Dale Kiff was runner up with a smoothound of 9lb 15oz and Dale Kiff third with a smoothound of 9lb 6oz. Other fish registered included a smoothound scaling 9lb 1oz to the rod of Tony Gussin and a club record cuckoo ray of 2lb 13oz to Rob Hancock.
I joined eight members of South Molton Angling Club at Bulldog Fishery for their latest Mac Trophy event. I arrived shortly after 8:00pm to find several members already enjoying sport with the venues hard fighting rainbows.
High above I noted several swifts swooping high in the sky as a brisk North West breeze brought a chill to the morning air. I set up in the first available swim and put out a floating line and a long leader with an olive damsel with a bit of sparkle in its dressing. As is often the case fishing was easy for that first hour and most members caught fish. I put four into my bag by 9:00am and decided to switch tactics swapping my 7wt for a lighter 5wt rod and a single Pheasant tail nymph on the point. After a couple of missed takes I put another pleasing rainbow into my bag. With five rainbows averaging 3lb I decided to stop fishing and a take walk around the lake rod in hand hoping to spot a big cruising trout in the clear water.
This proved difficult as good visibility was only possible when a drop in the wind coincided with a burst of sunshine. On a circuit of the lake it was good to catch up with fellow club members and compare notes. Whilst chatting I watched several good trout cruising just a rod tip out and it was apparent that the trout had largely switched off.
Burger and chips were due at 12:30 and I hoped to complete my bag by then to get home and catch up with a few jobs. I had every confidence in the PTN and moved to a deep area that had a few fish rising within casting range.
The rippled surface made targeting individual fish difficult so I decided to fish blind again. Whilst some anglers believe in big flies for big fish I have every confidence that small flies work just as well especially when the fish are not feeding hard. I missed two takes and lost two fish in quick succession as the hook lost its hold.
Sometimes you get a lucky break as was the case when the line drew tight as I started a slow retrieve. I immediately felt sure that this was a better fish as it moved with a slower powerful movement with heavy thuds down the line as it shook its head. I was slightly apprehensive as I glimpsed its flanks and hoped that the 6lb b.s point and small fly would take the strain.
I was relieved when an impressive spartic trout rolled over the nets rim. Club Chairman Edward Rands was close at hand to secure an image of the fish and to hoist it onto the club scales that read a pleasing 7lb 13oz.
I spent the last half hour of the morning taking a few pictures and chatting with fellow club members before sitting down for burger and chips in the fishing hut. Mike Latham had a good spartic of 5lb 12oz and all members caught fish with three limit bags and several five fish bags.
Appledore Shipbuilders April rover was won by Jake Moule with a Specimen Small Eyed Ray of 9lb.
Andrew Atkinson was 2nd with another Small Eyed of 7lb.
A month into a new salmon fishing season and the scoreboard is ticking on both Taw and Torridge with five pristine Springers of between 8lb and 10lb from the two rivers. This is heartening in these days of decline as these iconic fish are often referred to as the proverbial canary in the mine.
These incredible fish were high on the agenda at the Torridge Fisheries Association AGM at the Half Moon Inn, Sheepwash, where William Entwistle gave a passionate and no punches pulled talk to a packed meeting room highlighting the efforts being undertaken by the South West Rivers Association who founded the West Country Rivers Trust in 1994.
William highlighted the catastrophic decline in salmon over recent decades and focussed on the industrial scale fishing in the open sea that is decimating salmon numbers taking thousands of adult salmon and smolts. The SWRA are lobbying the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation to work towards international action to protect salmon. William also emphasised the potential value of hatcheries and smoltification in aquaculture. William likened the artificial preservation of salmon stocks as a modern Noah’s Ark to ensure survival until political power provides a long term solution to overfishing.
The impact of climate change undoubtedly a major issue across the Northern Hemisphere. Salmon eggs need temperatures below 10 degrees if water temperatures are above 12 degrees in January the eggs will die. During last summer water temperatures on Dartmoor reached 25 degrees a level that will kill salmonids.
Prior to Williams talk Environment Agency Fishery Officer Sam Fenner had announced the total salmon catch for the Torridge in 2025 was twelve. This would have been a good days total thirty or so years ago!
Sam Fenner highlighted the work the EA are doing across the region despite the low numbers of fishery officers. Once again it was reiterated that any pollution or suspicions of illegal activity should be reported to the EA via their hotline 0800 807060. Anglers are the ears and eye of the river.
Beavers featured widely in debate at the meeting with varied opinions expressed regarding the environmental impacts they bring, both positive and negative.
Whilst there was a sense of sadness at the decline in salmon and sea trout there was a strong sense of community and an appreciation of the river. Brown trout are thriving and anglers are focussing on these beautiful fish and enjoying great sport with the emphasis on catch and release of all wild fish.
The association work tirelessly at their hatchery and have stocked out close to 23,000 salmon fry over recent days.
For more information on the Association visit their website :- Link below
http://www.rivertorridge.org.uk/the-association/
First place today went to Martin Turner on peg 17 with a nice net full mainly carp for a weight of 36lbs 15oz, 2nd place was Kevin Shears on peg 4 with a weight of 32lbs 13oz ,3rd place was Stefan Clarke on peg 9 with 27lbs 1oz and 4th place today went to Antony Bentley on peg 6 with 27lbs. The next Rod and Reel match will be on the 26.4.26 at tarka. If you would like to book on to the next Rod and Reel match you can do so 30days before the match in advance on clubmate. 
The Fox and Hounds was the venue for the River Taw Fisheries and Conservation Associations AGM last Friday. Forty or so members assembled at the hotel with river conservation at the top of the agenda. Chairman Andy Gray highlighted the extensive work being undertaken across the River Taw catchment with a collaborative science based approach to tackle the many issues that impact upon the rivers health. Agricultural pollution, and sewage discharge identified as being the most impactful. The association are working closely with the Environment Agency, West Country Rivers Trust and North Devon Biosphere in a catchment partnership. The collection of data is a vital part of forward planning and the association are working with Exeter University and West Country Rivers Trust to help gather this information for science lead solutions.
Daniel Skeat’s and Karen Saunders gave informative presentations regarding the shad eDNA project and electro fishing results across the catchment. There were some positive results from the fry surveys in some areas that give a glimmer of hope for the future.
The Taw salmon rod catches were probably better than expected with around 90 fish recorded. Most of these were caught during a brief productive spell at the end of the season with most fish caught lower down the catchment despite good water levels.
It is apparent that anglers observations from the water’s edge are vital in revealing the full picture. Rod catches are an important indicator of fish populations. It is only through anglers that the presence of rare migratory shad have been highlighted in the Taw catchment. Anglers are often the first to spot pollution incidents and those that participate in River-fly Surveys provide vital data to monitor long term river health.
Sam Fenner and Harry Chance from the Environment Agency both gave updates on the sterling work they are doing across North Devon in both fishery enforcement and farm visits. Their efforts are to be welcomed and supported whole heartedly by all anglers. The Environment Agency is undoubtedly underfunded and this will only change as public opinion puts the environment higher onto the political agenda.
The Channel 4 program ‘Dirty Business’ has stimulated much discussion regarding water companies and enforcement. These emotive productions are beneficial in stirring public opinion but anger seldom proves productive as the issues are complex. In a world driven by social media and polarised opinions solutions are not often easily found.
In my opinion the work being done in our rivers is vital to help salmon and sea trout survive. But addressing the destruction of salmon at sea via industrial fishing is where action needs to be coordinated to give any realistic hope for the long term future. As to climate change its effects can perhaps be combatted to a limited degree by careful river management with tree planting.
An online auction is being held to raise valuable funds to enable this work to continue full details can be found on the associations website.
RTFCA ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Welcome to the RTFCA annual fundraiser. Donations from our members and supporters go to raising to funds for the Association.
All of the funds raised are spent on in-river projects designed to improve water quality or deliver environmental improvements. Some of our previous projects can be seen on our website at https://rtfca.co.uk/
This year we are hosting the fundraise online. Please follow the link and instructions and bid generously. Leave a tip if you are able.
We are very grateful for your participation and support.
The link for the fundraiser is: https://app.galabid.com/rtfca-fundraiser/items
Many thanks and good luck
Ian Blewett
Sec
Combe Martin SAC held their Spring Rover during the first full weekend of March with the clubs keen mullet fishers gathering at Lynmouth Harbour to fish morning tides on the Saturday and Sunday. Conditions seemed perfect with a light Southerly breeze and mist draped over the coastal cliffs. Every tide is certainly different as regards the fishing as proved the case. A big swell was pushing into the shoreline each day with a few surfers riding the clean breaks.
Saturday saw small mullet in abundance with just one good sized mullet caught by John Avery and numerous very small mullet several of just a few ounces. These small mullet rattled my rod tips throughout whittling the bread off the hooks in minutes.
Sundays tide saw an abundance of specimen sized mullet milling around in the clear water. The majority seemed totally uninterested in feeding but two good fish succumbed including a superb specimen of 5lb 2.5oz to the rod of dedicated mullet angler John Shapland. John has caught a mullet every month since March 2021 a total of 61 months which is certainly an achievement and testimony to both his efforts and the changing climate.
Club Secretary Nick Phillips was also delighted to tempt a good fish of 3lb 10oz.
John Avery added a second mullet of 2lb 7oz to his weekend total. Interestingly all three successful club members only had the one bite.
Members retired to the Pavilion Cafe for a full English with tea and coffee and vowed to do it all again before too long.
