High winds hamper the start to Torbay’s Festival of Angling

The Torbay Festival has got off to a slow start this year due to some exceptionally high winds and those who have ventured out have undoubtedly had a good soaking.

Circumstances are forcing me to write this column early this week, so I will have a full report and results for you next week.

In the first few days, mainly shore anglers have featured in the results with only a few Rays, Dogfish and Smoothhounds featuring from the boats.

Top fish from day two was Ethan Hammond’s Bullhuss, weighing in at 10lbs 10oz. Day three saw the honours go to David Tozer with a Mullet of 5lbs 3oz and day four saw top weight with another Bullhuss go to Tim Farren. With the weather set to improve, the wrecks and inshore boats should start getting some good fish.

Over the past few weeks, I have mentioned Bonito as being one of the warm water fish to enter the UK waters, another that often makes an appearance in the early Autumn is the Trigger Fish and this week one has been landed weighing 2lbs 1oz by Chris Hawkes.

Bass, as always, are a target fish for the shore angler and Totnes angler Tony White has been making the most of the windy conditions and fishing the open sea for them. As usual, he has been using lures and has been finding them in the first line of surf.

Read more about angling in Torbay

Kennick Flyfishers fished the latest round of the Snowbee Top Rod Competition at Clatworthy reservoir, high up in the Brendon Hills.

Conditions were difficult with low water levels, slippery mud and a moderate wind. Eleven anglers caught just sixteen fish with Robert Gale catching the only bag limit of five fish. Robert took first place with the next two spots going to Paul Wicks and Gerry Scutt. The best fish of the day went to Darren Penfold, a Rainbow Trout of 3lbs 12oz.

Spring ponds latest open match was one by Steve Barrel with a great weight of 85lbs 2oz, comprising mainly Carp. He was fishing a short pole in the margins with various hookbaits. Second spot went to Damian Brading with a weight of 85lbs 2oz, his approach was totally different, fishing feeder tactics with pellets and wafters as hookbaits. Third place went to Chris Packer, who was fishing shallow with a waggler against the far bank.

Newton Abbot Fishing Association fished a match recently on Bradley Pond that was feeders only. Chris Grey came out on top with a weight of 31lbs 6oz, next was Nigel Jefferey with 16lbs 10oz and third was Luke Helliwell with 13lbs6oz. Their other recent match was an all-nightery and was won by Duncan Arnold with 100lbs 4oz.

Don’t forget to get you entries in for our Fish of the Month Competition sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Farm angling Centre by emailing pictures and reports to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com