Devon Rivers

[robmason]

There was a rod going on the Pynnes water on the Exe which I enquired about. £39.5K . For a 1/10th share!!! Of course no mention of catch returns- just lightly fished .

[robmason]

I understand the Exe estuary is good for bass. I thought I might turn my hand to a bit of the SWFF. I even have a good idea of where the decent spots are. Couple of hours either side of the tide, it will be like fishing middle Tweed off Dawlish Warren.

[robmason]

exerod said:

I fished the Plym in Oct/Nov/Dec a few times over a couple of seasons 10 years ago, never saw a salmon but I hear its gone downhill since then You will get some nice out of season sea trout.
The TWP club stopped issuing day tickets after 14th October a few years ago but this may have changed.
The Avon (Devon) ends 30th November and has better fly water. If you get in touch with the Avon club ask them where I am on the waiting list, only been on it since 1998!

Reports from the upper Exe are of no salmon today, it is thought that they haven't got that far in numbers yet. So they must all still be down the bottom end waiting for Rob to catch them on Monday

Andy

Spot on as ever Andy. No day tickets on the Plym

No tickets on the Avon either, the PO at Loddiswell claiming the season ended Sept 30th (for non-members probably)

Anyway I recalled reading somewhere about Snowbee having a stretch of the Yealm, so that's where I'm off to on Thursday or Friday. Expectations suitably low, but hey, its fishing.

[robmason]

Upper Yealm Fishery. Decent water, both in terms of height and quality of the beat. Steve from Snowbee had suggested a small mepps and he was spot on. Four sea trout landed, several others lost and a larger fish moved, not to mention some decent sized brownies. Shame the sea trout season on the Yealm is over as all bar one where fresh run.

Worth another trip I'd say.

[robmason]

robmason said:

exerod said:

I fished the Plym in Oct/Nov/Dec a few times over a couple of seasons 10 years ago, never saw a salmon but I hear its gone downhill since then You will get some nice out of season sea trout.
The TWP club stopped issuing day tickets after 14th October a few years ago but this may have changed.
The Avon (Devon) ends 30th November and has better fly water. If you get in touch with the Avon club ask them where I am on the waiting list, only been on it since 1998!

Reports from the upper Exe are of no salmon today, it is thought that they haven't got that far in numbers yet. So they must all still be down the bottom end waiting for Rob to catch them on Monday

Andy

Spot on as ever Andy. No day tickets on the Plym

No tickets on the Avon either, the PO at Loddiswell claiming the season ended Sept 30th (for non-members probably)

Anyway I recalled reading somewhere about Snowbee having a stretch of the Yealm, so that's where I'm off to on Thursday or Friday. Expectations suitably low, but hey, its fishing.

Update on the TWP fishing. It is available to season ticket holders (£125) but not day tickets, with 7 weeks left to fish.

[robmason]

I encountered the Yealm in flood today. Glad to say it runs nice and clear. Again out of season sea trout all too easy to catch, one salmon seen attempting the weir, but none hooked. I shall give it another go next month if only for the novelty of Dec fishing.

[exerod]

What sort of condition are the sea trout in Rob, the small ones (under 2lb) I used to get on the Plym at this time of year were always fairly bright. Have you seen any spawning over there, they have started in East Devon.

Andy

[robmason]

First time out on Oct 27th they where all very bright, and a good size. Last monday there where a few very small ones, 1/2 lb or so in good nick, but the bigger ones had started to colour. The biggest of all could possibly have been a kelt, but seems a little early.

I wonder if they would be so easy to catch in season? I suspect the answer would be no. A number 4 mepps seemed irresistable.

[exerod]

You and I must be rubbish Rob. According to T&S the Exe had a "reasonably good salmon season"

Andy

[robmason]

exerod said:

You and I must be rubbish Rob. According to T&S the Exe had a "reasonably good salmon season"

Andy

Yes I read that today as well, with a certain amount of incredulity. I was expecting "worse season ever"!

By the way, still a fair number of silver little sea trout keen on no. 4 Mepps today on the Yealm. Very high water, beautifully clear, devoid of salmon. Or maybe I'm just rubbish!

PS Steve, the man from Snowbee tells me that the later running sea trout are generally small and run late ie now. The bigger ST run in spring.

[robmason]

The Herald Express (South Devon rag) carried a story yesterday about a major poaching incident up on Exemoor. Quite how they knew 20 salmon had been taken is beyond be, but it seems enough evidence was left to suggest fish had been poached. If it was the Exe/Barle it would be more than had been caught legit all season!!

[exerod]

Just heard from Lance Nicholsons in Dulverton that it was the Barle,
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6161112.stm

It was a pool somewhere on the old Tarr Steps Hotel water that was being watched by the EA so thats how they know how many fish were taken. Who buys these red and black fish. They were only a week or two from spawning. Bastards.

Andy

[robmason]

Barstools indeed, but it begs the question, who would buy a stale old salmon. Everyone knows they should be silver and shiny. Maybe they all get put in a smoker, there is a misapprehension, even amongst some anglers that they smoke well.

[robmason]

Endslieigh Fishing Club (Tamar) catch returns.

Just received these. Total for 2006=42, well below 5 year average (57). 31 sea trout. I seem to recall the average being about 125 in the 1990's.

A pleasant spot though all the same.

[robmason]

Opening Day

Some of the posts in the reflections thread got me thinking. If we where to fish on any of the Devon rivers and have even a slim chance of success, where would it be?

I suspect the Taw is the answer, but then it opens later than most. Come on lads, we may not be accompanied by the "scurrell" (?sp) of the bagpipes and waste good whisky by chucking it in the water, but maybe a forum opening day is called for. Are Paul Young or David Bellamy free?

[exerod]

Rob I reckon it will be just you and David Bellamy!
I don't really get on with the Taw. I've never actually seen a fish in it and when it's "right" it is a funny green colour a bit like a Somerset drain. The locals seem to like it though. I'm more of a peat stain or clear man myself.

Andy

[robmason]

OK, I'm flexible- opening day on the Lyn then.

It's quite clear around the fox and hounds.

[robmason]

Oh well, no takers, its just me and David Bellamy. Anyone got some bagpipes?

[robmason]

Oh well the rivers I fish have opened without so much as a half hearted attempt to wet a line. I'm sure a more serious effort will come from the North of the county on March 1st when the Taw and Torridge get going.

On that subject, anyone fished the Angling 2000 beats in that neck of the woods? Little Dart or Okement?

Tight Lines

Rob

[exerod]

I thought we could just let this thread fizzle out, it did seem to jinx last years summer fishing.

I have heard of a fresh fish spoted ten days ago at Blackpool just below Dulverton. Frankly I don't believe it, in 1967 maybe but 2007. More likely a kelt or an escaped rainbow... but you never know!

Andy

Ps. Not fished the new Little Dart beat, looks interesting. I did once get a springer out of the higher of the two beats on the Okement on a size 8 black pennell.