Reminder to all anglers:

• Strictly No selective Catch and Release. Full angling rules can be found here: https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing-rules

• Catch Returns must be completed – Failure to do so will impact future stocking

Complete your Catch Returns online here.

Please send any photos to [email protected].

 

 

We’re sorry to report that Tony Hern died suddenly on Friday 15 April 2022.

Tony had worked on fisheries for all his life, starting at Leckford Estate, then Rockbourne Fishery in Hampshire and for the last 28 years at Albury Estate in Guildford, Surrey. His time at Albury Estate established him as one of the great fishing gurus of his time, he helped to found a fishing charity for Army veterans and was a first-class fishing instructor and fly tyer, introducing hundreds of new people into the sport.

In the last 2 years he had based himself in the South West, returning to where he learnt to fish on the rivers and lakes of Dartmoor that he loved, and continued with his fishing courses on South West Lakes venues.

He will be greatly missed in the fishing community.

On behalf of South West Lakes we would like to extend our sincerest condolences to his family.

Tony (pictured left) in action in the fly-tying room at the 2022 South West Fly Fair.

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Kennick  

Rod Average: 4.82

Another great week of fishing at Kennick last week, with a wide variety of methods all producing catches. Val Froggat took the week's record with a 5lb rainbow, one of 10 fish caught between two rods with Graham Roberts from Totnes.

 It's good to see some young anglers being introduced to the sport too, with 10 year old Daniel, accompanied by Andy McGahan from Exeter and his mother, Emma, who caught 8 to 1.75lbs between them: 'I fished with Emma who predominantly supported her son Daniel, aged 10, on his first fishing trip. Daniel caught four rainbow trout, a brilliant achievement and certain to prove a great welcome to our sport.'

Other notable catches include Brian Parry from Newton Abbot with 10 rainbows to 2lb and Joe Croy from Ashburton with 11 to 2lb on a slow sinking intermediate line with varied retrieve ('I have caught more fish the last two times I’ve been (which have been in the last two or three weeks) than I have in the past 10 years combined! So thanks very much. Will be bringing a friend next week!').

      Photos: Mike Herring

‘It was impossible to conjure up a complaint on this gorgeous, sunny Spring day with gentle breezes, mainly from the East, when the rainbows were 'on the take', and it was good to be alive!

The temperature was 8.5C when I arrived and when I left at 3pm, 14.5C. I caught 12 rainbows (returned 9 of them), all bar one of them in 1lb 8oz - 1lb 12oz bracket. The 'bar one' was 3lb 4oz, being one of two caught on a buzzer (and it led me a merry dance!).

3 boats were out and 10 bank anglers. One of them, who knew how to cast, caught 12 in about two hours, standing beside the Boat Bank, approx. 20 yards back from the 'first buoy'.

I did well early on, off the Laployd Bank, but there were plenty of taking rainbows later in both Boat and Kennick Bays.

Successful flies were a Damsel, GRHE and I even caught one on the Orange Blob on the top dropper! Two were caught on the middle Buzzer when I anchored and tried to 'buzzer rod', which shows that the rainbows were not always to be found below 8 feet. I had lots more 'takes' too.

Everything on a floating line. I was unsuccessful in The Narrows.

The water level appears to have stopped falling, which is good news.

I spotted two newly hatched Mallard ducklings with their mother at The Causeway. A lone swallow also seen again.

Happy days!’  - Mike Herring

    

Photos: Peter Hart

‘Perfect weather all day (sunshine & cloud) with a strong breeze at times which made casting a little difficult. Started with a floating line (for the first catch) then switched to intermediate. All fish about 10 foot down and all landed using a slow retrieve.

I found the intermediate helped take the lighter weighted flies down to the correct depth as few were rising that day.

All fish were caught from the Heather Bank and fought well.’ – Peter Hart

Wildlife sightings: Gulls, ducks, geese, cormorants, 2 pairs of Lesser Black-backed gulls, mallard with 2 newly hatched ducklings, swallow.

View the full Catch Report here

Check out the Kennick fishing map here

The Kennick fishing guide is here

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Siblyback

Rod Average: 7.13

Only 8 catch returns submitted, despite 27 day permits bought and a number of season permit holders fishing at Sibly, which makes it difficult to produce an accurate report of last week's fishing. However, the 8 anglers who did submit had some good sessions, achieving the equivalent of 9 full bags and a rod average of 7.13 between them. Marcus Shelton from Newquay caught 20 rainbows to 3lb 10oz from a boat on a short, medium retrieve, while George Hext from Liskeard caught 12 to 3lb: 'Most took on the hang, static flies 2-3foot down and a few took on slow figure of eight. Cloud cover slowed takes by 4pm so changed end fly for a black booby and kept the two beaded Montanas. Washing line tactic, static on the drop brought renewed action with further 4 banked within the next hour. Good fighting fish.'

 

View the full Catch Report here

Read our guide to fishing at Siblyback here

Check out our Siblyback fishing map here

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Burrator

Rod Average: 1.67

A low number of catch returns received compared with the amount of day permits purchased for last week. From what we have received, a floating line with a slow retrieve worked best. Nigel Easton from Plymouth caught 3 rainbows using this method, while Duncan McConnell from Plymouth caught 2 on buzzers fished slow and deep.

Wildlife sightings: 3 geese, 1 cormorant, ducks.

View the full Catch Report here

Read our guide to fishing at Burrator here

Check out our Burrator fishing map here

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Stithians

Rod Average: 2.88

Little surface activity last week despite the hatches of hawthorn flies, but anglers still managed some decent catches with floating to intermediate lines and a slow retrieve working best. John Henderson from Falmouth caught 5 to 2lb 8oz on a black and green lure and a black cormorant, while Simon Peters from Cusgarne caught 6 rainbows to 2lb on blob and jungle cock patterns.

  

Photos: Simon Peters. One of 3 rainbows to 1.5lb: ‘Fished first light – cold, frosty start with Easterly wind. No fish rising at all. Difficult to get takes on a floating line but managed 3 fish on a very slow retrieve - All fish taking the Blob on the point.’

A good time was had on Sunday at the Stithians CAST Club competition, held at Siblyback, for almost all rods. Commiserations to Dave Crane on dropping 2 fish . The Dunn Trophy comp was won by Paul Wallace with 5 fish for 6lb 4oz. Barry Jones was 2nd with 5 fish for 6lb. In all, there were 9 rods out for 27 fish. Fish were taken all round the loch, with a variety of patterns working. Fritzy nasties, as well as Traditional wets, and at least one rod resorted successfully to fishing Dries.

For CAST club membership details, please contact Graeme Clements (CAST Club Treasurer) through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Stithianstroutfishing

View the full Catch Report here

Read our guide to fishing at Stithians here

Check out our Stithians fishing map here

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Fernworthy

Rod Average: 1.38

A bright and breezy week last week with fish rising during the late afternoon as the sun got lower and breezes subsided. Christopher Ackland from Exeter caught 3 brownies on a black hawthorn, noting most success immediately West of the old permit hut, while Alan Judd from Seaton caught 2, losing 3 others, noting that fish were taking on or just under the surface.

 

View the full Catch Report here

Read our guide to fishing at Fernworthy here

Check out our Fernworthy fishing map here

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Colliford

Rod Average: 4.88

A quieter week in terms of activity and fishing last week but anglers still managed to achieve almost a full bag each with a respectable rod average of 4.88. Chris Tilyard from Fraddon managed 8 brownies, while Paul Mockford from St Wenn caught 7 to 35cm on wets with one 1lb fish on a dry fly. Nigel Burley from Truro landed 15 to 1.25lb.

Wildlife sightings: 1 swallow.

View the full Catch Report here

Read our guide to fishing at Colliford here

Check out our Colliford fishing map here

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Roadford

Rod Average: 4.50

Some insect hatches and surface activity produced a handful of catches for 4 anglers at Roadford last week, particularly early morning before the sun became stronger. Rodney Wevill from Launceston caught 4 browns during an early morning session on a floating line with fast retrieve, while Andrew Lonsdale from Plymouth caught 2 between 6am and 10pm just below the surface on a medium to fast retrieve. Tim KItchen from North Tawton caught 2 small brownies, and Bruce Elston from Beaworthy caught 10 small browns from a boat.

 

View the full Catch Report here

Read our guide to fishing at Roadford here

Check out our Roadford fishing map here

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Without your catch returns these reports wouldn’t be possible, and they also enable us to gain a clearer picture of our lakes and stock levels which in turn will help us to continue to improve our Anglers experience, so do please keep sending them, even if they’re nil returns! Complete your Catch Returns online here.

Don’t forget to include any wildlife and nature sightings – we love to hear about them and they are a great help to our Environment Team!

Please continue to send us any photos of your catches, the lakes or any wildlife/nature that we could utilise for press articles and social media. We are also keen to see any clear, close-up photos of any flies used, particularly home-tied ones. Please send any photos to [email protected].

 

 

DAY AND SEASON PERMITS

Permits are no longer available on-site at the permit huts, please purchase your day and season permits here or call one of our team on 01566 771930.

BOATS 

 We currently have four boats available at Kennick, three at Roadford, two at Siblyback and one at Stithians. 

 To book a boat for the fisheries please click here.

 

 

 

 Bag, Catch & Release limits:

• Rainbow Trout- Bag Limit is 5 fish. Catch & Release limit is 10 fish per day – we would kindly ask that all anglers purchase a further ticket if they would like to continue fishing.
• Brown Limit– Bag Limit is 4 fish. Catch & Release is unlimited (if you’re lucky enough to catch good numbers of our Brownies then we feel it’s well deserved!)