Despite the bright sunshine, the trout are feeding well at Blakewell. Here are the best two for Jacky and Mark, who both caught limits today. 6lbs 14oz and 6lbs, respectively, that put big smiles on their faces! Great to see all the hard work that has been put into the fishery paying off, now, with plenty of hard-fighting trout coming to the net.
South West Lakes Trout Fisheries Report
March 2022
In anticipation of the new trout fishing season, South West Lakes was delighted to be able to offer the return of the popular South West Fly Fair at Roadford Lake on Sunday 6th March, after a year’s absence due to Covid.
Fly fishing enthusiasts from across the region keenly attended the event, which over the years has become an annual fixture in their diaries to herald in the new season. The show’s main sponsor was Chevron Hackles, the local producer of many fine fly tying feathers and accessories.
In addition to Chevron, there were many trade stands and exhibitors, with a wide selection of both new and used tackle and equipment for sale, along with fly tying demonstrations, casting demonstrations and tuition, and the opportunity to try out the latest equipment. Representatives from many local clubs, fisheries, and environmental organisations were on hand with information.
The fair not only caters for trout anglers, with enthusiasts for salmon, saltwater, pike, and grayling also represented. The event was opened by the fair’s patron, Charles Jardine, who then proceeded to give casting and fly tying demonstrations in his own inimitable, skilful and humorous fashion throughout the day, as well as a fish preparation and cookery demonstration.
A major part of the fair has always been the opportunity to catch up with old friends and fishing colleagues, and to enthuse about the opportunities for the upcoming season, and this year was no exception. Show organiser Dil Singh was delighted with the way that the first fly fair that he has been involved with turned out, and is already anticipating a bigger and better fair for 2023.
Torridge Fly Fishing Clubs season at Gammaton Reservoir has got off to an excellent start with several limit bags taken by members and visiting anglers.
The fishing is controlled by Torridge Fly Fishing Club established in 1959, day tickets can be purchased from Summerlands Tackle permitting visiting anglers to keep three fish at a reasonable cost of £20. The trout are predominantly rainbow’s averaging 2lb to 4lb stocked by Bulldog Trout Fishery.
The trout season on North Devon’s Rivers started on Tuesday and opens up many miles of wild brown trout fishing to fly fishing enthusiasts. The Fish pass scheme offers many miles of fishing across the Westcountry with many of the beats lightly fished in delightful countryside. It is well worth checking out their website https://fishpassapp.co.uk
They also sell tickets for several South West Lakes Trust Waters including Wistlandpound Reservoir near Blackmoor Gate that also opened on March 15th with fishing for wild brown trout and rudd.
I have a season ticket for Wistlandpound and took an opening day stroll around the lake having a few casts here and there. It was late afternoon and the sun was starting to sink beneath the horizon as I savoured the pleasing actions of putting out a line on the water. A few fish rose across the lake and a good swirl behind my fly gave hope of action.
The last stop on our walk saw me cast out as a few more fish rose in the lake. I retrieved the small black lure and was delighted when the line zipped tight. A wild brown gave a spirited tussle before being safely netted. I admired its black and crimson spotted golden flanks before watching the fish dart away into the dark waters in the fading light. The first fish of the season is always special!
Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club met at Wimbleball Lake for their first competition of the new season and were faced with challenging conditions during the first part of the day.
A cold South Easterly Wind was blowing down the lake into Bessoms and Ruggs which was the area the majority headed.
My own day got off to a flier when a rainbow seized my cormorant dropper on the first cast. I then waited over three hours before catching the next fish. A small black lure fished on an intermediate line being the successful method that accounted for the final four fish of the day.
Paul Grisley caught a rainbow early in the day and also went several hours before catching three more rainbows in the last half hour of the competition. The best of these was a stunning rainbow of 7lb 12oz that took the fly line out to the backing twice.
Early Spring can be challenging and on this day we seemed to have several seasons in one day. The morning was bitterly cold in the South East wind with heavy showers and short spells of sunshine. Late in the day the wind dropped away and the lake took on a mirror like appearance reflecting the dark sky and colours of the landscape.
Result – 1st Paul Grisley – Four Rainbow – Trout 15lb 4oz – Best 7lb 12oz
2nd Wayne Thomas – Five Rainbow – 10lb 11oz
3rd – David Eldred – One Rainbow – 2lb 8oz
Heavy rain has brought the river up a bit and brought some turbidity, if it was late Spring I would welcome this but somehow in early Spring the murky water does not inspire. I drift a big brass tube across the favoured spots. Its good to be back despite the cold wind and less than perfect river.
Salmon have been sighted leaping further downriver so its only a matter of time before someone strikes silver!
As I arrive a large bushy tailed fox scrambles into the hedgerow. I note the Spring flowers, daffodils, Primroses and celandines in what I often think of as Springs yellow phase.
I catch a movement in the corner of my eye ! A branch drifting downriver, but its strangely moving across the river? It somersaults in the river a tail slapping the water as it dives. My first glimpse of an otter this year. Whilst otters generate a lot of anger and debate amongst anglers I always thrill at the sight on this River made famous through the writings of Henry Williamson and Tarka the Otter. Otters belong here on this river; it is mankind that has upset the balance decimating the stocks of fish upon which the otters feed. Nature has a fine and complex balance that we so often upset.
It was great to be back once again swinging a fly across familiar salmon lies on the River Torridge. The river level was just about perfect with the first week of the season hampered by high flows and turbid waters. Spring salmon are a great prize that have become increasingly hard to win in recent seasons. Ten years ago today I was lucky to hook and net a beautiful fresh run fish from the Middle Torridge. I have fished every March since without repeating this. I will keep trying savouring the spring flowers and the hopes of a new season.
An out of season brown trout brought a welcome pull on the line. I hope to target these wild browns later in the Spring when they will hopefully take well presented dry flies or nymph.
Fluff Chuckers trout bank day at colliford lake, Cornwall.We will be meeting in the main car park at 8am for a 9am to 5pm event.There will be a prizes for the most trout landed and for the longest trout landedMeasurement from the nose to the fork of the tail.This will be C&R event and barbless hooks only and all other swlt rules apply.The idea of the event is to be a ideal chance for anglers old and new to sample the brown trout fishing to meet up and have some laughs and get on the water and have a great days fishing.Colliford lake is a vast area to cover and you can fish where you fancy and we meet up at 5 pm to award the prizes at the main car park.This event is not designed to be a ultra competitive competition more of a great fun day with a few prizes.For the largest fish please provide your own measure tape and take a photo of the fish with the tape shown on the fish from the tip of the nose to the inside of the fork of its tail.For the total amount of fish landed please account for them as you would for a normal catch return.There is no big buck prize to give in false amounts of fish landed, and at the end of the day you are only cheating yourself by giving a false declaration.But photo evidence will be required for the largest fish landed.There is no entry fee to compete just let us know that you will be coming and please pay your day ticket in advance to swlt in the normal way.Look forward to seeing you there.
Fly Fishing enthusiasts from across the South West and beyond gathered at Roadford on March 6th for the popular Fly Fair. After a two year gap due to COVID the event was rejuvenated with an overwhelming sense of joy at a return to a sort of normal.
The event organised by South West Lakes Trust is an invaluable show case for Fly Fishing providing a platform for companies to display their products and more importantly for anglers and lovers of the waterside to mingle generating firm plans for the coming season.
When I arrived home after a day chatting to fellow anglers my mind was buzzing with talk of flies, presentation, tackle, fish and the waters in which they swim along with the extensive environmental challenges. I will try to give a brief account of the day but would urge all who love fly fishing to attend next year.
Thanks must go to South West Lakes Trusts Dil Singh, technical lead for game fishing who organised the event along with his dedicated team. The event was opened by the Fairs patron Charles Jardine who gave a warm welcome stressing how vital angling is to us all during these challenging times. The fairs main sponsor was Chevron Hackles.
Charles delivered a fascinating Fly Casting demonstration later in the day. This was delivered with his normal repertoire of humour with clear inspiring instruction illustrated with a few tales from the waters edge. To watch Charles cast is a true reflection of how an expert makes a task look so easy and effortless. The bitter cold North-East wind was conquered as he both mastered the conditions and captivated the audience.
The basic principle to learn about fly fishing was the importance of relaxing and being at one with the rod and line.
Amongst the fly fishing topics covered were trout, pike and salmon. A rather sad observation made by Charles was that today salmon fishing consisted of plenty of casting practice with the vague chance of catching once a year. This is rather a poignant statement that to my mind very much describes the state of West Country salmon fishing!
Charles ended his demonstration by casting a fly line using a broomstick!
Retreating to the warmth of the conference centre there was an abundance of Fly fishers to engage with and discuss the wonderful places we share and the issues that we feel so passionate about.
The environment was high on the agenda with members of the fish pass team present to discuss the many miles of water available across the South West via their fishpassapp.co.uk The invasive species stand gave valuable information about how anglers can reduce the inadvertent distribution of species by cleaning and drying waders and nets between trips.
Several Fly Fishing groups and associations were well represented with Burrator Fly Fishing Association, Kennick Fly Fishers, Siblyback Fly fishers and Stithians in attendance along with the Pike Fly Fishing Association. Apologies to those I have undoubtedly failed to mention.
Snowbee Tackle were well represented by Simon Kidd and one of their ambassadors Jeff Pearce who mingled with the many angler’s present discussing the finer points of Fly fishing.
It was a delight to catch up with so many friends that share my passion for fishing. The planning of future forays at such social gatherings is undoubtedly vital for the future of fly fishing and it is very clear to see how valuable quality time at the water’s edge is for our mental health and well-being.
Pete Tyjas is editor of Fly Culture magazine a publication that provides a brilliant and inspiring read incorporating quality writing on fly fishing from across the globe. Pete also produces the excellent Fly Culture podcast that makes for fascinating listening on those long drives to fishing destinations. www.flyculturemag.com
It is always good to catch up with John Aplin Managing director at Casterbridge fisheries Limited. I have been very fortunate to visit Johns wonderful stretch of the River Frome in Dorset and even catch some of the marvellous grayling that swim within the clear waters of this tranquil chalkstream. http://www.casterbridgefisheries.co.uk
I was introduced to Nigel Nunn from Kent who has turned his hobby into a full time job.
Nigel is now a full time Fly Tier crafting flies that are intended to catch trout and not anglers. Nigel is a frequent visitor to the South West with his wife Julia who shares his love of fly fishing. Since becoming a full time fly tier Nigel overcame the challenge of impaired vision after developing cataracts on his eyes. Working with fellow anglers Nigel creates flies to imitate the wild insects hatching across the country. He explained how he receives orders from across the country reflecting the timing of fly hatches that move through the rivers of the land generally from South to North.
Luke Bannister builds high quality split cane fly rods for the connoisseur who delights in the qualities of split cane as a tool to deliver the fly. Luke relishes fishing for wild brown trout that abound in West Country rivers.
Rodney Wevill is vice chairman of the Pike Fly Fishing Association and a keen member of the Facebook group fluff chucker’s. Rodney is a keen fly fishing devotee who targets a wide range of species beyond pike.
Rodney has enjoyed success with that most elusive of fish the grey mullet. I expressed my own frustrations at chasing these fish with the fly. Catching mullet on bait is often difficult enough without complicating matters. Rodney and his good friend discussed the intricacies of stalking these mesmerising fish using small flies to imitate their natural food.
Shallow water and feeding fish being the key. This summer will once again see me wading in the shallow clear water of summer following wise words of encouragement from Rodney and his good friend Gary Brazier.
Alan Riddell’s stand with an impressive range of flies
I spent several hours at this year’s fly fair and left buoyed with optimism for the future of Fly Fishing. The challenge for the future is of course to encourage more young participants. Angling has undoubtedly received a boost as many have discovered its true value whilst escaping from COVID induced lockdowns etc. In these increasingly dark times solace can often be found at the waters edge. The ability to wander free with a rod and line is without doubt an experience to both cherish and share.
Can be purchased online via the South West Lakes Trust Website and via the Fishpass App.
View our guide to catch and release angling here
View our float tubing good practise guidelines here
| Trout Fishery | Season Dates | Day Ticket | Concessionary Day Ticket |
Daily Bag Limit |
Catch & Release Day Ticket |
Evening Ticket | Under 18 Ticket |
Evening/ Under 18 Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burrator | 12th March – 30th November | £21.00 | £19.00 | 5 | £15.50 | £14.50 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Colliford | 15th March – 12th October | £17.00 | £15.50 | 4 | n/a | £11.00 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Fernworthy | 15th March – 12th October | £17.00 | £15.50 | 4 | n/a | £11.00 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Kennick | 12th March – 30th November | £27.50 | £25.00 | 5 | £20.00 | £19.00 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Roadford | 15th March – 12th October | £17.00 | £15.50 | 4 | n/a | £11.00 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Siblyback | 12th March – 30th November | £25.00 | £22.50 | 5 | £20.00 | £17.50 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Stithians | 12th March – 30th November | £21.00 | £19.00 | 5 | £15.50 | £14.50 | Free with paying adult | 2 |
| Wistlandpound | 15th March – 12th October | £11.00 | n/a | 2 | n/a | n/a | Free with paying adult | 2 |
