North Devon Match Group – Melbury


Some stunning nets of bream, roach and perch from Melbury Reservior as reported by Martin Turner below.

Melbury Reservoir

1st John Lisle 29lb 8oz

2nd Stuart Burridge 21lb 6oz

3rd Nielsen Jeffery 15lb 7oz

4th Paul Elworthy 11lb 11oz

5th Pete Slade 11lb 8oz

6th Graham Colman 10lb 4oz.

13 members fished this event in windy conditions. All the weights fell to groundbait feeder tactics, and most catches were good sized skimmer bream. John Lisle has drawn on the road side peg 5 and has caught steadily all day for victory, Stuart’s 2nd place was also on the roadside peg 8. Neilsen secured 3rd spot from the middle of the dam.

ARTIFISHAL – A Thought Provoking Film

ARTIFISHAL is a thought provoking film that everyone should see that has concern for the natural world.Be Informed :-
Open net fish farms threaten the survival of wild fish including Atlantic salmon, sea trout and Arctic char but governments are not doing enough to address the problems. Instead the industry is set to expand exponentially in the pristine fjords of Iceland and continues to grow at alarming rates around Norway, Scotland and Ireland – using massive open net pens that allow the free flow of disease and pollution into the surrounding environment where wild salmon are struggling to survive. In the last 40 years, the population of Atlantic Salmon has dropped from 10 million to 3 million and if we fail to protect their habitat they could soon become an endangered species.

The film will be introduced by Wayne Thomas and screening will start at 7.45pm the film will be followed by an interactive discussion. Wayne will also give details of his new book on angling in North Devon with the opportunity to purchase signed copies.
Note 50% of profits will be donated to the River Torridge Fishery Association. Tickets £5.00 on the door.

Light Tackle Bass

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My good friend John Avery caught this stunning bass of 7lb 12oz whilst fishing for thick lipped grey mullet using bread flake presented on a size 8 hook and quiver tip tactics.

 

 

 

I often consider the options for fishing for bass using smaller baits and tactics. Whilst the larger baits work well there are occasions when a more subtle approach can work even for big fish. It is not unusual to catch bass on bread-flake but It is not a first choice bait. Float fishing with live prawn can be very successful and would imagine sea slaters could work. Taming a bass on 8lb b.s line and light float rod is not too difficult and is certainly exciting.

Stafford Moor – In Fine Form for both Match and Carp Anglers

( Below) Matthew Freeburn who now has a new personal best of a 32lb mirror from swim 14 (beach 1) on lodge lake caught on Sticky Baits Manilla boilies soaked in liver with some free offerings.

Big Bags from the Match fishing fraternity too!

The latest residents match on Tanners lake with 21 fishing.

 Top weight of the day was from Ant Thornhill who bagged himself 188lb 3oz from peg 5.

2nd was Mark Goggins (goggy) who bagged 169lb 3oz from peg 10.

                                                                                                     3rd was Nick Roberts peg 17 with 150lb 13oz.

 

Open match on Tanners and Woodpecker lakes 

1st place was Sean Brennan with 224lb 4oz from peg 17 on Tanners lake fab weight

2nd place was Ant Thornhill with 130lb 11oz frommpeg 19 on Woodpecker lake

3rd place was Jamie Bradshaw with 197lb 11oz from peg 20 on Tanners lake

( Below) Jamie Corrigan who fished on swim 1 (Long Island ) on Beatties lake. Jamie had 11 fish our all caught on Sticky Baits Manilla boilies well

 

WELCOME SUMMER RAIN

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As I write this rain is beating down and I am optimistic that the long summer drought is well and truly over. Whilst many will be grumbling about the wet summer we have not in truth had much rain so far certainly not enough to bring the rivers up and encourage good numbers of salmon and sea trout into the rivers. Sea trout wise it has not been as bad as last year and a few salmon have trickled in. Bob Lewington fished on the Weir Marsh and Brightly Beats of the Taw and was rewarded with fine salmon of 9lb. A few salmon have also been tempted on the River East Lyn.

( Below) Chay Bloggis has landed a 7lb fresh run salmon from  the middle Taw on  a Stoats Tail, variant.

 

The cooler weather is also welcomed by Stillwater Trout Fisheries where the trout do not react well do extra hot conditions.

Pete Tyjas was rewarded whilst searching for silver on the river catching a superb brown trout.

 

Pete Tyjas “We’ve been hitting the river pretty hard hoping that any small lift might bring some salmon up. Despite our efforts nothing has materialised as yet.

Emma and I popped down this morning just in case and while she fished a pool for salmon I rigged up a single handed rod and decided I’d pull a streamer. At first I thought I’d hooked a grilse but it turned out to be a trout, the sort that I have only really dreamt about catching in Devon. I’m pleased Emma had a salmon net!

I’d love to say that it were perfect conditions for a heavy hatch and rising fish but it wasn’t and I just used what I had to hand.

Perhaps this method isn’t for for the purists but I don’t think I’d bump into a fish like this other than late at night or during a good hatch of mays. Happy? Just a little, sometimes your dreams do come true.”