2 Nov 2025

A Danglers Diary – October – 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

October has to be one of my favourite months to be at the waters edge.

Roadford Lake – Brown Trout Masters 2025

Pleased with runner up for 2025

Grey Mullet in local harbours –

Tuna two estimated at 300lb

The days takes it toll

Chasing memories these giant fish are perhaps the ultimate in British waters very much a team day out with mates with all credit to the skipper Dan Margetts and John McMaster. The day was like a sea safari with dolphins, sea birds diving into bait balls and of coarse huge fish to test tackle and stamina.

A few hours spent casting for Autumn salmon with my good friend Jeff in deepest Cornwall before heading home.

Back to normal with a plague of North Devon dogfish

Better fish are there if you can get through the dogfish

Kevin with one of three small eyed he landed. Good to catch up with a fishing buddy of close to fifty years.

Proud to have an article in the last edition of Fly Culture Magazine

Something to read on those cold Winter nights. https://www.northdevonanglingnews.co.uk/2025/10/28/35531/

(Above) Grandad takes new generation to the waters edge.

I end the months chasing hard fighting rainbow trout at Wimbeball and enjoy success with a pristine fish of close to 5lb.

2 Nov 2025

Weekly Angling Report, October 30th, 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Lure Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

BIG WEIGHTS AT STAFFORD MOOR

North Devon Match Groups latest Match at Stafford Moor was won by Nathan Underwood with 132lb 8oz. Tom Downing was runner up with 123lb 4oz.

The latest Open Match at the Moor was won by Mark Wyne with 108lb10oz.

The October Fisho 2025 Final was fished at Stafford Moor’s Woodpecker lake last Sunday. The winner of section one was Mark Layzell with 157lb 1oz and the winner of section 2 Martin Preston with 139lb8oz.

BIDEFORD & DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB

Bideford Angling Clubs Rod N Reel Match on their home water was won by Richard Jefferies with 31lb 1oz. Runner up was Reg Sutton with 29lb 1oz and third Keith Copland with 23lb 14oz.

LURE FISHING SUCCESS

Lure anglers have been enjoying some late season bass sport with several fine specimens taken from estuary marks. Jason Hayes and his friend banked a fine brace of bass each measuring 72cm.

SEA ANGLING

Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour sea rover was won by Paul Ackland with a dogfish scaling 2lb 2oz.

Kevin Legge took first and second place in Combe Martin SAC’s October Rover with small eyed ray weighing 8lb 12oz and 6lb 13oz. Third place was taken by Nick Phillips with a bull huss of 6lb 4oz.

Strong North West winds have curtailed the end of season boat fishing season out of Ilfracombe with many trips cancelled throughout October. This late Autumn period is historically a time of plenty for shore angling enthusiasts with a vast range of species worth targeting. If species fishing is your thing then Ilfracombe Pier and many local beaches can provide red mullet and perhaps sole. Big bass, ray, smoothound and even tope can be tempted from the surf beaches if conditions permit. Grey mullet sport is at its peak in harbours with five pound plus fish a real possibility. The flounder season is also in full swing with these obliging flatfish a popular target in both the Taw and Torridge estuaries.

TROUT FISHING

Wimbleball Reservoir is producing great sport from both bank and boat as Autumn brings cooler conditions with fish feasting on fry in the margins.

At Bulldog Fishery quality brown trout have been the reward for anglers visiting the lake with good numbers banked along with rainbow trout and spartic’s. Several big brown trout have been stocked recently and are proving surprisingly elusive with anglers glimpsing the fish in the clear water and occasionally hooking big fish that break free or slip the hook after stripping yards of line from the reel. It is always fascinating how big fish can remain uncaught for months even in relatively small waters.

1 Nov 2025

Jamie Steward Wins Combe Martin SAC – Lure League

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Jamie Steward has secured top spot in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe. Jamie will be presented with his prize at a date to be arranged with Danny Watson at High Street Tackle.

Jamies five bass were : – 72cm ,71cm , 71cm, 70cm, 70cm

1st Jamie Steward – Five bass – 354cm

2nd – Mark Drewer – Five bass – 351cm

3rd – Seth Tuson – Five Bass – 347.5cm

4th – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 318cm

5th – Daniel Welch – Five bass – 302cm

Biggest Bass registered – Mark Drewer 77cm

29 Oct 2025

Triple Hook Flounder Open

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

28 Oct 2025

FISHING WISDOM – By Dominic Garnett

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

FISHING WISDOM

A Miscellany of Angling Anecdotes, Facts and Folklore.

By Dominic Garnett

GMC Publications. ISBN 9781784947200

Dominic’s latest book delivers an array of wisdom and comment in his unique and at times quirky entertaining style. The book strips angling back to basics in the first few chapters adding clarity to tactics that will sharpen any anglers approach to the varied waters into which lines are cast.

The design of the book certainly oozes tradition and it is in many ways a timeless tome packed with information for anglers making their first tentative casts or reflecting upon a life time searching for that connection with those creatures that dwell within a fascinating and mysterious realm.

Dom is a multi-discipline angler like myself and I can relate to much within the book and found myself benefitting from the straight forward analysis of angling. It also stimulated my own thoughts on why we fish and its wider benefits.

As those darker winter nights approach it is a book well worth delving into deserving a place on any anglers bookshelf. My own personal favourite section is perhaps the Fishing and Culture section that celebrates anglings rich history and mythology.

It is a book that will never become outdated for its key themes are the timeless essence of angling through the ages.

Dominic Garnett ( Right) with a rare comber caught off Looe in Cornwall

28 Oct 2025

BASS LURE LEAGUE UPDATE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Jamie Steward has reinforced his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing bass league with a fine bass of 71cm his sixth bass over 70cm this season. Jamie has focussed on lure fishing this season and his efforts reveal the potential of local marks even this late in the season. It is likely that bass can be taken on lures all year round.

1st Jamie Steward – Five bass – 354cm

2nd – Mark Drewer – Five bass – 351cm

3rd – Seth Tuson – Five Bass – 347.5cm

4th Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 318cm

5th – Daniel Welch – Five bass – 302cm

Biggest Bass registered – Mark Drewer 77cm

The lure fishing league sponsored by High Street Tackle ends on Friday 31st October

28 Oct 2025

SEA ANGLING RESULTS

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Stormy conditions may have deterred some anglers from venturing forth but the turbulant waters often stir up food close in encouraging fish to feast upon the proceeds.If you can wade through the dogfish a specimen fish could be the reward.

Kevin Legge took first and second place in Combe Martin SAC’s October Rover with small eyed ray weighing 8lb 12oz and 6lb 13oz. Third place was taken by Nick Phillips with a bull huss of 6lb 4oz.

Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour sea rover was won by Paul Ackland with a dogfish scaling 2lb 2oz.

23 Oct 2025

Weekly Angling Report -October 23rd 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Casting around North Devon, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Lure Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

UNDERWOOD SECURES WIN AT BIDEFORD CLUB WATER

Bideford Angling Clubs monthly Coarse Match on their home water was won by Nathan Underwood with 84lb 2oz. Runner up was Darren Polden with 52lb 12oz and third Keith Mountjoy with 39lb 14oz.

Jamie Steward caught a stunning lure caught bass of 71cm to give him a narrow lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure fishing league sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe with five bass for 353cm. The league ends on October 31^st with several members in contention. Runner up spot is currently held by Mark Drewer with five bass for 351cm and Seth Tuson third with five bass for. 347.5cm.

Combe Martin SAC members have been catching specimen mullet from the North Devon Coastline with Daniel Welch catching a 4lb 2oz specimen and Graham Snow a specimen of 4lb 1.5oz.

The Fluff Chucker’s Fly Fishing Group followed up on a successful Brown Trout Masters series with a West Country Grayling Cup hosted by the Arundell on the Devon and Cornwall border. Roger Truscott once again demonstrated his skill with the Fly Rod winning the event with a fine grayling of 45cm. Runner up was Rodney Wevill. Winner of the morning session was Gary Brazier and Ozzie Gough winner of the afternoon session.

Grayling offer winter sport on a limited number of rivers across Devon with the Arundell waters offering fishing on the Tamar and its tributaries. The Upper Exe waters controlled by the Dulverton Anglers Association offer several miles of fishing for these ladies of the stream.

Bulldog Fishery is in fine form with big brown trout, spartic’s and rainbows being caught. The venue is launching its winter competition program of events with the first competition this Sunday.

Several North Devon based anglers have travelled to Cornwall and South Devon ports to sample the exciting tuna fishing that is currently thriving to bring a welcome boost to local economies. I joined four good friends out of Looe to share an awesome angling adventure that saw us bring nine tuna to the boats side all between 200lb and 300lb. The power of these fish is immense and a true test of an anglers stamina. It is truly amazing to witness such an abundance of life as these magnificent fish feast upon a shoal of fish along with dolphins and sea birds. It is to be hoped that this valuable catch and release big game fishery can thrive and focus minds on the long term conservation of our coastal waters.

22 Oct 2025

NORTH DEVON – AUTUMN BASS

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Many thanks to Jason Hayes for sending me this exciting report….

🎣 What an afternoon on the North Devon coast!

I headed out for a quick bass session with a mate who’s just getting into fishing, targeting sea bass along our local marks. Not long in, his rod bent over and after an awesome fight, he landed a stunning 72cm bass! The excitement on his face said it all — his first real specimen fish, and what a one to start with!

He had to head off shortly after, absolutely buzzing… I stayed on for another half hour, and unbelievably, my rod went solid too — another beautiful 72cm fish!

Two cracking bass, same mark, within half an hour. Couldn’t have scripted it better.
North Devon doing what it does best. 🌊🐟