The 2005 season summary

For 2005 over 900 angler visits were made to the 35 beats between Tiverton and Truro .

Essebeare on the Little Dart provided some good brown trout to 14” with an average of 2 fish per angler trying their hand at “fishing in Lilliput”.

The Okement gave up some trout to 11” at Shilstone during late April with the arrival of some good hatches of Hawthorn (bibio marci), this combined with the swathes of spring wild flowers gave rise to some stunningly enjoyable fishing.

Seatrout and and salmon were noticeable in their absence on the Torridge beats however Woodford and Lane Barton continue to provide fantastic wild brown trouting for those who try with several good bags of twenty plus fish during the mayfly to 12” and the occasional dace!

Of the Devon beats Sydenham on the River Lyd (Tamar catchment) remained the most popular with anglers enjoying consistent good mixed fishing for brownies, peal, and grayling in a glorious Elizabethan estate setting.

Other Tamar catchment beats also gave some notable catches with a 2lb brown trout at Wiggaton (Ottery) and Treguddick (Inny) recording an average of 3.5 fish per visit which included a large proportion of brown trout in the 8”-12” range and 30 plus grayling in 1.5lb-2.5lb range. As mirrored in all Angling 2000 catch returns for seatrout and salmon were considerably below the 2004 season.

Tresarret on the Camel proved fruitful with over 30 seatrout to 2lb 8oz, taken between May and the end of August, mostly in the dusk or at night. Both South Penquite and Lemail Mill provided some excellent wild browns in wild surroundings with a few odd whoppers coming to the net.

The Lerryn, Fal and Tresillian beats gave up a few seatrout to those who tried but disappointing returns can be attributed to the dry summer Cornwall experienced in 2005.

Total recorded catches:

Brown trout - 1705
Sea trout - 53
Salmon - 0
Grayling - 97

97% catch and release rate