Category: DAA News

Over the weekend one of our members was involved in an uncomfortable confrontation at, or close to, Abbotsmead.  He challenged a bait fisherman and in the subsequent conversation was threatened with violence. This incident has been reported to the police. The number to contact in a similar situation is 999.

Kevin Hoare from Washbourne fished Kilbury on friday night and was delighted to catch two sea trout. The first, an active school peal, was returned, and the second, a bigger fish was kept. Kevin doesn’t generally eat sea trout, but a kindly neighbour does. He laid this fine fish on the river bank and continued casting. When he’d had enough there was no sign of his catch. He searched high and low, in water and on bank, to no avail. Finally after half and hour and in the dead of night he gave up, but just as he was leaving he heard an otter call, and the penny dropped. Cross with himself for being a little foolish, and cross with the otter too, Kevin went home. This morning he phoned a contact in the angling fraternity and relayed his tale of woe. It just so happened that his friend was on his way to the river too and had decided to stop at kilbury to see what was about. Lying on the riverbed was a fish. . . freshly caught, and though somewhat smaller than the one in the story, it bore many of the same characteristics. Clumsy angler ? or otter with a conscience ?. . . . .take your pick !

Rob Dart  spent time fishing and viewing on 17/8 and was rewarded with a 3.5 lb grilse from Stretchford. This evening  Robin Thorn, fishing Fogden’s,  caught another grilse of  4lb. Both fish fresh.

 

15/8

Experienced local angler Robin Thorn has been at it again. This time catching two grilse in Abbotsmead and moving a third half a mile further up river in Nursery pool.  Robin is demonstrating perfectly that even in low water salmon can be caught. These clean fish weighing 4.5 and 5 lbs were taken on an upstream Mepps. (photo to follow) Hopefully Robin’s success will encourage other anglers to have a go.

There is a decent head of school peal in the lower river and most seem to be in excellent condition.

 

A landing net has been found on the lower river and a black thermos flask at Kilbury. Please call the secretary for more details.

13/8

Robin Thorne reports a grilse of 4 – 5 lbs taken while spinning CC water last week. He saw a couple of others in ideal viewing conditions.

10/8/16

Last week’s rain brought the river up by around 4 ft. It didn’t of course last for long, but as it dropped and cleared Derek Myhill intercepted a couple of grilse of 4 and 5.5 lbs. Both fish were caught spinning the CC water. Angling effort appeared quite low, but it is to be hoped that reasonable numbers  ran on the spate as new salmon have been observed higher upstream.

One or two members have had good night fishing  , and there are currently a few decent shoals of (mixed) seatrout  visible. Photo to follow.

From the Totnes times ‘Peep at the Past’ feature:

100 Years Ago

Owing to thunder showers towards the end of last week, the Dart rose, and the salmon and peel were noticed on the move. The water is, however, again low.

Eight salmon have fallen to the rods, Mr Wright securing five weighing 47lb in all; Mr Churchward two, of 8Ib and 9lb; and Mr Willcocks one of 8ib. All the fish were taken with the worm. Mr H Searle had a couple of nice peel and some trout. Mr E Distin also took several brace, the fish being in capital condition.

23/6

The ‘unconfirmed’ salmon has been verified and was caught by Derek Myhill  from the same pool a few days earlier. The river is settling and coming into better condition for night fishing: one or two reports of success of late including a 5 lb fish from Hembury.

21/6

Robin Thorn caught an 8.5 lb salmon from Nursery Pool last Friday. There have been reports of another though so far unconfirmed.