Toby Bassett banked this fine 11lb 8oz pike from Lower Slade Reservoir.
River Torridge Postpone AGM as a result of Covid-19
The River Torridge Fisheries Association have reluctantly had to cancel their AGM that was due to be held at the Half Moon Inn at Sheepwash on April 3rd. The Covid-19 outbreak is causing widespread anguish and will leave a long lasting legacy as it spreads to cause ill health and both social and financial hardship. It is to be hoped that anglers can at least access the waters edge and enjoy a reprieve from the concerning news from around the world.
The latest news from the association can be found on their website –http://www.rivertorridge.org.uk
Celebrating Fifty with Silver Festival Win
Competitors in Stafford Moors March Silvers festival 2020 had to endure some atrocious wetware conditions but had some cracking weights despite the inclement conditions.
The worthy winner with just 4 points and a total weight of 114lb 4oz was the legend Des Shipp (Preston innovations ) who also celebrated his 50th Birthday!
North Devon Match Group Championship No.3 @ Wooda Lakes
1st Christopher Morris 55lb 12oz
2nd Simon Maunder 51lb 12oz
3rd Paul Elworthy 48lb 8oz
4th Tom Downing 47lb 5oz
5th CraigCrashLamey 38lb 10oz
6th Tim Brown 36lb 12oz
7th Martin Turner 30lb 13oz
8th Graham Currington 27lb 3oz
22 fished. The Wooda Lakes near Holsworthy hosted our monthly competition, we fished in damp but less windy conditions than of late . Christopher Morris has drawn peg 20 on lake 4 , and caught most of his winning net in the margins on the pole. Simon Maunder has had a similar catch also on the pole on sweetcorn from lake 1 peg 5 for second, , Paul Elworthy also on lake 1 has taken 3rd place with a small ground-bait feeder and maggots. Lake 3 has proved the toughest Graham has taken top weight with his 8th place. Thanks to Stuart Sharp for permitting us to use the lakes and providing breakfast rolls.
RIVER TAW FISHERIES ASSOCIATION AGM POSTPONED
The River Taw Fisheries Association have made the decision to postpone this years AGM that was due to take place at Highbullen Hotel on March 27th due to ongoing concerns regarding the Coronavirus.
Angling on the whole is not severely impacted upon by the Coronavirus. Waterside activities in the fresh air are undoubtedly amongst the safest place to be when it comes to Coronavirus. After one of the wettest winters for several decades Devon’s rivers are brimful with water and whilst the first two weeks of the season have been a washout the rivers levels bode well for the coming season. With dryer weather forecast for next week I expect a few anglers to get out and wet a line.
Alistair Blundell ventured onto the lower Torridge and spotted a salmon showing at the tail of the pool. He used his double handed rod to drift a fly across the spot and was rewarded with that delightful connection with a double figure spring salmon. After a few exciting moments the fish managed to shake the hook free in the strong current. The hooking of the fish is a great sign that salmon are in the rivers and as the water level drop there is every project of that most prized spring run salmon.
Big South West Lakes Carp!
Its not a North Devon carp but thought it worth sharing as its a superb West Country Specimen!
Massive well done to Wayne Bateman for catching ‘the secret’ from Argal reservoir at 40lb 2oz! Argal, part of the South West Lakes portfolio, has been in really good form recently.
Wayne caught it on a very big bed of mainline fibre boilies fished snowman rig style along with a 3.5oz Westcountryleads flat pear. Congratulations Wayne!
Blakewell Re-opens
Carp from Paradise Lake
Carp and Cats at Paradise
ELDORADO PRODUCING THE PERSONAL BESTS!
Dave King fished at Anglers Eldorado at the weekend for a Day and Night fishing session and managed to catch 2 personal bests, a 20lb 5oz Common and a 20lb 8oz Mirror both from the Bottom Cat and Carp Lake. He also caught a 16lb Common and a 23lb 10oz Catfish in the night!
Dave caught the beauties using Sticky Baits Krill topped with a Sea Monster or a Hell pop up from Baitworks.
Bideford and District Angling Club Coarse Section- Wooda Lakes
Match results @ Wooda Lakes,
1st Martin Turner 55lb 6oz
2nd Thomas Scott 32lb 8oz
3rd Steve Bailey 31lb 15oz
4th Keith Copland 25lb 4oz
5th David Bailey 23lb 9oz
6th Colin Gorman 19lb 11oz
7th Ian Owen 15lb 7 oz
8th John Lisle 14lb 11oz ,
14 keen members endured another Sunday of wind and rain. The prolific Wooda Lakes produced the goods again! Martin Turner fished on lake 4, alternating between feeder and margin pole , a 20 carp net sealed victory, Second place and top weight on lake 3 was another pole caught 11 carp net for up and coming Junior member Thomas Scott , Our Secretary Steve also on lake 3 found some nice edge dwelling carp in the closing stages of the event for third spot. April’s monthly match see’s us back at Tarka Swims.