Angling with John Sherlock: Brooke-Marie shows me how to do it as she pulls in roach after roach

A boat trip out of Beer was cancelled on Sunday - that’s the last two trips cancelled because strong winds have prevailed, writes JOHN SHERLOCK.

Instead, I headed to the Rackerhayes complex, which are waters run by Newton Abbot Angling Association, for a quiet day trying to catch some early carp, tench and bream - only to get a phone call from my granddaughter Brooke-Marie Reynolds asking if she could join me.

I fished a feeder all day with only one small roach... only to be beaten by a 12 year old who fished with a whip and pulled in roach after roach. Maybe I should have headed to a beach instead.

West Bay SAC fished their local beaches and piers with the usual dogfish and pout being caught as well as one small cod.

Teignmouth SAC fished their monthly competition in the Bristol Channel with Aaron Churcher taking the honours with a thornback and a cod. Carl Turnstall and Matt Herring took the next two places with the same two species. The junior honours were taken by Tomos Luther with a cod.

Exmouth SAC fished their competition at Seaton on a difficult night where only 16 fish were caught, the best being a small eyed ray of just over 6lbs falling to the rod of Dan Lockley.

Daniel Patrick and Kev Madeley fished a Torbay rock mark where they had a great time catching bull huss and conger eels although nothing big.

Saleem Ali visited the North Somerset reefs in search of thornback ray and was rewarded with a good-sized fish.

Pete Gregory, a big fish expert from Exeter with several fish over 100lb caught around the world, has been trying his luck over the last few weeks on his local river, the Culm, where totally different tactics are required.

Being the thinking angler that he is, he soon worked out how to catch the wily fish from this small river. He has landed dace, roach, perch, pike and trout and on his last trip before the river season ended, landed four fine chubb with three of them over 3lbs.

I look forward to next winter when I am sure he will be finding bigger and better fish from this lovely little river.

With the fishing being difficult over the last few weeks, there has been nothing of significance entered for our Fish of the Month competition kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Carp a Diem baits. Please get out there, catch something and email me the details and a picture to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com