Walking the short track to Bodmin Lake, time stood still for one of those elusive, almost "out of body" moments. Old Trekkies like me would call it "passing through a time gate" I suppose.

I first fished Bellbrook in the early seventies, when the first owner set the stage for generations of fly anglers to enjoy the quiet solitude and classic fly fishing that can be found fishing these lovely little ponds that meander down steep sides a valley in the heartland of the Devon countryside.

I half expected the big black dog that belonged to the original owner to come nudging at my waistcoat pocket for the half a Mars bar that he knew would inevitably be his. Memory plays strange tricks, it could have been the same buzzards riding the thermals high in the sky at the top of the valley, it was a comfort to know that this place had given so much joy to some of my old friends who had taught me so much about the joys of fly fishing.

Time moves on, today was a little different. The liver and white spaniel that came bustling out of the undergrowth to greet me was one of those lovely crazy creatures that lives its life at a hundred miles an hour, no wonder I didn’t see any rabbits on the fishery.

The "new" owners, well they have only been there a couple of years…. are Chris Atwell and Linda Atwell, who proudly showed me the annex recently added to the ancient farmhouse, transforming it into a dwelling that readers of "housy" magazines would go into light headed raptures about.

Over a mug of coffee, Chris and I talked about flyfishing, the expansion of Iron Mill Lake, the fish stock and Bellbrook’s future, which, looking at the investment in the lakes and the house is looking pretty good. Bellbrook Fishery will be one of Devon’s top fisheries for many years to come, all things bearing equally that is!

Tackling up at the back of the car, the nor’ easterly wind still had enough of a bite to it that a jumper and a fleece were necessary. Then following my usual plan of action which consists of another cup of coffee, switch my mind into fishing mode, and a little ponder whilst I studied the water for signs of rising fish or whatever. The cool conditions inevitably forced the conclusion that the fish were not on the top. Dick Walkers erstwhile comment, "if the fish are not on the top, then they must be underneath" came to mind. So the Snowbee neutral density line was going to get a swim today. It’s a strange thing that once upon a time all the major manufacturers had an ND line, one that needs a degrease the night before, then a good soak before it starts to sink, but then with a comparatively slow retrieve, will hover inches under the surface and sink ever so slowly if you do not retrieve. A magic sort of line at this time of year for meticulously searching the water and I had a feeling that this was going to be necessary today. The fish were in there somewhere, so what were they up to???

I think if that chill nor’ easterly wind had not been whistling up this valley for the past few days the fish would have been "up and looking" as one of my old friends would have said to me. The water was a nudge off being crystal clear and the cold would have impeded the first blooms of algae which are the prime foodstuff for the young chironomidae, buzzers to you and me. So I reckoned that my favourite buzzer fishing was off the menu for the day. Another week or so whilst the sun warms the shallows and the size 16/14 early season buzzers will become a prime trout target.

It might be that the damsels, the nail thin, bright green baby damsels might be on the menu, so I thought that is what I will start with. A size 14, longshank skinny damsel, that was a good thought.

As it happened it was none of those things. I love the imitative top of the water style of flytying and its resultant fishing, but sometimes like many others, I get fixated on the flylife and forget the other things that are a part of the trout’s menu.

Walking past the corner to Bodmin Lake, the clump of frogspawn in the corner merited a very close inspection. There they were, the first of the seasons brood, diving away at the clump of my wellies as I trod as quietly as I could up to the waters edge. At that moment, all the plans for a four pound point and a baby damsel fished quietly ten feet off the bank took a raincheck for a couple of weeks. This was going to be baby black lure and some gentle pulling sort of day!!!

A tungsten bead head tadpole pattern is still imitative fishing, as is an old fashioned big black lure fished like a nymph, close to the bottom, because leeches are a tasty protein rich snack for a hungry trout…. especially so in the Westcountry. It is a fact that because the sun was shining many anglers will stick to their floating line and almost inevitably go home fishless… ring any bells???? "If they are not on the top, they must be underneath!!"

Sound Engineer from Dan Mosley was fishing from the dam on Dartmoor Pool. Dan was visiting his parents on Dartmoor after returning from a months fishing in New Zealand. Bellbrook is his favourite fishery when he is home with his parents, fishing there regularly through the year. It wasn’t long before the coffee and the pictures were out!!! What a fabulous place New Zealand looks to be.

Shortly after, Dan took two fish in rapid succession, both of them falling to a black fritz bodied, green tailed goldhead, reinforcing the premise that the trout were looking for something black fished a few feet down. These were typical trout from the Bellbrook specimen lakes, nicely conditioned vigorous fish between three and four pounds.

Springtime on small fisheries like Bellbrook is a time when our enthusiasm tends to bubble over, it is a time when ideas hatched over a long dank winter can become an obsession. When perhaps the five weight you had for Xmas is due for its first serious airing. Believe me, fixed ideas and fishing do not go together, especially in the Springtime when the fish tend to shoal in one area. This is the time to search the water column, this is the time to keep on the move, half an hour there, half an hour somewhere else, until you find the fish. Find one and it is likely you will find more….

For those of you who like to fish it offer's an excellent private place of your own, and for those others in your party who perhaps don't wish to fish, we are in easy proximity to golf courses, riding schools and stables and many beautiful surf beaches. There are a large number of Castles and National Trust buildings that make for a wonderful day out and we would be very happy to recommend some to you.
 

Grand Opening Weekend for Ironmill Lake 20th and 21st October 2007.
Ironmill Lake has been enlarged and re-furbished..... should be good....

Finding Bellbrook....

From the M5:
Leave the M5 at Jn 27 and head west towards Tiverton and Barnstaple on the A361. At the Tiverton roundabout go straight over on the A361, after 5-6 miles there is a junction called Stonelands Cross. Take the right hand turn sign-posted Bellbrook and Spurway.

From Barnstaple/South Molton:
Follow the A361 towards Tiverton and the M5. Stonelands Cross junction is 9 miles east of the South Molton roundabout and is sign-posted left to Bellbrook and Spurway.

Continue for 2 miles - you will see our signposts along the way – and at the bottom of the hill take the right hand fork, we are approx 200m on your right. This lane is quite narrow and winding so take your time but don’t worry as there is very little traffic. If you do encounter another car the chances are they are locals and will reverse to the nearest passing place.

Prices.

Normal Stock Lakes. £25, 5fish. £18, 3 fish. Evening £10, 2 fish.
Specimen Lakes. £39, 4 fish. £34, 3 fish. £22, 2 fish.

Normal Lakes stocked with 1 to 3lb rainbows.

Specimen Lakes stocked with 3lb to very large rainbows and Blues.

Tel:  +44 (0) 1398 351292 (8.30am – 9:00pm)
Email: info@bellbrookfishery.co.uk

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