Sitting just outside Barnstaple in Devon, Blakewell Trout Fishery is a popular destination for the local small water trout fisherman and those coming down to Devon for a bit of well earned R&R.
At 4 acres it is big enough to be interesting for the seasoned still water fly angler but not so big to put the newcomer off.
I’ve taught there a few times but haven’t wet a line there myself, so when I was invited to try my luck their with two regulars, Tom Butt and Rob Bedford, I leapt at the chance.
Rob and Tom know Blakewell like the back of their hands and were going to show me the tactics they use there and how to get the most out of the fishery. Their pedigree is pretty impressive. Rob has caught numerous fish on a variety of methods and Tom currently holds the fishery record rainbow of 21lb 14 oz. He caught this fish just a few days after catching an 8 3/4lb sea trout from the Taw so I knew I was in good hands.
On the way over (I seemed to get lumbered with the driving!) the guys told me about a few trips they had there and even a seasoned old angler like me was starting to get excited.
On arriving we popped our heads in the tackle shop and got our day tickets. Despite all the rods, flies and accessories the well stocked shop had, it was the sign saying they had hot pies for sale for fishermen that caught our eyes. Not only do they look after our tackle needs they think about our bellies too. My heart sank though when Tom told me he’d bought lunch. Tom's corned beef sandwich or a hot pie?....….Tough one!
The lake is split by a longish promontory that almost splits the fishery in half. Needless to say the lads headed there first as they said it allows them to cover a lot of the fishery easily. I suspect this is the spot most anglers would head for but it does make a lot of sense.
I was busily rigging my rod up and was rearing to go but the guys like the relaxed approach and I loved seeing them slowly get their gear ready and then pour a cup of coffee from their flask and chat over what they were going to do. I remember when I was their age and was banging on the doors of the fishery at 6.30 in the morning and fishing like a madman for the first hour just being so excited. It was probably a waste of time but this relaxed thing works perfectly.
It had been a clear, cold night with a heavy frost so Rob set up with an intermediate line and a single black cormorant. With the water being cold he said he wanted to get his fly down a bit more, while Tom stuck with a floater he lengthened his leader to 14ft and tied a Montana on. It was great to see the guys think about the conditions and mix tactics a little. They do this often until someone finds the winning formula.
They reckon it is often more about depth and speed rather than outright pattern and keeping switching things until they get the fish to bite.
I stood with Rob while he sent a shortish cast out. He prefers to start short and then work out rather than launching a long cast out. I’m sure this is a bloke thing but it amazes me how often fish are just under our feet, especially at the start of the day. Good tip Rob!
Working on the basis that the fish were deeper due to the cold water temps Rob counted to 20 and started a slow figure of eight retrieve. Nothing on the first cast but on the second one there was a really gentle take which he lifted into but the fish came off.
Tom was at the next peg and asked if it was a slow retrieve. Rob said yes with a few extra words thrown in and as he did so Tom lifted into his first fish. This one stuck and after a spirited fight the first fish of the day was on the bank.
Rob wasn’t far behind and his combo paid off. He was netting his first fish too.
As January goes this was a stunner. Hardly a cloud in the sky, bright sunshine and the temperature was starting to rise. The guys were now chatting about fishing buzzers and just about right on cue a fish bulged just below the surface.
Tom doesn’t like to mess around and without any prompting tied on a dry. Apparently he likes to fish a dry here whenever he can. Rather than throwing at the rings of the rise he tries to work out the direction the fish is moving in and casts to intercept it rather than casting to where it has just fed.I was with Rob but heard the slurp of line as Tom had tried to hit a fish and missed it. A few seconds later, same again. You know what, no cursing or cussing, just a guy laughing at missing them.
The corned beef sandwiches weren’t as bad as I feared and over more coffee we talked about the guys' philosophy to fishing. Having spent the morning with them I sort of knew what the answer was going to be but for the record it is just to enjoy themselves. They just want to have some fun, catch a few fish and have a few laughs along the way.
They like their gear but aren’t fussed about whatever the latest trends or fashions might be in fishing, in fact I suspect they’d do the opposite just to prove a point but it just doesn’t really matter to them that much. This is how fishing should be. Enjoying it to the max and not worrying about bag limits, latest flies or whatever. If you catch a few, great but no worries if you don’t.
While we were talking we watched a few more fish moving just out from where we were sitting so Tom tied on a buzzer and caught one of them. He had greased up the butt end of his leader, cast out, left the fly for a bit and watched for takes. The unmistakeable sight of a the line being gently pulled downward was all Tom needed to lift into his fish. Rob ribbed him asking him where the dry had gone but giving Tom his due he‘d matched the hatch.
Rob and I had another coffee and took in the sunshine and after a few more casts Tom came and sat with us. After years of buying flies Tom has made the plunge and started tying his own. They’re not too shabby either!
Rob was up and the small window of warmth that had triggered the modest hatch of buzzers we’d seen was pretty much over. Rob was working on the basis that the fish were still high in the water so he opted for a floating line and a rubber legged daddy long legs.
I watched as he would fish the fly right in and then lift the rod and gentle wiggle it to try and induce a last minute take. Although it didn’t happen this time it is a great method for converting last minute follows and can often be the difference between the fish taking or veering off at the last minute.
This worked well for Rob and fish number two was on and after a really good fight, was in the net. The fish, all rainbows, did what they were supposed to do and pulled hard and long, and did the fishery proud with the quality of the fish.
I picked up a rod and made a few casts out, I even caught a fish but I was just enjoying the day and after the weather we’d had in December and early January a good dose of sunshine felt good but most of all it was the company; it was excellent.
Blakewell is a really great place to fish, has good quality fish and is well run with friendly, helpful people. I’ll fish there again and this time I’ll have one of their pies!
For more information on Blakewell click HERE
If you'd like me to come and fish your home water let me know!