Wednesday 28 October 2009

October Report and Season Summary

With the exception of a fleeting rise of around a foot during the second week, October saw low water and leaf soup for salmon fishers at the Arundell Arms. On the last few days of the season reasonable numbers of fish were present on the middle Tamar, although many were coloured. From the start of the month up to the last day on the 14th, 12 fish were landed (all of them released). Highlights included first fish for regular guest James Graham and for local angler Ben Garnett. James landed a cock fish of around 6lb in Top Pool on the Lyd on a Mepps. Ben landed two – one to a spinner and one to a home-tied Cascade – both grilse, on the Tamar. Alan Vinnicombe had a very productive day on the Tamar, landing four to 28 inches on spinner, and the best fish - 10lb-plus - was landed by hotel instructor David Pilkington in Quarry Pool on a Sunray Shadow on the last day of the season.
The final flurry in October took the salmon total to 23 fish off the Arundell Arms beats, with another six from the hotel rods on other beats. The largest fish of the season, estimated at 13lb, was landed by Alexander Jones in Lydfoot on the Tamar in late July. All but two fish were returned to the river. This total is a considerable drop from last season’s 50 fish, especially seeing as salmon fishing pressure was arguably greater this year. This backs up the general view that the river was badly lacking in salmon in 2009. On a brighter note, the sea trout total of 253 plus nine from hotel rods on other beats (with the majority released) was the best for 10 years. The largest fish, estimated at 5lb, was caught and released by Gabriele Miotti in Quarry Pool on the Tamar. If the peak four weeks of the season in July and August hadn't been lost due to relentless high water, we are confident that many more would have been added to the records. For those lucky enough to have fished when the conditions were right, some truly superb sport was had fly fishing at night. There was a very good mixture of fish too, with high numbers of school peal and plenty from 2 to 5lb. Some larger fish still were spotted, and at least four anglers reported being broken by monsters in the dark – time for some stronger string next season!
Trout fishing was also severely hampered by relentless spate conditions during the summer, but the total of 2204 wild brown trout (with all but a handful released) was almost double the five-year average. May yielded a fantastic 684 fish, including a good number over 10 inches, and most of them on dry fly. Trout fishers also picked up some reasonable numbers of grayling to nearly 2lb, and sightings of large fish rising during the closing days of the salmon season will be enough for hardy types to target these over the coming winter months.
With the exception of the worrying salmon situation, it was a good season at the Arundell Arms. We would have preferred the rain during the summer to have come at the back end, but there’s always next year!

Thursday 15 October 2009

The Season Finale 2009

The 14th October saw a group of rods fishing the last day of the Tamar salmon season. The river was low, and despite lots of fish splashing in several pools, the morning saw the hopeful anglers draw a blank. As late afternoon arrived and the sun lost its strength, things improved - with three salmon landed. Congratulations must go to Ben Garnett, who not only landed a fish of 4 1/2lb on a Mepps in Railway Hut, but also one of 5 1/2lb on a Cascade in Snipe Pool - his first two salmon ever. David Pilkington also landed a fish (10-11lb) at just gone 6pm on what is becoming a popular fly on the Tamar - a Sunray Shadow. All fish were released.

The neck of Quarry Pool...


A leisurely lunch was had by all!


Ben looked fairly attentive when the pasties were out...


Ben Garnett's first salmon, 4 1/2lb, caught and released in Railway Hut on a Mepps.



David Pilkington shows us how it's done...






- Since writing this report at the end of the season, Roy Buckingham mentioned that he happened to find himself fishing Silver Doctor Pool on the Lyd on his way home on the 14th... where he landed and returned a nice nine-pound hen fish on a Mepps. He's not lost his touch!

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Another first for James

You may remember seeing pictures of regular guest James Graham's first sea trout caught this summer. Well he's done it again, landing his first salmon (and hooking another!) on the River Lyd on Sunday. CONGRATULATIONS James!





Thursday 8 October 2009

Current River Conditions

We will endeavour to update these videos when there is a significant change of river conditions.


River Lyd at Lifton - 8/10/09



River Tamar at Polson - 8/10/09


Friday 2 October 2009

'Til next year

Here's a picture of one of the last sea trout of the season - a two pounder caught in Bridget's Pool on the 29th September 2009. It's been a great season, despite losing the peak of it due to high water. Here's hoping for plenty of exciting night-time excursions in 2010...