First place today went to Martin Turner on peg 17 with a nice net full mainly carp for a weight of 36lbs 15oz, 2nd place was Kevin Shears on peg 4 with a weight of 32lbs 13oz ,3rd place was Stefan Clarke on peg 9 with 27lbs 1oz and 4th place today went to Antony Bentley on peg 6 with 27lbs. The next Rod and Reel match will be on the 26.4.26 at tarka. If you would like to book on to the next Rod and Reel match you can do so 30days before the match in advance on clubmate.
Bideford and District Angling Clubs annual presentation night was very well attended with around forty members in attendance at Bideford Conservative Club. Many thanks to Mervyn Beal for sending this report to North Devon Angling News .
The Club would like to thank Chris Connaughton-Mono for presenting the trophies. Big thank you to our guest speaker Alex Van Wienen from the Angling Trust. Also a big thank you to the Conservative Club and staff for the excellent buffet and to everyone who attended making the night a success.
BDAC Coarse section 2025 Cups and Trophies.
Mid Week Series Winner. Dave Anstey Shield Craig Lamey 103pts.
Mid Week Series Runner Up. Nathan Underwood 98pts.
Junior Series Winner. Leo Davies 68pts.
Junior Series Runner Up. Bailey Brambley. 55pts.
Rod & Reel Monthly Winner. Richard Jefferies 133pts.
Rod & Reel Monthly Runner Up. Martin Turner 124pts.
Evening Pairs Winners. Craig Lamey & Richard Jefferies 97Ib 5oz.
Best Weight In Match. Nathan Underwood 96Ib 3oz.
Matchman Of the the Year. Nathan Underwood 122pts.
Matchman Of The Year Runner Up Kevin Shears 105pts.
BDAC Sea Section 2025 Cups and Trophies.
Valentine Bowl – most points in the monthly Rover.
Andrew Clements
Stephen Found
Tony Gussin
All joint 1st on 28 points.
Keira short trophy – most points in 48 hour Rover. Paul Ackland 13 points
Stephanie Vanstone – best specimen caught from the shore. Stephen Found Common Smoothhound 18lb 14 – 188.75%
Jason talbot memorial plate – Best specimen ray caught from the shore. Stephen Found Smalleyed Ray 11lb 7 – 127.083%
Snake plate – best specimen Conger caught from the shore. Richard Jefferies Conger 14lb 13 – 74.06%
Best round fish from the shore Stephen Found Thinlipped Mullet 5lb 15 – 148.44%
Best specimen flat fish caught from the shore ( no ray) Paul Ackland sole 1lb 10 ½ – 94.64%
Best specimen shark from the shore. Stephen Found Common Smoothhound 18lb 14 – 188.75%
Winner of end of season competition Dale Kiff SpurFound 10lb 3 101.873%
Big Mike memorial vase Paul Ackland Dog 2lb 2 – 70.833%
Species challenge cup Stephen Found 5 Ray totalling 464.582%
New club records
Stephen Found Thinlipped Mullet 5lb 15
Stephen Found Common Smoothhound 18lb 14
Richard Jefferies Blue Skate 13lb 4oz.
Boat Section Winners.
Best Specimen Trophy. Patrick O’ Donnell. Bull Huss 15Ib 8oz.
Most Species Caught Boat Trip. Keith Mountjoy.
BDAC Game Section 2025 Cups and Trophies
1st: BDAC Highest Points Monthly Comps. Andy Clements 44pts.
2nd: BDAC Runner Up Terry Dymond.
Best Brown Trout Caught From Colliford Reservoir. Chris Clements.
Best Rainbow Trout Caught In Monthly Comps. A. Clements.
BDAC Combined Weight From Reservoir Fished. Andy Clements.
Chairmans Clubman Of the Year.Mervyn Beal.
The Club would like to thank Chris Connaughton-Mono for presenting the trophies. Big thank you to our guest speaker Alex Van Wienen from the Angling Trust. Also a big thank you to the Conservative Club and staff for the excellent buffet and to everyone who attended making the night a success.
The largest residents of George’s lake ,Tarka swims have shown this month . Nathan straight off a week long festival at Stafford Moor, has caught a fantastic net including some large carp on unfancied peg 7 .Maggot over groundbait on the pole in open water was the successful technique.
Second in the match was Darren on peg 9
moving him up to 5th in the yearly league table.
Keith retains third place in the league with his third position off of peg 13.
Craig found the only carp caught in the shallower end to secure 4th place on peg 24..
Another enjoyable night with Bideford & District Angling Club a pleasure to be a part of the evening. A very good attendance this year with a really positive vibe.
BDAC Coarse section 2024 cups and trophies.
Senior Match man Winner Craig Lamey 137pts
Senior Match man Runner up Paul Elworthy 103pts
Midweek series Winner Nathan Underwood 130pts
Midweek series runner up Kevin Shears 92pts
Pairs match Winners
Rhys Eyles and Darren Polden
Highest weight in competition. Rhys Eyles 69lb 12oz
Rod and reel league winner Richard Jefferies 128pts
Rod and reel runner up Darren Polden 112pts
Junior series Winner Ethan Broom. 46 points
Junior series runner up Lewis Hathaway 45 points
BDAC Sea Section 2024 Cups and Trophies.
1. Valentine bowl-most points in the monthly Rover. Andrew Clements 57 points
2. Keira short trophy-most points in the 48-hour. Stephen Found 18 points
3. Stephanie Vanstone-best specimen caught from the shore . Jon Stevens Bass 11lb 1 1/2 158.48%
4. Jason Talbot memorial plate-best ray caught from the shore. Stephen Found Thornback 12lb 9 139.58%
5. Snake plate-best Conger caught from the shore . Andrew Clements Conger 17lb 1 85.31%
6. Best round fish from the shore . Jon Stevens Bass 11lb 1 1/2 158.48%
7. Best specimen flat fish (no ray). Phil Vanstone / Stephen Found Dab 15oz 93.75%
8. Best specimen shark from the shore . Andrew Clements Smooth hound 14lb 9 1/4 145.76%
9. Winner of the end of season competition . Andrew Clements Small eyed Ray 9lb 9 106.250
10. Big Mike memorial vase . Craig Lamey Flounder 1Ib 5 3/4
BDAC Game Section 2024 Cups and Trophies
1st: Terry Dymond.
2nd: Dave Bailey.
BDAC: Highest Points in Monthly Comps. Terry Dymond 52 Points
BDAC: Runner Up Of Aggregate Points in Monthly Comps. Dave Bailey.
Best Rainbow Trout Caught. Dave Bailey 4Ib 2oz.
Best Brown Trout Caught From Reservoirs Fished. Dave Bailey.
BDAC: Combined Weight From All Reservoir Fished. Terry Dymond.
Chairmans Clubman of the Year. Steve Bailey.
The Club would like to thank, Nick Laws, Tom Wade and Wayne Thomas for presenting the trophies and making the evening a success.
Bideford and District Angling Club held their AGM at Bideford Con Club on Friday November 15th, the event was very well attended. The club is North Devon’s largest angling club with a membership of over 500 that includes over fifty Junior members many undoubtedly attracted by the clubs two well maintained fishing lakes. Tarka Swims consists of Georges Lake and Karen’s Lake that between them provide excellent pleasure, match and carp fishing. The lakes manager Steve Bailey resigned from the post after many years of sterling service and was presented with gifts from the club in appreciation. The new lake manager is Mike Jones.
Club Secretary – Mervyn Beal says :- Farewell Steve. At last nights AGM the club said farewell to our outgoing Tarka Swims manager. Over the past 20yrs Steve has been the backbone of our club, his grit determination, hard work and commitment has made Tarka Swims what it is today. On behalf of the committee and club members we would like to say a massive thank you Steve and to Lorraine for giving up so much family time over the years. Hopefully you can now enjoy more family time and get some well earned fishing in. Thank you.
The clubs holds well attended coarse fishing Matchs each month and a summer series of events for Junior anglers. The club also hosts regular sea angling competitions and game fishing events.
Bideford and District Angling Club Match Secretary’s Report 2024
The Senior matches on George’s Lake, Tarka Swims have once again, been very well supported. With an average of 20 members regularly competing.
Our Junior Section has also been extremely well supported with 35 different youngsters enjoying the 3-hour Saturday events held throughout the summer. The 5-match series was won by Ethan Broom on 46 points, close second Lewis Hathaway on 45 points.
The 10 match, Summer Evening Series attracted 22 different anglers, we were blessed with some great weather for the 3-hour contests. Runaway winner was Nathan Underwood on 130 points with Kevin Shears 2nd on 92 points. The 3-hour pairs event was won by Rhys Elyes and Darren Polden with a remarkable total of 96lb 12oz.
Richard’s ‘Rod and Reel Only’ Competitions have been fully attended; organiser Richard Jefferies currently leads the league with 2 matches remaining.
At present, in the monthly Sunday Matches, Craig Lamey has an unassailable lead with Nathan in 2nd place.
Our 2-leg team match against Plymouth resulted in a resounding victory for us 713lb to 219lb. I hope to set up a more challenging contest against Bude Canal anglers.
This club offers a fantastic variation of disciplines; from the game beat on the Torridge to boat trips, shore fishing contests and, of course, the Tarka events. The lakes provide a host of opportunities to get involved; as members we need to be mindful that the membership is diverse and each of us find pleasure and fulfilment in our chosen pastime whether helping with the working parties, camping out overnight after the ‘Big One’ or witnessing the joy of watching the juniors catching their first fish.
Openness and understanding are essential if the club is to prosper; division is not healthy. As a club we must be respectful of members choices.
Regular matches, I believe, provide a very useful indicator as to the condition of the water and its inhabitants. Recorded results provide accurate information and trends can be monitored.
Once again, I must thank those people who have supported events but especially those who have ensured that they run smoothly. Mervyn for his support scrutinising and publishing results. Steve and his team for providing us with a well maintained and safe environment to enjoy our chosen discipline.
Finally, I must comment on the shock of the closure of the institution that was Summerland’s Tackle; we wish the family well and thank them for all their support over many years.
Martin Turner stands for another term as club match secretary.
Bideford and District Angling Club held their presentation night at Bideford Conservative Club Friday February 23rd with close to forty members attending. I was privileged to join in presenting several awards along with Simon McCarthy from Summerlands Tackle. The evening was very enjoyable and a very positive vibe was apparent as members cheered the winners and added the occasional good natured banter to proceedings. It was very encouraging to hear of a very healthy number of Junior anglers taking part during the summer Coarse series. Many thanks to Adam Wheeler for taking some excellent pictures of the evening.
Bideford’s Triumphant Coarse Fishing Team who beat Plymouth in their annual inter-club Match
Season 2023 / 24
Matchmans Cup
Nathan Underwood
126 points
Runner-up
Kevin Shears
115 points.
Junior winner
Brodie Allin
57 points
Junior runner-up
Ted Blight
48 points
Evening series
Winner
Nathan Underwood
119 points
Evening Runner-up
Richard Jefferies
107 points
Pairs trophy winners
Roger Ackroyd
Craig Lamey
Top weight in competition
Darren Polden 71lbs
Stephen Found 55 pts
Valentine bowl – most points in the monthly Rover.
Nathan Clements Gilthead bream 8lb 2 1/4 203.515%
Stephanie Vanstone– Best specimen caught from the shore.
Stephen Found Thornback Ray 13lb 10 151.388%
Jason Talbot Memorial plate – Best specimen ray caught from the shore.
Tony Gussin Conger 14lb 5 71.562%
Snake plate – best specimen Conger caught from the shore.
Nathan Clements Gilthead bream 8lb 2 1/4oz
Best round fish from the shore
Stephen Found Flounder 2lb 4oz 112.5%
Best specimen flat fish caught from the shore
Stephen Found Smoothhound 14lb 5oz 143.125%
Best specimen shark from the shore.
Nathan Clements Small-eyed Ray 10lb 4oz 1/2 114.236%
Winner of end of season competition
Paul Ackland 4lb 1oz
Big Mike Memorial vase
Stephen Found total of 1160.118%
Species challenge cup
In the game fishing section John Mc Cullam and Terry Dymond dominated the results collecting five awards between them.
