13 Oct 2025

Lower Tamar Multi Species Success

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

David Bastian has been having a great time down at Lower Tamar, not only getting amongst the Carp but also enjoying some great multi species angling with catching numbers of cracking Bream, Roach and Perch, demonstrating what a fantastic venue Lower is.

12 Oct 2025

Combe Martin SAC – MULLET WEEKEND

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

Combe Martin SAC’s Mullet fishing weekend saw members catch good numbers of these hard fighting fish with Daniel Welch securing top prize with a fine fish of 3lb 14oz. Runner up was John Avery with a mullet of 3lb 12.5oz and Wayne Thomas third with a fish of 3lb 8oz.

Large numbers of small mullet bode well for the future though they made it hard to connect with the larger specimens that could be glimpsed on the flooding tide. The annual event was concluded with breakfast in Lynmouth Pavillion.

*Whilst Jack Phillips wasn’t pleased to catch this eel its was good to see as these once prolific fish are now considered rare.*

12 Oct 2025

October Festival 2025 at Stafford Moor.

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Robbie Taylor winner with a total weight of 634lb 10oz over the week & had a score of 5 points.

Second Place was

Tom Downing who had a total weight of 517lb 9oz & had a score of 5 points.

Third Place was

Andy Dare who had a total weight of 503lb 11oz & a score of 5 points.

The largest Carp Bag of the week was won by Robbie Taylor with 261lb 4oz

The Largest Silvers Bag of the week was won by John Newton with 38lb 4oz

Donation from the event have gone to The Devon Air Ambulance Fund

Below is the Leader Board & the top three winners

12 Oct 2025

Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters…2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters…

The final round of the Trout masters was held at Roadford Lake today.

With challenging conditions, bright sun around mid day .

Series leader Roger Truscott set out on a mission to put a good gap between himself and his closest challengers, and mission completed, Roger finished on 17 Browns with Runner up Wayne Thomas on 12.

Rodney Wevill getting the biggest Brown of the day at 39cm with Keith Burnett runner up with a nice 38cm fish.

A total of 55 Browns caught for the day

A massive thank you to Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust for Partnering up with Fluff Chuckers and providing the Brown Trout Masters Cup and the overall winners prize of an all water season ticket.

Turrall Flies, YETI Europe and Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room for the prizes for each individual events.

And to all the anglers that have taken part over the year.

This series of events have become a great fun day on the water, all taking part have joined in with smiles no matter what their individual ability has been.

Looking forward to next year and hopefully build on the past two years,

Nice to see anglers that are normally fishing for Rainbows taken up the challenge of chasing these lovely Brown trout, not always the biggest or the easiest to catch but proper fishing for sure.

Round 3 Results.

1. Roger Truscott

2. Wayne Thomas

3. Kevin Selkars

4. Rodney Wevill

5. Keith Burnett

6. John Huckings

7. Richard Adeney

8. Jon Hopper

Final overall Results after Three Rounds.

Points

1. Roger Truscott 5 (Brown Trout Master 2025)

2. Wayne Thomas 8

3. John Hucking. 12

4. Keith Burnett 13

5. Rodney Wevill 14

6. Richard Adeney 25

7. Kevin Sellars. 27

8. Steve Retallack 27

9. Steve Lawes. 32

10. Matt Woods. 32

11. Simon Peters. 35

12. Jon Hopper. 36

13. Dave Cook. 36

14. Peter Williams. 39

15. Phillip Hoskin. 41

16. Ben Eliot 42

Thanks to Rodney Wevill for all his hard work putting this enjoyable and friendly event together. All three venues run by South West lakes Trust provided excellent fishing in stunning scenery. I look forward to next years series of events. Hartd to comprehend the passing of a season that started in late March on the wide wild expanse of Colliford as we looked for the first martins and swallow arriving from Africa. The middle summer event was held at Fernworthy high on Dartmoor as heavy rain gave us all a good drenching but failed to deter the trout that were caught in good numbers as swifts and swallows darted across the water. And at Roadford its waters seriously low after a long dry summer I caught sight of a straggler swallows and martins leaving for their winter home in Africa.

9 Oct 2025

Looking back at a project that has brought joy to many……Great Memories

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Neilsen Jeffery shared this post on Facebook today and he has kindly allowed me to share here on North Devon Angling News.

It’s a really positive post showing how flourishing Bideford Angling Lakes started since being dug out of a field over twenty years ago. Credit must go to Nielsen and Paul Carter of the Environment Agency who worked closely and tirelessly to create a lasting legacy.

On a personal level it brings home how long I have been contributing to the local angling scene with my reporting in the NDJ and here on North Devon Angling News.

Since this endeavour Neilson has continued to build angling opportunities with Horwood Lakes offering excellent fishing for both match and pleasure anglers.

Neilsens post

One good thing I’ve found out today about moving house is that you go through everything tucked away in the loft, I came across these great memories from 20 years ago when I actually had a bit of hairand I took on a massive challenge to build a lake for the local club solely helped by Paul Carter from the EA three years later it was completed and three years of bloody hard work I might add, however a great achievement if I might say so myself and very proud

First photo L-R

Danny Hill

Paul Carter

Simon McCarthy

Mark Lewis

Andy Merrick

Myself

Andy Grey

Tom Downing

Dave Lewis

9 Oct 2025

SEA ANGLING NEWS UPDATE- Latest Competition Results

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

Storm Amy swept across North Devon last weekend and its effects will undoubtedly be felt as sea anglers seek big bass, tope and huss along the coast. A big Autumn storm such as this generally encourages big fish close in shore to feed and forage on the food dislodged.

Andrew Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 7lb 10.25oz. Runner up was Michael Hammett with a huss of 7lb 1.75oz and Josh Atkinson third with a dogfish of 1lb 15oz.

Stephen Found won Bideford Angling Clubs Sea rover with a mackerel of 1lb 2oz.

Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Lure Fishing league still has two weeks left to run and is currently headed by Mark Drewer with five bass for a total length of 351cm’s. Runner up is Seth Tuson on 347.5cm and Jamie Steward third with five for 344cm.

The flounder season is well underway on the Taw estuary with forty anglers taking part in the Daniel Mackie Flukey’s Flatfish Open. Stefan Jones won the competition with a flounder of 1lb 8.25oz. Runner up was David Jenkins with a flounder of 1lb 7oz and Taz Wotton third with a flounder of 1lb 6.75oz. The event raised £125 for the Children’s Hospice South West. Barnstaple Triple Hook Club have launched their Flounder season schedule with the Junior and Ladies Open competition this weekend.

9 Oct 2025

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Fishery Focus, Sidebar | 0

A few words from Zenia at Anglers Paradise

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ANGLERS PARADISE What a great weekend it was…literally Fun…Fishing and Friends! The party went down a storm, our Chef Paul Casey did a great job with the food, Emma Knight did us proud with her live performance of beautiful acoustic music to start the night, great live music in the bar and then one hell of a disco!! People danced, got merry and most importantly enjoyed celebrating 40 years of Anglers Paradise! It was lovely to have special friends attend in the likes of Mark and Judith Pitchers, Dean Macey, Daryl Hodges and Ian Jones from Dynamite, the GoCatch Team, Bob Roberts & Sue, Bill and Virginia Rushmer and of course all our amazing guests that joined us for the party of the year!! We are pleased to say that the GoCatch Team have filmed the Weekend’s shenanigans and we can’t wait to see it and share it with you all! Thank you to all that joined us in making it a weekend to remember…

WINNERS

OF THE 40TH CELEBRATION OF ANGLERS PARADISE DYNAMITE

SPECIES CHALLENGE!

Well, not only did we party like it was 1985 last weekend but we also had a Species Challenge amongst the party goers! The baliffs said it was like watching Tom and Jerry around the Lakes!

The results and Winners were –

1st Place

DAN WILLIAMS-SHARPE – 10 Species

2nd Place

SAM WAHID – 8 Species (caught from 4 different Lakes)

3rd Place

MARK HAWITT – 8 Species (caught from 3 different Lakes)

Great angling boys! Congratulations and well done to you all!

Catch sheets are in the comments!

A MASSIVE THANK YOU to Dynamite Baits for the AMAZING Prizes that the winners went home with (cars were definitely full on departure!!)

Thank you to Alex Lister for helping with the Presentation and being a representative for Dynamite

7 Oct 2025

OAKTREE FISHERY – FISHING MATCH

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0

REMEMBERING GEORGE

Oaktree Fishery are holding a celebration of the life of the late, great George Eury who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The celebration will take the form of a fishing match with all profits going to Devon Air Ambulance

Places are expected to go fast so get your name down asap for a great cause

Plenty of prizes, breakfast and dinner available!! For full details simply click the link below

Oaktree Fishery

5 Oct 2025

A Danglers Diary – September 2025

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

I sometimes wonder what anglers want to read on North Devon Angling News in addition to the latest news from around the region. I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look back at the beginning of each month at the venues I have fished over the preceding month and the triumphs and trials I have encountered.

In early September Pauline and I celebrated our 40^th wedding anniversary. It is a testament to Pauline that she has accepted my obsession with angling throughout those fiorty plus years supporting me great with patience. (Most of the time; for there are times when I have undoubtedly overstepped the mark a little).

We celebrated at the Tarr Steps Inn beside the glorious River Barle that once teemed with salmon during the Autumn months. I remember catching a silver grilse on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral back in 1997. The river like many has suffered a dramatic decline in its salmon stocks though its wild brown trout are still abundant.

In the Exmoor Town of Dulverton it was good to see minnows shoaling in the leat that runs past Rothwell & Dunsworth the book shop that always has a tempting array of fishing books.

An antique cased perch catches my eye…whats the story behind it?

The Glorious Wye

Whilst the River Wye in Herefordshire frequently makes the headlines regarding effluent from Chicken farms and agriculture it is still a beautiful rIver. its salmon runs have plummeted but it is still home to some wonderful Coarse fish. I extracted a few bronze flanked chub on a trip in the middle of September.