World Bank Masters Competition
It is with great pleasure that I can announce that the new World Bank Masters Competition will come to Exe Valley Fishery on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th March. Organised by Iain Barr, this is a national competition with a major sponsor in Airflo. If you have ever been interested in fishing a match then this is your chance to take part without the daunting prospect of heading to a reservoir to try and secure a place in the final. Nobody will leave empty handed as free fly lines and flies will be presented to all competitors paying the relevant entrance fee.
We will peg each of our competition heats by draw at the beginning of the day, with anglers moving around the lake in a clockwise direction every 30 mins to give all competitors a fair chance to fish the hotspots. The bag limit will be 5 fish, but after the limit has been reached anglers will be able to continue fishing on a catch & release basis with points scored per fish caught. There will be prizes at the heats but the main objective is to reach the final being held on 20th May at Elinor in Northamptonshire. The winners prize is £2000, with various other tagged fish and spot prizes!
The amount of places available at each heat, going through to the final will depend on numbers who enter, but there is a good chance that the top 4 to 6 rods at each of our heats could go through. The heats will be be based on fishery rules with the exception of catch & release which we are offering on the day to provide an exciting competition, barbless or debarbed hooks will be obligatory. We are also providing a special 5 fish limit at £25.00, which is based on the usual price of 4. The entry fee for the first heat is £25.00, although further heats can be attended for a reduced fee of £22.00 All forms should be sent to the organiser including a cheque for the entrance fee, fishery fees to be settled on the day of the heat. We have entry forms available at the shop, but you can also download one by clicking here. And for further details including rules for the final which will be entirely catch & release please see this page.
We already have quite a few entrants but places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. So if you fancy the chance of a lovely day out on Exe Valley, a new fly line, some extra flies for your box and even the chance of winning yourself £2000 should you make it to the final … please enter, we would love to see you. And of course we will also stock one or two specimen fish, see here for our latest catches. So those dates for your diary again, Airflo World Bank Masters Competition Heats at Exe Valley Fishery on Sat 3rd & Sunday 4th March 2012. We hope to see you there!
25 Hour Bass
It’s been a mad few days. On Thursday I was up by 6am for last minute Ireland preparation before heading off to look after Hugh Caslake and Martin Baum. These guys are regulars and make an annual pilgrimage to the Exmoor area to indulge their growing addiction for fly fishing. It is awesome to see how they are improving with Hugh now making a move towards double handed Salmon fishing … he was popping some sweet loops. Meanwhile Martin got to grips with the finer points of hauling to improve casting accuracy while river fishing.
I left the guys fishing by 3.30pm and headed off for Bristol Airport and my evening flight to Dublin. The meet and greet parking was brilliant as usual, but I could have done without the £80 overweight baggage charge levied by Ryanair. Perhaps I should have taken the ferry? Too bad, the Irish Bass are worth it and I kind of forgave the airline company because the flight arrived 20 minutes early! There was to be no lonely trip down towards Dungarvan either because Florida fishing maestro Rodney Goodship was there to meet me for the journey. On a break from his Fish the Dream operation, he was about to sample something quite different, Irish Bass Fishing. The last time I met up with Rodney for a fishing trip was several years ago in Miami so the chatter was nonstop during our 2 ½ hour drive.
We arrived in the wee small hours of Friday morning and after catching up with the guys various members of the party including Henry Gilbey, Andy Bignell and Rodney quite sensibly retired to bed. That left Cian of Absolute Fishing and me. After trying to talk ourselves into getting some much needed shut eye we took the slightly insane decision to put our waders on instead. Cian had been up since 7am too and it was now 2am the following day. Rods were thrown into the car and we set off eager for a fish; we could sleep later. We fished hard but drew a blank, even though conditions seemed perfect. Some thanks for our effort! We had to be back to catch up with the other guys by 4.30am, at which point we did a U turn and set out for a favoured mark that produced fish during our last trip in July. But once again sport was slow and I have to admit that I was starting to feel the effects of 24 hours with no sleep.
The wonderful Wave Worm soft plastic - Bass love them!
Local Bass fishing junkie, Ger, came to the rescue. He had joined us for the morning session and managed a Bass of around 5lb using his favourite Feed Shallow lure. I fished my Wave Worm soft plastic with renewed anticipation, a method of lure fishing that shares many characteristics with the world of fly fishing. Rigged to swim weedless without any weight, I cast into some mouth watering gullies adding lots of tip flicks, pauses and other movements to simulate life. I got it right on one of the occasions and was hit hard by a Bass of 4lb. This was a fish to be savoured, not only because it was my first ever on a soft plastic but also because it looks like the next few days could be no good for anything except bait. Not to mention the fact that I had now been awake for over 25 hours!
The 25 Hour Bass!
The weather is now horrendous! At one point the barometer on my Casio Protek just crashed signalling the arrival of massive South to South West winds and driving rain, interspersed with periods of relevant calm, even sunshine. But the weather has taken its toll and many of our intended marks are now unfishable. Frustrating yes and the forecast doesn’t offer much comfort, but time spent in the company of like minded anglers is just as good and I am sure we will find some more fish in the days to come. Andy has been doing just that and I am constantly amazed at this guy’s ability to extract fish from about every location we go to such as this fish taken on Crab. Hopefully we will get some more fish for Henrys camera soon. Writing this blog late on a Sunday night I should probably do the sensible thing and get some sleep!
Andy seems to extract Bass everywhere we go - despite the weather!
Specimen River Frome Grayling
Day tickets for the Frome are available from John Aplin at Casterbridge Fisheries
What red blooded angler would?! Gin clear water, stunning scenery … specimen Grayling caught to over 4lbs! I had been counting down the days. Arriving early on Thursday morning I was greeted by a hot cup of coffee and when Henry turned up this was followed by a cooked breakfast, which was good because I had awoken so early that I had not bothered to eat. This is the kind of service you can expect from John and his wife Andrea who manage the fishery. Arriving on the water, we were not disappointed and yet John explained that we were seeing the Frome at its worst. The dry spring had taken its toll and we were fishing over very low water, which had rendered some very tasty runs unfishable. First stop was a deep pool although the low morning sun made it hard to spot fish.
We moved upstream and found a pool teeming with life. I had expected to see big Grayling but suddenly was faced with a 2lb Trout. This may not sound big by Trout standards but this is no stocked chalk stream. This was a Wild Trout, which was also very skittish, especially after my less than graceful leap over a barbed wire fence. 10’ #3 Greys Streamflex + at the ready I aimed a catapult cast in amongst a swathe of branches and hoped that the fish would return. It didn’t but a few decent Browns up to 1 ½ lbs did. In plopped a Quill Bead head and a Grayling of no more than half a pound appeared from nowhere and nailed it! Not the intended fish and certainly not the specimen Grayling we were after, but great fun all the same.
Next stop was a mouth watering pool. More Trout were spotted to over 2 ½ lb (John has seen them to over 3 ½!) and remember these are wild fish. I worked those fish over but they were just not on the feed. But what about the Grayling? Well they were there too and I reckon the best went 2 ½ lbs, big enough but not by Frome standards. In the hope of seeing the kind of fish this venue can produce John walked us to the top of the beat but in the low conditions the fish all spooked and shot off upstream. Even so my eyes were on stalks, the bow waves were enormous. I had to see one of these fish up close … pleeease!
At last I whinkled one out for the camera (photo - John Aplin)
We went back to our previous pool and I began working one of the Grayling hard, it didn’t really seem to be feeding but every now and again it cast various offerings a sideways glance. This is one of the things I love about the species, they will let you throw all sorts at them and basically ignore it and then all of a sudden … you are hooked up! At last something for Henrys camera and nearing 2lbs a superb fish, it was hard to believe that somewhere not far from us was a fish twice the size. As usual Henry could be heard cooing from behind the camera, the conditions were superb for pictures and Grayling are just so elegant.
Our morning was complete and lunch beckoned. Once again the full Aplin hospitality service was bestowed upon us as a lovely ploughman’s lunch was served up complete with particularly fine homemade chutney. These guys also have some very reasonably priced self catering accommodation and nearby there is a great deal of excellent sea fishing, including Bass. I had begun conjuring up trips!
John was desperate for us to have a crack at one of the Frome’s monster Grayling and so after lunch we were taken to a deep pool, covered by a canopy of branches. Do not expect manicured, that is not what this place is all about although Johns enormous experience spanning some 25 years managing rivers can be seen throughout. The venue is extremely fishable, but testing; just the way I like it. The deep pool did show up one fish that I would have put at around 3lbs, although in the shade it was difficult to say. It was also in the company of a few other fish and so in true Hart style I managed to extract the smallest, using the tip section of my rod! More pictures followed but time was running out.
We headed back to the original pool; the light conditions were better. But concentrated fishing takes its toll, especially after several back to back days of guiding and a very late night spent at the cinema … oh and not being able to sleep through being too excited! Why did the big fish appear now?! Sat under a low branch, right up against the opposite bank I could see a decent looking specimen which I bombarded with everything. That was when I actually landed a fly in the water because on several occasions I hit the branch, or snagged the opposite bank. Controlling 2 bugs at range on a long leader is not easy, especially when knackered!
Eventually even Henry decided it was time to throw in the towel and packed up his cameras. Yes we all know he is not famous for his patience but actually when out taking pictures I marvel at how long he will wait for the shots he needs. Sure I am a guide and watch people fishing every day, but I am very involved. Sitting behind a lens all day, waiting for a fish, that takes dedication. I could hear him still in conversation with John so in one last ditch attempt to fool this fish I waded out carefully to try and get a better look and enable control of my heavy weighted bugs.
I cannot publish the expletives that followed. Clearly unsettled by my presence the big Grayling … no let me rephrase that … massive Grayling took a little wander around the pool. “HENRY” I bellowed “you have to look at this”. Both John and Henry joined me to see what all the fuss was about. More expletives! I think Henry said “Herman” and “Holy Cow” a few times. Meanwhile I continued to fish like an idiot much to my companion’s amusement although if I am brutally honest and without trying to make excuses I was shaking like a leaf! I attempted to compose myself, shortened the leader a little and tied on a plain and simple Billy.
A few casts went in, I played tennis with either bank for a moment and at one point turned away to get out of the water and go home … beaten. No, just one last cast! The Billy sank; I lifted the rod and noticed the Grayling slightly alter its position. It seemed as if we were suspended in time for a moment as I struck and then the fish slowly turned on its side. It was hooked!!! Then there was chaos as Henry charged out of the river to unpack his cameras while John urged me to take care and not lose this fish now careering all around the pool. The hook held and suddenly our aim had been achieved, the biggest Grayling I have ever seen in my life was in the net. Measurements put this fish at around 3lb 12oz, it could have been smaller or possibly even bigger but the exact weight of a fish has never really bothered me.
One very big Grayling - One very happy angler! (photo - Henry Gilbey)
What more can I say … true elation, a massive angling high and even better you guys can do this for yourself without breaking the bank. Please go and take a look at Johns website, Casterbridge Fisheries here … you won’t be disappointed.
Wet & Wild on the Exe
It has been another year of unseasonable weather patterns. One minute we were fearing a drought and the possibility of requiring only slippers to wade, the next our drying room is filled with the smell of damp wading jackets. Where did the summer go? In all honesty bright blue skies and sunshine are not ideal fishing conditions but then neither is the requirement to wear thermals under waders to stay warm in August!
But enough complaining. I have to say that this year has been a great season for big fish and Friday last was no exception. My guests for the day were Jim Pool and JJ from the South East of England, which has witnessed more than its fair share of precipitation in recent weeks. So much so that I received a couple of nervous emails from Jim requesting a plan B if A fell flat on its face. I was keen to stick with plan A as during our correspondence I was surprised to see that the golden orb had decided to put in an appearance. The local web cam also beamed a reasonable river condition back to my laptop, a little high but certainly fishable and the gauges showed that the levels were falling. Even so I went to bed crossing my fingers.
The next morning I wondered if plan A, a trip to the lower Exe, was indeed flawed. The sun was well and truly hidden, masked by a thick grey sky which refused to cease pouring copious amounts of rain across the region. During breakfast I tentatively navigated to the webcam, fearing the worse. Instead I was pleasantly surprised to find that the river levels had in fact dropped some more. Result! At least Jim and JJ would get some fishing today. But for how long?
Fishing is all about preparation, especially when working as a guide and in particular if adverse weather conditions are to be dealt with. Boxes were stocked with heavy bugs and large dry flies the night before the trip and 10′ #5 rods packed just in case. On the way to the venue I collected hot pies from our local butcher, stocked some beer in the cooler and arrived at our meeting point with time to spare. When the guys arrived our first conversations were unsurprisingly weather related.
No going back now, the guys pulled on waders and we set off in haste … the river could blow at any moment. The web cam findings were confirmed and instantly confidence levels were boosted. Were we going to experience some good sport; even in these conditions? I will let the pictures do the talking!
Drenched but very happy. Jim Pool beats the weather and this stunning River Exe Grayling.
Jim had in fact already got off the mark with a couple of 8″ Browns taken on a Baetis pattern which was pleasing considering the conditions. However the good old French Nymph fished New Zealand style accounted for this superb fish around lunchtime … note the rain in the background. We continued fishing, leaving the pies in the truck!
Who cares about the weather?! JJ looks very pleased with his biggest Grayling to date.
That proved to be a good move. I guided JJ into a run just above Jim and before long his French Nymph had been spotted by this superb fish in peak condition.
Bigger again! Another Grayling for Jim.
My picture does not do this fish justice. I think this was down to a mixture of excitement and trying to keep the lens free of water!!! This was seriously fat fish and awesome to see these specimens in such good condition. Heading towards the magical 2lb mark and caught once again on a French Nymph not far from Jim’s first fish.
Wow! Plan A comes together as JJ lands his best ever West Country Wild Brown Trout
I had set JJ up with an extremely long dropper (4′ +) section hanging from his indicator fly and finished it off with one of our secret Orange rubber legs nymphs, a serious killer this season. I had waded JJ into a deep section of water after we had seen a big rise but covering the area with a dry repeatedly produced nothing, so we changed to sub surface tactics. This was the result … and still it rains!
Jim gets in on the Trout action
After a late lunch washed down with a cold beer (should have been soup, or hot chocolate!) we fished the middle to upper section. Fish were caught but nothing to rival the previous specimens, although we did manage to get the dry to work. The river had started to show signs of colour and was definitely cooling, especially after one particular deluge! It was so heavy I could do nothing but giggle uncontrollably! We all looked like drowned rats and questioned our sanity if only for a moment. Perseverance can and will pay off though and Jim finished off the session with this reasonable fish.
So even in such extreme conditions (it did not stop raining all day!!!) our wonderful West Country venues can still produce the results. To be honest I reckon the guys would have been happy with a few palm sized fish for their efforts. Well done to them for facing the weather and sticking with the original plan, it certainly paid off … even if it was a little wet and wild!
Sea Trout Symptoms
Fly Fishing for Sea Trout is a bit like a really good night on the town; but without the headache! There are symptoms. The next morning you feel slightly shaky which is possibly caused by fatigue but more likely a massive dose of adrenalin. Images flash through your mind, ghostly figures airborne, silhouetted trees and trying to remember the best spot to land a fish. And when it finally happens, that almighty unseen tug … well then all hell breaks loose.
So this morning as I write this blog I think I am touching about 4 hrs sleep, feeling shaky and experiencing flashbacks. Yes I was Sea Trouting last night not partying! Meeting up with Wayne Thomas for the second time in as many weeks I am beginning to wonder why I have not been heading out with this all round angler more often having known him for over 20 years. Wayne you are like a good luck charm! And if you wonder what I mean take a look at the Bass which he found for us just recently. Wayne is also a serious fishing junkie, so much so that even an unexpected trip to A&E yesterday could not keep him down; such is the power of the piscatorial narcotic which is night Sea Trout Fishing.
To be honest I had expected to be pounding the rock marks of North Devon for spikeys during the day but to cut a long story short that all went wrong. A text message just half an hour before from a different mate (you know who you are!!!) who I was going fishing with to say he was pulling out (because he was tired!!!) meant that I did what I have done far too often over the last 5 years. I went to work instead. This did nothing for my demeanour, yes I might work in fishing but it is VERY important to actually go fishing. Anyway enough of that, I don’t want to spoil the shaky buzz!
Paperwork completed and a few phone calls later it was decided that a River Mole Sea Trout session was the way to go with an 8.30pm rendezvous. We tackled up, put the world to rights as we did so and then began a brisk walk to the Wood Pool. Our aim was to target a Salmon while there was still some daylight, a warm up before the night’s main event. En route we bumped into a couple of Stags who had been to the river for an evening drink. Suddenly the disappointment of not going Bass fishing was ebbing.
At this point I should be honest; I had not been in the best of moods throughout the day because the night before I had been partying. These days I rarely drink but my brothers 30th birthday was cause enough for celebration, involving some very good Cabernet Sauvignon and a lump of Cheddar. Oh yes, the Hart boys know how to party. None of those Jager thingies for us, come to think of it perhaps we should have gone Sea Trouting instead … it would have saved the headache.
Wayne managed a take to his Stoats Tail and then suddenly the night arrived requiring another brisk journey to a new pool. And what a pool Island Pool is, heavily canopied, dark and mysterious. Wayne graciously gave me first run down with my sunk lure while he followed with a surface fly. At this point the anticipation is at fever pitch, every sinew of our bodies craving a fish fix. A good hour later we are doing cold turkey. Nothing!
The night was perfect, very warm, very dark and very still. “Please Sea Trout, I have had a bad day, give in and take my fly”. This is another symptom, you may begin to hear voices in your head or even begin muttering to yourself. For some instant relief try another pool, so we did. This time Wayne was first down Sandmartin Pool, at any moment I expected to hear that electrifying splash … and then I did! “Are you in Wayne?!”
“No, but that was a big fish”. Prepare to be half scared out of your wits when one jumps right besides you. This happened to me, then I had a take and Wayne rolled a fish. All in split seconds! Sea Trouting is pretty weird like that. Nothing for the whole session, hopelessness sets in and then in split seconds we are alert once more. We tried going down the pool again. Nothing! I was not giving up. Down we went again and then crash, there is a huge commotion below me and I expect to hear Wayne screaming for help. And yes I did mean “screaming”, if you have experienced night Sea Trout fishing you will appreciate what I mean.
Calmly Wayne explained that he thought a decent fish had just entered the tail of the pool which was followed by “chomp, chomp, and chomp!” This noise was not emanating from Wayne, he was not going mad, right opposite me sat on a ledge (well, I think it was sat) was an Otter scoffing the fish which it had just successfully hunted! We had not caught any fish ourselves but at least someone was enjoying success. I should really have put down the rod and got out the camera, but my hand was welded to the cork. Midnight was upon us.
After Wayne’s eventful day I could understand why he was keen to make tracks, walking back to the cars we pondered upon why such a perfect Sea Trout evening had yielded no fish. The answer is that’s Sea Trout fishing, there are no rules! But I was not done; I needed more, so while Wayne broke down his gear I stumbled my way through a hedge row into an unknown pool. The water was not familiar to me but I knew there was a fish there. During our meeting several hours previously Wayne had spotted a decent specimen and we agreed that we should have a crack at it by dark.
My disease and cure - the fish let me grab a quick snap
First cast I had a take! Then a fish jumped to my left, I cast towards the noise and hooked … a tree! Damn! More muttering, a few expletives and then relief, my lure was free. I set back to work the area which I had originally intended to target while Wayne chatted to me from the bridge above. If only that conversation had lasted another 30 seconds! As he began manoeuvring his car for the journey home the fish took! “Wayne, Wayne … WAYNE!!!” I had begun screaming, after all there was now a large and ghostly apparition before me very eyes. But Wayne could not save me.
Heart pounding, heavy breathing and slightly disoriented in an unknown pool I almost wanted to pinch myself to check I wasn’t in fact dreaming. I have this same thought every time I hook Sea Trout. But no, I was very definitely awake and so was the Sea Trout, I guess you would be if you had just munched on some cold sharp steel! I fell about the pool, elated, trying to ready the net and praying that one of the huge leaps did not meet with success for it and despair for me. Chaos had ensued, so much so I just had to switch on the head torch. To hell with more fishing, I just need the one on the end of my line in the net!
And then it was. I cannot explain the feeling, hopefully this garbled and rather shaky video clip will. A fish of at least 5lbs I quickly rattled off a picture, shot some video (check it out on my You Tube channel here) and then slipped my prize back. It was 12.30 am on Wednesday 3rd August 2011, is there a more perfect way to start a new day?! Suddenly I was not tired, in fact I could have carried on quite easily and a fish leaping in the pool below almost tempted me. But I had my fix, the shakes had developed and I was definitely feeling good. God how good is Drum & Bass on a journey home from a Sea Trout session?! Try it for yourself but beware, there is no known cure …
