Life always feels kind of weird today, 30th September, as of course it’s the end of the Trout fishing season on our beautiful West Country Rivers. A couple of hours ago I climbed out of the water with Ben Reynolds, my guest for the day and as we walked back to the shop the realisation kicks in. That’s It. The End. Finito. Well for this season anyway.
It always feels a bit depressing, especially as while I type it is dark outside. But there is much to look forward to. Take Ben for example. He got his first ever wild fish on fly and is already excited by the prospect of the new season and many winters’ nights of preparation tying flies in front of the fire.
I guess it’s about time I dusted down my vice too, although I intend to fill my close season chasing Bass! More of that soon but as it’s the end of the month here are some of the stand out catches and moments from September.
Neal & Jeff did just that, they came visiting to chase Bass … and did we ever chase them. The guys walked miles and probably cast just as many, in some very tricky conditions! You can read a full report about Neal & Jeff’s trip here, but I couldn’t post this month’s round up without mentioning them again.
Neal with his first ever Bass on fly …
And another caught on a soft plastic lure
And big thanks to Neal who emailed to say “MASSIVE thanks goes to you for all of your efforts over the weekend. You told us that we would find the Bass fishing hard but you kept on trying to get us over the fish and the choice to go to fish the rocks was brilliant, not just for catching the larger Bass but to see the Seals and to get Mackerel on the fly was great. I would say that this weekend has been the very best fishing trip that I have ever been on and I look forward to meeting up with you again”
Hugh & Mart turn up each year, once in the spring and then again in the autumn and there is only one thing on their dial. Wild Trout! They cant get enough of them and once again the good old River Mole turned up trumps with a better than average fish that nailed a nymph during a rare spell of heavy rain. It fell to a French Nymph in a pool that has only failed once this year to produce a 10″ plus “whopper”.
From the pool that almost never fails!!!
Each year I host a corporate day event here at Exe Valley Fishery for Lloyds organised by Stephen Galvin and over the years we have had some great catches. But none tops this fish by Chris, his first ever Trout … in fact his first ever fish and it weighed ….? 13lb 14oz!!!!! It also ran Chris out to the backing 3 times and is no doubt still feeding his family. I think the smile says it all!
I wasn’t expecting that! Chris with his first ever fish – a 13lb 14oz lunker.
Salmon have been pretty much a hopeless prospect this year due to the low water conditions and on many occasions this season I have had to make that call or write the email I hate so much to say that a trip is off. But sometimes people get lucky and it just so happened that Jon Hettle turned up at the back end of a very small spate. The barometer was up, the temperature good and the skies overcast so armed with a light line, long leader and small fly I ventured out in the hope that we wouldn’t end the season without a visit from at least one silver tourist. And I am pleased to say that we are not going to as Jon bagged his first ever Grilse, a five pounder which put up a great battle on the single handed rod before being safely released to continue its journey. Of course along with the Trout our local Salmon season is also over, although there are special extension licences available on both the Torridge & the Exe … however based on current weather/water conditions even the extra 2 weeks available may not save what some are calling the worst Salmon season in the West Country for over 20 years.
Salmon Impossible! Jon with his first Grilse.
And to complete this months round up of the best fish we have a slightly unusual addition to the halls of fame in the form of Bill Poultons “Bull Trout” also known as a Slob Trout. There is some debate on this and in fact I believe that Bull Trout have been defined as a separate species, leaving us with the not so flattering “Slob Trout” But as you can see from the picture these fish are anything but slob like! This is a Brown Trout that inhabits estuarine/brackish water, losing pretty much all of its red spots, although it maintains the red adipose fin and completes the look with a stunning silver flank peppered with big black spots. I first got Bill casting last year and he was the envy of his mates Rob & Stuart having landed this little beauty on a T&G Emerger while fishing on our stretch of the River Torridge.
Bill with his Bull Trout
A close up of Bills stunning fish
And so there goes another season … although it doesn’t quite because the small stillwaters remain open and so I will be out running fly fishing courses during October, not to mention heading out at any given opportunity to try for a Bass … so don’t pack those rods away yet!
Just to wet your appetite here is Duncan Brown and his friend Richard Webber fishing for Bass … about 30 seconds after this shot Duncan latched into a fish of over 5lb which managed to spit the hook. But it is always better to hook and lose than never to hook at all and just look at that scenery with not another soul in sight. You know what … maybe the Brown Trout close season isn’t so bad after all?
Cant fish for Trout – Try Bass this Autumn instead!
