13 May 2025

AT TEFF Rivers National Qualifier – River Teign – Sunday 18th May 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

AT TEFF Rivers National Qualifier – River Teign – Sunday 18th May 2025

2024/2025 Qualifiers

Final Venue – River Dee September 6th/7th 2025

Matches will be fished to full international rules and AT-TEFF River Qualifier scoring system. Measure, catch & release basis. Only in season fish 18cm and above be eligible for measuring / scoring / awarding fish points.

Entrants will be split into 2 groups:

Morning Group fishing am & controlling pm.
Afternoon group fishing pm & controlling am.

Draw to take place the evening before the qualifier at 7pm Fingle Bridge Inn

CLOSURE OF WATER

Competition water will be closed to competitors from Clifford Bridge to Dogmarsh Bridge (Mill End) from sunset on Sunday 11th May 2025. Members will be asked not to fish on the Sunday and the river will be closed to day-ticked anglers on the competition water for the Sunday as well.

PRACTICE TICKETS : £40 Practice permits include any 7 days of practice from 15th March – 11th May on all club water.

Contact Harry Chance on the number below to purchase a ticket via BACS and to inform him of the days you intend to fish.

Practice day tickets can be purchase for £15 which can be bought on a Westcounty Angling Passport Scheme or from Fingle Bridge Inn, Mill End Hotel or direct from the club. Contact Harry Chance on the number below to purchase a ticket via BACS and to inform him of the days you intend to fish.

AT TEFF Rivers National Qualifier – River Teign – Sunday 18th May 2025

Parking for practice: Dogmarsh Bridge on the side of the road, please be careful – what3words ///writings.shrug.count. There is parking at the other locations on the map further up the river at Chagford swimming pool and you can walk down to the top of the beat. Parking for the competition will be the same.

Please use the maps as info.

Download maps here

QUALIFIER INFORMATION

HQ: Fingle Bridge – what3words ///carefully.staring.washing postcode EX6 3PW

DRAW : 7:00 pm Saturday 17th May at the Fingle Bridge Inn all are welcome .

Match Briefing 07:20am

Fishing Times: Morning group: 09:00 am – 12:00 noon – Single bank session – download map here. Parking in public cap park at Clifford Bridge (bottom of the beat) and FingleBridge – the beat end is at the bridge – download map above

Afternoon group: 14:00 pm – 17:00 pm is at Fingle Bridge (bottom of the beat) to Dogmarsh Bridge – download map here. Parking is at Fingle and walk up the foot paths on both sides of the river to the suspension bridge. From the suspension bridge to Dogmarsh Bridge the foot path is on the true left bank.

Harry is trying to sort parking in a farmer’s field next to the bridge. Otherwise, parking will be on the road which can be busy – download map above.

BRIEFING : 07:20 am at Fingle Bridge

Entry Fee : £30

Fishing Fee : £12.00 payable in cash on the day

Min entries : 12

For practice tickets : Please contact Harry Chance on 077919 302747 to make payment or if you have any further enquiries regarding tickets .

Match Organiser Simon Caddy 07884492300

AT-TEFF matches now have an AT membership requirement. If you need to renew or sign up please visit www.anglingtrust.net/membership or call 0343 5077 006 (option 1).

Cancellation/Refunds: Please note: If you wish to cancel a ticket, please inform [email protected] by email, and include your name, the name of the qualifier you would like to cancel, your membership number & postcode. We require 3 days-notice prior to the qualifier in order to process a refund. Any notification outside of this time scale will not be entitled to receive a refund. Please note: There is no secondary market for the sale or transfer of any tickets.

12 May 2025

The Arundell – Hosts Team England Qualifier

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

The Arundell are thrilled to host a Team England Fly Fishing qualifier competition right here on their home waters during peak trout season.

This exciting competition focuses on catching wild trout on the fly, and offers a fantastic opportunity for fly fishers, especially local anglers to showcase their skills.

Successful competitors will earn a place in the finals, with the ultimate chance to represent England

Don’t miss out on this incredible day of friendly competition, camaraderie, and world-class river fishing!

Entry fee is £55 (£30 TEFF fee and £25 for a day ticket)

11 May 2025

Wistlandpound Club Monthly Competition Result – May 25

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

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.

11 May 2025

Bulldog Fishery May Fishing Contest

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

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.

29 Apr 2025

Bulldog April Competition

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

April comp

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

Salmon News – Rivers Coming good

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

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.

9 Apr 2025

BULLDOG TROUT COMPETITION – April

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

7 Apr 2025

Appledore Shipbuilders @ Bulldog

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

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

30 Mar 2025

The first round of the Fluff Chuckers / SWLT Brown Trout Masters 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

http://www.swlakesfishing.co.uk

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.

25 Mar 2025

Wistlandpound Reservoir – Early season catches

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: At the Waters Edge, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

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.