Christmas Competition and Meal sees out 2013

2013 has been an interesting, but at times difficult, year for the Burrator Fly Fishers. On the positive side we have boat fishing on Burrator for the first time in ten years and, for the most part, the fishing, from both bank and boat, has been good, especially for the regulars who put in weekly or even more frequent visits to the water. The general stamp of fish has been better than for some time and the odd specimen or two has been netted. On the downside the midsummer was fairly hopeless due to extreme low water conditions and high water temperatures, and we had the usual interruptions from inconsiderate dog walkers, but the saddest aspect was the death of  one of our longest serving members, Geoff Riley, who passed away in October.

Fishing got back to something like normal as September moved into October but the month extension of the season through November was largely a waste of time. As the year ended we met for our Christmas Competition at Bake Lakes on Saturday 7th December and followed this with our Christmas Meal at the Jack Rabbit on the evening of the 9th.

Saturday at Bake

Linda with her 'Minders'



Tony Vallack, Mike Duckett, Peter Macconnell, Linda James, Pat Power, John Jeffrey, Tony McCoy, and Peter Phillips turned out on what was a cold but bright day. Pat Power was the overall winner with two fish for exactly four pounds (each angler's first two fish counted for the competition). There were plenty of fish about but they proved hard to tempt as will be seen by the list of weights:

Pat Power - two fish for 4.00
Peter Macconnell - two fish for 3.10
Mike Duckett - one fish for 2.04
Linda James - one fish for 2.00
Tony Vallack - one fish for 1.12

'...a picture of concentration...' Peter plays a fish



Monday Evening at the Jack Rabbit

'Lucky' Tom Turner - with yet another armful of prizes

For the second year running we had our pre Christmas Meal & Awards Ceremony at the Jack Rabbit Pub. Again there was a fairly decent turnout and a good time was had by all. Bottles of Grant's whisky went to Pat Power for winning the Christmas Competition, Mark Clark for Best Fish of the Year, and Tom Turner for winning the Grand Raffle. Peter Phillips the winner of the annual Three Fly Competition received one of Tony Vallack's much coveted Wooden Fish Plaques. We look forward now to the AGM in January and to another season that will begin on 15th March 2014. Compliments of the Season to you all.

'Best Fish of the Year' - 7lb 4oz caught from Newhouse by Mark Clark





Geoff Riley 1936 - 2013



It is with great sadness we report that Geoff Riley passed away on Friday 4th October 2013. Geoff had been suffering from cancer and just the week before had been admitted to St. Luke's Hospice where his final days and hours could be made as comfortable as possible.

Geoff had been a long-standing member of the Burrator Fly Fishers and loved his fishing at the reservoir. He had also been a very active member and did a lot for the club in his role as Secretary, a position he held for more than ten years. He was much appreciated, greatly liked, and will be sorely missed.

Geoff's son Steve, in an email to the Chairman, said 'Dad loved his fishing and had many happy memories of Burrator. He also enjoyed seeing Roy & Terry just a couple of days ago.' (Roy Kane and ex member Terry Buttle had been to visit Geoff at St. Luke's).

Geoff's funeral is at 12 noon on Wednesday 16th October, at Weston Mill Crematorium. All members and ex members who knew him, have been invited by Geoff's wife, Joy, to attend if they wish. Flowers will be from family only so anyone wanting to make a donation in lieu should do so by giving something to St. Luke's Hospice who do marvellous work. The club will make an appropriate donation.

Geoff's son, Steve, has also suggested that the family would like to give to the club a trophy of some kind, possibly a cup or a shield, in memory of his father. We have indicated that we would be honoured to accept.



A limit bag for Pat wins the September Competition

See below for details



On Thursday 26th September, with Burrator water levels still quite low, a small group of members and one or two non-members, gathered along the south bank of the Longstone Peninsula. It was a pleasant day and fish were seen moving at the surface throughout.

Pat won the competition with a limit bag of five fish for a combined weight of  7lb 4oz. Peter Macconnell was second with three fish for 4lbs exactly. Peter Phillips was third with two fish for 2lb 8oz. These were in fact Peter P's first fish from Burrator so he was pleased enough to have 'broken his duck', as the saying goes. With an average weight of only 1lb 6oz it was obvious that all these rainbows were fairly recently stocked fish. Though they seemed in good condition and fought well for their size.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the day was the fact that all the fish were taken on floating flies or flies fished just in the surface film. Pat caught his  on a floating sedge pattern and Peter M on a black CDC Hopper

The winning fly - Pat's Dry Sedge

 

CDC Hopper

 

Finally - If you were wondering about the first picture in this posting, it has nothing to do with the competition. It is something my wife brought home from Morrison's the other day. Burrator Ice Cream. Not the stuff that 'Mr. Jolly' sells, most days, from his van by the dam, but perfectly nice with a bit of apple pie all the same. - Peter

Things are 'Looking Up' in time for our late September Competition

Following on from my somewhat 'gloomy' post on 12th September I can now report that things are 'Looking Up' as they say. Pat Power, myself, and one or two others have both fish and better fishing conditions to report despite the continuing low water levels.

 

A September Brace

 

Whether a noticeable drop in air temperature, cooling the surface of the lake, has made a difference is not certain, but it is noticeable how fish are being caught once again, from the upper layer of water, on floating lines and even dry flies. The picture above shows two rainbows landed by me on Monday 16th September. One took a size 14 Cruncher and the other a size 12 black Snatcher within a foot of the surface. Pat reports having very good day on Thursday 12th September when fish were taking his Sedge Fly imitations with enthusiasm. 

 

The Snatcher & The Cruncher



Initially fish were mostly being caught early on in the day, from around 7 - 9 am, but this week they have also been active during the middle of the day. 

 

Over the summer the fishing from the boat has been more or less impossible. The constantly falling water levels have often left the vessel high and dry. However, bank fishing has had its small compensations, not the least of which has been the opportunity to use my newly purchased Kelly Kettle. After many years of 'stewed' tea and less than fresh coffee which has spent several hours in a Thermos flask, I now have the opportunity to brew a lovely refreshing cup of tea on the bankside using only a few twigs, of which there is no shortage at Burrator or Fernworthy. Here are a couple of pictures.
 

Nicely fired up

 

Almost 'Teatime'

Hopefully Burrator will be fishing even better by the time our late September competition comes around. Just to remind you all it is on Thursday 26th September from 10.00am.


Our October competition is also at Burrator and is on Thursday 24th October from 10.00am.

When will this difficult summer end?

Since our last posting events at Burrator have taken a very different turn. We have suffered with a lack of catchable fish and a remarkable lack of water. The picture below was taken in early August, and if you compare it with the picture at the top of this site (taken in May 2013 from the boat), you can see how much the level had fallen in just over two months. Since that time it has fallen still further and the pictures below  show the water level in the second week in September.



Burrator in August



Burrator in  early September 1



Burrator in early September 2

Alongside these drastic falls in water level had come the very warm and bright weather leading to very high water temperatures. So, despite SWLT continuing to stock the water on a regular basis the number of fish caught had fallen to very low numbers. Kit Hancock, the Countryside Warden for Burrator, reported that Kennick and Siblyback were in similar condition with, during a week in August, only one fish reported caught from Kennick and none from Burrator. Fishing was more or less at a standstill. During the last week of August the Siblyback Warden reported nine angler visits leading to a mere six fish being caught. Our own Tony McCoy had a day there on 5th September when, despite taking out a boat, had no fish and no takes. Let's hope things improve soon.



South-West Lakes Trust Fishing Report for June 2013

The report below is from Chris Hall at SWLT and is reprinted here courtesy of the Kennick Fly Fishers' website from where I took it. The picture is of the 4lb 5oz fish mentioned in the Burrator section of the report - Peter Macconnell





General

The warmer weather in June at last resulted in more insect hatches, and much more evidence of surface feeding fish, although regular rises tended to be fairly short and sweet. Brown trout were generally looking up to feed, and could be attracted to a dry fly even when not steadily rising.

Water temperatures are still down a few degrees on the seasonal average, and with the relatively dry month, water levels have now started to fall at most waters.

Fishing

Kennick – Anglers continued to enjoy excellent sport during June, with more fish rising, and floating lines with dry patterns becoming more and more successful. Fish are now much more spread about the fishery, with boat anglers enjoying particular success in Forest Bay and Clampitts Bay, and bank anglers catching well all over. Popular dry patterns included Daddies, Black Gnats and Beetles, with Hawthorns catching well toward the end of the month. Small sub-surface nymph patterns have been the most successful (particularly Buzzers, Diawl Bachs, Hare’s Ears, and Pheasant Tails) as well as the ever successful Damsel Nymphs. Lures have taken the odd deeper fish (Nomads, Boobies, and Cats Whiskers), but generally floating lines have proved to be the order of the day. The best fish caught in June was a 6lb 1oz rainbow, caught by John Hern (from Exeter), using an Orange Fritz from the bank during the Peninsula Classic competition at the beginning of the month. A 5lb 6oz rainbow was caught by Mr. McCormack (from Exmouth) as part of a full bag, using a Black Spider, and Mr. Davies (from Kingsbridge) caught a bag of ten fish on catch and release, which included rainbows of 5lb, 4lb, and 3lb 8oz.
 

Siblyback -  continued to fish well in June, with anglers continuing to average over 3 fish per rod. Two Meadows and Small Marsh carried on fishing well throughout the month, both from bank and boat, with bank anglers also catching fish from the North Bank and Stocky Bay. Subsurface nymph patterns (Damsels, Montanas, Diawl Bach and Buzzer) caught the most fish, although as the month progressed more and more fish looked to the surface for food, and a variety of dry patterns (including Hoppers, Bibios, Daddies, Beetles, Black and Peacocks, and sedge patterns) started to catch fish. The best fish of the month was a 4lb 5oz rainbow caught by Mr. T.Hunt using a Diawl Bach.

Wimbleball – The fishing became a bit more challenging in June, with the fish spreading themselves around the lake, and many migrating to the Upton Arm area (mainly accessible and fishable only by boat). Ruggs and Bessoms continued to prove popular with bank anglers, and as the month progressed Black Buzzers proved more and more popular, with the mornings producing the best fishing. Fish are feeding on snails, and so a lot of fish are still down fairly deep. The best fish of the month was an impressive 5lb 13oz rainbow caught by Rob Gale (from Ashburton) while fishing from a boat. Stuart Gooding (from Barnstaple), while attending a beginners’ course at Wimbleball, hooked and landed his first ever trout – a 5lb 12oz rainbow. The fish was hooked less than 12 feet from the bank, while hanging the fly (one of instructor John Dawson’s own patterns – the ‘Gale’) at the end of the retrieve. Peter Kempton (from Exeter) enjoyed a superb day’s boat fishing, catching a full bag of fish that included rainbows of 5lb 2oz and 4lb 10oz.

Stithians – Rod averages are now hovering between 2 and 3 fish per rod, and with the slow start to the season, there are now plenty of fish in the lake. Mornings and evenings are the best times to fish, and bank fishing continues to be the most popular, although toward the end of the month boat fishing produced some good sport. Yellowort and Chapel Bays, Goonlaze Point, and Pub Bay are all fishing well, with fish taking a variety of patterns, from Yellow Lures and Orange Fritz patterns, to Damsel Nymphs and Montanas, and Hoppers and Sedges from the surface. As the conditions continue to warm, prospects are good for top-of-the-water sport, particularly in the evenings.

Fernworthy – small black patterns still continue to be the most successful flies (Montana Nymphs and small black Cats Whiskers); there are now a few Coch-y-bondhu beetles around and Fernworthy’s browns are starting to feed eagerly from the surface. Black Gnats, Ethafoam Beetles, and Hawthorn patterns are starting to catch well, and producing some exiting dry fly sport, particularly from the bank between the permit hut and the dam.

 

Burrator – the fish are now starting to look up for food, and are rising to large dark patterns (such as Sedges, Daddies, and Hoppers), although the majority of fish were caught on sub-surface nymphs (Diawl Bachs, Damsels, and Buzzers accounting for most). The South Bank and Longstone Peninsula proved to be the most productive areas. Peter MacConnell (from Plymouth) caught a 4lb 5oz rainbow (as part of a full bag), fishing from a boat using a Golden Olive Bumble. There is now a Wheelyboat and a rowing boat available at Burrator to provide boat fishing. These are available via the Burrator Fly Fishers Association, and must be booked in advance (see website for details).  


Colliford – the warmer weather means that the brownies are looking to the surface to feed, with Brown and Black Hoppers, Hawthorns and Bibios, as well as pulled traditional wet patterns catching rising fish. Klinkhammers are catching fish feeding on emergers. It pays to fish the margins as well as the deeper water, stealthily keeping on the move to cover as much bank as possible.  


Roadford – the fishing here just got better and better as the month progressed, particularly from the boats. Although there have not been many spectacular rises, the fish have been feeding eagerly, with leeches and tadpole patterns proving to be particularly successful, and a lot of good sized fish accumulating around the ‘boils’. Andy Birkett (from Plymouth) caught browns of 6lb, 4½lb, and several fish between 2 and 3½lb. Bernie Maher (from Derby) caught a 5lb 6oz brown from the bank. Local angler, Wes Ower (from Broadwoodwidger) had three successful trips out with different boat partners, catching some quality fish on each session from the ‘boils’ using leach and tadpole patterns: with Mike Parkyn (from Cornwall),21 fish up to 4½lb; with Graham Angel, 14 fish to 4lb; and 16 fish up to 4½lb on the third session.  Wes Ower has also been instrumental in establishing a local South West branch of the Fly Dresser’s Guild based at Rooadford, and meeting on the first Tuesday of every month.

 

 

'Watten long way'

By way of a change from the local fishing Jon Perry and Peter Macconnell drove 750 miles each way on a trip to Caithness in the far north-east of Scotland for the week 22nd - 29th June. The fishing was exclusively for wild brown trout for which the region is famous. It was an interesting and challenging experience and, what with the journey to and back, travelling between lochs and the towns of Wick and Thurso, we covered 1893 miles in the week. Was it worth it? Read on:

 

A brace of Loch Watten brownies

Jon and Peter based themselves in a caravan by Loch Watten which is one of the more famous trout lochs of the area but which, on its day, can be either very productive or very dour indeed. For our week Watten was mostly in a dour mood and we only managed to extract six trout from three visits. Though very lovely looking and tasting trout they were.

Peter's best Watten trout

 

Plenty of room for two anglers and their kit

 

Home for the week 



Watten at sunset



Heading out to fish 



In addition to Loch Watten, which is nearly three miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide, we also fished the delightful Loch Toftingall and the windswept St. John's Loch by boat, and Loch Calder from the bank. All these and half a dozen others are within reasonable driving distance of Loch Watten and Central Caravan's site which was our base. Each of these Lochs had a different character, Toftingall was secluded in the middle of a forest, down a long unmetalled track at the end of which was a boathouse and three rowing boats. It's unique quality, from our point of view, was the massive and seemingly constant hatch of mayflies.  Loch Calder was, by comparison, a vast and windswept place with a population of seemingly smaller but easy rising trout. Here are some more pictures:

 

Mayfly at Toftingall

 

Typical free rising Calder trout

Toftingall Trout



One of the minor highlights of the week was Jon's Ghillie Kettle (a variation of the Kelly Kettle) which meant that at appropriate points in each fishing day we could put ashore and within minutes have the most refreshing cup of freshly brewed tea. It kept us going in the more dour and frustrating moments!

 

Teatime at Toftingall

 

Jon working wonders with a few twigs

 

In the end Jon caught around thirty trout and Peter ten. Mostly they were from Lochs Calder and Toftingall. We had only three each from Loch Watten. So was it worth it? Well personally speaking I can hardly wait to go again, but Jon may have a more sceptical view - Peter Macconnell