South West Lakes Trust fisheries at Kennick, Wimbleball, Wistlandpound and Stithians remain open till the end of November. Bank only, 2 fish ticket, reduced price yet to be fixed.

Bellbrook Valley Trout Fishery, 01 398 351 292 - The Specimen Lakes have continued to be challenging but with the cooler conditions have been more responsive. On the Normal Lakes sport remains good for the time of year and small black patterns fished on the or near the surface have been most successful. Black CDC emerger buzzer has been attracted attention from a lot of fish. Ironmill Lake has been enlarged and re-opened the weekend 20/21^st October.

Blakewell Fishery, 01 271 344 533 – A lot of surface activity to small buzzers and sedges. Best patterns are black or green buzzer, large sedge patterns, daddies and still some olives. Large browns have been showing in the past fortnight with a few being caught. Fishing throughout the day has been fantastic, in the over cast conditions.

Bratton Water, 01271 850642 – Some excellent hatches, best tactics floating lines long leaders, slow retrieves. Best flies PTN, damsel, and buzzer, best dries daddies and hoppers. Stalking advisable. The water is gin clear. An 8lb brown was returned, photo in cabin.

Tavistock Trout Fishery, 01 822 615 441 - is fishing well, with good bags of fish being caught on floating and intermediate lines. Best flies have been mini Damsel, montana, invicta, woolly buggers and cats whisker. Evenings on quiet days the fish are still to be found near the top and small nymphs and dry fly, especially daddies, continue to catch well in these conditions.

Kennick Reservoir, 01 837 871 565 - With rods averaging just under 2½ fish, most fish have again been taken on imitative patterns – either Sedges (particularly in the evenings), Hoppers or Daddies or Black Gnats and Spiders fished on the surface, or Buzzers, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Montanas, and Diawl Bach's in the upper four feet below the surface. A hatch of small olives at the end of the month meant that Klinkhammer's and small olive upright patterns were able to tempt fish. Deeper fished Orange Lures, Vivas, and Boobies consistently caught when there was little evidence of feeding fish. Boat Bay, The Narrows, Smithacott and Laployd Banks all fished well. Bigger fish started to feed more actively, and this was evident from a beautiful 6lb 8oz rainbow caught by Darren Penfold (from Liverton) using a #12 Gold Ribbed Hares ear fished from the bank. Jody Bee (from Exeter) caught a 6lb 4oz rainbow from the bank using a Damsel Nymph and Kennick Club member Mike Phillips caught a 5lb 4oz rainbow as part of a full bag, while fishing from a boat in Clampitts Bay. Surprise fish of the month was a cracking 4lb 4oz Brown Trout, caught by Mr. B.Tilbury, from Lyme Regis, while fishing from the bank with a nymph pattern.

Roadford Reservoir, 01 409 211 507- Browns only – closed for season.

Bake Fishing Lakes, 01 752 849 027 - most of the fish are still being caught either on or just under the surface. Dry daddies are still catching but the most reliable flies have been buzzer, damsel or shrimp. Fish are beginning to chase and mini lures fished fairly quickly on intermediate lines are taken a good share of fish.

Innis Trout Fishery, 01 726 851 162 - The first chills of autumn are sending the fish deeper, anglers fishing goldheads, damsel and montana's on floating or intermediate lines should score well.

Temple Trout Fishery, 01 208 821 730 - The onset of the cooler/cold weather has brought a lot of the larger fish to the top. Intermediate lines used with flies such as cats whisker, damsel and a variety of goldheads have been productive. The very occasional warmer day has seen fish near the top and responding to buzzer, dry daddies and hoppers.

Tree Meadow Trout Fishery, 01 736 850 899 - On the very occasional warm day the fish have been active on the top at Treemeadow and some fine sport has been enjoyed by anglers fishing dry daddy's and hoppers. On the days when the weather has not been kind, anglers fishing intermediate lines and flies such as the montana various goldheads and damsel have been taking fish. Fry imitations are beginning to catch well.

Siblyback Reservoir, 01 579 342 366 - with weekly rod averages of around two fish, the fishing proved to be more challenging at Siblyback this month, with most of the larger fish being caught from the bank. The most consistently productive fishing was to be found at the North end of the fishery, particularly in the Marshes area, although even here there was little evidence of surface feeding fish apart from on calmer days, in spite of hatches of Green Buzzers. Daddy longlegs and Hoppers were able to draw fish to the surface, but the majority of fish were taken using Buzzers, Diawl Bach's, and Damsel Nymphs, or on White or Orange Lures. The best fish of the month was a 5lb 4oz rainbow caught by Bob Perry (from Boyton), and a 4lb rainbow caught by K. H. Jane (from Callington) using a Fritz lure. Closes 31^st October.

Wimbleball Reservoir, 01 398 371 372 - has produced another excellent month’s sport, with rods averaging just under 3 fish per rod. While fish have been well dispersed over the reservoir, Ruggs and Bessoms have produced the most consistent results, with fish also being caught by the Dam and in Arthur’s Bay. Sedge patterns and Bibios brought fish to the surface (there were sporadic hatches of sedges and buzzers throughout the month), but most fish were taken sub-surface, either on traditional nymph patterns (Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Diawl Bach's, and Damsel Nymphs), or on lures fished on a sinking line (Vivas, Blobs, Boobies, and Cats Whiskers). The best fish of the month was a 5lb 10oz rainbow caught by Chris Curtis (of Paignton) while fishing from a boat Other notable fish caught in the month included a 5lb 6oz rainbow caught by Neil Osborne (Exeter), and a bag that included rainbows of 4lb 12oz and 3lb 12oz.

Chew Valley Lake, 01 275 332 339 - much better conditions for the boat anglers but the bank fishing is still patchy. Anglers afloat have found fish feeding well in many places but especially behind the island and in Hollow Brook. At times there have been moving fish over much of the lake throughout the day and often these fish will take a dry or emerger if covered. When less fish are moving nymphs and boobies fished on an intermediate washing line style will bring success. And there are increasing numbers of fry feeding fish in many areas of the lake. A sinking line with minkies and zonker's has been the favourite way to take these fish. Best fish this week was a huge brown of over 8 pounds caught and returned by A THOMAS. A rainbow of 6.02 was also taken from a boat by JOHN WINGROVE. BARRY HOOPER captured a 6.01 fish from the North Shore.

Blagdon Lake, 01 275 332 339 - The excellent bank fishing continued this week with good bags coming from most areas although Butcombe, Orchard Bay, Pegs Point and Ash Trees have been the most popular. Nymphs fished sub surface is the most successful method. Often these fish are very close to the edge and a cast along the bank can prove more effective than casting well out. Boat fishermen have also done better this week often having to fish tight inshore where the bank anglers are unable to reach. Best fish among many were 6.08 for BRIAN STONE from the bank, 6.08 for P J HELMORE from a boat and a 5.12 rainbow for BILL BAILEY from the North Bank.

The Barrows, 01 275 332 339 - Some good catches for those prepared to fish small nymphs and dries. Not many fish moving but they will come out of the blue. Some fish falling to the mouse but moving flies seem better.

At the time of writing snow is threatening, and those balmy summer’s days at the water’s edge seem a long way off!
The wet winter has meant that all the reservoirs have been near full for a few months.
Local Clubs and Volunteers have helped with bank clearing etc. prior to the beginning of a new season.    Writes Chris Hall.

Fully detailed handouts now available, including boat prices etc. Call (01837 871565).

22 March Kennick, Wimbleball, Siblyback, Roadford;

15 March Colliford, Stithians, Burrator, Wistlandpound, Venford, Avon Dam, Crowdy, Meldon;

1 April Fernworthy.

• Kennick, Wimbleball, and Siblyback £16.75 Full Day.

• Roadford £13.50 Full Day.

• Stithians, Wistlandpound £11.50 Full Day.

• Colliford, Burrator, Fernworthy £9.50 Full Day.

Head Office (01837 871565)

 

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