Combe Martin SAC members enjoyed a fine days sport off Minehead with Steve Webber on his boat Osprey. The day started with a Wetherspoons Breakfast where the nuances of poker, politics, health and economics provided an interesting agenda.
A flat calm sea is a wonderful sight when setting out for a day’s boat fishing and it was a buoyant party of anglers who set out to enjoy a day afloat.
A full report of the day should appear in the July edition of Sea Angler. But for now i will share a few images of a great day with club members catching, bass, thornback, small eyed ray, spotted ray, conger, smoothound and more than a few dogfish.
Many thanks to Steve Webber ( Below) for putting us on the fish, keeping the kettle on and entertaining us with tales and reminisces.
Chris Connaugton his son Alfie Joe (AJ) and Steve Pinn are the Barnstaple Bait and Tackle team giving a friendly welcome to anglers at the extenstion of the shop in Queen Street, Barnstaple just a short cast from Barnstaple Central Car Park. The shop has a wide range of tackle for all disiplines of angling. The team offer comprehensive advice on all aspects of angling. The shop has now doubled in size giving more stock and more room to browse and of course chat with fellow anglers.
Dulverton Anglers Association AGM was held on Friday, February 21st in the Anchor Inn at Exebridge. I have been a member of the club for a couple of years and have enjoyed a few pleasurable days exploring their extensive waters on the Upper Exe and its tributaries.
The club is a long established one and its committee undoubtedly hard working and committed to providing good fishing, protecting the environment and nurturing a friendly network of anglers. The AGM was conducted in a calm professional manner with those friendly moments of warm banter that make all feel welcome and relaxed.
It is fair to say looking around the room that the majority of members fit the expected dynamic of a fly fisher pursuing the gentle art. Most with a few exceptions are of an older generation with greying or thinning hair with the occasional ache and pain. There is however no lack of passion for the river environment its fish and the desire to cast a line. I state this ageing dynamic as there is often a debate around the future with a lack of younger generation anglers. More on that later.
Catch returns show that brown trout and grayling fishing remains good with no significant concerns. The acquisition of Old Woman’s Beat is a significant milestone for the club and its first season saw many members fishing this historic beat. Over 250 brown trout were registered, close to 90 grayling and one sea trout. It is sad that no salmon were caught as this was once regarded as one of the prime salmon beats on the Upper Exe. Sea trout have never been a significant catch on the Exe system which is strange as the river shares many characteristics of other West Country Rivers that still boast good sea trout runs.
One member present was Nicholas Fitton who has recently had his second book published, ‘Gently Down the Stream’. The Forgotten Art of Downstream Wet-Fly Fishing. ( his first book was ‘In Search of Wild Trout , Published in 1992) I asked Nicholas if he would kindly sign my recently purchased copy of the book and he duly obliged. His opening question to me was; Are you a downstream or upstream man? I replied that I cast to the fish where they lie be that upstream or down. In many of our wild rivers with overhanging tree’s there is surely no room for dogma and outdated tradition.
In so called liberated days it is perhaps strange that many still hold onto traditions of the past. It is perhaps a contradiction in stating this that I admit to a great fondness for angling literature from the early days of the last century and savour the words of some of the sports greatest writers. H T Sheringham, George A B Dewar, Sir Edward Grey, E. A. Barton, G.E.M Skues and of course F.M. Halford. These great writers hale from what was perhaps the golden age of angling when fly fishing traditions were established.
We chatted at length about fishing and Fly-fishing and reminisced about a time when we were young and commenced our angling journey. Freedom to explore the countryside and fish are common themes I have discussed with many anglers who shared those same decades. As young anglers we of course followed no rules drifting worms to catch wild trout and only learning the delights of fly-fishing as we progressed. I sometimes wonder if we should have open stretches of rivers where junior anglers can fish without the restraints of rules. Young anglers are the future and it is imperative that we engage them in fishing and nature. In the old days I feel sure the keepers of the river would occasionally turn a blind eye to the young child flicking a worm or knub of cheese to trout. Primula soft cheese worked for me, along with grasshoppers and flakes of mothers pride.
I am looking forward to reading Nicholas’s book and learning more of the art of downstream flyfishing. ( Will write a review on the book on here in due course) The complete fly angler will surely be adept at all methods dictated to by the flow of the water and the ways of the trout.
The official meeting business was followed by a talk from Angling Trust representative Alex Van Wienen who highlighted the many services, avenues for advice and funding the Angling Trust offers to member clubs.
A delicious and plentiful buffet was provided to close the meeting the remains of which fed the associations habitat working party the following day as they cleared paths of debris on one of their beats in accordance with the landowners wishes. The association organise various working parties throughout the year and plans to work with the Environment Agency later in the summer to help tackle invasive Himalayan balsam.
March 1st 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.
The Angling Trust and the Environment Agency are working with local angling clubs to combat poaching and fish theft.
The winning fish an eel of 18lb 10oz was caught by Jonathon Stanway with his brother Ross Stanway securing runner up spot with an eel of 12lb 2oz. Third was Ollie Passmore with an eel of 11lb 15oz.
Conger dominated catches during this six hour evening competition with members fishing various marks on the North Devon Coast. The conger seemed to be on the feed in a big way. I fished with club secretary Nick Phillips and we landed close to twenty eels, sadly all were less than 10lb. I did hook what felt like a very big eel and was dismayed when the 7/0 hook I was using snapped an event that has never happened to me in over fifty years of fishing.
Chairmans report
An interesting year with potential areas for the club to grow. The fun and species league based around Ilfracombe has generated an influx of new members and as a club we need to ensure this initial enthiusasm doesn’t dwindle away. How we do that is of course up to the members?
The core of the club is still specimen based but there has been a change in the way we fish with less social interaction and a more insular approach. Reduced access to the coastline is an issue as an increasing population leads to ever more restrictions on parking and access.
The challenges we face as a club are common to most clubs and we need to address areas where we can perhaps offer more to the membership. Though all a club really provides is a place to come together and share a common love of angling. It is a concern that Nick and I have been at the helm of the club for forty years or more! If there is a future then at some point some young revolutionaries will have to kick us out.
Fish recorders report
38 species from Ilfracombe Pier and harbour area!
Toby Bassett caught – 34 of them!!!
Specimens fish – 51 over 100%. Kyle landed – 20 of these
(49 in 2023)
Gilthead bream seem to thriving in the estuary and I suspect there were more 100% smoothound caught than recorded? A big change in what is being caught in the estuary with smoothound and gilthead bream caught as far up as Fremington Quay.
The winter fishing on the Open coast has been difficult with small conger and dogfish dominating catches. Good to see a few big pouting caught but the numbers of pouting and whiting are a fraction of those in past decades.
The summer bass fishing was good in the estuary and for some periods on the open coast.
I am hoping to see a big increase in fish recorded from the boats this season now that we have a Charter boat skipper in our midst. I would like to recruit a few new members wanting regular boat trips. As members they will have secure access to regular trips and a reasonable rate.
As regards to fish entries they are a valuable source of historical data for the club so please send in your fish. Either via email, Watts App, Messenger or good old phone.
2024 Trophy Winners
Cod Trophy Kyle Bishop 18lb 5oz Shore
Bass Trophy Kyle Bishop 9lb 9oz Shore
Mullet Cup Graham Snow 5lb 3oz Thick lip – Shore
Conger Cup Kevin Legge 26lb 9oz Shore
Flatfish Cup Nick Phillips Flounder 1lb 4oz
Shore Shield Ollie Passmore – Gilthead bream – 6lb 10oz
Medway Cup Wayne Thomas – tope – 41lb
Ray Shield Shane Pavio Hookway – S/E Ray 11lb 4oz
Wrasse Trophy – Kyle Bishop – ballan wrasse 4lb 8oz
Predator Award – Kyle Bishop – spurdog 15lb 3oz – Shore
Burgess Trophy Zephyr Laramy- Gilthead bream – 5lb 2oz – Shore
Scouse Shield – Ross Stanway – 1lb 2oz
D Kyte Award – Dan Welch – 6 mullet – total – 593%
Out Of Limits – Skate 136lb
Merit Award – Kyle Bishop
Thornback Cup – Shane Pavio Hookway 9lb 6oz
Specimen League – Kyle Bishop
| cod | 18lb 5oz | 152.6 | S |
| spurdog | 15lb 3oz | 151.875 | S |
| tope | 43lb 10oz | 145.417 | S |
| conger | 26lb 1oz | 130.312 | S |
| bull huss | 15lb | 150 | S |
| Smoothound | 13lb 4oz | 132.5 | S |
| 862.704 |
Runner up
| Shane Pavio Hookway | ||||
| bull huss | 11lb 12oz | 117.5 | S | |
| small eyed ray | 11lb 4oz | 112.5 | S | |
| bass | 7lb 4oz | 90.625 | S | |
| conger | 20lb 5oz | 101.563 | S | |
| pouting | 1lb 6oz | 91.667 | S | |
| thornback ray | 10lb | 90.909 | S | |
| 141.667 | S | |||
| 746.431 | ||||
Fish of the season –
Winter – Kyle Bishop – cod – 18lb 5oz 152.6%
Spring – David Brooke – gilthead bream 4lb 1oz – 135.417%
Summer – Ollie Passmore – Gilthead Bream – 6lb 10oz – 220.833%
Autumn – Graham Snow – Thick Lipped – 5lb 3oz – 129.688%
I spent an hour or so working through the results of the 2024 Combe Martin SAC – Ilfracombe Harbour fun & Species Competition the results are below.
Well done to all who have taken part throughout the year. We had a very good uptake at the start of the year and special thanks go to Toby for his enthusiasm and efforts in recruiting new members. The number of species caught across the membership was amazing. The club sub group has added a different dimension the club and it is essential that this is continued. The club has its AGM on Friday 31st at the Mariners Arms, Braunton and it would be really good if as many as possible attend. This is your club and ideas are required.
I suggest we have a sub group coordinator or maybe a meeting at Ilfracombe for a chat and get together and maybe a combine with the first fish of the year.
To continue the club species total accumulator on both an annual and ongoing basis.
Arrange events throughout the season maybe Winter, Spring , Summer & Autumn. Plus at least one social meet at Ilfracombe in conjunction with one of these events?
Please Bring ideas to the AGM….
Total Number of species caught by club members – 38
1st – Toby Bassett – 34
2nd – Daniel Welch – 31
3rd – Ross Stanway – 30
4th – Nigel Oliver 24
5th – Gary Prout 21
6th– Lenny Lake – 19
7th Solly Welch – 18
7th – Ted Childs – 18
8th Paul Lorrimore – 13
9th – Charlie Stanway – 10
10th – Andrew Laramy -9
Zephyr Laramy – 9
Wayne Thomas – 9
11th – Jake Stanway – 7
12th – Matt Childs – 6
A sub group meeting is to held to look at how the league will proceed in 2025.
The AGM was attended by 19 club members. The only substantial change was that competition entry for standard competitions has risen to £10 reflecting changing times and relative value of money. A £5.00 entry fee had been in place for over twenty years. The increased entry fee makes the prize money more attractive.
Note re-scheduled Bideford Christmas Competition Details above :-