I was recently interviewed by Phil Williams about my many years fishing for grey mullet. Take a listen if you have any interest in these hard fighting and at times frustrating fish.
Seasons through the lens
Steve Pinn spends many hours fishing for carp mostly at Stafford Moor and he combines his fishing with his love of photography. I asked Steve if he would put a few words together and share some of his stunning images. These illustrate the real joy of fishing and carp fishing in particular where the angler is within the environment letting the seasons and days roll by observing each changing mood as the world revolves.
Through the lens by the Steve Pinn the BIvvy Tramp!
When “bivvy’d up” for several nights in the heart of the beautiful Devon countryside, I’ve always said that catching a fish is a bonus. Carp fishing is a waiting game, one that can keep you awake all hours but one that allows you to see and hear things that not everyone is privileged enough to witness. Magenta sunrises, sunsets, cloud formations, changing seasons and all manner of natural splendor never fail to delight and, for me, capturing those moments is just as important as the ‘trophy carp shot’. You really don’t need the best camera in the world, I use my iPhone just as much as my Canon SLR, but to not record more than just your latest catch when you are surrounded by such a visual feast would, to me, be a tragedy. Get snapping, you won’t regret it.
Wistlandpound superb brown trout sport
Below is a report sent to South West lakes Trust by a very satisfied customer!
Jon Ogbourne enjoyed a Great day on Wistlandpound fishing from the clubs boat. He fished with Peter Coleman-Smith and Mark Stewart taking turns on the oars. Fish came from all over the lake with 50+ to the net by the time we landed at 6pm, the best was pushing 1.5lbs. All fish came to either traditional wets, sedgehogs or weighted mini tadpole patterns on the point. Steady wind blowing up toward the dam all day. Sunshine with broken cloud. Buzzers and hawthorn flies around perimeter of lake but not much out on the water. Fish didn’t seem to mind.
Putsborough Open 2017
Fifty eight anglers descended upon Putsborough beach for the annual Combe Martin Sea Angling Club Open and they met with ideal conditions. The east wind that had blown for several days had abated and the sea was calm as everyone gathered in the car park to book in.
It was good to chat with a few anglers who I had reported on over the past twelve months on this website. The nice thing about this competition is that it has a really friendly vibe with anglers meeting up, sharing tales and making plans.
Combe Martin SAC give special thanks to their sponsors; Sakuma, High Street Tackle, Veal Mail Order and Kevin Legge. Thanks also to Putsborough Sands for allowing the use their venue once again. The club also wish to thank all who took part with many anglers travelling a considerable distance to fish the event. Really pleased to hear several cheery “see you next year” as anglers sped off into the night at the end.
The fishing proved to be pretty good as well with most anglers catching fish and more than enough to match the impressive array of prizes on offer at the end. Over thirty small eyed ray were caught, one blonde ray, several smoothound to 5lb 8oz and of course plenty of dogfish.
1st – Matt Druce – blonde ray -11lb 41/4oz
2nd -Dale Kiff – small eyed ray – 7lb 14oz
3rd – Gareth Pike- dogfish – 2lb 5oz
4th – Garry Andrews – small eyed ray – 7lb 1/2oz
5th – Matt Druce – smell eyed ray – 6lb 151/2oz
6th – Dan Welch – small eyed ray – 6lb 15oz
7th – Dan Redmore – small eyed ray – 6lb 12oz
8th – Colin Emery – dogfish 2lb
9th – Lee Holden – dogfish 1lb 15oz
10th – Gareth Pike – dodfish 1lb 14oz
Nick Smith – dogfish 1lb 14oz
Ben Putman – dogfish 1lb 14oz
11th – Ross Stanway – small eyed ray – 6lb 21/2oz
12th – Ben Putman – small eyed ray – 6lb 10z
Colin Tanton – small eyed ray 6lb 1oz
Junior prize – Ollie Laird dogfish – 1lb 15oz
Best Brace -Matt Druce – Blonde Ray 11lb 41/2oz & small eyed ray 6lb 151/2oz Total = 163.4%
Below are a few pictures and comments from the night I will add as I get more so please feel free to send images and comments I try to make this a site for the angling community.
A
(above ) Dale Kiff
(Above) Nick Phillips
Mike Seatherton ( Above) – Fished Putsborough competition last night, really enjoyed it, managed to catch a few fish, smooth hound, small eyed ray and plenty of dog fish, biggest ray 4lbs 10oz,
Congratulations to all who got on the prize table!
(Above) Rob Scoines
(Below) Matt Druce and his winning fish , great turn out and thank you to all the sponsors and the usual suspects for a well organized event
Blakewell Open Day and fine sport
David Hill visited Blakewell Fishery and had a pleasing days sport landing four quality trout for 17lb including a handsome 4lb brown trout.
Next Sunday May 14th the fishery are hosting a Snowbee Open day with casting demonstrations, tackle on show and the chance to mingle with fellow anglers whilst enjoying food and refreshments.
http://www.blakewell.co.uk
Riverside ramblings
A tumbling river in springtime with the smell of ramsey and birdsong filling the air has been a part of my life since I was a child catching crimson spotted brown trout from the River Umber that runs through the village of Combe Martin. A few weeks ago I found myself looking into the river where I first tempted those spotted trout. Sadly there were no signs of the descendants of those trout which is a sad refection on the waning state of our countryside.
Fortunately there are still plenty of rivers in North Devon that still have healthy populations of trout. I took a wander along my local river wielding a split cane rod I had bought from a work colleague. The old scottie rod had been bought at a car boot sale and I later found that the rod had been taken there by Richard Mann who I had fished with on several occasions at Blakewell Fishery. Richard was a very enthusiastic angler who had fished far and wide with many a tale to tell. In latter years he had done a huge amount of work for a local branch of the Salmon and Trout Association. Richard sadly passed away last year.
I flicked the flies upstream and thrilled as the free rising trout seized the fly. The old rod flexed as the trout gyrated and darted to and fro in the clear water. I wondered what other adventures the rod had been on? It didn’t really matter what rod as the small river didn’t demand distance casting, a bit of precision perhaps. A modern carbon rod could have ticked every box in functionality but perhaps the old rod was more in keeping with the late spring evening? The river had those same characteristics I had enjoyed close to fifty years ago, perhaps that is one of angling’s greatest attributes in that it brings back those childish perceptions and feelings.
A couple of nights later I was casting a fly across the River Torridge in hope of salmon. The river had dropped away but still had a nice tinge of colour. I started hopeful but as the evening swept past I felt slightly melancholic at the lack of salmon surely after the recent spate there would be salmon present? It was a glorious evening full of birdsong and riverside aromas. I did catch one or two glorious spotted brown trout but these were not enough tonight for I had set my expectations higher and with that came a slight feeling of failure. I will of course be back casting again full of expectation next time the river rises and brings fresh hope of silver tourists.
Sea Trout – A fine first fish on the fly
A glance over the bridge at Umberleigh revealed the Taw running with a slight color perfect conditions for a fish a two.
We called into the Rising Sun at Umberleigh to enjoy their Wednesday steak night. A glance into the Fishing Log revealed the days catch! Spencer Whitbread fished the Rising Sun’s water at Umberleigh and was delighted to land his first fish on the fly a handsome sea trout of 5lb 10oz. The fish was tempted on a Wille Gunn a favorite early season fly on the Taw and Torridge. Spencer was expertly tutored by Mark Izzard.
It was a delicious steak! Two for £20!
Stunning rainbow on a dry fly
9lb 1oz on a dry fly for Mr Gilbert. Fish right up in the water even when cold & windy.
With the warmers days fish are moving up n the water so Nick Harts suggests “try an Owl, a Hopper or stick a Buzzer under a Bung.”
Nick Hart reports:-
So far to today Friday 28th April 188 anglers have visited since the beginning of the month catching a total of 599 Trout to set a very good rod average of 3.2 fish per rod. Amongst them have been some great fish such as the specimens shown below and we were also pleased to see that one of our Trout was selected by Trout Fisherman as Fish of the Month. Well done to the captor John Ratcliffe.
Sharon lands a forty from Paradise
1ST EVER LADY ANGLER TO CATCH A 40 FROM ANGLERS PARADISE
Sharon aka ‘Frogs’ Fowler, 55 from Bedfordshire, made Anglers Paradise History by catching her 1st ever 40 from the Kracking Carp lake, Frogs caught the legend that is ‘Silverback’ at 48lbs 14oz. Frogs has made the Anglers Paradise Record Books by making angling history becoming the 1st Ever Lady Angler to land a 40lb Carp here!!! What an achievement!
Frog’s Story – “Having rested the lake for a while and kept the lines out of the water for a bit as we were conscious of the fact that most of the fish were at our end of the lake! (Or after having returned from the pub after lunch lol) Both statements are true!
A Denham baits 15mm Element bottom bait was cast approx. 3 ft off the island in front of me using 12lb Tiger Line fluoro-line fished slack-line, where I had seen movement during the morning, and caught an 11lb carp earlier that morning, within an hour or so a hesitant take which turned into a positive rod wrencher resulted in playing what was obviously a very heavy and angry fish.
Calls for assistance from the other 3 people present were a waste of time as they were enjoying a post lunch snooze so the fish was played and netted solo before a phone call could raise the dead to help with photos. Ironically this is probably a good thing as the entire capture is a solo effort and no husbands or friends helped in any way! I would however like to thank Ian for tying the rig, and Jeff for lending his scales (as Ian’s gave up the ghost at the weekend!) I came this year with same target as I have had for several years now – namely to catch a 40lb carp – the fish at 48lb 14oz smashed that- what a fish, what a wonderful holiday, in our 30th Anniversary year, I could not have asked for more (especially as Ian then also caught a 40lber!!). “
Superb Angling, and an inspiration to all us lady anglers! (Even more so the Male Anglers!). Frogs also Won our Fish Of The Week Competition.
(Above)Frog’s husband Ian Fowler didn’t want to be left out and went onto catching his biggest ever carp – The Famous Gorilla at 47lbs 10oz from the Kracking Carp Lake making one Mr Fowler a Very Happy Man!! Ian, 55, from Bedfordshire, beat his previous PB of 42lb 14oz which was also from the Kracking Carp Lake. Ian caught the Mirror on a running rig, 2oz flat lead with a Denham Baits Element 16mm bottom bait.
(Above)Frogs and Ian also had a double take of 20’s from the Specimen Carp Lake, Ian with a 24lb 8oz Mirror and Frogs with a 26lb 4oz Mirror which they fought and caught at the same time!! Both on Denham Baits ‘Element’. Great to see couples enjoying the sport together!
(Above)Jeff Rowland from Keighley caught this Stunning 26lb 12oz Common from the Specimen Carp Lake! Jeff caught the Common on a 20mm Vortex Boilie on a Basic Bottom Rig with 5 Freebies.
(Above)5C’s Member, Maggot Whitfeld aka Mike came down with his Son Jordan to have a session on the Main Carp Lake and landed a new Personal Best 18lb Grassy! Maggot didn’t use Maggots though! He caught the Grass Carp on Paradise Baits Beez Kneez on a German Rig.
(Above)5C’s Member Tristan landed his New PB Carp, a lovely Mirror of 22lbs 6oz from Eldorado’s Bottom Cat and Carp Lake 2 on a Crab Boilie.
(Above)Andrew White caught a low 20lb Mirror from the Kracking Carp Lake on Peg 4 caught on essential baits B5 on a snowman rig.
Stafford Moor Open result
The Open Match Sunday on Tanners and Woodpecker lakes attracted a field of 37 angers. Weather was described as awful cold, with wind and rain ! There was a continental payout . The top weight was 165lb 13oz from Dave Stockton peg 3 on Tanners lake fishing 8mm pellet on the waggler well done Dave !
In 2nd place was Nigel Rhodes peg 18 on Woodpecker lake with 135lb 11oz
In 3rd place was Tony Rixon peg 13 on Tanners Lake with 133lb 8oz
In 4th place was Andy Dare peg 16 on Woodpecker lake with 106lb 15oz
In 5th place was Mark Layzelle peg 35 on Tanners with 96lb 14oz
6th place was Paul Heywood peg 2 on Woodpecker with 103lb 14oz
