Monday 29 March 2010

Water, water everywhere!

Despite having some lovely mild weather at long last, the rain has conspired against us leaving all of our rivers currently unfishable. Once they drop and clear, trout fishing should be superb with the higher water temperatures and spring really kicking in.

Fishing on Tinhay Lake is picking up slowly with the milder weather, and the fish are notably starting to feed on the first of the spring buzzers. Given a couple of weeks or so and some of the season's best stillwater fishing should be in full swing. Why not get the rod out and even enjoy a day's leisurely loch-style drifting in our new boat?!

Finally, on the salmon front. An odd fish has been seen on the lower river, as well as some very early sea trout. Fishing the tidal water last week, hotel instructor David Pilkington hooked something 'large and silver' that sadly didn't stay attached! The first of the year is still yet to come...


The tidal Tamar...

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Contact the fishing office...

With a bit of luck, this will be the last you'll hear of our e-mail changes...

To contact David Pilkington or Tim Smith at the fishing office direct, please use the following email:

fishingoffice@arundellarms.com

It's working again!

Arundell Arms fishing tackle online...


Our online shop is now live. On it you can buy exclusive products from sea trout flies to fly lines to fishing clothing, all designed used and recommended by the hotel instructors. You can also purchase gift vouchers to spend at the hotel be it on a weekend away, evening dinner, or - most importantly - FISHING!
Some items are currently waiting to be restocked, but they won't be long...

Click here to visit:

THE ARUNDELL ARMS ONLINE SHOP

Devon trout fishing is underway!


Thankfully the start of the trout season coincided with a little milder weather... at long last! Few anglers have been keen enough to take to the rivers, although trout reports from the Tamar system have been very encouraging. Although most fish are being caught on deeply-fished nymphs, the warmer weather should bring with it more prolific hatches of grannom and perhaps even a large dark olive or two. With winter holding on for so long this year, we're hoping that when spring gets going it will REALLY jump start the rivers. Here's hoping.

On the salmon and sea trout front, rumour has it that at least one angler fishing on the lower river witnessed a large silver fish move. With a touch of extra water having just gone through and a steady increase in temperature, it shouldn't be long until we are reporting the first salmon and sea trout of the season.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Devon fly fishing - latest news...

'In like a lamb' or so the saying goes. It's still cold, but under blue skies and sunshine, we're getting twitchy as the new season shows great promise. Over the winter, we've turned our attention to the River Lyd beats. All of the major sea trout pools of Home and Bottom beat have had serious facelifts; trees have been cut, stiles repaired, steps created for easy access and fences built to stop cattle over-browsing and destroying the banks. We must also thanks regular angler and tree surgeon Gerald Spiers for his help with some of the heavier-duty tree work! Before sea trout fishing starts in earnest, plans are also afoot for the building of two open-fronted wooden huts... perfect for those essential cups of tea, shelter from the weather and, of course, moments of anticipation before darkness falls.


In the meantime, the wild primroses have started to poke through on the rivers, showing us that spring really is on its way.


Prime sea trout water; David Pilkington at a newly-trimmed Thunder & Lightning Pool on the lower River Lyd.



The first wild primrose we've spotted this season, on the banks of the Tamar.





The River Tamar; regular Arundell Arms angler, Alexander Jones, makes his first casts of 2010 on opening day.

Monday 1 March 2010

Salmon fishing in Devon...

... kicks off for 2010 today on the River Tamar among others in the Westcountry. The chances of a fish are admittedly very slim, although the last week or two of the month should hopefully see the season's first bar of gleaming silver caught. In the meantime, good luck to our anglers fishing today - it'll be great to wet a line after the long winter's hibernation... and you just never know!

For keeping in touch with conditions this season, don't forget the new RIVER TAMAR WEBCAM and, of course, the ONLINE RIVER LEVELS via FishTamar.

Good luck to one and all!



Regular rod at The Arundell Arms, Alexander Jones, with the first fish of the 2009 season, caught on March 19th - stunning!