Friday the 13th - A Day on Burrator in the Boat

I booked the boat through Richard a few days ago.  The forecast for Friday 13th May was favourable but with possible thundery showers during the day.  Sue came with me but wasn't fishing.  We arrived at the new boat pontoon around 10am.  There was a stiff breeze from the northeast and threatening clouds headed our way.  I fitted the electric outboard and we set off to fish the bay between the Sheepstor dam and Longstone Point.  The rain wasn't long in coming and it was on with the waterproofs.  There were a few other anglers on Longstone and one shouted out that he had seen some trout rising along the shore.  I alternated between a dry fly and a lure fished deep.  I saw very little surface activity all day. 


Around midday the rain stopped, the wind died away and it became quite warm.  The first brew with the Kelly Kettle was on the south shore between the two dams. While we were there I saw the Evenden's from Milemead Fish Farm delivering a load of trout over at Longstone.  Richard later told me that there were about 180 trout that included around 50% blues.


I motored up towards the north and much shallower end of the reservoir.  I had nothing show any interest in my dry fly - a biggish black gnat - but hooked and lost three brownies or rainbows on the white Cat's Whisker or a black Nomad.  Later, I netted and returned two lovely brownies on a small Cat's Whisker with a sinking line just off the shore below the Burrator Discovery Centre.  I saw a few trout landed by anglers  fishing the shore at Longstone.   In the afternoon there were eight of them lining the shore but they had all gone when I went in.


In the evening I had some casts close to the shore between the two dams.  The Cat's Whisker on an intermediate sinking line was snatched by a slim but feisty blue trout that was an ounce over 2lb.


Richard has done some great work with the pontoon and boats.  Currently with the water level still quite well up it is not necessary to use the running mooring.  When I passed Richard in the Wheelyboat I noted that he was sitting in one of those 'director's' chairs that has a handy lift up table attached.  I guess the Wheelyboat would not be easily rowable but with an electric outboard it is a very stable platform.  Don't forget the chairs, though!

Ashore for lunch and the first brew

The Kelly Kettle in action again

Milemead delivering more trout at Longstone



Glassy calm but nothing rising



Ashore for another tea break opposite Longstone

2lb 1oz blue trout on a Cat's Whisker

Richard was out in the evening on the Wheelyboat

BFFA Competition Saturday 23 April 2016

Eleven BFFA members gathered at Longstone to fish the 'Three Fly' competition.  Two other members arrived later - Mark & Jon.  The breeze was very much from the north and the air temperature was only 6C while the water was a chilly 8C.  It was sunny with a clear sky up until the weigh-in at 3pm when it became increasingly cloudy. The flies had been tied by Pat - a Diawl Bach, Jon - the Kate McLaren which can be fished wet or dry - and me - a Black Nomad.


I gave it a go on the north side of the point while Bob fished right on the end in the wind and choppy waters.  I saw nothing at all and moved back to the lee side after a while.  Bob had one of 1lb 6oz before losing a much bigger fish that threw the hook.  I landed a stockie of 1lb 10oz and also lost one that threw the hook almost at the net, both on the Nomad.  Peter had the only other rainbow, one of 1lb 8oz.  We saw very little surface activity and I guess the cold water and bright sun kept most of the trout in deeper water. 


TonyH fishing the north side of Longstone



Ken & Pat

Peter also fishing the lee side

Kelly Kettle producing a welcome brew of tea

Across the reservoir from Ken a lot of tidying has been done around
the Discovery Centre