A Winter Day – Pike

 

The cold light of dawn brought with it frosted car windows and icy roads. It seemed the traditional day for pike fishing sat beside the calm waters of a lake. My good friend Paul Blake joined me for a day at Lower Slade reservoir where our alarms bleeped out as a few jacks graced our nets.

South West Lakes Trust have updated their pike fishing regulations for Slade and other stocked pike waters. Treble hooks are now allowed in conjunction with wire traces. Braided line with a minimum breaking strain of 40lb breaking strain is now compulsory. These measures are in-line with good practice across the pike fishing community, the strong braided line reduces the chance of losing fish and improves bite indication reducing the risk of deep hooking.

Updated pike rules at South West Lakes

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South West Lakes Trust have updated their pike fishing rules adapting them to fit with good practice within the pike fishing community. Pike are delicate fish that require careful handling. The use of strong braid will improve bite indication reducing deep hooking and the extra strength should reduce the risk of fish breaking free. There is nothing sporting in losing fish that could become tethered and die.
Updated pike rules for Argal and Lower Slade can be found on their website: https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/coarse-fishing-rules
Please familiarise yourself with the rules before visiting. Changes to the rules are that treble hooks are now allowed and the mainline has changed to 40lb plus braid.
Pike fishing rules remain the same at Porth and College.

Additional Pike Fishing Rules (all of the above apply also).

  •   Permitted methods of fishing are: Plugs, Spinners, Jigs, worms or dead sea fish
  •   Do not discard dead sea fish into the reservoir when leaving to avoid pollution and false alarms
  •   Treble hooks are allowed but have to be semi barbless. One hook on each treble may be barbed to holddead bait on and no bigger than a size 6. No more than two trebles on a rig.
  •   Braided mainline to be used (Minimum 40lb), Snag leader to be used dead baiting where necessary, mustuse a break away lead system.
  •   Hooks must be mounted on a wire trace
  •   Anglers must have forceps
  •   No gaffs allowed
  •   Pike must be weighed in a sling or net. They must not be hung by the gills
  •   No sacks for holding fish – flotation slings only for setting up photographic equipment
  •   Fish must not be held in a retaining sling for more than a few minutes while cameras are set up.
  •   Unhooking mats must be used.

Changing Times at the water’s edge

For those of you who dont buy the NDJ a few comments on the state of angling etc. From this weeks edition.

Changing Times at the water’s edge

            At the turn of the year, it is perhaps a good time to both reflect and look to the future. The past couple of years have been extraordinary with many issues impacting upon our lives. During the COVID pandemic the word unprecedented was used repeatedly  as we all struggled with the strict measures imposed and the fear of the unknown.

            During this period many rediscovered or perhaps found for the first time the importance of nature and great outdoors for the nurturing of both mental and physical health. Angling received a significant boost during this period and for a time angling related businesses enjoyed a boost. As life has returned to a new normal the initial upsurge in angling has faltered as new issues have impacted. The cost of living has forced up the cost of most things including fishing tackle and related costs such as travel and bait.

            There are areas within angling that still seem to be thriving with carp angling seemingly booming across the country. There are now many lakes that boast specimen carp of thirty, forty and even fifty pounds. The demand for these fish is strong resulting in expensive and often exclusive syndicate waters. It is good that these fisheries exist offering the chance for anglers to catch splendid fish. There is however a risk that elitism can make it difficult for newcomers and difficult to afford. It is perhaps worth considering what has happened to other areas of angling in recent years.

            During the late seventies and eighties Stillwater trout fishing became increasingly popular with more and more waters stocked with trout. On the larger reservoirs rainbow trout dominated offering exciting sport at a reasonable cost. Smaller put and take stillwater’s were opened across the country and were stocked with larger and larger trout. Many anglers started to chase these big farmed fish prepared to pay ever higher prices to secure double figure trout and above. Stillwater trout fishing has suffered as stocking levels desired by many anglers has become  unsustainable. The generation of anglers who grew up through the boom years are now dwindling with very few young anglers taking their places.

            There is perhaps a danger that the obsessive quest for bigger and bigger carp could have a similar impact on the future of carp angling.

            Fortunately, some anglers are starting to value the  true essence of fly fishing relishing the thrill of targeting wild trout in less heavily stocked waters.  It is perhaps a blessing in disguise that a greater awareness of the value of natural rivers has resulted. Fergal Sharkey, formally an Irish punk rocker has recently gained notoriety as a campaigner for cleaner rivers highlighting the pollution and neglect of these vital arteries of the land by water companies and intensive farming. A recent report in the national media has highlighted the failure of government to retain objectives in the Water Framework directive with targets now pushed back over thirty years. If we do not act quickly iconic species like salmon and sea trout will be extinct within a generation.

            The future of Sea Angling is complex with fish populations always fluctuating. This winter appears to be promising with cod numbers up on recent years. North Devon estuaries have seen a greater abundance of cod with plenty of double figure cod showing up channel. Bass numbers have been increasing in recent years with lure fishing becoming increasingly popular.

            Off the coast larger apex predators like shark and tuna seem to be increasing in number. The CHART program that has highlighted the economic value of a catch and release big game fishery. In excess of one thousand blue fin tuna have been brought boat-side and tagged in during the 2022 season. There is hope that a long term recreational tuna fishery will be established bringing exciting opportunities for anglers.

            The history of angling will continue to evolve and there are always new discoveries on the horizon. As the climate changes the impact upon fish stocks is uncertain with warmer seas potentially bringing new species within range. The biggest concern must be the impact of weather extremes on freshwater. The summer of 2022 will be remembered for drought conditions and long periods of hot weather. Reservoir levels dropped to previously unseen levels and trout farms lost many fish intended for stocking into the region’s lakes. Rivers were at exceptionally low levels for several months resulting in one of the worst salmon seasons on record. Good news on the river Taw was a large run of shad during late spring and early summer. These rare migratory fish are a protected species and are returned quickly to the river with a minimum of handling.

            I would like to wish all readers a Happy and fish filled New Year.

 

Merry Christmas & Happy Fishes for 2023

I would like to thank all those who have followed North Devon Angling News throughout 2022 and to those who have contributed news stories and pictures. A special thanks to those who have sponsored the site over past years.

I welcome new sponsors for 2023 at very reasonable rates. Contact – [email protected]

 

Anglers Paradise

Message from Ashley Bunning – SWLT

Another year passes and we say goodbye to 2022! It has been a hard year for the reservoirs, not only in the South West, but all over the UK.  Low water levels and lake closures have been a frustrating factor to fishing through the summer, and we thank all of you for being understanding through these testing times. Having started my role in September, I would personally like to thank all of you for your kind words of support and I hope we can now push forward and continue the great work South West Lakes has been doing to improve the fishing on the waters.

There have been some great catches through the year with many great bags of silvers from many of the reservoirs to some special carp being caught.

Sadly, the lakes have lost two of its ‘A-team’, with Arnie from Porth and The Big Fully from Argal passing. These fish put many smiles on anglers’ faces, they will be missed!

Looking towards the future of the lakes, in November we stocked 39 new carp into Argal. These fished ranged between 13lb and 17lb, with 34 mirrors and 5 commons. Next year we are planning to stock other waters in the region to continue our work to improve all our waters. There has been some great swim building projects carried out on the lakes also, I would like to thank all the volunteers who have given up their time to help and make improvements on the lakes.

I am pleased to announce that we will be running the Mainline Pairs competitions again for next year the dates for this will be March 24-26, June 30-July 2 and September 29-October 1. We are looking forward to seeing all the familiar faces and welcoming new anglers to the competitions.

Also we will be having two event days in August, which will be part of the Angling Trust’s National Fishing Month, with the emphasis to get as many kids fishing as possible. The dates and places for this are the Royalty Fishery on August 5 and Upper Tamar Lakes on August 19. Please keep your eyes peeled for these events on the website, so you don’t miss out.

Once again thank you for all your support through this last year, may you all have a great Christmas and happy New Year. Look forward to seeing you all out on the bank in 2023.

Cheers
Ashley Bunning

Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas looms ever closer and if you have not purchased all those Christmas gifts yet why not visit your local tackle shop.

We are very fortunate to have several superb fishing tackle shops in North Devon all offering a vast array of quality tackle and bait. The local tackle shop is of course more than just a shop its also a social hub where anglers meet and talk fishing an essential ingredient for the future of angling.  I always try and do a short piece each year to highlight North Devons tackle outlets.

http://www.quaysports.com

Quay sports has a friendly team of local anglers behind the counter willing to offer useful advice on all disciplines of angling.

(Above) The superb FoxArt limited edition prints are now available in store, only four of each print available
Will make lovely Christmas gift. all prints signed and numbered. More designs coming soon.
Summerlands Tackle in Westward Ho! is  a long established family run tackle shop that carrys a vast range of tackle. A warm greeting is always given and it is rare to walk into the shop without meeting a fellow of the angle.
Anglers Heaven is conveniently situated adjacent to Bideford’s Pannier Market.  Owner Tom Wade is extending the shop with a grand opening of the extension in the New Year. The shop carry’s a large stock of sea and Coarse tackle and works closely with Bideford Angling Club to promote local fishing.They also carry a wide selection of air rifles.
High Street Tackle in Ilfracombe offers one of the largest selections of lures in North Devon and is the domain of Danny Watson and Pauline Chard. Danny is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to the latest lures for bass fishing and has many contacts throughout the lure fishing community. The shop also stocks a range of essential tackles and baits for coarse and sea angling.
Danny is a keen supporter of Combe Martin SAC and plans to co host an open Lure Fishing competition in the summer of 2023. Danny is also a supplier of tackle for Reel Deal
Braunton based Chillcheater supply high quality clothing for outdoor enthuiasts with warm under layers and tough, wind and water repellent outers.

Anglers Paradise – Lure Fishing Weekend

posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0
THE WINNER OF THE 2022 LURE WEEKEND IS JOE SIMS
Joe Won with 5 Species consisting of Pike, Perch, Rudd, Rainbow Trout and Blue Trout.
He went home winning a massive bundle of Prizes from Fox Rage, Okuma, Rapala, Fortis Eyewear, Catch and a Week’s Holiday for 2 at Anglers Paradise.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL DONE JOE! MASSIVE THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR THE ABSOLUTELY AWESOME PRIZES!!!
THE WINNING CAPTAIN AND TEAM OF THE ANGLERS PARADISE LURE WEEKEND 2022 IS…
Team Drennan with Captain Dave Drake with Mark Bloxham, James Durkin, Emily Durkin, Alan Dicks, Liz Dicks, Simon Blatch and Joe Sims winning with 8 Species caught as a Team.
So, Ben Humber has had his Crown taken away, this year was Dave Drake’s Year as Winning Team Captain and to make it even more special – his first ever Lure Weekend Win! A Massive Congratulations to Dave and his Team, they all fished their socks off till the final whistle and Captain Dave lead them expertly to victory and without a doubt deserved to win. The Species consisted of Pike, Perch, Tiger Trout, Blue Trout, Rainbow Trout, Rudd and Golden Tench. They were the only Team to catch Golden Tench too which is pretty special!
MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM DRENNAN AND OUR 2022 WINNING CAPTAIN DAVE DRAKE!!
BIG Thank You to Fat Mammoth, Rapala, Fox Rage for the awesome Team Prizes – they all looked like the Cats that got the cream!
IN 2ND PLACE OF THE ANGLERS PARADISE LURE WEEKEND IS…
AARON CHUCK with 4 Species consisting of Pike, Perch, Rainbow Trout and Rudd, with a length of 146cm.
Congratulations and Well Done Aaron! Aaron was the Winner of the last Lure Weekend we held in 2019, so to come as Runner Up is quite an achievement!
Massive THANK YOU to Fox Rage, Drennan, Okuma, Rapala, Fortis Eyewear and Catch for the amazing Prizes!
IN 3RD PLACE OF THE ANGLERS PARADISE 2022 LURE WEEKEND IS…
STEVE SELF with 4 Species consisting of Pike, Perch, Rainbow Trout and Rudd with a length of 126cm.
Congratulations and Well Done Stevie!
Thank you to Fox Rage, Rapala, Fortis and Catch for the great Prizes!
Anglers Paradise

ANGLERS PARADISE 2022 report from Zenia

ANGLERS PARADISE 2022 report from Zenia
NETTING 2022 A HUGE SUCCESS!!
Well, what a week last week was!! The Netting of the Main Carp went extremely well and all fish were transported safely and happily.
If we could describe last week’s events we’d say it was full of FUN, FRIENDS AND MORE FUN!
Throughout the Netting week, we hold many Fundraising Events and this years events were a HUGE SUCCESS!
Here’s a breakdown of what we got up to and what was raised for Charity –
**Saturday Burgers and Hot Dogs – Special Thank you to Phillip Warrens Butchers and Jim Williams
£200
**Party Games Night – Special thanks to Party Game King – Joe Drury, & helpers Wendi Postma, Jaz Trent and Di Mepham
£76.70
**Pool and Darts – Special thanks to Johnathon Clark and friend Carl
£53
**Connect 4 Battles – Special thank you to Nicky Lock
£54
**Irish Bingo – Special thanks to Di and Andy Mepham
£136
**Toga B-I-N-G-O – Special thanks to Di and Andy Mepham
£192
**Netting Badges – Special thanks to Di Mepham
£97.56
**Fishing Match – Special thanks to the Sam Wahid and his boys
£115
**Naughty, Farty, Burpy Party and Ghost Hunt – Special thanks to Wendi Postma and Co
£122.35
**Guess the biggest Catfish weight – special thanks to Step Pearson and Treasure Hunt
£175
**Zeejay’s Sparklers – Special thanks to Zeejay
£27
**Raffle – Special thanks to Jaz Trent for selling the tickets throughout the week and thank you to all that donated prizes and bought tickets
£490
**Quiz Night throughout the year – Special thank you to the Quiz Master – Paul Teggy
£527.80
**Charity Wine throughout the year – Special thanks to Anglers Paradise
£545
SO – LADIES AND GENTLEMEN – THIS YEAR’S TOTAL OF OUR FUDRAISING ANTICS IS………..
**£2,811.41!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, wow, wow!!!!!
A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU, WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!
Here’s to 2023!!
Anglers Paradise

Barnstaple & District Angling Association

Barnstaple & District Angling Association held their AGM at the Ebberly Arms on Tuesday, November 8th.

It was a pleasure to attend the meeting and share in the club members enthusiasm. John Webber the clubs Chairman is to be thanked for ensuring that the club continues to thrive and appears to be entering a new era of prosperity. The clubs roots stretch back over 100 years and it was fascinating to view some of the clubs historic trophies that carry the names of many well known local anglers.

I have been a member of the association on and off for close to fifty years and have many fond memorys of fishing with the club and on its waters. I am pleased to say that plans are being made to rebiuld the clubs hut on the River Taw. I have waxed lyrical on several occasions about the hut and the anglers that rested there as they talked of fish and fishing.

The clubs committee are enthiuastic and committed to the clubs future and that of the River Taw and the salmon and other species that swim within.

This  year the club has used un-taken honorariums  to give a little help to local worthy causes.

We  chose two , The Wave Project , who run surf  therapy programs to improve the mental health of children and young people. I watched them at Croyde beach .It was wonderful to see the beaming smiles on their faces  as they surfed in with the help from the volunteer surf mentors

Our other choice  was the local Barnstaple Ability Football Club, they are totally self funded and rely on just donations. They  have nearly 80 disabled & special needs adults playing football in the club., including 30 new members and Lynn Ashman who helps run the club said our donation will go towards buying new kit for these new members

 £150 to each one odf these commendable causes.

Full details on the club and membership can be found at the below link.

https://barnstapledistrictangling.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Autumn Pike from South West Lakes Trust Waters

There is something reassuring about home waters and the continuity of revisiting each year through the seasons. I have been fishing at Upper and  Lower Slade reservoir for close to forty years and remember when they were both trout fisheries stocked with rainbow trout. It also had a population of wild brown trout that grew to over 6lb.

Sometime in the 1980’s the lakes were stocked with coarse fish and a new era began. Some of the lakes carp from this time still reside within the lake and this season saw the thirty pound barrier breached for the first time. The lakes also held tench, bream, roach and perch. The Upper Lake was closed to angling on health and safety grounds when maintenance of the perimeter path was deemed impractical.

In 1994 the Lower lake was stocked with twenty one pike from what is now the country’s top pike water Chew Valley Lake. Several of these pike were in excess of twenty pounds and they provided fine sport for several seasons. These fish eventually perished due to old age and angling pressure. Fortunately, some of the fish bred successfully and the lake now holds a good head of pike and has produced its own fish to over twenty pounds.

I have fished for the pike since 1994 when I caught the majority of the original stocking with my best from the water a fine fish of 21lb 3oz. Pike fishing is very cyclical and seasons tend to fluctuate with some years producing lots of jacks and a sprinkling of doubles. At the peak of the cycle waters can if the  environment is suitable produce those specimen pike of over twenty pounds that dedicated pike fishers seek.

The dilemma with all good pike waters is that pike thrive when fishing pressure is low meaning that if good pike are being caught it is best to keep it under wraps. South West Lakes Trust manage several waters containing pike with Lower Slade being the only on in North Devon. There are also other lakes within their portfolio including Trenchford, Porth and Argal.

I visited Lower Slade on this early November day as heavy showers drifted past driven by a strong south westerly wind. These showers were interspersed with periods of bright sunshine. I started on the road bank with the intention of moving swims every couple of hours fishing two rods with float-fished dead-baits. In addition to the float’s I also used electronic bite alarms to alert me to a take if my eyes wondered from the crimson topped floats.

Pike floats bobbing optimistically on dark waters are one of winters joys and I tend to opt for floats even though straight legering is equally effective.

After a short time, a robin alighted upon the rods a welcome presence that brightens many a bleak winter day.

In the first swim the alarms sang out twice and the floats disappeared pleasingly. These were both jacks the biggest estimated at 8lb.

I moved to the far bank later in the day and was surprised that no runs were forthcoming in the next two swims. As afternoon passed I noticed the float lift slightly in the water. The float trembled and then disappeared beneath the dark water. I wound down and lifted the rod but failed to make contact.

It was to be my last chance of the day. I will be back in search of those bigger pike that surely lurk in Slade’s dark waters.

Pike are precious and need treating with care and respect. Always use tackle strong enough to ensure the fish is banked. Wire traces are essential as are unhooking tools including long handled forceps and side cutters. A suitable unhooking matt should also be used at all times. South West Lakes Trust rules state that single hooks must be used. I used a size 4 hook with a hair rig arrangement to ensure that there was no impediment to hooking cleanly.

 

(Above) Great catch from Callum Hardwick recently at Argal🎣 Callum and his mate had a great day fishing, landing 3 pikes to 15-17lb on Mackerel.

(Above) John Deprieelle and his sons Dylan and Leo, with a couple of pike they had from Trenchford this year.