Author: DoubleDart

Casting clinic

A casting clinic was held recently at Totnes weirpool thanks to the co-operation of Dart Renewables / Fishtek, who kindly also donated five fly outfits to junior participants. Instruction was given free of charge by DAA member Chris Ward who is also a member of the Game Angling Instructors Association.

Two of the youngsters who took part are shown below. Let’s hope this is the start of an enjoyable and successful angling career for them.

Stockie

Member Jeff Robbins is a seasoned angler but has not had much experience with the fly upriver, hence the pleased expression on capturing this brownie, one of the stock fish recently introduced to the river.

Riverfly project – Volunteers required

The Anglers’ Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is a citizen science project run by the RIiverfly Partnership, that enables trained volunteers, such as anglers and conservationists, to protect river water quality by monitoring eight pollution sensitive invertebrates and complement the work carried out by statutory agency staff across the UK.

Given the frequent news reports concerning the amount of sewage and other effluent entering our rivers you will see the importance of this monitoring, which can give early warning when things are going wrong.

Luke, our local coordinator, is looking for volunteers to assist in this important work. Participants would require a days training (free) and a training day is arranged for 10am – 3pm Saturday June 25th at Prince Hall Training Centre.

Once trained, volunteers would be tasked with collecting samples of invertebrates from in-river sites on the Dart, identifying and counting the target species. Equipment is provided.

Luke sorting and counting specimens

This will not take up too much of your time. After your training day you would be asked, with another volunteer, to survey a specific location (possibly more if you wish) twice a year, in June and September. Each survey would take just a morning or afternoon.

Obviously, this should be of some interest to our members but you don’t have to be a member or even an angler to take part – only to have concern for our rivers and the wildlife they support.

If you are interested and want more information please contact Luke at riverfly@dartaa.org.uk

To read more about the Riverfly Partnership’s work visit their website www.riverflies.org

Wild Trout Trust auction 2022

From the Wild Trout Trust:

Wild Trout Trust 2022 Auction Live Now!
The Wild Trout Trust Auction is now live on our auction website (HERE). Brilliant fishing across the UK, Ireland and overseas, plus shooting, art, books, experiences, fishing tackle and hand-tied flies: 366 lots with starting prices from £8 to £650.

If you’d like a catalogue, click HERE for a PDF version.

We can bid for you – just email Christina (office@wildtrout.org) with a list of lot numbers and your maximum bid for each, before noon on 27 March. Lots start to close at 5pm.

The proceeds will help our vital work for wild trout and their habitat – incredibly important to us at all times.

Happy bidding – and thank you for supporting the work of the Wild Trout Trust.

Shaun Leonard
Director

REMEMBER
THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD ON THE LAST DAY OF THE AUCTION – SUNDAY 27 MARCH, SO BEWARE MISSING THE CLOSING TIME OF A LOT!

2022 bank Maintenance

DAA 2022 Bank clearing activities , subject to weather and river height, all commencing 9.30am :

Secateurs, loppers, pole saws, hedge trimmers, gardening gloves etc are handy items.

9th Jan  –  Fogdens (roughly Nursey Pool to Abbotsmead on RIGHT BANK )

16th Jan – Rookery to Abbots Mead (suggested parking Caddaford layby)

23rd Jan-  Abbots Mead to Quarry (suggested parking Caddaford layby)

30th Jan-  Quarry to Lower Style (suggested parking Stretchford layby)

6th Feb-  Hembury 

13th Feb- Kilbury- Nursey Pool (suggested parking Kilbury)

20th Feb- Halliwells 

27th Feb- Staverton Weir ( Suggested parking Staverton Bridge)