, broccoli, asparagus and a jacket potato, absolutely delicious! Then, all of a sudden, my right hand rod screams off!!
Pop Up was the winning bait!! 
Andrew Clements secured top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour rover with a specimen smoothound scaling 11lb 14oz. Tony Gussin was runner up with a smoothound of 11lb 1.5oz and Stephen Found third with a bass of 7lb 11oz.
Bideford Club have recently acquired fishing rights for club members at Higher Shorston Lakes near Holsworthy. Full details can be found via the clubs website. Access to these waters adds extra value to membership of this thriving and long established angling club.
Bideford Clubs Junior competition is proving very popular and is fully subscribed most weeks with twenty three participants in last weekend’s event which is very encouraging to see as it bodes well for the future. Hallie Osbourne won the latest match with 7.105 kilo. Runner up was Bailey Bramley with 6.935 kilo and Jenson Kiff third with 4.925 kilo.
This weekend is the first weekend of the summer holidays and I still relish the memories of those distant times when I fished the River Umber in Combe Martin to catch small brown trout and eels that were abundant in those days. The open coast and local ponds were also visited and our generation seemed to enjoy a greater freedom than todays. Angling is undoubtedly a pastime that is beneficial to mental health and connecting with nature and it is to be hoped that the joys are discovered by a few more young people this summer.
Predator 2 Charters operate out of Ilfracombe and in this their first full season of operation they are gaining a reputation for putting anglers amongst the fish. Skipper Dan Welch has fished the North Devon coast for many years and is putting that experience to good use having considerable success targeting bass and wrasse using the latest lure fishing techniques.
Good numbers of tope are also being tempted from waters off Ilfracombe with plenty of fish over 30lb boated.
High water temperatures have eased on many local rivers enabling angling to resume though extra care should be taken to ensure all fish are returned as soon as possible preferably unhooked in the water. During hot summer days fly fishing enthusiasts can enjoy some superb and at times challenging sport targeting bass and mullet in saltwater. Mullet have become something of a cult species to target with their wily reputation and powerful fights sometimes compared to the bonefish of tropical waters. On a warm summers day it is undoubtedly a joy to stand ankle deep in the cool waters as bass and mullet swirl close by in the flooding tide.
Stuart Kennedy won Stafford Moor’s latest residents Match with 269lb 10oz. This followed success for Stuart in the venues Open match when he put together a net of 262lb 15oz. On the venues Lodge Lake Zack Skinner banked a personal best carp of 32lb.
A spell of hot dry weather has resulted in water temperatures rising and fish retreating to deeper, cooler, shaded water on most of the reservoirs, while levels continue to drop. Intermediate and sinking lines have generally been the order of the day, although on some waters fish have still continued to rise and feed near the surface.
Fishing:
Kennick – Rods averaged 1.9 fish per rod, with boat anglers faring slightly better than those fishing from the banks. Generally deep-fished lures (Cats Whiskers and a variety of Boobies) caught the most fish, although Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, Diawl Bachs and Montanas still managed to pick up some fish. The best fishing was to be had in the deeper water in Clampitts, Boat Bay and by the dam, although fish were also caught from the Causeway, Oak Tree Point and Hawthorn Point. Brian Hitchcock (from Budleigh Salterton) caught six rainbows to 2lb while fishing from a boat with a sinking line near the bottom. The water level is now down to 71% capacity.
Siblyback – The fish moved to deeper water as the month progressed, and while beetle and hopper patterns managed to bring a few fish to the surface, most were caught on subsurface nymphs (Montanas, Damsels and Buzzers) or lures (Orange Fritz and Blobs and Christmas Tree patterns), with both floating and sinking line tactics catching fish throughout the water column. Stocky Bay, Crylla, North Bank, Two Meadows and Stoney Bank all produced some good sport. Water levels are now down to 67% capacity.
Burrator – In spite of the high temperatures fish have continued to feed near the surface, either rising to dry patterns (Claret Hoppers, Black Gnats and Sedgehogs), or feeding relatively close to the surface, with floating lines and long leaders, sink-tip or intermediate line tactics catching fish (mainly using Damsels, Montanas and Diawl Bachs). Longstone, Sheepstor, Bennetts and Pigs Trough banks have all produced some good fishing. Andy Birkett (from Plymouth) caught a bag ten rainbows while fishing from a boat. Levels are now at 65% capacity.
Stithians – The warm weather meant that sport became more challenging, with anglers averaging 2 fish per visit, and fish well spread out around the lake (Yellowort, Sluice Bank, Deep Bank, Sailing Club, Goonlaze, Carnmellis and Pipe Bay all produced some reasonable catches). Generally floating line tactics with a slow retrieve are still working well, with Hoppers, Beetles and Sedge patterns taking rising fish, and Buzzers, Hares Ears, Black Hoppers and Spider patterns taking deeper feeders. Water levels are now down to 80%.
Colliford – Anglers averaged 3.1 fish per visit – popular locations included Lords Waste, Menaridian, Browngelly, East Bank and the deeper water by the dam. A floating line and slow retrieve produced the best results, either with dry patterns (Emergers, Black Hoppers, Bobs Bits, Foam Beetles and Daddy Longlegs) taking rising fish, or Bibios, Soldier Palmers, Zulus, Mini-Muddlers and Black Pennels taking deeper feeders. Gary Boyd (from Tintagel) caught four fish in one session, fishing on the surface and close to the bank, while Shane Coventry caught six. Levels are now at 67%.
Fernworthy – Anglers averaged 1.5 fish per visit, with most fish being caught off Lowton, Boathouse, below the picnic tables and off the South Bank. Hoppers, Black Gnats and Emergers took rising fish, while sub-surface feeders were taken on Invictas, Diawl Bachs, Partridge and Orange and Spider Patterns. Mark Warren (from Weston-Super-Mare) caught five browns to 1lb 4oz using Diawl Bach and Hopper Patterns.
Roadford – Anglers averaged 2.75 fish per visit, with fish mainly caught at Gaddacombe, Shop, Big Oak, Daveys Bank, Wortha and Grinnacombe. Some fish rose to dry patterns (Black Gnats and Emergers), but the majority were taken on sunk patterns (Soldier Palmer, Black Pennel, Gold Ribbed Hares Ear and Buzzer patterns) fished on a floating line. Dean Boucher (from Gunnislake) caught thirteen browns to 1lb 8oz in one session, fishing wets on a floating line from the bank. Water levels are now at 85% capacity.
Please see the Trust’s website (www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing) for more information on buying tickets, boat availability and booking, and forthcoming events.
Chris Hall (July 2025)
For more information, please contact:
Becky Moran
Head of Communications and Marketing
South West Lakes Trust
01566 771930
What a fantastic day we have had at the Fluff Chuckers – Fly Fishing Fanatics / Arundell Rivers Event Rivers Event.
We fished in pairs on different beats on the river Lyd.
One from each pair fishing in the morning and the other doing the afternoon session.
It was going to be a nymph, klink & Dink or dry day.
It soon became obvious that a single dry looked the favourite with Rodney Wevill taking the most fish in the morning session with 7 fish including two sea trout off the top on a sedge.
We stopped for lunch / coffee back at the Arundell shop and deli .
The afternoon session was slightly slower but Richard Adeney managed to land 3 Browns after losing several fish , taking the afternoon win.
Nice to see Wayne Thomas landing a nice Grayling the only one for the day.
The biggest fish of the day was the first sea trout of the day for Rodney , as with all the events if someone wins more than one class/prize they choose which one they would prefer and hand over the other to the next in line.
The next in line was the up and coming young man Ozzie Gough who had 4 countable fish
And also 4 more just under the 15cm minimum size, well done Ozzie and your dad got the Lakedown beer seeing as your only 14 the day’s results ended up like this
Morning most fish. Ozzie Gough
Afternoon most fish Richard Adeney
Biggest fish of the day Rodney Wevill
A massive thank you to the sponsor/partners Yeti , Lakedown Brewery Co and the Arundell Arms Hotel.
Another big thank you to James Christoforou who heads up the Arundell Fishing and it was his idea to have a Fluff Chuckers Event on their waters.
Everyone enjoyed the day and the format, the river was absolutely stunning in fact it is very well looked after with good access without losing any of its wildness.
And also the Arundell Arms being a great venue in itself with the Hotel , Bar , Delicatessen and the Fly fishing shop stuffed full of everything you need and all the Orvis range and lots of Yeti products, great to see the business doing so well after several dacades being a top sporting hotel
Hopefully we will be doing a few more of these events and maybe a grayling event in the cooler months.
Fair to say we are very happy with things today.
MY ACCOUNT OF THE DAY – Wayne Thomas
I had been looking forward to this event for some time with its format of fishing and observing. I am always keen to learn and watching another angler searching the river was always going to be a learning opportunity. Though being scrutinised by another angler was also a little bit out of my comfort zone and I readily admit that my fishing is not always cool, calm and precise.
I arrived at the Arundell just before 8:30am and was soon chatting with fellow Fluff Chucker’s who were all relishing the day ahead. Head of Fishing James Christoforou greeted us and was as always full of contagious enthusiasm. There were still a few sea trout being caught despite the low river levels and with a bit of cloud cover and light drizzle things looked promising.
There were only six of us fishing the event that was split into two sessions of three hours each. With each pair observing for one session and fishing the other.
Partners were determined by drawing names out of a hat despite a suggestion from the youngest contestant that we use a lucky dip app on a mobile phone. With partners set we then tossed a coin to decide who would fish first.
My partner was fourteen year old Ozzie Gough who has been doing work experience at the Arundell. It was apparent from the start that Ozzie was very keen on his fishing and eager to learn. We set off for Beat 3 on the River Lyd and exchanged fishing chat freely on route talking of all disciplines of angling. In addition to a passion for angling my partner also had a mature and in depth understanding of the sport.
Ozzie had won the toss and elected to fish the morning session. From the start it was obvious that he knew what he was doing as I watched him commence a search of the river.
Reading the water is a skill that Ozzie had undoubtedly learnt well as he flicked his weighted nymphs into pools, runs and riffles with apparent ease. I was very impressed with his use of the bow and arrow cast and its accuracy.
Several small brown trout succumbed to his skill and I was delighted when he was rewarded with a stunning wild brown trout of 25cm.
The morning session drifted by quickly even though I wasn’t fishing and Ozzie ended with four trout above the minimum size and another four below this.
We returned to the Arundell and grabbed a coffee and a snack from the deli before connecting with fellow Fluff Chucker’s to compare notes. Rodney had undoubtedly stolen the show with a brace of sea trout and several brown trout.
Refreshed we headed back to the river and it was my time to search the water under Ozzie’s watchful eye.
Having watched Ozzie carefully I had a few ideas of where to concentrate my efforts but was also conscious that having been covered earlier in the day the fish may have been disturbed. Whilst this probably wouldn’t impact upon the wild brown trout and grayling too much it might have disturbed the sea trout that are generally considered to be more sensitive.
I had decided to carry two rods which in hindsight was a mistake. My intention was to cover the shallow riffles and glides with a duo set up and search the deeper water with the heavy nymph set up.
I started Ok searching the deep water without incident and making brief contact with a few small browns that came detached after a few seconds. I switched over to the duo set up and after a few casts decided I needed a heavier nymph on the point and a slightly longer
length between dry fly and point.
At this point the wheels came off my fishing to some extent as in the shady confines of the river I found retying the small flies and light line a little tricky. Stubbornly refusing to change my polaroid’s for standard specs I wasted a few minutes getting increasingly frustrated at the eyes that in younger days would have seen with a clarity long forgotten.
I did manage to raise one small brown trout to the dry but this came off. After another minor tangle with the duo I decided to concentrate on the deep nymphs and hope for bigger fish. The time seemed to be racing past and I knew I wasn’t fishing particularly well and the temptation was to rush.
Ozzie spotted a good sized sea trout or grayling and casting aside any competitive tendency offered me an opportunity to cast at the fish. By the time I had scrambled to the elevated bank it had evaporated from view to remain a secret of the river.
As we approached the top of the beat I missed a couple more chances. The deep slow water above the weir failed to inspire and the white water beneath the weir seemed devoid of fish.
I decided to work quickly down covering the best spots as there was less than an hour remaining. Fishing in the same pool I had hooked a sea trout in a week ago I was delighted to feel a decent fish gyrating on the line. A glimpse of silver made me think sea trout but the sight of a decent grayling was very pleasing as it slipped into the net to avoid a blank. At 29cm it was a good fish and due reward for an afternoons effort.
I fished on down and spotted a sea trout with a minute left in the competition but It eluded my offerings and the afternoon ended all too soon.
We headed back to the post competition meet up and on reflection there were lessons to be learnt. I would probably have been better advised to carry one rod and stuck to one method. I should also have swapped over from polarised to clear Lense’s to tie on my small flies.
On a plus note it was a pleasure to share a day on the river with a young and enthusiastic angler. I could not help but reflect on the fact that fifty years ago at fourteen years of age I had far healthier rivers to fish in with runs of salmon and sea trout that would be exceptional today. The tiny rivers I fished now devoid of fish had an abundance of feisty wild trout. At the time I really didn’t know what a paradise I was living in. Shifting Base line syndrome ensures that young Ozzie accepts today’s natural world and appreciates it.
It is easy to get despondent about our rivers but historically many West Country Rivers have recovered from dark times as I discovered when I dipped into a book I bought recently. The Salmon Rivers of England and Wales, by Augustus Grimble, published in 1913.
Documents a sad state of affairs with many rivers blocked by weirs, heavily netted, poached throughout the year and polluted with effluent from Industrial mining.
Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing league is shaping up to be a competitive one this year with good numbers of bass being caught from boat and shore. Club member Wayne Thomas enjoyed a good session landing eight bass including fish of 72cm and 65cm to put him into third place in the competition. All fish fell to a Savage Gear- White paddle tail lure. Such hectic sessions are few and far between with several blanks preceding this trip.
1st Mark Brewer – Five bass – 344.5 cm
2nd – Seth Tuson – Five bass – 330.5 cm
3rd – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 295 cm
4th – Reece Woolgar – Four bass – 263cm
5th – Ross Stanway – Three bass – 176 cm
6th – Robert Hurst – Two bass – 121.5cm
The club are hosting a members only lure fishing competition next weekend so prospects are excellent for this event.
I joined fellow Combe Martin SAC members on a trip on Predator 2 out of Ilfracombe. With a promising weather forecast and a good tide Lundy Island was our destination with many options on the days agenda including lure fishing, drifting the sandbanks and anchoring for tope.
It was a civilised 9:30am sailing from Ilfracombe harbour to coincide with the morning tide and it was a cheerful and optimistic group of anglers who watched Ilfracombe slip into the distance as we sailed down the coast passing the spectacular cliffs West of the port. The sea was lively off Morte Point as the ebbing tide pushed over the rocky strata.
Skipper Dan suggested stopping off to drift lures over a wreck a few miles off Baggy Point. We dropped a variety of lures to seek fish over the rusting hulk 100ft or so beneath. Rods were soon hooped over as powerful pollock with olive and silvery flanks seized our offerings in the clear water.
After several drifts the sport slowed as it often does and Lundy Island beckoned far out at the mouth of the Bristol Channel.
Despite a forecast of high temperatures and sunshine the grey cloud still shrouded the sky and Lundy was hidden by a misty haze. We steamed across smooth waters and watched as Lundy slowly appeared as warm sunshine burned away the cloud.
A trip out to Lundy is always special the granite outcrop towering above the sea always seems to have a hint of Jurassic park or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘Lost World’. Those fabulous tales that have enthralled the young at heart.
There were no dinosaurs as we drifted the North of the Island though several puffins bobbed cheerfully upon the water. A large swell caressed the base of towering granite cliffs. The white water, aqua marine and blue sky of a perfect hot summers days lifted the spirits. A few wrasse and the occasional pollock succumbed to our lures but fishing was slow. Dan tried several marks before moving to the tidal race off the North end. Again fish proved hard to find and all soon agreed it was time to move to the sand banks and drop the anchor for a go at the tope.
After several hours steaming about and drifting it was good to relish the silence as the boats engines were cut and the boat settled at anchor. The tide was still running but 1lb of lead was adequate to keep the baits on the sea bed. We all opted for large offerings of fresh pollock or mackerel mounted on large strong hooks. My own choice being Sakuma 8/0 465 Kong hooks crimped to Sakuma 130lb B.S 49 Strand stainless steel wire. On the way out I discussed the pros and cons of wire versus heavy mono when fishing for tope. Dan showed me a couple of his tope rigs that he had based upon carp fishers hair rigs. The use of circle hooks and a 250lb plus mono trace could indeed have an edge over the traditional heavy wire trace from both a number of fish hooked and fish care?
It often takes a while for the scent trail to build but on this occasion it was only ten minutes before I had a powerful take from a tope that shed the hook after a few moments. This signalled a flurry of activity as several rods took on fighting curves as tope ripped into baits. Several were soon boated with Peter Robinson boating a beauty of 37lb. This pattern followed throughout our time at anchor with flurries of activity resulting in eight tope to the boat with several close to thirty pounds.
As late afternoon approached the tide turned and action slowed. Dan suggested we head back and stop off for a short lure session in the racing turbulent waters off Morte Point.
Lundy slowly faded majestically away into a bank of mist as we steamed towards the North Devon coast .
It was early evening when we started to cast our lures close to the maelstrom of Morte race. It wasn’t long before rods were hooped over as silver flanked bass seized the lures along with a few mackerel. The best bass topped five pounds for Peter Robinson and Bruce Elston with several fish in the 3lb to 4lb size range.
After enjoying a thrilling session to end the day it was time to head back to Ilfracombe and the bustling harbour on a warm summers evening. We thanked Dan for a great day afloat and all look forward to the next adventure on Predator 2.
It was with much anticipation that a motley crew of like minded anglers assembled at my place for breakfast, prior to annual cat fishing trip on carp and cat 2 at Elderado. This was to be our fifth year targeting the catfish on this prolific lake and we always have a lot of laughs with a few nice fish thrown in along the way.
Unfortunately Wayne Thomas couldn’t make it this year so Noel Jones readily agreed to take his place.
With the bacon and egg butties and copious amounts of tea and coffee consumed we set about allotting swims by pulling names out of a hat. Unfortunately for Johnny ‘Fat bloke’ Hughes he drew the short straw and had to fish with me!
This year we had been lucky with the weather. With the lake booked months in advance, it is always a worry but with hot and sunny conditions forecast for the 48 hours of fishing we had ahead of us, things looked good. I have always found found this to be good conditions for tempting our whiskered friends.
Arriving at the lake we noticed a few carp spawning which was not ideal. Hopefully our large baits and agricultural tackle needed to tame the large catfish that reside here , would put off any carp fancying a snack after their amorous endeavours.
Barrow loads of gear were quickly deposited in our allotted swims. Well, quickly might be a bit of an exaggeration for this mostly retired and less than spritely bunch of old duffers! Anyway, eventually we were all settled in our swims and sat back in the sunshine awaiting events.
It wasn’t long before I spied a bent rod across the water and Tony Ball was playing the first cat of the session. Only a kitten
at around 8 pounds but it was a good start and fair play to the old fella for thinking outside the box and trying out a float paternoster
fished with worms.
Soon after Alan Palmer also landed a Kitten of a similar size, this was closely followed by a 29 pounder also to Mr Palmer.
Things were looking good and got even better when my alarm sounded and I was suddenly attracted to something that was intent on pulling my arm off. The cats have got bigger and bigger, year on year in this lake and this was definitely one of the bigger ones! Bitter experience of lost fish making it to snags or taking me around islands have meant that I have upgraded the gear I have been using to try and tame these beasts. Despite now using 30lb line, 3 1/2lb test Armorlites and big pit reels the big ones still lead you a merry dance. This one was no exception and decided it wanted to visit Noel in the swim further up the lake to my left. Eventually it came around to my way of thinking and a nice cat of 40lb 8oz was juggled into
the net by Fatty Hughes.
The action continued with Richard ’Bully’ Bull landing a 20.12.
The cats were definitely on the munch and we were all expecting a busy night but apart from a couple of lost fish and a 15 for Bully it was relatively quiet. Oh, and Fatty Hughes had a micro cat on worms popped up to just under the surface.
As the new day dawned, Noel was woken by lovely looking common carp that took a liking for a half tin of luncheon meat which was soon outgunned on the heavy gear and sent back on its merry way.
Father and son Team, Mitch and Ben Andrews had been quiet (at least fish wise up to this point) but this was about to change. Ben stole the show on day two with two nice fish of 30.08 and 32.14.
As the second night descend on us we could hear the call of a Nightjar nearby but Mitch spoilt the moment by declaring that it was in fact a farting Walrus.
Mitch has had some nice cats in the past but has not had the best of luck on our annual trips so we were all rooting for him as time was starting to run out on the session. Thankfully at 10.45 his bite alarm sounded and this time he wasn’t to be denied and after a spirited battle a 22 pounder was his.
Several other cats were landed in the night including a 28 for Alan, a 27 for Ben and a 24 just before the first light for me.
Fatty contributed to proceedings with another micro cat on worms.
As the new day dawned with mist rising off the water my Alarm sounded for the last time and I was blessed with another 40 pounder to cap off what had been a fabulous trip. Unfortunately Elderado had a sting in its tail for poor Noel as despite the heavy gear he was using and not fishing too close to the snags a big fish managed to get into some sunken branches on the far bank just as he was about to pack up.
Still it was a great trip and fun was had by the old fogeys and a fitting end to our Elderado adventures. I say end as it is rumoured that it will not be available for day tickets next year. I had better make hay…
🐾 MILLIONS of doses of pet flea and tick treatments containing imidacloprid and fipronil are sold without prescription in the UK every year. These powerful insecticides — which have been restricted in farming for the past 7 years — are freely available in supermarkets and online to use on pets and are contaminating our rivers, harming wildlife – and us.
Recent studies show they’re found in 100% of tested UK urban streams, harming the very species our ecosystems rely on — mayflies, dragonflies, beetles, and the birds and fish that depend on them.
This is chemical pollution on a national scale, and it could be stopped now…
✍️ PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION
To: Baroness Hayman, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Call on the UK Government to end the non-veterinary sale of imidacloprid and fipronil pet flea and tick treatments
❗ THE PROBLEM
– Imidacloprid and fipronil are deadly to aquatic invertebrates even in minute quantities.
– These pesticides enter water systems when washed from treated pets, from their bedding, or even our hands
– One treated dog can contaminate 5 million litres of water above safe levels.
– Yet these treatments are sold without guidance, warning, or oversight.
🚫 WHAT WE’RE ASKING
We urge the UK Government to:
1. Ban the sale of imidacloprid and fipronil-based pet parasite treatments except by veterinary prescription
2. Immediately improve warning labels to highlight the environmental harm of these products
3. Support research into safer, eco-friendly alternatives for parasite control
✍️ PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AND SHARE THIS WITH AS MANY OTHERS AS POSSIBLE
Let’s protect our rivers, wildlife, and national parks!
________________________________________________________________
About the Exmoor Society
The Exmoor Society is a registered charity working to protect and promote the unique landscape, wildlife and communities of Exmoor. We believe the environment and the economy must go hand in hand — and that protecting nature starts with knowledge, action and partnership.
