Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club fished their May competition at Torridge Fly Fishing Clubs water at Gammaton Reservoir. I won the competition with three trout for 5lb 15oz. Nigel Bird was runner up with a brace of trout weighing 5lb with Colin Combe and David Eldred equal third with trout weighing 2lb 10oz.
Upper and Lower Gammaton Reservoirs hold many memories for me personally as I worked there over forty years ago when I worked with South West Waters reservoir maintenance gang. Whilst the old slow sand filters are long gone the actual reservoirs and the surround are little changed so returning always brings a sense of life passing as I ponder upon those who I worked with now undoubtedly long gone.
Conditions seemed promising as we approached the water with cloudy thundery skies. It was very still at first but I guess that a breeze would stir as the morning passed.
Within ten minutes Nigel Bird fishing to my left had a hooked trout which seemed a promising omen.
I set up with a floating line and a team of nymphs expecting fish to be high in the water. After an hour with very little sign of surface activity and no takes I decided to go deep and changed to fast a sink line. After half an hour a rainbow of perhaps 2lb 8oz seized my black booby lure and gave a spirited account before being dispatched.
I persisted and lost another trout a while later when it took the booby as I lifted it from the water. I tied a bright pink blob onto my top dropper and had a few follows before hooking another trout that was a lean sliver rainbow that again gave a good account.
It seemed that my tactics were worth persisting with as only three other trout had been tempted by members. I reverted to the black booby on the point after trying various lures and was rewarded with my final trout to complete my limit.
I walked back to the car relishing the wild orchids and May blossom.
In form Bulldog Fisheries have announced the date of their May Competition that will probably be the last until the Autumn. Big fish have been stocked so should be a good day.
Bulldog trout Fishery held their April fly fishing competition on Sunday April 27th. Starting the day off with little to no wind alongside plenty of cloud cover it was looking like conditions could be perfect! A coffee & a bacon roll later, it was time to get started!
The first hour saw a lot of action, particularly from pegs 7, 8 & 12. All of which are within casting range of the current ‘hot spot’ bay.
Soon the cloud cover shifted and the anglers were met with arguably one of the best days of the year so far. Lovely weather to be out in, but far from perfect for fly fishing Plenty of fish following the flys but shying away at the last moment lead to an extremely frustrating afternoon! However as always in the fishing game, perseverance is key! A steady trickle of fish were landed including some of the bigger rainbows that were stocked specially for the comp
Lunchtime soon crept up and the competitors looked forward to Nigel’s signature roast pork bap & roasties
Stopping for lunch is always a good chance to allow the lake to rest a moment from the line pressure of the morning, giving the spooked fish time to settle back down in the hope they will switch back on to the feed. A theory that was proven by Wayne Raistrick as he hooked a fish immediately after his fly hitting the water, in fact, the starting horn could still be heard echoing in the valley the hook up was that quick! Giving the bright sunny conditions, it was surprising just how active the lake was after lunch! Sure enough more fish were landed successfully
Top results from the day:
1st – Ian connabeer 26lb14oz (6fish)
2nd – Reef Patten 22lb9oz (5fish)
3rd – Adrian Kruger 21lb15oz (6fish)
Biggest fish of the day:
Peter Phillips 7lb9oz rainbow
Honorable mention:
Nick Tamsin – For a brace of 5lb Tigers
Fran Eastwood – For not giving up, staying in good spirits and finally getting a bend in the rod!
Archie Raistrick – For catching a 4″ trout that wasn’t supposed to be in the lake
No Spartics or browns out today, this means that some of the big lumps are still lurking in the lake ready for the next unsuspecting angler!
Roll on May comp! This will be the last one before the summer hits, date will be posted soon!
The rivers are starting to fine down after the rains and there is encouraging news in that a fresh run salmon has been tempted by an angler fishing the River Mole. There are also stories of other fish contacted briefly on the Taw.
I fished a River Torridge beat that I have not fished for two years and relished revisiting an old friend. The river was perhaps a little too coloured but the height was good and it felt good to drift the fly in expectation over familiar lies. Many thanks to my wife Pauline for capturing a few images. The sound of chiff chaffs and woodpeckers provided a pleasing soundtrack to our visit.
Bulldog Trout Fishery had the pleasure of hosting the Appledore shipyard Fly Fishing competition!
After attending one of our earlier comps Graham decided to get the lads together from work and book a day on the bank, these competitions are certainly growing in popularity!
On arrival it was clear by the general atmosphere today was going to be a good day! After a bacon roll and a coffee the boys were itching to get started. Bright sunshine and a strong Easterly wind had some worried, however the worries were soon forgotten as a steady flow of fish were hooked and landed!
Lunch time came with the requested roast pork bap and roasties on the menu
Slowly but surely, fish by fish anglers started getting close to their limit! A big scene was caused as ‘fly’ had his 6th fish on the line and it was a biggen! Unfortunately the 6th fish that surely would have bagged him first place managed to slip the hook after a lengthy tussle.
Results for the day:
1st – Jake England – 19lb13oz
2nd – Graham Turner -19lb10oz
3rd Colin Eastern – 18lb14oz
Biggest fish of the day: Paul Baglole -5lb9oz
A lovely sunny day to be on the bank with plenty of fish landed! It was a pleasure to host this comp, couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of blokes
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.
Many thanks to Rodney Wevill for allowing me to reproduce his Facebook write up on his recent trip to Wistlandpound
I was surprised how low the reservoir is so early in the season. This gives more open bank to fish but is perhaps concerning for the summer ahead.
Bright sunshine and gentle breeze on the edge of Exmoor and Wistlandpound Reservoir today.
Very little rising and probably a little too bright for the Browns.
What a beautiful place this is, I said I would get back up here when I last fished it two seasons ago with Wayne Thomas .
I found it a little bit harder this time, but with a bit of walking I found some fish and a few missed and lost.
These are all resident fish and was happy to find one reasonably fish plus a Rudd that couldn’t resist the tadpole.
The Browns up here are. Totally different colour to the ones down on Fernworthy, Roadford and Colliford far paler and silver.
Not being a stocked Reservoir Trout Fishing South West Lakes Trust only charge about half the price of the other Brown Trout waters making this a real bargain in the most stunning of locations, I will try to get back up when they are taking off the top more readily.
And for once I couldn’t give a bugger that it’s to bright, we need some sunshine.
Heavy frost bright sunshine and an Easterly wind Everything you DON’T want for a days fly fishing… However, the anglers that fished the postponed February fly comp today took on the challenge!
First to hook up on one of Bulldogs finest hard fighting rainbows was none other than Mr Denis Ives, a mer 12 seconds after the starting horn! This puts Denis in second place on the wall of Fame for fastest hook up in a comp!
Many fish were hooked and landed throughout the morning with some truly heartfelt moments with some of the bigger stock lost at the net! It was certainly the case for Ian! Losing what can only be described as a colossal Tiger trout at the net.There were a few choice words shouted in anger that won’t be repeated here! But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining and with the next rotation on the lake, Ian landed 2 fish in quick succession. One of which being a 6lb12oz rainbow!
Then a big cheer came from the opposite side of the lake, Graham Turner had landed a Tiger weighing in at 5lb9oz!
Although tough conditions the anglers persevered throughout the morning and rods kept bending. After the lunch break where Nigel and Tom could be heard bickering about who makes the best roast potatoes (we all know it’s Tom ) it was time to get the lines back out.
Numerous fish could be seen chasing the fly but not committing! But thankfully the fishing Gods were smiling on us and more fish were soon bagged. Lee Newton was the first to fill his 6 fish limit, shortly followed by Rod!
Eventually the final horn blew and it was time for the all important weigh in! Results as follows:
1st – Rod Daniel 6fish- 27lb2oz
2nd – Denis Ives 6fish-22lb2oz
3rd – Lee Newton 6 fish – 19lb
Biggest fish of the day:
Rod Daniel -7lb brown trout
As always Tom was on hand with his filleting knife to raise what we can for the vets charity by means of a gut/filleting service! Thank you to everyone that kindly made a donation!
A great day with a great bunch of anglers
Ps if anyone finds Will Cory wondering around looking lost it’s because he can’t find what peg he’s supposed to be fishing, please return him to one of the Lee’s ASAP
Meet in the tackle shop for complimentary tea, Coffees and a bacon roll followed by a day learning about fishing, fishing and then a film on the fish. All at one of the West Country’s most revered Country Hotels THE ARUNDELL located on the Devon Cornish Border. A great agenda for a day for sure, what’s not to like?.
Early March and grayling and nymph fishing tactics were top of the agenda. Though an early salmon from the River Torridge headed the early discussion as anglers from far and wide chatted over warm drinks. The tackle shop provided plenty of quality products for the fly angler and I took the opportunity to buy a few heavy nymphs as recommended by James Christoforou and Lewis Hendry. Our expert tutors for the morning session.
Spring sunshine soon cleared the early frost and mist from the rolling hills and valleys revealing a bright blue sky and roadsides brightened with yellow daffodils and primroses.
Close to twenty anglers were booked into the mornings tutorial on Euro Nymphing tactics and after a lengthy time of chatting and mingling we head for the river some of us enjoying a pleasant stroll the river situated half a mile from the hotel whilst others jumped into cars and Landrover’s.
Team Arundell – David Chapman, David Pilkington and James Christoforou
We all gathered beside the River Lyd that was looking in fine trim; its clear water glistening in the bright morning light. The Arundell team was headed by James Christoforou accompanied by fly fishing guru Lewis Hendrie and long-time Arundell stalwart and much respected David Pilkington.
Daivd Pilkington
James waded out into the clear waters and started to explain the basics of modern Euro Nymphing. It was explained that Euro Nymphing is a phrase coined to describe a range of nymphing tactics created primarily by anglers from Poland, Czechoslovakia and France. The technique basically embraces the use of long light rods paired with a very light line and heavy nymphs that are propelled into the river using their weight instead of the line as is the case with traditional fly fishing.
The approach to the river is vital if success is to be enjoyed the first objective being to get close to the fish without alerting them. Slow and low was the motto; a useful tip being to use knee protectors available from builders merchants to protect those knees and expensive waders from wear tear, brambles and barbed wire.
Protection for those knees and expensive wadersExecuting the bow and arrow cast
Which fly?What Knots
Getting a bit deep !
Lewis Hendry followed on bringing even more in depth advice on tactics frequently driving home points already made earlier by James in his own enthusiastic and unique style.
Lewis Hendrie delivers a wealth of valuable tips
Take a note of where the light is shining from, read the water to guess where the fish lie and pause to look around for those fly hungry trees.
The intricacies of sight leaders, nymphs and how to present them were explained with passion, humour and clarity. The main thrust is that tradition is largely forgotten in this refreshing and enlightening approach to catching trout, grayling and even salmon and sea trout.
The key is to present the nymph to where the fish are lying, into the taking zone, offering an easy meal a tactic that can very often tempt a big wily fish lurking in the deep waters of the river when traditional dry or downstream wet fly tactics pass over the fish.
I personally found the whole tutorial enlightening picking up various tips as is always the case when hanging around with highly experienced anglers. It was also very reassuring to learn that my own tactics were pretty sound even if my delivery sometimes goes astray. Though we were assured that even they get hung up in the odd branch and that losing the occasional nymph to a snag on the riverbed is par for the course if you are searching for the feeding zone correctly.
Wiggly worm nymphs jigged deep are far from traditional tactics and those from an older generation would undoubtedly frown upon these tactics that I felt had much in common with LRF fishing tactics. There are undoubtedly those who would say it’s not cricket but if we want young anglers to come into the sport perhaps we need to adapt and learn fun new tactics.
Lunch time and my friend Jeff Pearce and I headed back to the Arundell to enjoy a coffee and cake from the deli before heading off to beat 3 on the River Lyd for a couple of hours late afternoon fishing.
It was a joy to walk across the fields to explore the River and try to locate those hot spots where the grayling dwell. Inspired following the mornings tuition we sent our nymphs plopping into deep pools and promising runs.
The afternoon sun illuminated the bankside trees, spring flowers and the bright clear sparkling waters are a perfect tonic to this increasingly troubled world.
I watched my bright orange leader, it stabbed down, I lifted the rod and a good sized grayling splashed and twisted in the strong current. Sadly it came off after a few seconds but at least I knew I was doing something right.
We left the river as the sun slowly sank and returned to enjoy a delicious meal in the bar before heading to the Tamar room to watch the film.
The angling world is undoubtedly a very connected community I observed as we chatted with fellow angling guests. Plotting future excursions and debating various aspects of this fascinating piscatorial world.
Close to forty assembled for the showing of Jack Perks acclaimed film Britain’s Hidden Fishes.
“Britain’s Hidden Fishes” is a not-for-profit documentary by Jack Perks, a renowned British Wildlife videographer. This captivating film explores the fascinating underwater world of the UK. From chalk streams to the open sea, the documentary shines a spotlight on some of the UK’s most overlooked and underrated wildlife, fish.
Narrated by Jeremy Wade ( Of River Monsters), Britain’s Hidden Fishes was filmed over two years to capture never-before- seen stories, behaviours, and footage of British fish.
The film is undoubtedly an outstanding insight into the precious and spectacular world of UK fish. It is hoped that the film will eventually be shown on mainstream television where it deserves to be aired to a far wider audience.
The talk was followed by an enlightening question and answer session with Jack Perks whose passion for fish and fishing was plain to see.