Wayne Thomas

THOMAS BUTT, of Chawleigh, fished at Blakewell Fishery and landed a stunning rainbow trout of 21lb 13oz using a small fritz to a 4lb leader.

This is thought to be the biggest trout caught in Devon for several years.

In the same week, Cliff Antis, from Bude, landed five trout for 25lb, topped by a fine rainbow of 14lb 9oz.

Phil Parkin, also from Bude, landed a rainbow of 15lb 5oz.

With crystal clear water, fine tackle is required to tempt the trout at this picturesque water.

Thirty-four years ago an angler fishing at Stafford Moor Trout Fishery landed a rainbow trout of 14lb 2oz.

It was recorded as the seventh largest rainbow trout from English waters.

In an age when we often reflect on the good old days, it is fascinating to note how the trout-fishing world has changed.

Double-figure rainbow trout no longer make the headlines.

The British record rainbow stands at more than 30lb, a size that would have been thought impossible a few decades ago.

This trend towards bigger fish is also reflected in carp fishing, with anglers now catching 20lb fish on a regular basis. Catches need to top 40lb before they make headlines in the national angling press.

Catfish are also widely available to anglers wishing to catch huge fish from freshwater.

It is debatable whether today's angler is happier.

I have a love for angling literature and find tomes relating to the big fish of bygone days particularly enchanting, even though these fish would fail to make a ripple today.

Wimbleball Reservoir is fishing well for anglers prepared to venture out early in the morning or late in the evening.

The rod average for last week was 3.1 per rod day. Dry flies and nymphs are working well with lures picking up a few fish during the middle of the day.

The best fish last week was a rainbow of 4lb 4oz caught on a dry fly by J Maynard.

Furzebray Carp Lakes continue to provide some great sport, with John Scoble topping catches with a fine mirror carp of 25lb 4oz.

Lee Rolls landed three carp in a recent session, including a fine linear mirror of 20lb.

A promising sign for the future of this fishery was the capture of a perch of about 20lb.

These handsome, predatory fish will provide a welcome diversion to the carp in future seasons.

A variety of baits and tactics are working, with the angler prepared to experiment scoring best.

Ilfracombe Match Group enjoyed great silver fish sport at Darracott Reservoir, near Torrington.

Nielson Jeffery took top spot with a bag of 22lb 14oz. Kevin Wilton was runner-up with 21lb, Colin Ashby third with 16lb 15oz and John Lisle fourth with 16lb 9oz.

Long whip or feeder tactics proved successful.

Neil Keitley is a regular visitor to Angler's Paradise and landed a linear carp that tipped the scales to 29lb 4oz. The specimen was tempted using a mainline pineapple boilie wrapped in strawberry paste presented on a size six barbless hook.

The venue has worked with CC Moore to launch an Angler's Paradise boilie.

Estate supervisors Geoff Moore and Joe Drury put the bait to the test on the main lake and landed 240lb of fish.

Their catch included a catfish of 52lb, mirror carp to 23lb and grass carp to 15lb.

Triple Hook Club's Dennis Toleman Coarse Trophy at Harepie Lake saw Gordon Williams win with 22lb 9oz of carp. Dennis Toleman was second with 20lb.

Sea anglers have been enjoying sport with smoothound to double figures.

Tope are plentiful off the coast with boat anglers enjoying plenty of action.

The latest heat of the North Devon League saw Julian Stainer of Rod 'n' Reelers secure victory with a specimen smoothound of 13lb 8¼oz.

Steven Found took second and third with a bull huss of 10lb ¼oz and a thick-lipped grey mullet of 4lb 6oz.

Darren Short won Rod 'n' Reelers' monthly rover with a specimen thin-lipped mullet scaling 4lb 6oz. Julian Stainer took second with a starry smoothound of 13lb 7oz and third was Steve Luxton with a thin-lipped mullet of 3lb 8oz.

Combe Martin Sea Angling Club's barbecue and casting workshop brought a handful of members together.

The Devon Branch of the Salmon and Trout Association has launched its own website at www.sta-devon.org.uk.

Diary dates

Sunday: Wistlandpound Flyfishing Club Jubilee Rose Bowl, fishing 7am to 1pm with lunch at the Station Inn, Blackmore Gate.