2 Oct 2025

Hints of Gold and Autumn hues as the Salmon and Trout season ends with a flourish

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The salmon and trout fishing season on North Devon’s rivers has closed with a flourish as September rains have rejuvenated the rivers to bring a very welcome flush of cleaner oxygenated water. Since late Spring the rivers have languished with low levels and high temperatures resulting in fishing being suspended for an unprecedented number of weeks.

            September rod catches for salmon and sea trout on both the Taw and Torridge undoubtedly make up a significant percentage of the years total with an estimated thirty to forty salmon caught on both rivers throughout the month. This has been great news and a positive end to the season.

            Ian Blewett secretary of the River Taw Fisheries and Conservation Association closed his season in style tempting four salmon from the Taw during the final days of the season.

The historic Little Warham Fishery is changing hands after close to ten years in the custodianship of Anthony Wilmington and Amanda Milner. Anthony and his family are moving to a new location in the Torridge Valley where their deep roots with the river and its fish will continue. In a fitting close to an era Anthony tempted the biggest salmon from the Torridge this year estimated at over 20lb his second fish in a week as the river fined down following the big spate. Tony Bennett and James Crawford also enjoyed success during closing week of the season at Little Warham.

Amanda sent me this lovely account of the final day at Little Warham :-

The fishing was excellent and everyone enjoyed themselves. Lunchtime at the hut was full of reminiscing, and little Brook (now seven!) closed our time at Little Warham with the very last cast of the day.

As you can imagine, it was quite emotional for us both, reflecting on everything we’ve experienced here. From arriving to a house untouched for 50 years, to developing the holiday lets, to all the riverbank conservation and restoration Anthony has carried out — it’s been quite a journey. The fishing has been the icing on the cake, along with the lifelong friends we’ve made. All of this has deepened our connection to North Devon and to the Torridge.

What means the most to us is knowing we leave behind a lasting legacy at Little Warham — not only through the restored banks and healthier waters, but also in the spirit of community and friendship that has grown here. It feels good to know that the work and care invested will continue to benefit others long after our chapter closes.

Our next venture will carry those roots forward. We’ll continue offering holiday lets, while Anthony expands his passion for guiding and tuition on both the Taw and the Torridge — opening the sport up to less able anglers as well. He’ll also be available for consultancy and support to riparian owners, drawing on his hands-on experience with the riverbank restoration and specialist tree operations. And of course, we’ll remain active in campaigning against river pollution, with the support of Fish Legal.

I said to Anthony that he couldn’t have wished for a better fish to mark his last week here — the biggest of the season on the Torridge. Really, you couldn’t ask for more.

Below is a link to my report on visiting Little Warham in 2027.

LITTLE WARHAM FISHERY

Seth Tuson tempted a fine sea trout from a beat lower down the Torridge.

My own river season ended with two sessions in the closing week. The first to a Middle River Torridge beat that I have fished regularly over the past fifteen or so years. The conditions appeared to be perfect with the river carrying a healthy tinge of colour as it fined down following the long awaited spate. It was a delight to drift the fly across familiar lies and I expected a pull at any moment. It wasn’t to be however and I couldn’t help but reflect upon previous September days when I had caught salmon and seen plenty of fish showing. It seems that salmon fishing these days is very much like the National Lottery. You have to buy a ticket to have a chance but winning is so often just a dream.

I closed the season searching the Upper reaches of a Taw tributary where I found feisty wild brown trout with flanks of bronze and olive hues decorated with crimson spots. These jewelled delights have been at my lines end since I was a child and still bring that same sense of joy.

15 Sep 2025

End of season flourish for Devon Rivers

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http://www.halfmoonsheepwash.co.uk

After a long dry summer North Devon’s rivers are now rejuvenated as heavy rain swells the flow. The salmon that have been waiting in the estuaries are now surging up river. On the Lower Taw close to twenty salmon have been caught as the rising water bring fish up. As I write this the Taw and Torridge are in full spate with fishing virtually impossible. It is expected that as levels drop and the clarity improves salmon and sea trout will be spread throughout the rivers with fish likely throughout the catchments.

Richard Nickell with a fine Taw salmon

The Rivers of Exmoor including the Lyn, Exe and its major tributary the Barle should all be worth a try.

Salmon and sea trout have also been reported from the Arundell beats on the Tamar and its tributaries.

2 Sep 2025

NORTH DEVON RIVERS TO FEATURE ON BBC COUNTRYFILE

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This Sunday’s forthcoming BBC Countryfile episode features North Devon’s Taw and Torridge the two major rivers that feature in Henry Williamson’s classic tomes, ‘Tarka The Otter’ , ‘Salar the Salmon’ and A Clear Water Stream. The program features interviews with prominent local anglers reflecting upon angling history, the iconic salmon and the efforts to ensure the future of these marvellous fish.

The ever cheerful Charles Inniss at the Half Moon with my wife Pauline.

To continue reading article from TACA click below :-

https://www.thetaca.com/news/a-century-of-tarka-heritage-rivers-amp-hope-for-the-future?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=68b5762c7abfb569022f0cb1&ss_email_id=68b6a40caeb48f50a6e335d2&ss_campaign_name=A+Century+of+Tarka%3A+Heritage+%26+Hope+for+the+Future&ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-09-02T08%3A00%3A26Z

Charle Inniss returns a fine fresh salmon to the Torridge

 

14 Aug 2025

T0RRIDGE RIVERS ASSOCIATION – NEWSREEL: SUMMER 2025

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The Annual Egg Box Dinner:

This is always a most enjoyable evening and hopefully our Fishery Protection Officer, Sam Fenner, will be able to join us. As usual the dinner will be at The Half Moon Inn: Saturday 20th September. It is always extremely popular so book early.

To book contact The Half Moon [email protected]: tel 01409231376

The Annual Raffle:

This year to save on the cost of printing raffle books and postage it has been decided to organise the raffle online. There will be a large board in the bar at The Half Moon with box numbers 1 to 1000. As members send in raffle monies (by cheque or BACS) I will write names into the boxes. Raffle tickets will cost £2: so for £10 you will have 5 tickets and for £20 ten chances to win one of the three excellent prizes.  This is our major fundraising effort to help cover the cost of running the hatchery so please support generously.

 Prizes: 1. Sportfish £100 voucher: 2.The Half Moon Inn £50 voucher: 3.Voucher for a case of 12 bottles of wine.

The Hatchery:

The EA has given us the go ahead to run the hatchery again this winter. Last year was a great success and in March 33,000 swim-up fry were stocked out into selected sites in the headwaters of the Torridge, Okement and Lew. Work is being undertaken to improve the safety of the site and the hatchery team are investigating ways to reduce the silt loading in the trays holding the eggs. All being well we will be trapping our broodstock during November.

The 2025 Season: following the pattern of recent years low flows seem to be the norm. The highlight has been a 15lb salmon caught on the second day of the season on the Madeira beat and anglers who have ventured out at night have enjoyed some success with the sea trout. During May and June the brown trout anglers enjoyed some excellent fishing with several fish over 2lb being caught.

Mike Weaver: the Devon River Reports:

A few weeks ago a guest staying at The Half Moon gave Adam old copies of the Trout and Salmon magazine with some going back to the early 1970’s and I was amazed to discover that over fifty years ago Mike Weaver was writing the Devon River Reports for the magazine and he is still, fifty years later, writing comprehensive monthly reports for the rivers in Devon. Well done Mike!! I have to admit these days I only buy the magazine to read the river reports.

In the April 1975 magazine Mike gave the rod returns of salmon and sea trout for the Devon rivers for 1974. The Torridge return was 156 down from 191 in 1973. The sea trout returns are astonishing. The total for all the Devon rivers was 3,778 of which the Taw return was 1,666 and the Torridge return 1,059. The two North Devon rivers accounted for over 75% of the Devon total.!! And almost certainly these returns did not include the large number of school peal which were caught. Taking into account there was much greater fishing effort in those days and spinning was allowed throughout the season but even so these returns show how dramatically stocks of both salmon and sea trout have declined in the last fifty years. Those were the days!!

Secretary: Charles Inniss Beeches Sheepwash

                   Beaworthy Devon EX21 5NW

                   e-mail: [email protected]

                   tel: 01409231237  (m)07464190944

25 Apr 2025

Salmon News – Rivers Coming good

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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.

4 Apr 2025

Stocking hope – Torridge Hatchery

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The Hatchery Project: has been a great success this year with about 33,000 swim-up fry  stocked out in selected sites in the headwaters during late March. The association were able to trap their broodstock from the fish pass at Monkokehampton Weir with relative ease at the end of November and by mid-December all five hens had been stripped and the eggs fertilised. The alevin started to hatch at the end of January and have grown on steadily with very limited mortality. The weather has helped: it has been a colder winter than average with the water temperature only once going above 10C.

Many thanks to Alex Rowson who kindly sent the images below showing the transfer of swim up fry from Torridge Hatchery to a tributary of the River Torridge.

 

 

Looking back through my many images I discovered to my amazement that the hatchery has now been running since at least 2008. It is still very difficult to assess its success but it has given hope to Torridge River Association and as each salmon is so valuable it is likely that it has helped the river cling on to its dwindling salmon population. The project works in line with other efforts to protect and enhance the complex river environment.

Since posting this I have spoken with Paul Carter who informed me that next years is the hatcheries 20th season and an average of 30,000 swim up fry have been into the Torridge system a total of 600000. This has surely helped the salmon maintain a foothold in the river.

Paul Carter with hatchery swim up fry from 2008.
Paul Carter stocks out swim up fry in 2008

 

26 Mar 2025

Torridge Rivers Association – Spring Newsreel

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Torridge Rivers Association

President: Lord Clinton

Chairman: Paul Ashworth                                                    Secretary: Charles Inniss

                                                                        Beeches, Sheepwash Beaworthy Devon EX215NW

                                                                                    e-mail: [email protected]

NEWSREEL: SPRING 2025

            The season so far: it has been a more encouraging start to the season. March has been dry with the river clearing and falling only slowly. There have been three salmon caught all on the Lower Torridge including a superb springer of 15lb caught at Madeira on 2nd March. Towards the end of the month warmer weather has led to a rise in the water temperature and the brown trout have started feeding on the surface: a sure sign that spring is on the way.

            The AGM: was held at The Half Moon Inn on Friday 21st March. It was an excellent informal evening enjoyed by all present. 33 members and guests attended. We were delighted that our President Lord Clinton and Lady Clinton were able to join us and also Izzy Moser from the Devon Wildlife Trust and our fishery protection officer Sam Fenner.  The agm supported the proposal for subscriptions to remain at £20. The committee was re-elected “en bloc”. After the meeting we all enjoyed the usual excellent Half Moon buffet. Membership has increased from 87 to 94, which is very encouraging.

            The Hatchery Project: has been a great success this year with about 33,000 swim-up fry ready to be stocked out in selected sites in the headwaters in the next 2/3 weeks. We were able to trap our broodstock from the fish pass at Monkokehampton Weir with relative ease at the end of November and by mid-December all five hens had been stripped and the eggs fertilised. The alevin started to hatch at the end of January and have grown on steadily with very limited mortality. The weather has helped: it has been a colder winter than average with the water temperature only once going above 10C

            Sam Fenner: Fishery Protection Officer: was able to help trap the broodstock for the hatchery by providing access to the site and the oxygenated tank to transport the fish back to the hatchery. He informed the agm he was now the only fishery protection officer for the whole of Devon. In the 1980’s when Paul Carter was our fishery officer there were 24!! It was now more important than ever for all of us to be the eyes and ears of the river and report any concerns.

            Westcountry CSI: (Citizen Science Investigation) is a scheme established by the West Country Rivers Trust that involves regular monitoring the water quality of our streams and rivers. Volunteers are needed to support the scheme. Our Association and The Devon Wildlife Trust are supporting the initiative and Duncan Betts (one of our committee members) has agreed to lead the project on behalf of our Association. A training day has recently been held at Hatherleigh and those taking part have been supplied with the necessary equipment. The Upper Torridge has had more than its fair share of pollutions in recent years so regular water quality monitoring is essential.

            Beavers: there are beavers in the Torridge catchment!! For many years, with the support of the Devon Wildlife Trust, beaver colonies have been held in enclosed areas but there have been escapees, either by accident or design (I suspect the latter!!) with the result beavers are now widespread throughout the county. There are arguments for and against beavers. My concern is that like all rodents they can multiply very quickly and they have no predators Ten years ago a pair of beavers were introduced as a trial into the River Otter: now there are over 100 in that river.

 

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7 Mar 2025

Torridge Rivers Association News

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The Torridge Rivers Association AGM will be held at The Half Moon Inn Sheepwash on Friday 21st March: 7.00pm for 7.30pm.

This is always a most enjoyable evening with the usual excellent buffet after the meeting. The North Devon Fishery Officer, Sam Fenner, will be joining us. The hatchery has been a great success this winter and the Association will be stocking out over 35,000 swim-up fry towards the end of March. Fishing!

The 2025 Fishing Season has begun and the river is in excellent condition. Charles anticipates a great fishing season and has suggested a strong chance of an early Salmon, proven on Sunday as regular visitor Reg Lawton caught a 15lb fresh run cock Salmon at Madeira. A beautiful Bar of Silver. Congratulations Reg!

 

To hear Charles’ full introduction to the season click link below:

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31 Dec 2024

BIDEFORD  CHRISTMAS COMPETITION RESULTS  2024

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BIDEFORD  CHRISTMAS COMPETITION RESULTS  

56 Fishing 20 fish caught 

1st S.Taylor 1lb 13 1/4oz

2nd Tom Downing 1lb 6 1/2oz

(Above) Tom Downing with his runner up flounder

3rd Craig Crash Lamey  1lb 5 3/4oz

4th A. Masters 1lb 3oz

5th S. Taylor 1lb 2 1/2oz

6th M. Sheldrake 1lb 2 1/2oz

7th G. Hooper 1lb 1 3/4oz

8th J. Dixon 1lb 0 1/4oz

9th C. Lamey 1lb 0 1/4oz

10th J. Dixon 1lb 0 1/4

11th R. Walker 14 1/2 oz

12th Mathew Druce 14 1/4 oz

13th Jazzer 14 oz

14th Ian Hooper 14 oz

15th D. Bowden 13 3/4 oz

16th S. Bowden 13 3/4 oz

17th M. Druce 13 1/2 oz

18th Jazzer 12 1/2 oz

19th J. Dixon 12 oz

20th S. Bowden 10 1/2 oz

Thank to the pollyfield and the Reds for letting us use their facilities for the sign in and the weigh-in.

Thanks to pollyfield for providing burgers at the weighing I think they went down very well.

Thank you ever so much to all are sponsors we couldn’t do it without you.

D S Electrical, Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Devon Baits, Tom Wade Anglers Heaven, Barnstaple Bait and Tackle, Gaby Fish Pillows, James Grigg, Honeys of Parkham, The Bell Inn Parkham, Parkham Cheese and Crusher. 

Final amount given to Pollyfield for the play park was £289

All the best tight lines and see you next year 🎣

Nathan Clements