Love Rivers ? Spend a day and evening at Dulverton.
JO-IN-THE WATER
Pauline and I went to Scott’s Cinema in Barnstaple Last night to watch the film Jo in the water. The film tells the inspiring story of Jo Batemans ongoing court case against South West Water.
Sea swimming is Jo Bateman’s sanctuary—until sewage spills threaten the waters she loves.
A passionate sea swimmer turned reluctant activist, Jo Bateman takes on one of the UK’s biggest water companies in a David-and-Goliath battle to protect our oceans from devastating sewage pollution.
As Jo’s courage helps ignite a growing movement, this film exposes the dire state of our water system and asks: who will stand up for our right to swim in clean natural waters, for the species and communities that rely upon them?
Jo in the Water is a powerful, emotional feature-length documentary film. It is not just about water pollution; it is about connection—to nature, to our own sense of place, and to our responsibility for the world around us.
A PERSONAL VIEW
The film is an emotive production that provokes anger at the state of our rivers and the failure of water companies. The evidence is clear that water companies are failing in their duty. But as someone who feels passionate about these issues I despair at the lack of interest shown by the wider populate regarding the environment.
The environment is climbing the political agenda but MPs will only go where there are votes and sadly pot holes and the cost of living get more votes than rivers. Those who swim, fish, surf canoe and walk the rivers and coast have a vital connection but they are not in the majority.
The Environment Agency are generally underfunded and lack the power to regulate and prosecute. They are the environmental police overwhelmed by corporate greed, industrialisation of agriculture and a growing population that impacts upon our precious environment.
Nationalising the Water Industry will not be a panacea to all ills for treating sewage and water is far more costly than many believe. The infrastructure is inadequate and as house building expands the infrastructure is not upgraded adequately. Policing, education, NHS, Social Services, Public Transport, Roads are these all as they should be?
It is vital to raise the tragic decline in river health for as I often say the rivers are the vital arteries of the land. We need the debate, yes we need to campaign and activists are vital in raising awareness of the issues.
Those reading this can help to spread the word. Get involved in water testing, reporting issues and joining organisations that care.
The next local showing is at Torrington :-
https://www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/event/jo-water
The Arundell – Winter – The Place that time forgot
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Fluff Chuckers at the ARUNDELL
Many thanks to Rodney Wevill for organising this excellent event on the Arundell Waters and thanks for the write up below ;-
What a fantastic day we have had at the Fluff Chuckers – Fly Fishing Fanatics / Arundell Rivers Event Rivers Event.
We fished in pairs on different beats on the river Lyd.
One from each pair fishing in the morning and the other doing the afternoon session.
It was going to be a nymph, klink & Dink or dry day.
It soon became obvious that a single dry looked the favourite with Rodney Wevill taking the most fish in the morning session with 7 fish including two sea trout off the top on a sedge.
We stopped for lunch / coffee back at the Arundell shop and deli .
The afternoon session was slightly slower but Richard Adeney managed to land 3 Browns after losing several fish , taking the afternoon win.
Nice to see Wayne Thomas landing a nice Grayling the only one for the day.
The biggest fish of the day was the first sea trout of the day for Rodney , as with all the events if someone wins more than one class/prize they choose which one they would prefer and hand over the other to the next in line.
The next in line was the up and coming young man Ozzie Gough who had 4 countable fish
And also 4 more just under the 15cm minimum size, well done Ozzie and your dad got the Lakedown beer seeing as your only 14 the day’s results ended up like this
Morning most fish. Ozzie Gough
Afternoon most fish Richard Adeney
Biggest fish of the day Rodney Wevill
A massive thank you to the sponsor/partners Yeti , Lakedown Brewery Co and the Arundell Arms Hotel.
Another big thank you to James Christoforou who heads up the Arundell Fishing and it was his idea to have a Fluff Chuckers Event on their waters.
Everyone enjoyed the day and the format, the river was absolutely stunning in fact it is very well looked after with good access without losing any of its wildness.
And also the Arundell Arms being a great venue in itself with the Hotel , Bar , Delicatessen and the Fly fishing shop stuffed full of everything you need and all the Orvis range and lots of Yeti products, great to see the business doing so well after several dacades being a top sporting hotel
Hopefully we will be doing a few more of these events and maybe a grayling event in the cooler months.
Fair to say we are very happy with things today.
MY ACCOUNT OF THE DAY – Wayne Thomas
I had been looking forward to this event for some time with its format of fishing and observing. I am always keen to learn and watching another angler searching the river was always going to be a learning opportunity. Though being scrutinised by another angler was also a little bit out of my comfort zone and I readily admit that my fishing is not always cool, calm and precise.
I arrived at the Arundell just before 8:30am and was soon chatting with fellow Fluff Chucker’s who were all relishing the day ahead. Head of Fishing James Christoforou greeted us and was as always full of contagious enthusiasm. There were still a few sea trout being caught despite the low river levels and with a bit of cloud cover and light drizzle things looked promising.
There were only six of us fishing the event that was split into two sessions of three hours each. With each pair observing for one session and fishing the other.
Partners were determined by drawing names out of a hat despite a suggestion from the youngest contestant that we use a lucky dip app on a mobile phone. With partners set we then tossed a coin to decide who would fish first.
My partner was fourteen year old Ozzie Gough who has been doing work experience at the Arundell. It was apparent from the start that Ozzie was very keen on his fishing and eager to learn. We set off for Beat 3 on the River Lyd and exchanged fishing chat freely on route talking of all disciplines of angling. In addition to a passion for angling my partner also had a mature and in depth understanding of the sport.
Ozzie had won the toss and elected to fish the morning session. From the start it was obvious that he knew what he was doing as I watched him commence a search of the river.
Reading the water is a skill that Ozzie had undoubtedly learnt well as he flicked his weighted nymphs into pools, runs and riffles with apparent ease. I was very impressed with his use of the bow and arrow cast and its accuracy.
Several small brown trout succumbed to his skill and I was delighted when he was rewarded with a stunning wild brown trout of 25cm.
The morning session drifted by quickly even though I wasn’t fishing and Ozzie ended with four trout above the minimum size and another four below this.
We returned to the Arundell and grabbed a coffee and a snack from the deli before connecting with fellow Fluff Chucker’s to compare notes. Rodney had undoubtedly stolen the show with a brace of sea trout and several brown trout.
Refreshed we headed back to the river and it was my time to search the water under Ozzie’s watchful eye.
Having watched Ozzie carefully I had a few ideas of where to concentrate my efforts but was also conscious that having been covered earlier in the day the fish may have been disturbed. Whilst this probably wouldn’t impact upon the wild brown trout and grayling too much it might have disturbed the sea trout that are generally considered to be more sensitive.
I had decided to carry two rods which in hindsight was a mistake. My intention was to cover the shallow riffles and glides with a duo set up and search the deeper water with the heavy nymph set up.
I started Ok searching the deep water without incident and making brief contact with a few small browns that came detached after a few seconds. I switched over to the duo set up and after a few casts decided I needed a heavier nymph on the point and a slightly longer
length between dry fly and point.
At this point the wheels came off my fishing to some extent as in the shady confines of the river I found retying the small flies and light line a little tricky. Stubbornly refusing to change my polaroid’s for standard specs I wasted a few minutes getting increasingly frustrated at the eyes that in younger days would have seen with a clarity long forgotten.
I did manage to raise one small brown trout to the dry but this came off. After another minor tangle with the duo I decided to concentrate on the deep nymphs and hope for bigger fish. The time seemed to be racing past and I knew I wasn’t fishing particularly well and the temptation was to rush.
Ozzie spotted a good sized sea trout or grayling and casting aside any competitive tendency offered me an opportunity to cast at the fish. By the time I had scrambled to the elevated bank it had evaporated from view to remain a secret of the river.
As we approached the top of the beat I missed a couple more chances. The deep slow water above the weir failed to inspire and the white water beneath the weir seemed devoid of fish.
I decided to work quickly down covering the best spots as there was less than an hour remaining. Fishing in the same pool I had hooked a sea trout in a week ago I was delighted to feel a decent fish gyrating on the line. A glimpse of silver made me think sea trout but the sight of a decent grayling was very pleasing as it slipped into the net to avoid a blank. At 29cm it was a good fish and due reward for an afternoons effort.
I fished on down and spotted a sea trout with a minute left in the competition but It eluded my offerings and the afternoon ended all too soon.
We headed back to the post competition meet up and on reflection there were lessons to be learnt. I would probably have been better advised to carry one rod and stuck to one method. I should also have swapped over from polarised to clear Lense’s to tie on my small flies.
On a plus note it was a pleasure to share a day on the river with a young and enthusiastic angler. I could not help but reflect on the fact that fifty years ago at fourteen years of age I had far healthier rivers to fish in with runs of salmon and sea trout that would be exceptional today. The tiny rivers I fished now devoid of fish had an abundance of feisty wild trout. At the time I really didn’t know what a paradise I was living in. Shifting Base line syndrome ensures that young Ozzie accepts today’s natural world and appreciates it.
It is easy to get despondent about our rivers but historically many West Country Rivers have recovered from dark times as I discovered when I dipped into a book I bought recently. The Salmon Rivers of England and Wales, by Augustus Grimble, published in 1913.
Documents a sad state of affairs with many rivers blocked by weirs, heavily netted, poached throughout the year and polluted with effluent from Industrial mining.
HEATWAVE – RESULTS IN NO FISHING ADVICE FOR RIVERS
Water temperatures in local rivers are at a level considered dangerous for trout and salmon. As a result most local angling clubs are asking members to stop fishing until it cools down.
It might be a good idea to take the fly rod to the coast where bass and mullet offer good sport in these conditions.
The Wild Trout Trust have today advised the following:
“For cold water species such as trout, water temperatures over 18°C, with the associated low oxygen levels, causes stress. Left alone, the fish can usually survive but with the additional exertion of being caught and handled, it can be fatal. Even if the fish swim away, they can succumb later. For this reason, we strongly advise everyone thinking of angling in bright, hot conditions to consider fish welfare and rethink plans when water temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 18°C.”
A note from Tom Watts, Strategic Exe Weirs Project Officer, Westcountry Rivers Trust..
As water temperatures rise over the coming days, we urge you to rethink your fishing trip this weekend to prioritise fish welfare and conserve populations.Elevated water temperatures increase stress in fish, reducing oxygen availability and making them vulnerable to disease and mortality.
Based on the scientific advice, we advise anglers to stop fishing when water temperatures reach 18 °C.
The best time for fishing at this time of year is early morning between (5:00-6:00), depending on river conditions and weather, temperatures may cool into the evening providing a further opportunity for fishing.
West Country Rivers Trust – Shad Survey
The Westcountry Rivers Trust recently arranged a volunteer workshop at the Fox and Hounds Hotel at Eggesford to train members of local angling clubs to embark on DNA data collection in relation to shad migration in the Taw catchment. Barnstaple & District Angling Association, South Molton & District Angling Club, Taw Fishing Club and the River Taw Fisheries and Conservation Association were all represented and issued with sampling equipment.
Samples have now been taken from selected sites ranging from the estuary in Barnstaple, tributaries on Exmoor’s fringe and the central stem of the river in deepest rural Devon. Exeter University will be analysing the samples to trace where shad have been present in the catchment.
I joined fellow South Molton Club Member and River Taw Fisheries and Conservation Association member Ed Rands to sample various tributaries of the Taw. It was an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday morning visiting various locations including the River Bray and Mole at Meeth Bridge, The Bray at Stags Head, Filleigh, The Mole at Alswear ,the Little Dart at East Worlington and Chulmleigh Bridge. Along with the Taw at Nymet Roland.
Ed’s intimate knowledge of the Devon countryside and its people proved fascinating and his reminiscences of fishing at the various locations was revealing. Devon has countless miles of narrow country lanes and meandering rivers that dissect a rich and varied landscape. Pretty thatched cottages, manor houses and country churches that exude a rural idyl.
Through this seemingly perfect rural idyl flow the rivers that are the proverbial arteries of this green and pleasant land. If you talk with anyone who has spent time over the years beside our rivers a picture develops of a much degraded eco system. It is tragic that we have allowed this to happen over recent decades as industrial farming and extensive development spreads across the region.
Whilst there is a need for progress and growth in our economy this should be tempered by a respect for the environment. A healthy environment can bring us wealth both spiritually and economically. Healthy rivers with good numbers of fish can provide an escape from urban life as sporting hotels offering fishing and outdoor pursuits prosper. Sustainable farming can produce healthy food. We just need to work with nature not against it.
In addition to this further DNA testing will look for salmon, eels and lamprey. Whilst this testing is not a panacea to extensive knowledge it will start to build a valuable indication of fish migration within the river system. It seems strange that even today we only have limited knowledge of what swims beneath the surface with angling records over decades often the only data available. We have without doubt lost much life in our rivers over recent decades without knowing what we once had.
Shad migrate into rivers in May and June to spawn with the tiny fry returning to the sea in early autumn. There are two species, the allis shad and the twaite shad both of which migrate up a small number of rivers in the West Country and South Wales. The River Severn and Wye are undoubtedly the historic strongholds for the species.
RIVER HEALTH – OPPORTUNITES TO RAISE AWARENESS
There are numerous threats to the complex life systems within our rivers and it is imperative that we all try and do what we can to give life a chance. Whilst salmon are perhaps the most iconic of fish they are perhaps the proverbial canary in the coal mine and their plight is an indication of the overall health of our planet. See below issues sent to me by James at Lance Nicholson’s.
The Issue
🐾 MILLIONS of doses of pet flea and tick treatments containing imidacloprid and fipronil are sold without prescription in the UK every year. These powerful insecticides — which have been restricted in farming for the past 7 years — are freely available in supermarkets and online to use on pets and are contaminating our rivers, harming wildlife – and us.
Recent studies show they’re found in 100% of tested UK urban streams, harming the very species our ecosystems rely on — mayflies, dragonflies, beetles, and the birds and fish that depend on them.
This is chemical pollution on a national scale, and it could be stopped now…
✍️ PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION
To: Baroness Hayman, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Call on the UK Government to end the non-veterinary sale of imidacloprid and fipronil pet flea and tick treatments
❗ THE PROBLEM
– Imidacloprid and fipronil are deadly to aquatic invertebrates even in minute quantities.
– These pesticides enter water systems when washed from treated pets, from their bedding, or even our hands
– One treated dog can contaminate 5 million litres of water above safe levels.
– Yet these treatments are sold without guidance, warning, or oversight.
🚫 WHAT WE’RE ASKING
We urge the UK Government to:
1. Ban the sale of imidacloprid and fipronil-based pet parasite treatments except by veterinary prescription
2. Immediately improve warning labels to highlight the environmental harm of these products
3. Support research into safer, eco-friendly alternatives for parasite control
✍️ PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AND SHARE THIS WITH AS MANY OTHERS AS POSSIBLE
Let’s protect our rivers, wildlife, and national parks!
________________________________________________________________
About the Exmoor Society
The Exmoor Society is a registered charity working to protect and promote the unique landscape, wildlife and communities of Exmoor. We believe the environment and the economy must go hand in hand — and that protecting nature starts with knowledge, action and partnership.
See Petition Link Below :-
PREDATION
Dear Member,
There is growing recognition by environmental regulatory bodies that fish-eating birds,
Goosanders and cormorants, may have a debilitating impact on the population of salmonids in our rivers.
Natural England agree that simply scaring birds is likely insufficient to reduce the predation of our fish populations.
But it is essential to establish the population size in any given river system before any positive action could be considered.
There is now a real opportunity for fisherman and any other persons enjoying the river to be alert to the population of piscavores and take it in hand to report sightings. Adults have now had their chicks, and they are very successful breeders, and will stay on location in the early months.
We have designed a form that you can download to record sightings. The more detail you can provide the greater the validity of our evidence.
Tom Watts, our Fisheries officer / SEW Project Officer at WRT (Westcountry Rivers Trust ) will act as the co-ordinator of reported sightings
He has designed a google form that auto populates a spreadsheet in the form of an easy questionnaire.
This can be shared through the website, email, newsletter, social media etc.
You have a sighting? Just click on the following link. Please save the link to apply to each sighting
Please pass this on to any friend / interested party.
You may also wish to keep a record of your sightings so you can download the attached spreadsheet
and send it in to Tom at the end of September. Try the link first.
Thank you very much for your help
With best regards
Bruce Pearson, Secretary RETA
FOX & HOUNDS – GATHERING
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE….
FROTHY WATERS – OBSERVATIONS ?
Whilst the algae blooms witnessed along the coast are nothing new there are a couple of observations I will make. First the bloom often referred to as May bloom is earlier than normal and secondly the amount of surface froth is unusual and whilst large spring tides and a big surging swell have contributed I personally consider that this could be largely due to extensive run off from rivers into the Bristol Channel carrying worrying levels of enrichment from agricultural run-off and sewage overflows.
There is increasing awareness of the many issues that impact upon water quality with considerable focus on rivers with many groups with environmental interests now joining together to campaign for a revision into how we manage our environment. This is certainly complex and requires extensive effort across government and society.
SPRING TIME ON NORTH DEVON RIVERS
The recent rainfall is welcomed by salmon and sea trout anglers across North Devon. The Taw and Torridge both saw water levels rise significantly anglers are waiting until the colours drops out providing good fishing conditions. There have been no reports of salmon or sea trout as I write this report but prospects are much improved.
I fished a short morning session on an upper tributary of the Taw and was surprised how low and clear the river was despite the recent rain. I used a duo set up consisting of a large deer hair dry fly and a bead headed nymph. During the first hour I tempted several delightful small wild brown trout but struggled to find any larger fish in the clear water.
Eventually I found a couple of better fish in a shady section of river the best an absolutely stunning wild brown trout of 12”.
Whilst the fishing was challenging it was a real tonic for the mind being emersed within the Spring countryside as the songs of chiff-chaffs and wrens drifted through the valley in natures splendid springtime symphony.
