CARP FISHING at Roadford Lake

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We are pleased to announce that we will be offering carp fishing for a limited period on Roadford lake, as part of our ongoing removal programme.🎣
A vast and beautiful lake covering a huge 780 plus acres set in stunning countryside Roadford offers the opportunity to fish in a unique environment which is very difficult to find in the UK. Much more akin to fishing on the big lakes on the continent, big skies and a big expanse of water offers anglers a unique opportunity for some very atmospheric fishing.
The fishing is from Friday Oct 17th until Nov 30th. Tickets are now available via the website at £25 for 24 hours and are limited to 12 anglers at any one time.
Please note: Our objective is to remove the Carp and improve the trout fishing along with the ecology of the lake. All fish caught must be placed in the holding tanks, and no fish are to be returned to the lake, these fish will then be collected by the fisheries team.
Strict Biosecurity measures will be in place and all anglers’ slings; nets and unhooking mats must be placed in the dip tanks provided. This is due to the presence of non-native invasive crayfish in Roadford, please help protect our fisheries in the southwest and further afield.

SEA ANGLING RESULTS – August Rovers

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Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly sea rover was dominated by smoothound with Richard Jefferies heading the field with a specimen of 11lb 9oz. Tony Gussin was runner up with a hound of 10lb 10oz and Dale Kiff third with a hound of 10lb 4oz.

Appledore Shipbuilders monthly rover was also dominated by smoothound with Andrew Atkinson taking first and second with hounds of 12lb 4.25oz and 9lb 3.75oz. Third was Michael Hammett with a hound of 8lb 12oz.

Katka Švagrová at the Arundell this Autumn

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Katka Švagrová at the Arundell this Autumn

Friday 31st October, Saturday 1st 

and Sunday 2nd November

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be taught by Katka Švagrová

at the Arundell this Autumn.  Sponsored by global sporting brands and with over 30 year fly fishing experience, Katka is the 2023 silver individual and gold team World Flyfishing Ladies Champion and seven times winner of the National Woman’s Czech Fly Fishing Championship.

She will be at the Arundell on Friday 31st October, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November running 3 x 1 day Euronymph fishing for grayling courses.  A Fly Fishers International Ambassador, she is world renowned for her unrivalled fly-fishing expertise.

The Course is £225 per person and will be limited to six people per day.

Please call 01566 784666 or email [email protected] to book your place!

REEDS CHILLCHEATER

As we move towards Autumn it is perhaps time to think about upgrading those waterproofs. Local company Chillcheater provide high quality garments to beat the harshest of conditions. My own Storm Jacket has been beating the weather for over ten years and is set for replacing this season.

CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO SEE LATEST PRODUCTS

Sea Angling and Fishing.

Weekly – ANGLING REPORT – July 31st 2025

MAINLINE CARP PAIRS RESULT

South West Lakes Trust’ Mainline Carp Baits Open Pairs Competition at Upper Tamar Lake has been won by Terry Vincent and Ben Combes with three fish totalling 63lb 7oz. The pair take home a prize of £2000 plus trophies. Runners up receiving £1000 were Jason McEvoy and Paul Thomas with three carp for 61lb 15oz. In third place was Nigel Woods with 57lb 1oz. Over thirty carp were registered in the popular event held on South West Lakes Trusts premier carp water on the Devon and Cornish border.

Zenia Drury-Gregorek of Angler’s Paradise took a break from her busy schedule to celebrate her birthday and a enjoy fishing session with her husband Joe on the complex’s new Nirvana Syndicate Lake. The session proved very successful with Zenia banking a complex record common carp of 44lb, a 45lb mirror carp along with grass carp to 32lb and a 29lb mirror carp.

 

Anglers Paradise

Bideford & District Angling Clubs Rod N Reel match at Tarka Swims was won by Kevin Shears with 67lb 14oz. Runner up was Keith Copland with 61lb 14oz and Paul Elworthy third with 45lb 10oz.

Andy Edge won the latest Open Match at Stafford Moor with 255lb 14oz.

Boat anglers are enjoying some fine bass sport off Ilfracombe with Predator 2 Charters putting anglers amongst some large shoals of feeding bass, Skipper Dan Welch took time out for a bit of fishing himself and registered a brace of 58cm bass and one of 55cm.

Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League Sponsored by High Street Tackle is attracting a good number of entries from club members reflecting an excellent year for the species. Mark Drewer and Seth Tuson are currently joint first with five bass for 344.5cm. In runner up spot at present is myself with five bass for 313cm and in third place Reece Woolgar with four bass for 263cm.

Reel Deal Charters has taken anglers to the North Cornish Coast where several porbeagle shark have been brought boat-side.

The regions rivers are continuing to suffer from a lack of significant rain and warm temperatures. Barnstaple and District Angling Club control fishing on two beats on the River Taw and have closed both beats after recording water temperatures in excess of 24 centigrade. Water temperatures this warm are very concerning and can cause stress for both salmon and trout. The advice of the West Country Rivers Trust is to cease fishing above 20 degrees C.


BIg carp brace from Lower Tamar

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Shaun Thorne tempted a stunning brace of carp from Lower Tamar lake including a stunning common carp of 32lb 12oz and a mirror carp of 25lb 2oz. The lake on the Devon Cornish Border holds a stock of stunning specimen fish including carp, bream, roach, tench, perch and eels.

Bass Lure League – Update

http://www.highstreettackle.co.uk

This season has been proving a good one for bass with Combe Martin SAC members registering some quality specimens in their lure league that is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.

Seth Tuson and Mark Drewer head the leaders board with five bass each for 344.5 cm. The biggest bass so far is a fine fish of 77cm to the rod of Mark Drewer. Top lures are without a doubt soft Plastics. https://www.highstreettackle.co.uk/soft-lures-3-c.asp

 

1st – Seth Tuson & Mark Drewer – Five bass – 344.5 cm

2nd – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 313 cm

3rd – Reece Woolgar – four bass – 263 cm

4th – Daniel Welch – four bass – 233cm

5th –  Ross Stanway – three bass – 176 cm

6th –  Jamie Steward – two bass – 140 cm

7th –  Robert Hurst – two bass – 121.5 cm

8th –  Toby Craven – one bass – 58cm

WIRE OR HEAVY MONO FOR TOPE ?

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When targetting tope there is some debate about whether to use heavy mono or wire? I have always been a wire man but on recent discussions with Dan Welch on Predator 2 I have been questioning which is best?  Heavy mono can result in more runs and is kinder to the fish and skipper. Wire is less likely to get bitten through. Hair rigs, dongle rigs and circle hooks can also be added into the equation.

Zenia – Just like living in paradise

Zenia fished her home venues new Nirvana syndicate lake and had success beyond her dreams….read her story below…
Those of you that know me, will know that even though I live at Anglers Paradise, I don’t actually get much time to go fishing because of my role at AP! I literally live, eat and breathe AP, and that is my life, but I love seeing so many different walks of life here, seeing day to day, anglers catching PB’s, people making memories and of course kids and adults catching their first fish and gaining a passion for fishing from what we do…I love it! It means the world to me!💛🫶🎣✨
Every other week during the peak season months, I get a few hours to myself and because my time is limited, I go in search of the fish, stalking and surface fishing.
This session was a 40th birthday wish as it had been years since I was gifted ‘time’ to actually go night fishing and to have any longer than 5 hours, this is a big treat for me!! So a day/night/day session was more than I could ever wish for and also with my amazing husband which was a blessing on its own that we could have this time together doing what we love most!!
When my husband said that he wanted me to be the one to christen and fish the new Nirvana Syndicate, I was blown away and haven’t stopped thinking about it since!
Nervous, excited and butterflies going crazy, after dropping off our youngest, the time had finally come to go FISHING!!!
I was going to savour every minute being there, and that I did, catching would be a bonus as I really had no idea what was about to happen…
The first day was extremely windy and very challenging with the baiting pole!! After the traps were set, it was time to wait after several attempts getting the rigs and bait in place.
Plenty of pellet and crushed Monster Tiger Nut Boilies were planted and the Carp were already feeding which was a very good sign!
It ended up being the best Carp Red Letter Fishing session of my life!
Never did I think I would catch one forty…but TWO!!! 2 Grass Carp to 32lbs and a 29lb Mirror!
After catching my personal best and Common Complex Record at 44lbs, I honestly never expected it to get any better…
But then it happened, we’d just finished a beautiful dinner that my husband cooked, steak 🥩, broccoli, asparagus and a jacket potato, absolutely delicious! Then, all of a sudden, my right hand rod screams off!!
Another amazing fight, I knew this was going to be a big Carp! It was one of the most nerve wracking moments in my life praying that she’d eventually caress my net, which she did.
I was literally shaking, and after seeing the size of her, I cried, it was a moment I’ll never forget, I looked at Joe and he was in disbelief too, we both were just in shock, this session was just insane and so special, and one I will be eternally grateful for.
My new personal best 45lb Mirror, what a Fish!!!
I’m proof that Fishing Dreams can come true, and it was the best dream EVER!!!
Thank you to my amazing husband for making this trip possible, looking after me, just being a wonderful husband and not forgetting cooking for me like a Queen, and to friends Toby and Emma for having the boys to make this HAPPEN!!! I love you all and will be eternally grateful 🙏💛🫶✨🐳
Ps 1 Peppered Squid 🦑 🧨Pop Up was the winning bait!! 🟰🐳🦑🧨

 

Anglers Paradise

WEEKLY – ANGLING REPORT – July 24th

Andrew Clements secured top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour rover with a specimen smoothound scaling 11lb 14oz. Tony Gussin was runner up with a smoothound of 11lb 1.5oz and Stephen Found third with a bass of 7lb 11oz.

Bideford Club have recently acquired fishing rights for club members at Higher Shorston Lakes near Holsworthy. Full details can be found via the clubs website. Access to these waters adds extra value to membership of this thriving and long established angling club.

Bideford Clubs Junior competition is proving very popular and is fully subscribed most weeks with twenty three participants in last weekend’s event which is very encouraging to see as it bodes well for the future. Hallie Osbourne won the latest match with 7.105 kilo. Runner up was Bailey Bramley with 6.935 kilo and Jenson Kiff third with 4.925 kilo.

This weekend is the first weekend of the summer holidays and I still relish the memories of those distant times when I fished the River Umber in Combe Martin to catch small brown trout and eels that were abundant in those days. The open coast and local ponds were also visited and our generation seemed to enjoy a greater freedom than todays. Angling is undoubtedly a pastime that is beneficial to mental health and connecting with nature and it is to be hoped that the joys are discovered by a few more young people this summer.

Predator 2 Charters operate out of Ilfracombe and in this their first full season of operation they are gaining a reputation for putting anglers amongst the fish. Skipper Dan Welch has fished the North Devon coast for many years and is putting that experience to good use having considerable success targeting bass and wrasse using the latest lure fishing techniques.

Good numbers of tope are also being tempted from waters off Ilfracombe with plenty of fish over 30lb boated.

High water temperatures have eased on many local rivers enabling angling to resume though extra care should be taken to ensure all fish are returned as soon as possible preferably unhooked in the water. During hot summer days fly fishing enthusiasts can enjoy some superb and at times challenging sport targeting bass and mullet in saltwater. Mullet have become something of a cult species to target with their wily reputation and powerful fights sometimes compared to the bonefish of tropical waters. On a warm summers day it is undoubtedly a joy to stand ankle deep in the cool waters as bass and mullet swirl close by in the flooding tide.

Stuart Kennedy won Stafford Moor’s latest residents Match with 269lb 10oz. This followed success for Stuart in the venues Open match when he put together a net of 262lb 15oz.  On the venues Lodge Lake Zack Skinner banked a personal best carp of 32lb.