Miles Parnell catches stunning salmon in River Torridge

ANGLING

Wayne Thomas

MILES PARNELL fished a lower Torridge beat and was delighted to bank a stunning spring salmon.

The fish measured 39in, equating to at least 22lb 8oz on recognised length-to-weight scales.

Parnell used a 13ft double-handed seven-weight rod and a No 6 double Tay Raider fly.

This is an excellent start to the season and, with heavy rain swelling the river, prospects are great for the coming weeks on both the Taw and Torridge.

Several salmon have been landed from the Taw, with reports filtering through of a couple caught from middle-river beats.

Mike George banked a fine salmon of 9lb shortly after another angler landed one of 7lb.

All salmon are returned alive to the water to preserve future stocks.

The trout-fishing season has begun on local rivers and anglers landed several browns on the upper Taw before rain and a rising muddy river stopped play.

Many miles of fishing are available through the West Country Angling Passport scheme. Visit westcountry angling.com for details.

Wistlandpound Reservoir opened on Friday and Garry Thompson, of Ilfracombe, was determined to greet the new season despite a few heavy downpours and a chill wind.

He returned home with four plump rainbow trout of up to 2lb 8oz.

Matt Kingdom won Wistlandpound Flyfishing Club's D&D Cup, landing four trout for a total bag of 9lb 13oz – the best weighing 3lb 5oz.

Andre Muxworthy was the runner-up with 9lb 2oz, and Darren Gratton third with 8lb 14oz.

Nine of the thirteen competitors landed limit bags with a good average size of trout.

Dennis Toleman won triple Hook Club's fly-fishing match at Wistlandpound with a four-fish limit bag of 8lb, beating Robbie Hancock (7lb 14oz) and Daniel Miles (7lb 2oz).

Bideford Angling Club's game section also held a match at Wistlandpound.

Terry Dymond led with four fish for 9lb 15oz, Matt Saunders was second on 9lb 4oz and John McCallum third on 8lb 11oz.

The first South West Fly Fair was held at Roadford Lake.

Angler writer Chris Ogborne opened the event and, with Mike Weaver, Gary Champion and Dave Pilkington, demonstrated casting and fly tying. The day ended with Charles Jardine treating spectators to a fine display of casting.

A rise in temperature brought an improvement in catches at Stafford Moor, with numerous 20 to 40lb nets in the Silver Fish Festival.

Several large perch have also been landed, including at least two of more than 4lb.

The So Simple team of Rick Johnson, Kevin Shears, Nathan Underwood and Paul Morris have won Stafford Moor's Winter League.

The final match of the season was won by Mark Hayman with 100lb off Woody's peg 20.

Anyone interested in fishing the coming So Simple Sunday Opens should call Andy Seery on 01805 804360.

A wide variety of species were landed during Angler's Paradise's first lure-fishing weekend.

Ian Gammick caught a tiger trout of 4lb 8oz, while Dean Pilgrim and Peter Idziazczyk landed a couple of quality perch.

Mick Whitfield, of Exeter, fished the main carp lake and landed a fine mirror of 22lb using Paradise boilie over a bed of hemp and pellet.

Catches to 24lb were recorded over the weekend at Furzebray carp lakes.

Boat anglers are continuing to enjoy frantic action with huge packs of spurdog. A party aboard Ilfracombe charter boat Osprey, skippered by Mark Humphrey, landed more than 70 spurs to 17lb.

These medium-sized members of the shark family should continue to provide top-rate sport for at least another month.

I am always grateful for news of fish caught and can be contacted by e-mailing wayne@loxhore.org.uk or calling 01271 850586.

Diary dates

Saturday: Rod 'n' Reelers 24-hour rover.

Sunday: Appledore Shipbuilders Easter Cup, Appledore rocks, 8am to noon.