Chris Hutchings who fished up on swim one on Lodge Lake
These were a part of a 12 fish catch on peg 1 on Lodge lake during an Xmas social.
Most fish caught ranging from 16-20lb with 3 20’s included @ 20lb 6oz 22lb and the biggest @ 27lb 13oz
Tactics wise I fished small pva mesh bags of crushed manilla boilies which complemented a trimmed down manilla dumbell topped off with a trimmed down signature pop up the hook.
Neil Harvey had 8 fish out all caught on Mainline 15mm cell tipped on yellow corn. Glugged in cell bait enhancer with a 3in PVA sock with crushed cell and micro pellet all dipped in glug before the cast. Neil Fished peg 2 on lodge lake and caught all off the back margin of the spit, a rod length off.
Kyle Blackmore took advantage of the quiet shores on Christmas Day to tempt this smoothound. Not a large specimen but a thought provoking fish at this time of year. Catching fish outside of their recognised seasons has always happened but my gut feeling is that it is happening far more these days. There are many factors that impact upon fish and fish migration climate is just one of these and as anglers we play our game on natures chess board casting our lines into ever changing waters.
At Christmas and the New Year we often indulge in looking back and forth in time and social media has introduced an instant world that undoubtedly has its up and down sides. It is a fact that social media reflects good and bad in people so rather than condemn it as the new evil best to accept it as it is; taking the good with the bad as we always have in life.
On North Devon Angling News I try to report in a positive way to promote angling and the enjoyment of angling. I started the website back in 2016 when I saw that traditional papers were in decline ( The North Devon Journal stopped rewarding their angling columnist), I still write the column in the Journal because I want angling to have its place in North Devon News but feel that most people get their news on line these days. I hope readers enjoy what I try to do on this site and I welcome any features on local angling that you may be inspired to write. Please keep sending the news and images I do not reveal marks unless they are large easy access ones as I know this is a contentious area for sea anglers.
Fish conservation and habitat are all factors that impact upon anglers and I try to promote good practice within my pages on this site. In many instances anglers are at the forefront of conservation efforts espeicially on our rivers with grace concerns regarding salmon and sea trout stocks.
As I type this a latest report has just come in from Ian Laird ( Below) who landed this 9lb 8oz bull huss from a North Devon Rock Mark. One observation on recent months is that I am getting good numbers of qaulity pictures from anglers fishing the shore line during day light hours. I have fished plenty of after dark sessions to be plaged by small dogfish and strap eels.
If you would like to advertise/sponsor North Devon Angling News please get in touch. I try to give good value to all my sponsors. In the next few weeks my Intention is to add a few new features to the site giving more information on venues and whats on offer to anglers visiting North Devon.
Many thanks to all who have contributed news and images over the past twelve months. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and tight lines in 2019.
Matt Whalley and friend Matt who had eight carp from the double swim 1 on lodge lake caught on Mad baits addiction pop ups over a bed of monster particle and custom made corn mix and also A2 baits banoffee again over monster particle hemp and Maize.
Steve Pinn posted these splendid images of North Devon carp lakes capturing that essence of the sport that is so often overlooked as anglers pose with their big fish.
Autumn and winter reflections.
John Jobson enjoyed a fantastic day winter carp fishing at Stafford Moor landing a trio of carp weighing 23lb 7oz, 20lb 5oz and 20lb 10oz. The fish were all tempted using Krill Boilies over pellet.
These are difficult times on the High Street with many shops struggling as many shop online to secure the best deals. This is understandable but we must not forget the local tackle shop for they provide us with an invaluable service. Fresh bait, tubs of maggots, the chance to pick up and look at the product and that social benefit of meeting fellow anglers. Tackle shops have always been at the hub of the angling world a place to learn and become motivated by fellow anglers. If your thinking of what to buy the angler for Christmas why not head to your local tackle shop of which we have a great choice in North Devon.
Danny Watson runs High Street Tackle in Ilfracombe with his partner Pauline and has a passion for lure fishing that is reflected in the huge range of lures on offer in the shop. They also stock qaulity Ammo frozen bait along with sea angling tackle and essential items for the coarse angler.
Jamie Miller (Below) runs North Devon Tackle in Queens Walk, Barnstaple (in the arcade adjacent to Queens Street and Bear Street Car Parks). They specialise in carp, Coarse and Sea Fishing with Gift Vouchers available to ensure the angler gets to choose the perfect gift.
Summerlands Tackle are North Devons longest established tackle shop. A family run business that has traded for over thirty years. They carry a range of tackle covering all three disciplines and are actively promoting safety at sea this year with Crewsaver Life jackets on offer at a very reasonable price. What better present for the angler you care about?
Chillcheaters in Braunton offer a range of qaulity garnets for combating extreme weather conditions. See link below.
Blakewell Fishery boasts a well stocked tackle shop with Fly Fishing Tackle, clothing and a range of flies from West Country company Snowbee. Whilst there you can enjoy a coffee in their tea room and even choose a Christmas Tree.
Choose a good book for those cold winter nights from River Reads book shop near Torrington.
Bude anglers Chris Hudson and Matt Pepperell enjoyed a great session at Upper Tamar lake on the Cornwall and Devon border over the weekend landing 8 carp from the Lookout Tower swim. Chris had this cracking 24lb 1oz mirror that was stocked in 2017 at 22lb. The majority of fish were mid doubles. All caught on CC Moore Live system with white pop ups fished over the top.
Ryan Willshire from Bude has now had six different 20lb plus carp from Upper Tamar in two weeks! This time Ryan braved the awful weather and fished the Lookout Tower swim which produced three fish. A cracking common of 23.04, a fish known as ‘Steve’s Mirror’ which was 21.04 and another mirror of 19.00. The two mirrors fell to Mainline IB pop ups and the Common to pop up corn and all over a bed of Mainline Hybrid boilies.
