A day of two half’s on Wistlandpound Reservoir for the 2nd round of the Brown trout masters.
The morning was warm , bright and calm and slow fishing, only 2 browns to the net in the morning, 1 each for Paul McEvoy and Keith Burnett , 33cm and 35cm
Pete Williams and Rodders found a shoal of Rudd and had hour of fun, we must have had 25 plus between us , most taking a Mini Scruffy tiger and black lure.
The later afternoon brought some hard rain and three more angler caught 1 fish each, Rodney Wevill with a 38cm, Wayne Thomas with another fine 38cm and Andrew Gooding with a 30cm.
Must anglers reporting losing fish in the afternoon.
So 5 fish in total on a difficult day, but the standard of fish caught was very good, all full tailed and very plump .
Today was a little bit of a trial, we weren’t sure about adding Wistlandpound to the Brown Trout master series, with it being a non stocked water,
But everyone liked the venue, loved the condition of the fish and it added another challenge to the overall competition.
So that’s a yes we will be back in 2027
We also had the pleasure of John Deprieelle and his camara skills.
John was filming the event and discussing tactics with Rodders on behalf of Turrall Flies and SWLT so keep your eyes peeled for the short film’s release.
Wistlandpound is local to me so it was a pleasant change to fish an event that didnt require an early rise and two hour drive. It was also a great start to the day with The Whistling Bean on hand with great coffee and breakfast rolls.
I was concerned that the algal bloom would impact upon the fishing but conditions were the same for everyone and it is a beautiful place to spend a day.
The fishing did prove difficult and it was very much a one chance day with five trout banked between the eight keen competitors. My own tactics were very much based on fishing a team of flies I had confidence in a black bead head woolly bugger on the point and two small black flies on the droppers. I persisted with this for 98% of the day only changing the point fly for a few casts on a whim. I had four takes throughout the day and converted just the one that produced a stunning wild brown of 38.5 cm.
On difficult days like this its often just a case of roving about trying here and there and keeping the fly in the water as much as possible in the hope that a feeding fish sees the lure.
Whn the algal bloom clears as it does every year sport will improve and those wild browns will succumb to good angling. Several good fish were lost and I’m sure the lake holds some really big specimen brown that grow large predating on the abundance of rudd fry.
Many thanks to Rodney for organising the events. I look forward to the next round at the picturesque Fernworthy high on Dartmoor.
Many thanks to my wife Pauline for a few additional images of the day.
Saturday May 2nd Location Wistlandpound Reservoir Rules. Standard fishery rules apply with the competition rules below Catch and release only Barbless hooks only Floating line only Maximum three flies Measurement of fish from nose to point of tail (photo proof of each fish) Competition card shown in photo to prove capture is on the day Sign on 8.30 for 9am start Main Car Park Stop fishing at 5pm Meet back at main car park for results
I promised Rodney Wevill who organises the Fluff Chucker events that that I would give an update on Wistlandpound before the next Brown Trout Masters event on May 2nd. So on April 18th I set off for quick fish around the lake. On arrival it was pleasing to hear the call of chiff chaffs in the fresh green trees. Parking in the lower Car park I walked down across the dam noting that the reservoir level is around 4ft below top water level. There was also a green tinge to the water indicating an algae bloom a frequent issue this reservoir over the years.
Wistlandpound is 41 acres and is close to my home in North Devon. I have fished at the venue since the late 1970’s and have witnessed several phase of fishing at the venue. It was once a premier rainbow trout fishery but was downgraded a few years ago to become a natural brown trout water. Trout are no longer stocked into the lake but a healthy stock remain in the reservoir and there is the potential for some large specimens. Rudd are now abundant in the reservoir and undoubtedly provide food for the venues larger brown trout. Recent season have seen fish caught to 3lb with larger fish glimpsed as they smash into fry during late summer.
I walked along to the South bank where a good stretch of bank is fishable. I covered this stretch of water casting and stepping to cover as much water as possible. See Map below :-
The South bank gives access to deep water with some weed offering food for both trout and Rudd. The eastern end of the lake offer some access to extensive weedy shallows that can fish well especially when the water level is down a little giving casting space behind. There are two areas of accessible bank on the North Shore that can be productive if the boat launching area isn’t being used.
South BankEast EndEast End Inlet bayEast End shallows
Despite searching all fishable areas I drew a blank on this short reconnoitre of the water. It will be interesting to see what is caught during the Fluff Chucker’s event. I generally fish a team of flie’s with black lures, black spiders and PTN’s generally working well along with Zulus and other traditional wets.
Successful Flies for Wistlandpound
Below :- Typical Wistlandpound brown trout caught on previous trips to the venue.
The first round of the Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters was held today at Colliford Reservoir on March 29th.
The day started bright, breezy and warm and a good entry of all abilities ready to tackle the browns.
The temps dropped as the day went on and the winds gained momentum.
The fishing was a little tougher than on recent days, with lots of hook up only for the fish to come free before being landed.
The Cornish brown trout master, 2024 Brown trout master and Colliford specialist Roger Truscott was clear favourite at the start, but there where a few knocking on his the door at the end of the day.
Roger ended up winning the day with 8 fish and a total length of 293 cm, John Huckings new to this years competition a very close second with 8 fish and a total length of 286 cm.
The Fluff Chuckers Tankard for biggest fish going to Keith Burnett with a stunning fish of 46 cm and also new to this year comp Steve Lawes runner up for largest fish.
A total of 52 fish to the net and several fish between 40cm to 46 cm making it a very good day.
A big thanks to Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust, Turrall Flies, YETI Europe, Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room for your continued support with these events and a special thank you to Andrew Gooding for the loan of the measure gutters.
1 Roger Truscott 293cm Series points after first round 1
John Huckings 286 cm 2
3.Keith Burnett 240 cm 3
4.Steve Lawes 189 cm 4
5.Wayne Thomas 152 cm. 5
6.Steve Retallack 141 cm 6
7.Simon Peters 99 cm 7
8.Rodney Wevill 76 cm 8
9.Matthew Woods 68 cm. 9
10,Kevin Sellar 62 cm 10
11.Pete Williams 60 cm 11
12.Richard Adeney 59 cm 12
13.Philip Hoskin 52 cm 13
14.Ben Elliott 0 14
It hardly seems possible that another twelve months have passed since I joined the Fluff Chucker’s at Colliford high on Bodmin Moor. Fortunately I had learnt a valuable lesson that despite the favourable weather forecast it gets cold up there on the Cornish highlands. It seemed relatively mild and with a light breeze I pondered for moment before donning a thick fleece under my fly fishing vest and waders. Familiar faces were gathered around Rodney Wevills car as we collected our measuring gutters and received our goodie pack from sponsors Turral Flies.
We all headed eagerly to the water’s edge with competitors heading to their favoured areas. I had a cunning plan to head to where I had fished before and with a gentle breeze blowing into the bay I felt sure a few fish would be present close in. I had set up with my new Snowbee Floating Line and leader with three flies. A black bead headed tadpole on the point, Black spider on the middle dropper and a black and red Zulu on the top dropper a combination that I would have confidence to fish most days in early spring.
The first hour proved difficult as I searched the water contacting a decent trout after ten minutes that threw the hook after a few seconds and a spectacular somersault!
A short while later the line again tightened and for a second or two I thought I had hooked the bottom; that slowly started to move followed by a glimpse of a thick spotted flank that erupted from the water in a flurry of spray! This was a beauty I thought but elation turned to despair as the hook hold gave way the big brown trout disappearing from whence it had come. Another tale of the one that got away added to life’s toll!
The leader was left tangled requiring a re-tying. This was not a brilliant start, then the wind started to strengthen and I nearly lost my cap the fastening button failed. I pulled my buff up over my cap and soldiered on as the wind picked up. I persisted for a while but no more takes followed and a move seemed a good idea. I walked a half a mile or so to an area I had caught from on my last two visits.
First cast and I hooked a trout that came detached after a brief leap from the lake. Fifty yards further along the bank and I hooked a brown trout of 36cm. Two casts later a beauty of 42.5 cm was safely in the net. Things were starting to come right and I fished on now with renewed confidence.
The wind was by now strong and bitter cold with the sun hiding behind grey clouds making it a rather bleak and inhospitable environment.
I added another small brown before deciding to head back to where I had started the day adding another two trout to end the day with five trout. In truth I wasn’t to disappointed to reel in at 5.00pm and leave the cold water behind for a while.
Back at the end of competition meet up Rodney worked out the results and I listened as tales of the day were told. The cold wind had resulted in widespread chilling to the bone, slip and trips, bloodied fingers from stray hooks and plenty of tales of escaping trout. All agreed through chattering teeth that it had been a great day and that the next event is eagerly awaited.
This was also the concluding round to end the series and Crown the 2024 Brown trout masters.
The anglers were faced with varying weather, starting with little wind and calm water, then windy and overcast and finally bright sunshine and windy.
We started at 8am
Most of the fish were caught in the first 4 hours
With a few fish in the afternoon.
A total of 29 Browns were caught and several perch.
Finish time was 5pm and back to the main car park to workout the scores and hold the prize giving.
Kevin Sellar was the winner of the 3rd round with 7 nice browns and received a Cortland UK limited edition peach Line and some goodies
Phillip Hoskin won the biggest fish with a stunning 46cm Brown and won a cortland line and goodies
Roger Truscott was biggest fish runner up
And also equal most fish runner up with Wayne Thomas and shared some wonderful Lakedown Brewing Co. & Tap Room ale.
Roger Truscott was leading the series coming into round 3, with only Keith Burnett in 2nd having any realistic chance of upsetting the leader board.
But overall placing 3rd to 6th changed about a lot during the day.
Roger built a big lead in the first round back in March at his local and beloved colliford lake and showing his skills and knowledge in the 2 & 3rd rounds came out the overall winner and received the Fluff Chuckers – Fly Fishing Fanatics / Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust 2024 Brown Trout Master trophy and All waters 2025 season permit, great prizes for a very well deserved winner.
Well done Roger.
Fluff Chuckers would like to thank South West Lakes Trust for partnering up with us to create this new event for 2024.
Fluff Chuckers would also like the give a massive big thank you to YETI Europe , Turrall Flies and Lakedown Brewing Co & tap room for your sponsoring of this series, it really wouldn’t be the same without your help.
We would also like to say this new series has been a good success. Like all Fluff Chuckers events the aim is to get like minded anglers together for fun on the water whatever your ability.
Yes there’s a competitive side to the day but fun is first, so you don’t need to feel you need to be a pro to take part.
We are extremely happy to say there will be a 2025 Fluff Chuckers / SWLT. brown trout master series and the dates are now released.
In the past couple years south west lakes trust have really worked on improving the trout fishing on their waters, the brown trout fishing has been superb on all their waters and credit where credits due they have got it right.
So please support them, whether it’s entering an event or to fish one of their Trout waters Brown or Rainbow.
A few years ago we where moaning at them, they have listened so support them and help them secure a stronger better future for all.
All the total lengths of each anglers fish today will be added up and added to the next two rounds to find the 2024 SWLT / Fluff Chuckers Brown trout master .
BROWN TROUT MASTERS STANDING AFTER ROUND ONE.
Roger Truscott 363CM
Keith Burnett 126CM
Wayne Thomas 98CM
Richard Adeney 96CM
Philip Hoskin 93CM
Kevin Sellar 74CM
Matt Rodwell 67CM
Ben Elliott 64CM
Dave Perks 64CM
Rodney Wevill 56CM
Sławomir Olaf Pilecki 32CM
Jack Welshman 30CM
Pete Williams 28CM
Peter Finnis ——
My day at Colliford – A cunning plan
Colliford Reservoir high on Bodmin Moor was the venue for the first leg of the Fluff Chucker’s and SWLT Brown Trout Masters. With a favourable weather forecast I was looking forward to a Spring day targeting the brown trout for which this venue is renowned.
I arrived at the assembly point to meet fellow Fluff Chucker’s and on stepping out of the car I was pleased that I had dressed up for temperatures were far lower than forecast. Whilst the wind was Southerly it felt particularly Baltic as the wind swept across the 900 acres of water.
The atmosphere was cheerful and friendly as angler’s swapped tales and talked of prospects for the day ahead. The rules were carefully explained by head Fluff Chucker Rodney Wevill. At 9.00am suited and booted up, the go fishing call was made and we all set off for our chosen areas.
I had only fished the venue on one previous occasion so headed for the area I had fished before two years ago. Like Baldrick of Black Adder fame I had a cunning plan! Basically I would wander the shoreline casting a black woolly bugger on the point and a small black spider on the dropper. I would cast and take a step covering plenty of water.
I had every confidence in my cunning plan and persisted throughout the morning. After two hours I had not had a pull but surely persistence would pay off? Dark clouds crept ominously closer and the chill wind showed no sign of relenting. An angler fishing further along the bank caught a trout which gave me hope but also made me wonder if my lack of success was unique to me?
As heavy rain started to fall I thought of breaking for a drink and snack but all thoughts of this were put on hold as the line zipped tight and a lovely brown trout gave a pleasing account before slipping into the waiting net. After slipping the hook out and recording the fish I resumed fishing confidence fully restored. A few casts later and a savage tug a big swirl at the fly. Looked like a good fish and a chance gone. I fished on down through the bay and then retraced my steps fishing over the successful section again.
Heavy rain on the camera lens made focussing nigh on impossible plus the fish kept leaping out of the guttering !
Two more trout followed in the next twenty minutes before all seemed to go quiet. I decided to try a new area and walked to a new section of bank. After half a dozen casts I hooked another trout that came off after 30 seconds.
With a few hours left in the day I decided to try the hotspot one more time before working my way slowly back to where I had started the day. I bumped into a couple of fellow fluff chucker’s on route and compared notes to find that whilst most had caught no one seemed to have bagged up big time.
The cold wind persisted but at least the cold rain had stopped falling. I heard sky-larks song drifting in the breeze. I looked out for early spring migrants hoping to see my first swallow or sand martin but the skies remained devoid of these harbingers of Spring and summer. At least the lake was brim full after an exceptionally wet winter.
I found some quieter water at the top of the lake and climbed out onto an old bank that allowed a nice long cast parallel to the reed fringed shore line. A trout rose within casting range and I instinctively changed my tip fly to a small tungsten headed black spider.
The cast landed perfectly and within seconds of touching down the line zipped tight and there was a boil on the surface. B***er another chance gone.
I fished on for the next half an hour without a pull and eventually called it a day with a couple of minutes before competition end.
I walked back to see what had been caught and found that I had done Ok. A couple of big trout had been tempted the best a beauty of 44cm. Venue regular Roger Truscott recorded twelve browns and had been favourite to win from the start.
Reflecting on my day I was pleased to finish third one more fish would have resulted in runner up spot. I should perhaps have persisted in the area I had caught in but the general consensus seems to be that roving works best. A classic case of should I stay or should I go?
I reality it really doesn’t matter for I had enjoyed the day immensely despite the cold wind and chilled fingers. I look forward to heat two in June when it will surely be warmer?
Many thanks to Rodney Wevill for all his efforts in putting the series together and of course to SWLT, Yeti, Lakedown Brewing co and for their generous support.
Many thanks to Rodney Wevill for the report below.
The Fluff Chuckers Yeti brown trout bank event was held on Roadford Lake on April 8th..
The weather forecast had been showing bright sun all day and that was going to make things a little more difficult.
But the day was warm with sun but a nice bit of cloud cover especially during the afternoon.
Anglers met at 8.30am for a 9.00am start in the main car park.
It was good to see many like minded anglers from Bristol, North Somerset, North Devon and from deep down in Cornwall with the same attitude, have a good fun day and if we catch a good one then we might even win a prize.
We fished from all different sections of Roadfords bank and what stunning country side surrounded us.
The fishing was steady in the morning but the afternoon seen a lot more fish to the nets.
A total of 80 Brown Trout were caught and all safely released for another day.
The competitive side of us boys started to show, all trying to find a bigger fish or just another one to the net before the 5pm finish.
We met back at the main car park to tally up the score cards and it was soon very obvious that things where going to be very tight indeed.
The longest fish was between Roger Truscott and Jack Welshman with Jack sneaking it by a couple of millimetres.
The most fish to the net was also extremely tight
With Simon Peters catching 16 fish and piping Mr consistent Roger Truscott by one fish with Wayne Thomas one behind that with 14 fish.
So a cheery end to a great day with some wonderful fishing with a great set of anglers.
A typical Roadford brownie
Final results
Longest fish Overall winner
Jack Welshman
Runner up
Roger Truscott
3rd
Pete Williams
Most fish caught winner
Simon Peters
Runner up
Roger Truscott.
Fluff Chuckers- Fly Fishing Fanatics would like to thank YETI for there help with the prizes for the event.
Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust for their help and prizes
All that came and supported another great event
Notes from the waters edge :- My first trip to fish for trout on this large lake that supplies water for most of North Devon. Despite a wet Spring the lake is still well below top water level and If we get another dry summer prospects are concerning. I very much enjoyed the day finding plenty of brown trout that gave a good account on the light 5wt rod I was using. Most fish took a small black pennel fished on a dropper, my standard set up for early season brown trout being a small black lure on the point and two small black flies as droppers.
Always good to meet up with fellow fluff Chuckers. Special thanks to head chucker Rodney Wevill
Fluff Chuckers trout bank day at colliford lake, Cornwall.
We will be meeting in the main car park at 8am for a 9am to 5pm event.
There will be a prizes for the most trout landed and for the longest trout landed
Measurement from the nose to the fork of the tail.
This will be C&R event and barbless hooks only and all other swlt rules apply.
The idea of the event is to be a ideal chance for anglers old and new to sample the brown trout fishing to meet up and have some laughs and get on the water and have a great days fishing.
Colliford lake is a vast area to cover and you can fish where you fancy and we meet up at 5 pm to award the prizes at the main car park.
This event is not designed to be a ultra competitive competition more of a great fun day with a few prizes.
For the largest fish please provide your own measure tape and take a photo of the fish with the tape shown on the fish from the tip of the nose to the inside of the fork of its tail.
For the total amount of fish landed please account for them as you would for a normal catch return.
There is no big buck prize to give in false amounts of fish landed, and at the end of the day you are only cheating yourself by giving a false declaration.
But photo evidence will be required for the largest fish landed.
There is no entry fee to compete just let us know that you will be coming and please pay your day ticket in advance to swlt in the normal way.
