sized fish we also had pollack to 9lb 8oz and wrasse.”
I joined South Molton AC members and boarded John Barbeary’s Bluefin at just before 8.00am. The plan was to go and fish the waters close to Lundy Island but with a brisk Westerly and fair sized residual swell after a couple of rough days John suggested plan B. And so we left Ilfracombe harbour and headed up channel.
The spectacular cliffs that plunge from Exmoor’s Northern edge are always a joy to witness especially as the morning sunlight reflects upon the waters creating a silvery seascape framed by the dramatic cliffs.
We started the day drifting the reefs off the Hangman’s where several pollock smashed into our strings of lures. We kept half a dozen to use as fresh bait when we dropped anchor. John explored several reefs but the fishing proved slow. As it was now high water with little tide flow we dropped anchor.
It wasn’t long before rod tips were nodding as huss, conger and the inevitable dogfish intercepted our baits. Ed Rands and Lathum both caught conger into double figures and Ed boated what was to be the biggest huss of the day at close to 10lb.
As the tide pull slowly increased John up anchored and we tried drifting a few marks further up the coast to no avail. John received Info from fellow Ilfracombe boat skipper of Carrick Lee who’s party had caught several bass on a drift further up channel. Its always good to witness how Ilfracombe’s skippers work together sharing information to help each other.
It seemed we had missed this opportunity as after several drifts our bass tally remained at nil.
We then enjoyed an hour in the relative shelter of Woody bay with its densely wooded slopes and admired the exclusive properties nestled within the woods.
John was uneasy at the slow sport and decided it was time to head back to the waters off the Hangman’s. Down went the big baits and again the rod tips nodded to the pull of huss, conger and dogfish.
A sharp pull resulted in a pleasing bass of around 4lb to my offering of a bluey and squid wrap.
Ed hooked into a very good fish that put a serious bend in his rod. We all watched the drama waiting in anticipation to glimpse what we thought was a big conger. Sadly whatever it was came adrift close to the boat before we had the chance to see it? The touch of drama added a hanging question over the day.
A good fish..but what is it?
And then its gone……..
Ed ponders upon what he lost?
For the next hour we fished on as the tide eventually swung the boat so that we faced into the brisk breeze. A steady succession of huss, small conger and dogfish visited the boat before John started the engines and we headed back to Ilfracombe.
The pier was busy with crabbers and tourists as we climbed ashore. Sausage and chips beside the harbour to round off a good days fishing.
As you are very well aware – I’m passionate about our waters, our association and how incredibly special for me it is to be able to enjoy spending time deeply immersed within that beautiful environment.
Like myself – I know how much you value what the club has achieved and continues to achieve with the support of its valued members.
We are all too well aware of what the ‘water companies’ don’t do to protect that special environment which supports such varied fish species, with its continued direct sewage pollution.
WildFish – is a UK organisation (charity) which works hard to protect the UK’s precious natural streams and rivers. Fergal Sharkey – a keen fly fishing enthusiast has been a vice president, along with many other notable scientists/people.
With that in mind the more people that help support that charity will directly impact and help protect our streams and rivers, but also help to change policy about how water companies are managing these environments.
Combe Martin SAC Member Reece Woolgar got his 2025 lure fishing campaighn underway registering bass of 67cm and 60.5cm into the clubs lure fishing league that is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.
The succesful lure was a Keitech Easy Shiner 4” in various colours
Combe Martin SAC member Ollie Passmore endured several blanks before contacting this stunning gilthead bream of 5lb 10oz. Ollie used Mini Manta hooks size 2 with Sakuma 30lb fluro.
B.D.A.C.Rod and Reel match results date 25.5.25 at Tarka. The weather was dry and sunny but quite windy all anglers caught fish with some good weights weighed in. First place today went to Martin Turner on peg 12 with a nice mixed bag of fish for 35lbs 15oz, second place was Nigel spurr on peg 19 with 31lbs 1oz with another nice mixed bag of fish, third place was Richard Jefferies on peg 11 with 29lbs and forth place was Stefan Clarke on peg 25 with 26lbs 12oz. Next Rod and Reel match will be on the 22.6.25 at Tarka.
Midweek Evening Competition
Tarka Swims. Results:
1st Rhys Eyles 60lb 7oz
2nd Craig Lamey 50lb 5oz
3rd Richard Jefferies 35lb 5oz
4th Ian Croxton 32lb.
12 fished.
Fantastic weights for our first evening competition of the summer.
Rhys has fished a blinder on peg 4 to put a terrific net of carp and tench on the scales.
His winning catch was taken on the long pole on meat.
Craig had a similar catch to take second place on peg 26, also using luncheon meat on the pole.
Richard stuck to his favourite pellet waggler for 3rd place on peg 14.
I called into Bulldog to capture a few images during the first hour of the competition and witnessed some fine trout brought to the net. The fishery should continue to give great sport over the coming weeks with some big fish stocked still remainng uncaught.
May Fly Fishing Competition
The May fly comp took place on Saturday 24th! 12 keen anglers took to the bank in a bid to win the top prize
In past comps the main water inlet to the farm as been a quiet spot not seeing much action. This time however the inlet was the place to be! Multiple hook ups taking place at the same time!
No new records for fastest hook up were broken this time, however Dave Coad now holds the record for fastest pre lunch fish limit (4 fish) landing all for in an impressive 35 Minutes!
As the day went on and more fish were landed it became apparent that it was going to be close for the biggest fish of the day award! Many of the bigger lumps were on the feed!
Lunch time came and went, and with our anglers happily fed we were back at it! Rising winds made for a difficult afternoon however the competitors persevered!
Results:
1st Mike Lathum
6 fish – 27lb2oz
Biggest 6lb12oz rainbow
2nd Nick Tamlin
6fish – 22lb5oz
Biggest – 7lb4oz rainbow
3rd Dave Chapman
5fish – 22lb
Biggest 8lb9oz rainbow (Biggest of the day)
A total of 53 fish were landed throughout the day, many being in the 5lb- 8lb bracket! two 5lb+ Tigers included in that total. Not any of the browns or Spartics it will definitely be interesting to see how long they can avoid the day ticket anglers
Thank you to everyone that took part we hope you all had a great day!
These fly comps have been a huge success and we’ve received great feedback from those involved! We will be seeing how the weather fairs before setting the next date, likely to be after the warmer summer months but we may try to sneak another one in next month. So keep an eye Bulldogs Page or North Devon & Exmoor Angling News
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