SHORE FISHING
Its starting to look a lot like Christmas at the local harbour and after a succession of dogfish a moderate Bull huss takes the bait.
TROUT FROM STILLWATERS
The Fluff Chucker’s Stillwater event is held on the calm waters of the Arundell’s lake. After coffee and bacon rolls a friendly competition is held and I am pleased to secure the biggest fish and runner up in the event netting eight trout the biggest brown trout of 43cm. Many thanks must go to Rodney Wevill who does the bulk of the work in organising these get togethers.
FLOUNDER FISHING
The Triple Hook Turkey Flounder Open is a popular fixture and its good to visit the estuary to dig a few ragworm before the competition. Angling certainly takes you to some interesting places.
The day of the competition coincides with the Winter Solstice and I savour the sunrise above Barnstaple as the tide ebbs. Skeins of geese fly over and the haunting cry of the curlew drifts through the morning air.
I even manage a brace of flounder the biggest of which secures turkey Christmas Dinner
Beach Fishing
Its Combe Martin SAC’s Festive Fish so I head out to fish a local beach sheltered from the bitter North East Wind I reel in a few dogfish and a small Bull huss. The best doggie is 2lb 7oz the biggest I have caught or a while.
PIKE FISHING
James and I spend a day exploring Tiverton Canal hoping to tempt pike or perch on lures. Its a bitter cold lazy east wind but after enjoying a full English at the appropriate Fishermans Cott we have a good day. A few small jacks follow the lures but we cannot get a hit. The kingfishers entertain and James manages to capture them with his camera.
Winter Mullet
On the last day of 2025 I fish for the elusive grey mullet. I glimpse a few good fish and the rod tip trembles a few times but I fail to connect. Its cold but there is not a breath of wind as the sun slowly sets on the year.
The time must come to all of us, who live long, when memory is more than prospect. An angler who has reached this stage, and reviews the pleasures of life, will be grateful and glad that he has been an angler, for he will look back on days radiant with happiness, peaks and peaks of enjoyment that are not less bright because they are lit in memory by the light of a setting sun.
From Fly Fishing by Edward Grey of Fallodon (1930 Edition)
Fly Fair Guests
for more exciting announcements. We cant wait to see you there, tickets are available now via the link below and are £7 in advance and £10 on the door.
