16 Mar 2025

The 2025 River Trout Fishing Season Underway

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

The 2025 trout fishing season got underway on rivers across North Devon on March 15^th and with rivers in prime condition it was good to see that several anglers had enjoyed success as I glanced through my social media accounts.

Whilst I would have enjoyed a day on the river I was privileged to have been asked to be guest speaker at the Taw Fishing Club’s AGM at the Fox & Hounds Hotel at Eggesford.

The Taw fishing club was established in 1912 and is a flourishing club of predominantly wild brown trout devotees. The AGM signals significant change with long standing and hard-working Chairman Professor Gordon Murray standing down after several years of sterling service. In his passionate closing speech Gordon gave his thoughts on the past present and future of the club emphasising the need for younger anglers to gradually replace the aging dynamic of the club. The club is at present in a very healthy and robust state with five miles of excellent trout fishing.

Conservation of the river and its eco system were key throughout the AGM and as I attend numerous such meetings across Devon I realise just how big a part anglers play in helping to maintain vital habitats across the region. There was also conversation about how we need to work with other interested parties to protect our rivers. Surfers Against Sewage and Wild Swimming Groups have certainly done a great deal to ensure that rivers are now higher on the political agenda and we should give them credit for their success where we have sometimes failed to get the message across.

My own talk was delivered to an attentive and polite audience with a degree of trepidation for following Gordon Murray a well-respected and eloquent speaker was a little daunting. My bullet point notes are included below :-

Notes for talk

Thank you for asking me to talk today at the start of a new trout and salmon fishing season; hopefully I strike a cord with members and stimulate some thought and discussion
I didn’t intend to write many notes but I have ended up with a couple of pages! So much for the intended free ramble…
So onto my life of Fly Fishing and rivers
I remember fondly where it all started: – As a child fishing the tiny River Umber in Combe Martin . Worms, bread, soft cheese and grasshoppers. Freedom, those crimson spotted wild brown trout were abundant’ There were even the occasional large sea trout. The valleys stream were full of life brown trout and eels.
I guess many here have similar memories of younger days at the water’s edge?
From trout and worms I eventually progressed to Fly Fishing and despite what some may think the method is often far more effective at deceiving the fish.
Before I talk more of my Fly Fishing thoughts I will reflect upon our rivers.
I often think of rivers as the arteries of our living planet and their health is vital to us all not just as anglers.
I always relish exploring new rivers and I believe that each river has a unique character established over millions of years with history and geology influencing each river. Sadly in recent years mankind has generally been a destructive force.
Many of Devon’s larger rivers embark upon their Journey high on Dartmoor or Exmoor often within a relatively small area. The Taw, Torridge and Tamar all sharing sources just a few miles apart. The Exe and Lyn sharing sources close together on Exmoor yet the rivers meet the sea far apart sometimes on different coasts. Whilst the Twin rivers Taw and Torridge follow their own routes eventually converging at the Taw and Torridge Estuary.
Both rivers are very different and even the fish within are vary with their own unique DNA.
I recently obtained a copy of The TEIGN BOOK – The Story of the River Teign Restoration Project and other aspects of the Reading this book has certainly made me aware of how a river is impacted upon by many factors.
I would also note that whilst we think of our rivers being in a poor state now many were impacted upon by significant pollution in the past from mining and untreated sewage etc. In many case they recovered but it could also be that many pharmaceutical chemicals that leach into our waterways are more sinister than we think.
An article in the Spring Trout and Salmon Magazine by Uli Zellweger highlights the issue of Tick and flea treatments on dogs that end up in rivers having a devastating impact upon insect life.
I caught my first salmon from the River East Lyn in 1981 a time when these iconic fish were relatively abundant. Now we are talking of their potential extinction in West Country Rivers within a couple of decades…
In the past fifty years we have lost an estimated 50% to 70% of insects and between 1970 and 2014 we have lost an estimated 60% of wild vertebrates. Data is often suspect but surely our own eyes and memories tell us a story.
Cast your minds back and remember clearing smeared windscreens of insects? Not an issue these days is it but … Shifting Base Line Syndrome perhaps masks the decline over time. Each generation calibrating to its own sense of normality. Fifty years and a doubling of the world’s population; we certainly need to get the natural world higher on the political agenda!
Angling is great for connecting with nature but we have to accept that young people need to garner that connection with rivers and nature and this could via so called wild swimming, canoeing or simple exploring. With luck they will perhaps become anglers somewhere along the line.
We all know about the sterling efforts regarding conservation by angling clubs and wildlife trusts etc. But there is a worrying divide between many within Country Sports and a growing urban country divide. We need to focus on common ground perhaps? On a controversial note we have a government that plans to ban fox hunting yet is determined to build, build, build and to grow the economy with scant regard for nature.
I am often dismayed at the way success is measured by GDP. Can we continue to push for growth at all costs?
Enough of politics let’s get back to fly fishing.
I recently attended the Dulverton Anglers Association AGM where I was privileged to meet author Nicholas Fitton whose book “ Gently Down the Stream” Has recently been published. I asked him to sign my copy and we had a good chat about fly fishing and fishing. I was shocked a couple of weeks later to receive the very sad news that he had passed away suddenly as the result of a heart attack. A stark reminder of life’s fragility and the importance of relishing every moment.
Nick challenged the upstream dry fly purist within the pages of his book and my eyes were opened further when I attended a Euro nymphing tutorial at the Arundell a couple of weeks ago.
James Christoforou and Lewis Hendrie gave a fascinating demonstration on using tungsten nymphs to search the river. The use of wiggly worm patterns drew comparisons to LRF fishing techniques. Perhaps these new approaches will encourage a new generation to embrace fly fishing?
There is a balance between new tactics and long standing tradition and it is perhaps for each angler to decide?
There is no doubt in my mind that the ultimate delight is to see a wild brown trout slurp down a well presented dry fly but as fly life dwindles and trout lurk deep should we deny ourselves the opportunity to enjoy a well bent rod?
For our pastime to continue we need clean rivers and young anglers ensure it continues. Key to this is perhaps the Angling Trust but many in today’s society do not join holding a what’s in it for me attitude to life.
We are very lucky to share a passion for angling and as a new season starts let’s look forward with a sense of optimism for we must relish and savour what we are so fortunate to still have access to.
What are everyones thoughts here?

After a moment of silence I was relieved when the membership embarked upon a lengthy discussion stimulated by my rambling delivery. I sincerely hope some of the ideas generated will sow seeds for future generations to immerse themselves in this wonderful pastime.

At the Arundell Arms opening day was celebrated in style with a gathering of keen anglers enjoying conversation, complimentary coffee and bacon rolls before a traditional toasting of the river. Several beautiful wild brown trout were tempted by anglers despite the cold North East wind.

6 Mar 2025

ARUNDELL – SPRING GRAYLING DAY

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Meet in the tackle shop for complimentary tea, Coffees and a bacon roll followed by a day learning about fishing, fishing and then a film on the fish. All at one of the West Country’s most revered Country Hotels THE ARUNDELL located on the Devon Cornish Border. A great agenda for a day for sure, what’s not to like?.

Early March and grayling and nymph fishing tactics were top of the agenda. Though an early salmon from the River Torridge headed the early discussion as anglers from far and wide chatted over warm drinks. The tackle shop provided plenty of quality products for the fly angler and I took the opportunity to buy a few heavy nymphs as recommended by James Christoforou and Lewis Hendry. Our expert tutors for the morning session.

Spring sunshine soon cleared the early frost and mist from the rolling hills and valleys revealing a bright blue sky and roadsides brightened with yellow daffodils and primroses.

Close to twenty anglers were booked into the mornings tutorial on Euro Nymphing tactics and after a lengthy time of chatting and mingling we head for the river some of us enjoying a pleasant stroll the river situated half a mile from the hotel whilst others jumped into cars and Landrover’s.

*Team Arundell – David Chapman, David Pilkington and James Christoforou*

https://www.thearundell.com

We all gathered beside the River Lyd that was looking in fine trim; its clear water glistening in the bright morning light. The Arundell team was headed by James Christoforou accompanied by fly fishing guru Lewis Hendrie and long-time Arundell stalwart and much respected David Pilkington.

James waded out into the clear waters and started to explain the basics of modern Euro Nymphing. It was explained that Euro Nymphing is a phrase coined to describe a range of nymphing tactics created primarily by anglers from Poland, Czechoslovakia and France. The technique basically embraces the use of long light rods paired with a very light line and heavy nymphs that are propelled into the river using their weight instead of the line as is the case with traditional fly fishing.

The approach to the river is vital if success is to be enjoyed the first objective being to get close to the fish without alerting them. Slow and low was the motto; a useful tip being to use knee protectors available from builders merchants to protect those knees and expensive waders from wear tear, brambles and barbed wire.

*Protection for those knees and expensive waders*

Lewis Hendry followed on bringing even more in depth advice on tactics frequently driving home points already made earlier by James in his own enthusiastic and unique style.

Lewis Hendrie delivers a wealth of valuable tips

Take a note of where the light is shining from, read the water to guess where the fish lie and pause to look around for those fly hungry trees.

The intricacies of sight leaders, nymphs and how to present them were explained with passion, humour and clarity. The main thrust is that tradition is largely forgotten in this refreshing and enlightening approach to catching trout, grayling and even salmon and sea trout.

The key is to present the nymph to where the fish are lying, into the taking zone, offering an easy meal a tactic that can very often tempt a big wily fish lurking in the deep waters of the river when traditional dry or downstream wet fly tactics pass over the fish.

I personally found the whole tutorial enlightening picking up various tips as is always the case when hanging around with highly experienced anglers. It was also very reassuring to learn that my own tactics were pretty sound even if my delivery sometimes goes astray. Though we were assured that even they get hung up in the odd branch and that losing the occasional nymph to a snag on the riverbed is par for the course if you are searching for the feeding zone correctly.

Wiggly worm nymphs jigged deep are far from traditional tactics and those from an older generation would undoubtedly frown upon these tactics that I felt had much in common with LRF fishing tactics. There are undoubtedly those who would say it’s not cricket but if we want young anglers to come into the sport perhaps we need to adapt and learn fun new tactics.

Lunch time and my friend Jeff Pearce and I headed back to the Arundell to enjoy a coffee and cake from the deli before heading off to beat 3 on the River Lyd for a couple of hours late afternoon fishing.

It was a joy to walk across the fields to explore the River and try to locate those hot spots where the grayling dwell. Inspired following the mornings tuition we sent our nymphs plopping into deep pools and promising runs.

The afternoon sun illuminated the bankside trees, spring flowers and the bright clear sparkling waters are a perfect tonic to this increasingly troubled world.

I watched my bright orange leader, it stabbed down, I lifted the rod and a good sized grayling splashed and twisted in the strong current. Sadly it came off after a few seconds but at least I knew I was doing something right.

We left the river as the sun slowly sank and returned to enjoy a delicious meal in the bar before heading to the Tamar room to watch the film.

The angling world is undoubtedly a very connected community I observed as we chatted with fellow angling guests. Plotting future excursions and debating various aspects of this fascinating piscatorial world.

Close to forty assembled for the showing of Jack Perks acclaimed film Britain’s Hidden Fishes.

https://www.jackperksphotography.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI2r-FleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfzsYPsJgDTQs4cb-gtigIQEWL36vA74rPA6T8NqxxtTxkZlXMfqBZtUXA_aem_llQuB3cmPnuoy9opAUcNaw

“Britain’s Hidden Fishes” is a not-for-profit documentary by Jack Perks, a renowned British Wildlife videographer. This captivating film explores the fascinating underwater world of the UK. From chalk streams to the open sea, the documentary shines a spotlight on some of the UK’s most overlooked and underrated wildlife, fish.

Narrated by Jeremy Wade ( Of River Monsters), Britain’s Hidden Fishes was filmed over two years to capture never-before- seen stories, behaviours, and footage of British fish.

The film is undoubtedly an outstanding insight into the precious and spectacular world of UK fish. It is hoped that the film will eventually be shown on mainstream television where it deserves to be aired to a far wider audience.

The talk was followed by an enlightening question and answer session with Jack Perks whose passion for fish and fishing was plain to see.

2 Mar 2025

A NEW SEASON UNDERWAY AT WONDERFUL WIMBLEBALL

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

A NEW SEASON UNDERWAY AT WONDERFULL WIMBLEBALL

The Exmoor landscape glistened with frost as the sun climbed in the clear sky. I negotiated the icy roads on my way to Wimbleball on the last day of metrological winter.

A veil of white mist hid the reservoir from view as I approached with not a breath of wind.

Several anglers were already at the water’s edge and had enjoyed early success. I was meeting with my good friend Jeff Pearce who had assisted with the launching of several boats offering advice based on the previous days opening.

I had already set up my Snowbee Diamond 2 Fly Rod #7 4-Piece – 10′, in combination with a 7wt, Intermediate line with black lure on the point and small diawl bach on a dropper. This was my go to set up early season and I was to use this throughout the day. I had a few casts in the boat bay whilst Jeff continued to assist arriving anglers with the boats.

The mist was lifting quickly as late winter sunshine quickly warmed the air. The lake was mirror calm only the departing boats rippling the waters. I captured a few images of the scene and poured a coffee. It was good to be back at this jewel in the crown of West Country Fly Fishing.

This was day two of a new season and anglers the previous day had enjoyed most success fishing from the bank. The most successful flies were undoubtedly black and green perpetuated by the fact that most anglers choose this pattern early season.

Jeff and I had a cunning plan to utilise our boat to move around beaching the boat at promising areas and fish from the bank. Our first point of call was Bessom’s an area that gives access to reasonably deep water. I was full of optimism and belief but the first hour passed without any connection to the lakes residents.

Jeff was first to connect tempting a typical hard fighting rainbow on a black booby fished deep and slow. Despite lack of success I persisted casting out and working my lure back slowly inch at a time with the occasional speedy twitch and pause.

Persistence and belief generally pay off and suddenly the line zipped tight and I enjoyed the delectable throbbing of life transmitted through the line the rod absorbing the feisty rainbows attempts to shed the hook.

We spent another hour or so catching another six rainbows the best around 3lb 8oz. Whilst we could have stayed and caught steadily we decided upon a change of scenery moving to Cowmoor and an area of bank that has been cleared to allow easier access and plenty of room for the back cast.

It didn’t take long before the rods were bending and reels singing as rainbows hit our lures treating us to acrobatic antics as the fish leapt cartwheeling on our lines end. Jeff had by now changed over to a similar set up to me and tempted fish on a regular basis. We ended the day on fourteen trout averaging 2lb 8oz the best probably 3lb 8oz. Jeff lost what felt like a big fish of which many have been stocked the best topping 10lb.

The day will be remembered for the warmth of the sun the beautiful scenery, good company and of course those hard fighting full tailed Wimbleball rainbows. In many ways it was another perfect day that ended all too soon.

Opening Day Report from Wimbleball Fishery.

Seven boats and twenty-nine bank anglers attended opening day on Thursday. Some great catches were had, pictured was Simon Peters, from the bank at Cow Moor the fish were cruising the bank, you’d get 1 or 2 quick succession then it would go quiet for a while, ended up with 15 fish between two anglers, including pictured one around 5lb.

Peter Duckett had 3 right off from by the flagpole.

Anthony Cartwright had a great day on Friday fishing the bank from Ruggs, catching 16 fish on a mixture of floating lines with lures to shooting heads and boobies. Picture of decent fish in margin by rod, not far off 10lb.

Kieron Jenkins with the best of a 21 fish total from the boat saturday, with most fish coming from Bessoms with some lovely overwintered fish from around the Pontoon.

Best method was fishing di7 and two boobies (pink and black) slowly at depth. Plenty of positive vibes from anglers, bank seemed to outfish the boats weather was so different from previous seasons and the cold temperatures with bright sunshine put the fish down a bit but some still caught on floating lines and diawl bachs! Get those online returns in, as at the end of the month Wimbleball admin will pick a random catch return for a free take 2 fish then catch and release ticket.

2 Mar 2025

Celebrating the Salmon Season 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Club Page, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

March 1^st and the commencement of a new salmon season on North Devon’s Taw and Torridge. I joined members of Barnstaple & District Angling Club at Newbridge to celebrate the occasion at their bankside hut. Warm spring sunshine brought smiles and optimism a contrast to last season’s start with a raging torrent of dirty water combined with hail and thunder.

A Hang glider drifted high above in a clear blue sky. We chatted warmly of seasons gone and those who had walked the river banks at this very spot. It was good to share the spring day with a band of fellow piscators those stories of silver bars bringing hope for the season for anglers are an eternally optimistic bunch. A cool beer, hot dogs, Lemon drizzle and a cup of afternoon tea.

The river was running high with that healthy aqua tinge of spring. With the biggest tides of the season any salmon were likely to be well upriver by now but it was perhaps still worthwhile savouring the throb of a spinner as it traversed the currents or the drift of the fly over well-known taking lies.

Daffodils, celandines and primroses brought that touch of yellow to the lanes and river bank. We will soon glimpse the first martins and swallows and who knows perhaps that silver tourist will bring a touch of silver to enrich some lucky anglers life. I look forward to reporting on the first spring salmon of 2025.

24 Feb 2025

POPULAR FLY FAIR SIGNALS EVE OF A NEW SEASON

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

The South West Fly Fair hosted by South West Lakes Trust and held at Roadford Lake has become a popular fixture in the West Country angling calendar and is seen by many as the curtain raiser to the season ahead. I have been attending the event for many years and always enjoy the opportunity to catch up with familiar faces and forge further connections within the fly fishing community. The main sponsors for this year’s event were once again Turrall, Chevron Hackles and Snowbee.

Gale force winds and heavy rain failed to dampen enthusiasm as keen fly fishers gathered around the many stalls within the spacious conference rooms. There was an impressive array of tackle, clothing and fly tying equipment on display along with representation from local angling clubs, associations and the hospitality sector. As always river conservation was high on the agenda with a real passion for the preservation of our rivers and wildlife within.

The River Teign Restoration Project that brings a story of salmon decline and the efforts to restore the river to its former glory was of particular interest to myself and I look forward to reading all about it in ‘The Teign Book’ written by local angler Neil Yeandle. The book now sits on my desk ready to read over the coming weeks. Glancing through its pages I can already see that it is an evocative story of catastrophic decline and sterling work to restore habitat that brings hope for the future.

Former head of angling at South West lakes Trust Ashley Bunning was present with South West Waters Invasive species team highlighting the threats posed to our environment and native species. https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/tackling-invasive-non-native-species-to-help-protect-our-wetlands

Talking with various organisations it would seem that 2025 is set to be a busy year for the regions anglers with plenty of events planned.

*(Above) James Christoforou from the Arundell*

The Arundell Arms is set to host several events over the coming months starting on March 5th with a grayling day and showing of Jack Perks acclaimed film ‘Britain’s Hidden Fishes’. This Country Hotel steeped in angling history since 1932 has a sound future with the vastly experienced David Pilkington working with new fishing guide James Christoforou.

http://WWW.THEARUNDELL.COM

Leon Fisher is the new head of fishing at South West Lakes Trust and welcomed well respected angler and long-time supporter of the show Charles Jardine to open proceedings. Shortly after Charles took to the wet and windy outdoors to demonstrate the art of fly casting. Charles as always wielded his fly rod with deceptive ease to propel the fly line into the gale force gusts whilst casting valuable advice to the anglers sheltering in the porch area.

Charles stressed the importance of stance and how to hold the rod pointing out that these basic foundations are the key to consistent delivery of the fly to the target. A very important point is that protective glasses should be worn at all times. It was refreshing to hear Charles reflect upon the design of rods and their price tags. Whilst top of the range rods are a joy to use the actual performance is largely in the hands of the angler.

https://www.hanak.eu/en/about-us/company-hanak

I chatted with Local angling guide Lewis Hendrie who was on the Hanak stand with their team of dedicated fly anglers. Lewis has his routes on Exmoor having grown up in the village of Exford learning his art on the wonderful rivers and streams that cascade to Devon’s North and South Coasts. Chatting with Lewis he pointed out that he had featured as a rising star in the Fly Fishing world in my North Devon Journal Angling column twenty five years ago. It is the mixing and mingling with fellow anglers that is at the heart of this event. Whilst fishing is the vital link conversations often flow far wider contributing to a healthy community.

Andrew Beattie of https://abtfishr.co.uk

Always interesting to see new and Innovative products ABT have a range of robust products for fly fishing and other disciplines designed by Andrew. The LRF Critter cradle with disgorger caught my eye as a useful tool for the growing band of sea anglers exploring the fascinating miniture world of species hunting.

The ideas behind the CritterCradle are as follows:-

Primary objective is fish care during for LRF angling
Provides a clean fish friendly surface for unhooking
Photography – a neutral grey compatible with camera exposure meters for good image exposure

Features

Competition card slot 68mm wide
Integral knot tightener (on the measure extension)
Measure & measure extension up to 300mm
Small hook disgorger
Light weight/ compact size for carrying

As a result it is a good tool for teaching & engraining good fish care techniques in young anglers (old too!).

Fly tying features extensively at the fair those present creating a wonderful range of flies, lures and nymphs to tempt a wide range of species in many waters. Tiny dry flies and nymphs to temp wily wild brown trout and grayling. Gaudy lures for freshly stocked rainbows and those big mouthfuls for ferocious pike. Fly tying can be a hobby itself filling those long winter nights spent dreaming of those warmer brighter days ahead.

We are very fortunate in the West Country to have a vast range of waters to explore. One of the discussions at the expert forum between Charles Jardine, Rodney Wevill and Gary Champion was the wonderful places that fly fishing takes anglers to across the world. With a vital connection to nature highlighted by the speakers.

I returned home from the fair with my mind buzzing and full of inspiration for the coming season. The value of life and savouring each day and moment emersed in angling and the natural world is always highlighted at these events.

John Aplin (Centre) from Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd

Accommodation and Fly Fishing in Dorset

20 Feb 2025

Grayling in a timeless Valley

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Trout Fishing for Beginners – with Directions for Dressing Flies for Trout and Grayling and useful Recipes

By Devonshire Fisherman ( Rev A Hughes)

The month of January is, unfortunately for the fisherman Artic in its conditions to tempt him to leave the fireside and pursue the gentle art: but February though it has well-earned itself the cognomen of “fill Dyke.” Is not always a wet month. There are many of its twenty eight days which possess a charm as fascinating to the piscator as the more genial breath of spring: when the fish are alert, and rise to the fly with exceptional readiness.

“About the year 1896 grayling were first introduced into the River Exe”. Five hundred yearlings.

*Trout Fishing for beginners published in 1926 tells of the River Exe and its grayling.*

The River Haddeo joins the River Exe a couple of miles downstream of Dulverton and has a character all of its own. This is probably in partly due to the influence of Wimbleball reservoir that has impacted upon flows reducing flooding as the dam takes the sting out of any heavy rainfall events.

The Dulverton AA beat runs for about a mile upstream of the junction with the Exe and has a wealth of interesting features to explore. Grayling are a fish I have a fondness for part in due to the fact that they give an excuse to fish the river during the winter months when the landscape has a unique and beguiling atmosphere.

I waded beneath the old stone bridge that carries the A396 to enter the peaceful Haddeo valley. Working upstream the left of the River consists of woodland and pheasant pens used by the local shoot. High above on the hill are the remains of Bury Castle believed to have been built by William de Say before his death in 1144. A google search for William de say brings little reward so the history just adds a bit of mystery to the valley. To the right is farmland with sheep grazing and young lambs already in evidence.

The river is running clear and at a good height as I start to explore its pools and runs with a pair of heavy nymphs. Evidence of winter storms are all about with plenty of fallen trees and woody debris some of which will add to the rivers health and biodiversity even if it renders a few swims unfishable in the short term.

I fished this beat in January of 2024 over twelve months previous so I already have an inkling on the best areas for grayling. It is remarkable how the river often seems devoid of fish during the winter months. During the late spring and summer wild brown trout are abundant darting for cover in the clear waters and rising for flies. I catch a couple of out of season browns during the day but I often wonder where the majority retreat to in winter.

It’s an overcast misty day, cock pheasants, survivors of the shooting season strut arrogantly on the far bank eyeing me with suspicion. Snow drops add a welcome brightness to the gloomy day and foretell of the Spring days to come. A shallow pool is full of frogspawn a sight I have relished since a young boy fascinated with ponds and the life within.

It is a joy to work my way slowly upriver allowing the nymphs to trundle close to the river bed. I watch the bright tip of my nymphing line intently lifting the rod each time it pauses feeling for a fish. After half an hour or so in a small pool I lift the rod and feel that wonderful life throbbing at the end of the line. The 3 weight rod bends pleasingly as I glimpse the silver flanks of a grayling its crimson sail like dorsal fin adding momentum as it holds in the fast flow. A pleasing fish of perhaps 8oz is soon safely in the net and slipped carefully back into the river.

Catching that first fish of the day always brings a certain contentment for whilst it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things it does bring satisfaction for when asked later about the day you can at least report upon a degree of success.

I fish on upriver and eventually come to a deep lie from which I extracted a grayling on my visit last year. To some extent success always encourages that little extra perseverance next time you fish. A fact that often leads to the belief that you have located a hotspot when you may perhaps have just had an extra drift or two because you believe. Anyway the line twitch’s just where I expect it to and the second grayling of the day is soon netted.

A few yards upriver there is a tempting deep looking pit where I prospect carefully. The line again pulls tight and there is another pleasing tussle with a lovely plump grayling of 12oz or more. Whilst these Devon grayling seldom reach the weights of their fellows in Dorset or Hampshire they can only be judged on the rivers they dwell in and on light tackle they offer superb and challenging sport.

Before starting to work my way back down river I pause to savour the scene. Country cottages across the valley woodsmoke drifting into the still cool air. An ancient oak tree stands beside the river its immense worn and weathered trunk testament to its age. It is fascinating to ponder for a moment or two on the history of this tree and what has transpired through its long life. Generations of anglers have fished this stream. Children from the village have undoubtedly caught trout here in days gone by drifting worms perhaps ignored and tolerated by the river keeper of the day. Poachers would undoubtedly have taken salmon from these waters during the late autumn and winter. Both types of poacher are seldom seen these days for children sadly seem to have lost the freedom and inclination to connect with rivers whilst the salmon are no longer there to poach in any number.

These observations only relate to the past fifty or so years. The old oak could be four hundred years or more old dating from before the Industrial revolution and witness to the many wars and tribulations of mankind. I guess the reassuring ever rolling stream and majestic oak bring a certain grounding to ones soul as we fish these pleasing rivers of life. In his new book due to be released this spring Robert MacFarlane askes the question. “ Is a River alive?” .

https://www.sevenfables.co.uk/product-page/book-is-a-river-alive-robert-macfarlane-1

Standing within these cool, enchanting waters the answer is surely yes and that its life is long, unlike our own lives in the words of the rock group Jethro Tull,

“Life’s a long songBut the tune ends too soon for us all”.

I retrace my steps back down river as the afternoon light begins to slowly fade. Ancient trees towering in the misty landscape. I look forward to returning in a month or so when those crimson spotted brown trout will rise, spring flowers will decorate the river bank and birdsong will reverberate through this peaceful timeless valley.

15 Feb 2025

Acoustic fish deterrence at the intake of Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, Game Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

My good friend Mark Everard included this in his latest Newsletter. This will undoubtedly have a significant impact upon the fish within the Bristol Channel and I would urge all who care to sign the petition linked beneath.

‘Acoustic fish deterrence at the intake of Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor

I have noted previously that EDF is frankly telling lies about the alleged ‘minor impact’ that an uncontrolled abstraction of cooling water from the Severn Estuary would have on fish. Modelling suggests 182 million fish killed a year for 60 years… hardly minor! Add to this the many are protected species – shads, lampreys, salmon, sea trout and others including much of the allis and twaite shad population of the UK that congregates in Bridgwater Bay – not to mention impacts on non-designated species. EDF suggests that creating a small bit of saltmarsh – highly unpopular with local communities and farmers – will offset damage if they are allowed to backtrack on fitting acoustic fish deterrent systems (about which they also promote untruths relating to noise and maintenance) but this is utter rubbish as it will not address biomass or species diversity to any significant degree.

As you know, I have done national and local radio around this. There is also now a petition that you can find here – https://win.newmode.net/hinkley-point-nuclear-power-station-fish-protection – so please have a look at this and, if you are so motivated, please sign it.’

*Dark clouds hang over the Bristol Channels future as millions of fish face death at Hinkley Point*

14 Feb 2025

Do you live in North Devon? Are you interested in the health of your local rivers?

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, Coarse Fishing, Conservation, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Do you live in North Devon? Are you interested in the health of your local rivers?

We are looking for new volunteers to join Westcountry CSI and become citizen scientists!

What is Westcountry CSI?

Westcountry CSI (Citizen Science Investigations) is a scheme established by Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) that involves monitoring the health of our streams and rivers, through spot sampling. We are organising a training event (delivered by WRT) to sign volunteers up.

The surveys are fairly quick and can take up to 15-20 minutes to complete. Once you sign up to the scheme online, you will receive free kit including phosphate test strips, a turbidity tube and a dissolved oxygen probe. As part of the project, volunteers are asked to take monthly samples at their chosen monitoring site and upload the results onto cartographer – a database managed by WRT.

The event details are included below:

Westcountry CSI Training Event

at Hatherleigh Community Centre

on Thursday 20^th March

from 10.30-12.30pm

If you would like to book a place at the event, please email [email protected] confirming the area you live and where you’d be interested to survey, if you have a preference.

For more details about the scheme there are plenty of resources available on the WRT website here: Westcountry CSI – Westcountry Rivers Trust (wrt.org.uk) or you can view the CSI Leaflet here: CSI Leaflet.

The training event is funded through Devon Wildlife Trust’s Northern Devon Natural Solutions project and therefore, we are only looking for volunteers who can sample streams and rivers in the northern parts of Devon, although this can include anywhere in the Taw and Torridge catchments. For more information about the wider project, you can view the website here: Northern Devon Natural Solutions | Devon Wildlife Trust

10 Feb 2025

FLY FISHING – EXE-TRAVAGANZA

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Should be a good day – One for the diary I suggest

9 Feb 2025

Trees for Salmon – Planting Day at Landacre Bridge

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Conservation, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Over the past twelve months or so I have helped introduce the film Riverwoods to audiences across North Devon. The film highlights the vital link between tree’s and salmon within complex ecosystems. So when I learnt that West Country Rivers Trust were holding a tree planting day beside the River Barle close to the iconic Landacre Bridge I felt that I should attend and join this effort to improve this environment for the salmon.

Those who follow my posts on North Devon Angling News will know of my dismay at the dramatic decline in salmon populations across the UK and beyond. I have been visiting the River Barle since I was a child when I would play in the cool clear waters fascinated by the minnows and trout that darted to and fro. Later I fished for Salmon inspired by the writings of previous generations who enjoyed an abundance hard to imagine today. Thirty years ago I walked the bank in late Autumn to glimpse salmon huddled in deep pools prior to spawning.

It is poignant to reflect upon the plight of Exmoor’s salmon an iconic symbol of the Rivers health and the wider indicator of our planets health. The river is in trouble these flowing waters that teamed with life are dying and it is up to us to reverse this trend.

Our son James works with the National Trust’s wetlands team across North Devon and joined me as a volunteer. We took photo’s as we planted tree’s that will hopefully be there in twenty years or so when our granddaughter can perhaps visit to see where her grandad looked to the future. It is my hope that salmon will still be migrating to the Barle then as they have done for thousands of years.

Many thanks to Dan Osmond (below) for his in depth account of the day below: –

Trees for Salmon – Planting Day at Landacre Bridge

There’s an old cliché that, ‘salmon live in trees’ but there is a deep and intertwined relationship between these fish and the vegetation that symbiotically supports both, not just the salmon. For trees, salmon bring rich nutrients from the sea up with their migrations to their spawning grounds. Numbers vary by ecosystem and health of salmon populations, but in some areas it has been observed that up to 70% of all nitrogen in trees comes from these migratory fish. This is reciprocated and for salmon, trees provide richer feeding opportunities through falling terrestrial insects and bolstering aquatic ecosystems with leaf and coarse materials for aquatic insects. Not only this, but trees provide resilience against climate change, through evapotranspiration and shading, vital in Southern England as climate threatens the already endangered Atlantic salmon. The benefits continue, as when trees succumb to the wind or are dragged in by beavers, the woody material aids natural processes in forming river stability and forming scours and complex habitat, all of which provides refuge for all different life stages of fish.

The view of the Barle valley from Landacre bridge is a treasured site for many local to or fond of Exmoor. This area is a site of Special Scientific Interest, both for the species-rich mire found within the floodplain but also for our friend the Atlantic salmon. The Barle is an area still supporting high numbers of spawning fish within the Exe despite declines across the catchment and has some of our highest annual electrofishing results for juvenile salmon each year. Despite the picturesque scene, this area is vulnerable, with high browsing from red deer and cattle leaving the banks bare of vegetation, and now showing signs of erosion that left unchecked would leave this very valuable area degrading further.

It was with this concern that we decided to step in with our ‘Trees for Salmon’ planting at Landacre Bridge. Supported by advice from Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA), we set about a strategy of ‘applied nucleation’, whereby small clusters of trees are planted to act as a dense source of future tree recolonisation. This has the added benefit of small enclosures deterring deer from munching vulnerable young trees, the leading cause of the lack of vegetation in these parts. The work was funded through Natural England’s Species Recovery project and site visits and collaboration with their team allowed us to target our planting exclosures in areas that would not negatively impact the mire habitat but bring about an overall improvement in the long-term hydrology and habitat function at this location. Being such boggy ground doesn’t make the job easy however, with the team from Three Atop Woodland Services manually installing the tree protection exclosures, even through the worst of this winter’s blizzards. All of this was wonderfully supported by the enthusiastic permission and help of the landowner Jo, who has been watching and caring for the salmon in these headwaters for many decades.

With all that goes on behind the scenes, it was with relief that we were able to bring 1,500 young trees and a cheerful group of volunteers to Landacre Bridge on Sunday the 9^th of February – the sun was even shining! After some words about the importance of the area and purpose of the day from local angler, Ueli Zellweger, and able demonstration from the WRT tree planting ninjas, Jay and Rob; the group of 25 dispersed across the valley to put trees in the ground at the exclosures. A mixture of native broadleaf trees were planted in, with sessile oak, alder, rowan, blackthorn and hawthorn forming this future riparian woodland community. So able and enthusiastic were our volunteers that by lunchtime, hot leek and potato soup in-tow, all of the trees had already been planted! After some warm bowlfuls and more fishy conversation, folks made their way back on home and the truck was loaded to return to the yard, 1,500 trees lighter. Though the effects of the hard work will take time to see, I look forward to returning to seeing these same plants in a couple of decades and the opportunities that they provide for the river ecosystem. Against the ongoing declines in biodiversity, most evident in freshwater migratory fish of all vertebrate groups; the day offered a positive opportunity to put boots on the ground, get mud under the fingernails and do something about it. We hope for many more opportunities to do the same again and scale up these restoration activities to support our wonderful rivers.

Dr. Dan Osmond

Senior Fisheries Scientist

Westcountry Rivers Trust