Exmoor Fishing News

News About Exmoor Fishing for Wild Trout, Salmon, Seatrout, Rainbow Trout and Grayling 

This page is intended to publicise local Exmoor fishing news, mainly in the Dulverton area. This fishing news is about Exmoor waters that are freely accessible to visitors and about recent fishing experiences of the self catering cottages' fly fishing owner -- what flies to use and where, our guests' fishing experiences and other news about local Exmoor fishing. It is hoped this will be of interest, and give guidance, to people thinking of coming down to Exmoor to enjoy its varied game fishing and, not suprisingly, it is also designed as another form of publicity for our two exmoor self catering cottages.

FISHING REPORTS AND LATEST NEWS, (for menu and return to home and other pages, please go to foot of page)

Reminder: RETA, The River Exe and Tributaries Association promotes the "Fish the Exe" scheme whereby some generous river owners make their fishing available on a day ticket basis, some for two days each week, -- these are primarily salmon beats but are also available for trout fishing in less favourable salmon conditions. The scheme's website gives very detailed information about each beat along with other local information and news. One new, Thorverton beat, towards Exeter has the continuous EA webcam so you can check height and water condition there at anytime, see below:

2008

14 July a.m. Yesterday evening the water was in near perfect, just above 5 with good colour but good clarity. Catches are continuing but more random across beats, with fish upto 12lbs and the first few grilse. If there is any sort of grilse run now, or imminen,t we'll see catches this week. No further significant rain, recently or on the imminent horizon.

11 July 19.30 hrs Good news, not much more rain; river still v. heavy, 7 on the same guage and a bit hairy in chest waders, but fined into khaki brown and a report just in of a fish caught in main river just below junction.

10 July 21.30 hrs The main river and both tributaries have very heavy water -- about 10 on the Exebrdige pumping station level, with 4 being a good raised level fishing height! Obviously it is also coloured but not excessively. We had 55 ml of rain over 24 hours upto yesterday afternoon, much less today but heavy showers have just started again -- no fishing for a while yet!

8 July 20.30 hrs Water now pretty near prefect, highish and khaki green. I've just had my first '08 fish, in an hour's fishing, on an Alley's shrimp variant, thanks to the generosity of a friend with his beat -- thanks David! Scale samples taken for the Exe project and fish returned. Reliable reports of 4 other fish from a local, main river, beat, mainly on spinner.

6 July 20.00 hrs It has been a quiteish last few weeks, a few salmon caught including a couple around 15 lbs caught/lost and last week the first report of a grilse from the lower river. Reservoir trout fishing has been patchy. However things should look up now-- 1.5 inches of rain this seekend have raised both the Little Exe and particularly the Barle into small flash spates and current highish, and very coloured water. I've just had a first hand report of an 8lb fish from the Barle in Dulverton, pretty fresh. The Barle is just fly fishable -- for an optimist and the weather still looks wet. I guess we'll see some action this week!

3 June 15.00 hrs River is in good condition, mainly form water and colour from the L Exe. Fish have arrived in the Dulverton area -- some coloured from earlier entry and some very fresh but tired from quick running -- best reported is 11, (may have grown to 12 lbs now!!), most around 7.5 - 8.5 ish. Mayfly has been around on the river and reportedly Wimbleball for a week or so. Anyone catching, (and releasing), a salmon on any of the Exe and Barle catchement is asked to take a scale sample, put in a paper, not plastic, envelope and get to the Exe Project via me, address below, Lance Nicholson in Dulverton or West Country Rivers Trust, Launceston -- with approx size, sex, and date and location of capture -- plus any other remarks, e.g. coloured, with sea lice, etc. Take scales from the side above the lateral line, below the dorsal fin.

28 May 18.00 hrs We have had 2+ inches of rain over the last few days, probably more centered on eastern Exmoor -- easing off now -- the Little Exe is quite high and silty, the Barle doesn't look much changed but is obviously well freshened and raised a bit; the main river is somewhat silty but probably just fishable, reading 4.75 on the Exebridge gUAGE, (with 4 being a nice fly height). If there isn't much heavy rain tonight conditions should be good tomorrow. Numerous reports of fish sightings within the last few days locally including 2 hooked and lost -- recent report of smaller fish showing in Barle at Dulverton, around 4 lbs --- ?? sea trout?

1 May It looks as if things are just about to start: re trout: I found the first hawthorn flies in my rainguage earieir in the week, pretty well on time, to suggest looking out for them on the lakes, according to suitable weather conditions; re salmon: there has been the odd rumour report of 1-2 fish caught a couple of miles downstream and a reliable report today of a fish seen close to the Barle, Little Exe junction. Damp weather with the odd short sharp shower is persisting and the river is freshened. The barometer is rising from a low level..

11 April River level lowish and weather cold with low pressure. No reports of any salmon locally, (it is early), but 2 reports of fresh fish taken just above Exeter several weeks ago. Despite the cold weather fishing has been good at both Clatworthy and Wimbleball on floating and sink tip/intermediate ines -- with a black and green Montana being very effective as usual. Fish weights in Wimbleball seem better this season with reports of quite a few above 3lbs.

14 Oct. Today another salmon season and Clatworthy fishing season finish. Wimbleball continues as normal, (although with very early evening boat return) until the end of the month. It is currently fishing well, ( I had a limit of 6 fairly easily yesterday, nice fish but rather small: 1lb 4 - 2.0 lbs, on floating and sink tip with a small gold head, black and green Montana). It is a pleasant place to fish with many areas where you can find solitude and wilder surroundings, if you don't mind sharing with with large flocks of cormorants! In November, fishing is continuing with a 2 fish bank permit for £7.50 and the facility to buy extra tickets on the same day -- not a bad arrangement on milder days for those wanting to carrying on fishing as long as possible. Also the fishery at Exebridge is open all year.

3 Oct. Many thanks to the 4 people who took the time to respond to my comment of the 15th of Sept -- it's all worthwhile! Current news is very low water in the river but fish still being caught locally, both grilse and salmon, seemingly around 8lbs, fresh and not so fresh. So most of the grilse appear to have come late and whilst we were in France on holiday -- giving a friend the chance to fish my local beat and catch a salmon and grilse.

26 July 7.0. p.m. Rivers locally high and very coloured with water levels into overhanging branches. Some more reports of god size msw fish caught but no more reports of any grilse althouh they are reported on the Lyn. Does anyone know what's happening with the grilse? Are they late arriving because of their more distant artic feeding grounds? Are they not going to come, is the Exe changing back to an msw fish river or what?

13 July 1.00 p.m. The river has been dropping quickly and clearing after a slight rise and more colour. Last night it was in perfect condition but no fish for me, although a 4lb grilse was taken on the beat in the day, near Black Cat. The same beat on Tuesday gave excitment to two rods in the evening: 6 fish on, for 10 secs. max and more pulls! We await more grilse and its wet and raining slightly today. The Fish the Exe beats give great opportunities for fantastic fishing in fine scenery, as on the one below. Don't forget the voluntary code of conduct: returning 60% of salmon caught, only retaining one of over 8lbs/27 inches and only if in good condition. Our season extension and other arrangements with the EA rely upon this being observed!

10 July 10.00 a.m. The water has dropped and cleared to perfect conditions; catches reported over the weekend, including by me! (Taking me upto 3 good fish, 2 returned and the smallest, fresh run one of 8.25lbs retained, as below)

Size continues good around 9 lbs; no grilse yet but a few small sea trout. One local report included a fresh run, sea liced 9lber. Rain continuing now, sufficient to stabilise water levels and maybe give a bit more colour.

29 June a.m. Things on the river are looking very good. Yesterday it was in excellent condition locally, high, falling and pretty clear. It gave me a good fish, of probably just under 10 lbs, as in the photo. (As per the River Exe and Tributaries Association's voluntary code, for all fish over about 8lbs, and looking for an overall 60% return rate, it was returned). We had two thirds on an inch more rain last night and more is forecast so the next expectation is for grilse.Its rainy heavily now. I've heard some reports of a few being seen at the lower end of the river. The trend of indications of more spring, msw, fish over recent years has certainly continued this year with quite a few being caught in the good water this last week, several around 13lbs and most over about 9lbs.

31 May p.m. The river locally is in perfect condition, as below, but no salmon yet for me today -- however there's still this evening! Some mayfly were hatching and trout were taking them. Today's weather pattern of frequent short, sharp showers should keep the river level up for a few days.

27 May a.m. Quite a few salmon caught this week, upto 13lbs; recently frequent news of fish caught locally, around 8 -10lbs. It is raining a bit now.

18 May a.m. River in near perfect condition and fish caught yesterday.

13 May a.m. Continuous moderate to heavy rain all morning from a heavy sky.

12 May a.m. Very useful rain this week: light drizzle followed by more significant rain, currently totalling just under 3 inches, (certainly more on the high moor), and more to come. Both the L. Exe and Barle are in small to moderate very coloured spates -- at least the better than average run of smolts will be able to get to the sea now after being held up by the very low water.There was a report of some good fish in the lower river awaiting their chance to move up. Wimbleball and Clatworthy are fishing welll, guests have recently had a 6lber from the latter and some wild browns form the former. The previous week another guest had a 15" wild brownie on the L. Exe whilst being tutored by John Dawson.

1 May Minimal rain in April, so river levels are very low, to the detriment of a good run of smolts. Wimbleball and Clatworthy water levelsl are dropping significantly but from a full level and several first hand reports confirm that the later is fishing well with an improvement in fish size, (no news of Clatworthy).

24 April I saw good clouds of hawthorn fly yesterday, (and in Normandy last week!). Conditions today are ideal for fishing it: some wind thn stopping, some sun then cloudy. This can give the best fishign of the year on the lakes; casting a dry hawthorn fly to rising fish, especially in Cow Moor Bay on Wimbleball -- which was fishing well last week, although fish still small but reportedly larger fish were due to be stocked this week!

12 April '07 No proper rain for over 3 weeks and warm mainly sunny weather for the last two. Local rivers at low summer levels and reservoirs falling from previous full levels. Some good trout have been taken from the rivers, (obviously no reports of any salmon!) and Wimbleball and Clatworthy are fishing well. Wimbleball fish seem to be averaging about 1.5 lbs with some down towards the one pound, and Clatworthy, as from my own fishing and observations yesterday, averaging about 2.25 lbs. Some brown are also being stocked at Clatworthy; I had one of 1lb 14 oz. Some top of the water fishing with gold head hare's ear but more on intermediate line and black and green Montana. Clatworthy fish are reared on below the dam by Wessex Water and are great. The mild winter meant the future stock fish continued to grow and some even better fish will be stocked. with a concession permit, (age 60 and over), at £13 for 5 fish this is superb value! For salmon fishing locally: RETA, (The River Exe and Tributaries Association, of which I'm a committee member), has just launched a website for its fantastic opportunity salmon beat access arrangement through the generosity of various beat owners -- well worth a look:

2007 General outlook: if those convinced about global warming are correct, it is even more dangerous to speculate on the coming season but we can at least note a number of current factors that are positive: Wimbleball Lake being full, so further rain will be more likley to cause overflows and a boost to Exe river levels:

This year it is probable that more salmon will run the Exe because of the buy out of the Irish drift nets and some of the local Exe estuary nets. For the near future RETA's, (River Exe and Tributaries Association), work with West Country rivers Trust on the Exe Project, to improve salmon spawning runs up the Little Exe and its own trial stocking of the Pullen, (tributary of the River Hadeo which enters the Little Exe a mile sor so above Exebridge), should have positive effects. Significant coppicing work has been done by the Project and by Dulverton Angling Association's volunteers and electrofishing and walkover surveys have increased understanding of juvenile salmon distribution in its catchment and of main sources of diffuse pollution into the river, (mainly silt), for attention this year:

2007: 21 Jan Wimbleball Lake, (reservoir), is now full, after a lot of rain this autumn and winter. This is good news for fishing on the Exe because, over the last two years, it has only overflowed for a few days -- in May 2006. Couple this with: a buy out of more than half the estuary nets and closure of the Irish drift nets, which have intercepted a significant number of England's West Country salmon, (and Europe's!), things are certainly looking hopeful for the 2007 salmon season -- more to come!

Looking back on 2006. A fairly dry winter and a dry and cold spring set the pattern for a year of little rain, declining water levels and warm water teperature. The main good point was significant rain and good river levels in May and another year of indications of some improvement to the spring salmon run on the Exe, with some fine fish being caught, (and returned). Thereafter, especially in the Dulverton area, very few fish were caught until the season extension, (100% catch and release), for the first two weeks in October). Trout fishing in the lakes started well but gradually tailled off as water temperatures rose during the hot sunny weeks from June to September. The usual hawthorn fly week, (the start of May), gave some great fishing. If you can catch the right conditions of a good hatch and a day of mixed breezes to blow the flies on the water and then quieter periods to give the fish a great range of visibility, then fishing a dry gives superb sport -- probably better than mayfly fishing! In the local rivers the skillful caught a few decent sized trout and grayling and the less skilfull still enjoyed some pleasant fishing in superb wild scenery and caught some smaller fish, all wild. From October to well into the New Year the river ran high giving easy spawning access to the higher tributaries and it looked as if spawning started a week earlier than last year. Because of the high water levels, visual impressions of spawning were difficult to gain. With the high water levles in January it is hoped that a higher number of kelts will have survived to return to the sea. Some specific reports posted durign the 2006 season are left below to give a little more detail and possible guidance to this season:

2006: 22nd Sept.: No rain, no river water! Salmon season extension for first two weeks of Oct: permits by application to the EA (Peter Ball on 01392 316205), 100% catch and release -- but will there be any water in time? Below shows the flow on the Barle below its first Weir, (Perry). The flow into Junction Pool from the Little Exe is better but only because of released water from Wimbleball Lake, presumably to help Tiverton's water supply . Wimbleball's level is obviously now dropping quickly.

7th. July p.m. We have had just under 0.5 inches of rain. The ground should now be receptive to any more decent rain but river levels are unchanged. We now need 2 - 3 inches to rise the river and get the grilse up from the estuary. At Clatworthy today I didn't see any fish caught from either the bank or boat and I didn't even have a take, although I did leave early. Seemingly water temperatures are too high still -- are days getting hotter or rainbows becoming more averse to sunny weather? Two recent bits of good news, ommitted from earlier reports: RETA, (River Exe and Tributaries Association), have successfully negotiated the buy out of 5 of the 11 estuary nets with financial assistance from the Exe Mitigation Group. RETA has also negotiated a 2 weeks season extension again, (salmon), again with the EA, --compulsory catch and release -- apply for extension permits to the EA.

3rd July We are have still having superb weather, with no thunder showers -- now several weeks of hot sunny weather with minimal rain. Consequently rivers and streams are running low. Forget salmon fishing, sea trout fishing should be "on" and trout are rising well on the lakes in later evening and in shaded river areas for a lot of the day. One of our guests had a couple of hours on the Little Exe and had eight trout upto about 9oz. I had a limit of 5 superb rainbows upto 4lbs from the Clatworthy bank a couple of weeks ago. There are escapee rainbows in the Hadeo that need taking out.

19th. May - a great day at Clatworthy yesterday with 5 fish totalling 15 lbs 3 oz, best 4.2, from the bank on a floating line with a small gold head Montana -- superb fish! Recently: one inch plus of rain, most of which was last night-- river will have risen from its low level, but don't know yet by how much; it was up a little yesterday evening and there is probably more rain to come today, (a heavy shower right now!) -- currently cold damp and windy.

15th. May Last Tuesday was one of a few annual days fishing with a friend with whom I've fished and shot for many years; a boat day was planned at Wimbleball -- until we discovered that Tuesdays are "no boat days" there!!!! So we went to Clatworthy, on a bright day with a cool north wind and the fish were stuck on the bottom. We only manged 3 between us, on a gold hear hare's ear nymph -- they were feeding on smalll caddis. These were nice quality fish upto 2.75lbs and we saw one bag limit of 5 fish that included a 4 and a 3lber -- the only bag limit by 6.30 pm. (on boobies, on the bottom -- if that's your style!). On Friday 12th I bank fished Wimbleball's Cow Moor Bay and Valentine's Point hoping to use a dry hawthorn fly but althought there were quite a few hawthorn fly about there weren't enough on the water to interest the fish. Using a bibio and greased leader I took a 2lb 7oz wild brownies, (with 4 newts in its mouth and 3 partly digested ones in its stomach, has anyone else come across newt feeding trout??), a 1lb 8 wild brownie and two nice quality small rainbows of 1lb 6oz -- a great few hours fishing! Currently the river is very low after no rain apart from the odd very short thunder shower, so no salmon news.

5th. May WIMBLEBALL LAKE'S NEW FACILITIES: Wimbleball has recently had a large injection of cash to upgrade facilities. Although the larger proportions of this have been spent on watersports, there are several benefits to fishermen; a swish new set of showers is open, free of charge, so you don't have to go home wet if you hit a really rough day! More staff are being taken on so more attention is being paid to the management of the fishing. An early benefit of this is the stocking at different and widespread points of the lake. This is great news because there are miles of superb bank to explore and now with a much better probability of finding fish. For the boat fishermen: you can escape if water sports are busy round the sailing bay; Cow Moor Bay and the Upton Arm are peaceful, wild places to explore, with fish being caught in both areas, (In the Upton Arm, nearer the dam than the east end). The fishing boat situation is still a little unfortunate with boats having to be in a couple of hours before dark and none available at all on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but hopefully that may change. Fish quality is good with the average size close to two pounds and a few four and five pounders are also being caught. We are in early hawthorn fly time with black flies, on, or near the surface being the first tactic to try. Soem recent rain but not enough to raise river levels. Weather now fine and warm and the cold wind has gone.

29th. April Quick update: hawthorn fly have just started. Fine evening rises to black buzzers on Wimbleball; no rain recently, river levels dropping.

21 April Quick update: fishing conditions good: good water in the river; one good salmon caught last Sunday near Exebridge and another lost at the bank; one hooked briefly by one of our cottage guests trout fishing near Oakford yesterday. Reasonable rain yesterday here, weather is currently mild, calm and overcast. Hawthorn fly should start appearing later next week and can give superb fishing on Wimbleball.

12 April Quick update: although we have only had a small amount of rain over the last few days, the local river levels are holding up well and water sholdl continue to be good in the Dulverton area for this weekend -- decent levels and clear, (assuming we don't get any more significant rain). March browns were out the main river this morning. Several encouraging reports of good salmon off the Taw and Mole.

7 April Quick update: The Exmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund has annouced two more years funding for the Exe Project Officer. So Neasa Mc Donnell, (it's great to have someone from Ireland because in Ireland fishing is still part of the general way of way of life!), can really start to have an impact. Also, on a personal note, our local, the George at Brompton Regis, with a new change of owner was really humming early this evening, with superb beer, the first time for several years.

Fishery improvement projects: The Exe Project Officer, (WRT, West Country Rivers Trust and RETA, the River Exe and Tributaries Association),is in place and has managed a programme of re-coppicing ancient neglected coppicing in stretches of bad tunnel vegetation on the Little Exe to let light into the water and improve the whole in-water food chain growth. It is hoped funding will soon be gained to ensure her work for at least two more years. The MIRE Project, (Exmoor National Park Authority, the Environment Agency and English Nature), to reverse the effect of drainage in areas around the upper headwaters of the Exe and Barle on high Exmoor, is hoping to increase the number of action sites from the current pilot ones. Although of longer term result and benefit, its premis is that it will have a positive effect on the high moor's water retention capacity to the benefit of slightly longer water release and some positive effect in reducting flash flood levels. Another positive result of a funding application for this is eagerly awaited with an answer due later this month.

RETA, (The river Exe and Tributaries Association), continues its move to become inclusive rather than exclusive. Its "Fish the Exe" scheme, whereby various riparian owners very generously donnate regular days salmon fishing enabling much greater access to prime salmon water, continues to devolop. Some really top quality new beats, at various points on the Exe and Barle from around Dulverton to below Tiverton, have been added to the scheme for 2006. Locally these days are administered by DAA via the Lance Nicholson tackle and country equipemtn shop in Dulverton, (contact details below). Beats are open to both locals and visitors alike for just £10/rod per day, with the proceeds going into salmon conservation. Then there is a supplementary charge of £20 for each salmon caught, whether kept or returned. RETA and DAA are aiming for a 60% return rate of all salmon caught this season. Not only will this help improve spawning numbers but it will help in wider measures such as season extension and net buy out under the EA's responsibility. The Exe salmon season has now started.

12 Jan 2006 looking back on 2005 Quick news. Apart from some excellent trout hawthorn fly days, last season is best forgotten, no river spates at the right time so very few salmon, with most of those caught locally being caught during the experimental two week extension to the season, first half of October, on the Exe. The lakes suffered from warm water from late summer onwards, (as did the Test when I fished it in August and September). We have had some winter rain but still need a lot more; Wimbleball Lake is probably only about 80% full, although the River Exe rain high for most of the autumn and early winter. The spawning run up the Exe system as viewed at the normal time in early December was very poor. More information soon.

28th. September. Hopefully the long interval between the previous one and this one at 9.00 pm. on the 28th will have been interpreted as "nothing significant to report" because this has been the case. Salmon fishing has been at a virtual standstill because there has not been any water and the rivers have shrunk lower and lower. The last proper spate on the Exe was in February -- the first Dulverton Angling Association bank clearing day! All forecast significant rain, thunderstorms etc, have missed Exmoor -- until this evening. With the soil surface damp from a couple of recent days of very light rain, we have had .75 inchs today -- mainly in the last 30 minutes but its now stopping, --lovely road running rain! With just two days of the salmon season left, apart from the 14 day season extension, (if you apply to the Environment Agency for your extension permit -- and strictly catch and release and please, please send your extension return in, otherwise we all risk non granting of such extensions again!), there just might be a chance of a salmon around Dulverton later tomorrow evening, (my last syndicate day), or Friday. This week's greyer and windier weather should help the still water trout fishing which also slowed down to almost nothing because of warm waters from the many weeks of fine, dry and mainly still weather. Tight lines to those of you who can get on the river -- don't ofrget the "Fish the Exe" scheme enabling some day tickets on some top Exe beats -- refer to Lance Nicholson Tackle shop for dulverton Angling Assocation's access -- see link way down the page. The trout season continues until the end of next month at Wimbleall, for about anothet two weeks at Clatworthy whereas Exe Valley and Bellbrook continue all year.

17th. June. Some three quarters of an inch of rain have freshened the river and given it some colour, although levels are pretty low. The odd salmon is being caught. I hooked one briefly yesterday; it came off after a couple of short runs. Wimbleball is still fishing very well. Two guys on a catch and release permit had 50 between them from a boat. (Catch and release allows you to take a brace). This evening I saw small brownies and some rainbows rising to mayfly on the edge of the Upton Arm below Haddon Hill and there were mayfly spinners dancing above the bracken. Mayfly are also still on the rivers: Barle, Little Exe and main Exe.

3rd June. Still not much news on the salmon front. We had about 1.3 inches of rain 10 days ago which freshened the Exe and from, what should be a reliable source, news came of two fresh 7lbers from just below Exebridge last Saturday. I have also had report of a few very nice, e.g. 9lbs, seatrout from the Mole and Taw. Wimbleball continues to fish very well -- floating line and p.t.n. and g.r.e. have been doing well recently. The air tempersture is warmer because the cold wind has gone, but not by much because of recent grey, drizzely days; however evening fishing on the river should be better now. We need 3 - 4 inches of rain over several days, then I would have something more to report on the salmon front! We had just 0.25 last Wednesday.

14th May not much news, the cold wind continues, currently fresh and from the east. River levels are now starting to drop quickly, (no rain for nearly 3 weeks). A beat I was kindly given the chance to fish, just above Exeter on the Exe, produced a 10lb salmon very recently. No reports of any salmon taken up here yet. Hawthorn flies are still out at Wimbleball and producing confident rises in the small areas sheltered by bankside trees from the wind. There were also some bracken beetles about on Wednesday. Fish quality and size at Wimbleball are good and it is fishing well. Some other people have also taken and returned some nice wild browns.

5th. May HOT NEWS There are abundant hawthorn fly at Wimbleball, (and, presumably, also at Clatwworthy). Late afternoon yesterday all bits of higher than grass level vegetation along the top of Cow Moor bay were speckled with very large flies. In brighter, breezy periods when these were blown onto the water there was fantastic dry fly fishing in the shallows. I took overwintered and 2005 rainbows around the two lb mark and also returned a magnificent wild brownie, well over 2lbs. yesterday, all on large dry hawthorns.

4th. May. Poor, dull and damp weather with a cold n.n.w. wind; hardly any rain. There were mayfly on the lower Hadeo late last Sunday morning. This is really wild fishing requiring skill and ideally a 7 foot rod. A £20 membership of Dulverton angling Assocation gives you access, as further below.

27/28th. April. Current situation: we have had some showers and the river below us is showing a bit of colour and a slight rise. Dulverton Angling Association, (details below), has just had its last bank clearing evening and the lower Little Exe beats look really great. One of our member helpers had a good day on the DAA Hadeo beat, catching several wild brownies, on a Tupps emerger nymph, taking a decent brace home. Wimbleball is fishing very well, with fish on, or near, the surface gorging on large black buzzers, so a black pennel, bibio or Montana is great. Hawthorn fly should be appearing any time now. Tomorrow I'm going to see if there any salmon about, (and keen on my fly!). 28th. April, I've looked this evening and seen one salmon show, but I didn't touch! The opposition said the pool, Blackpool, was full of salmon and that he'd taken a 6lber last Sunday, but he didn't touch anything either this evening. The river is in good order, the Barle has a very rspectable flow after some rain, and running very clear, the Little Exe also has a good flow and is slightly coloured which is showing in the main Exe.

20th. April. We have had three quarters of an inch of rain in the last few days, (maybe more around the Exe and Barle headwaters) and the rivers are starting to liven up with decent grayling and brownies being seen rising, and being taken, on the Exe. Friends reports a 3lb sea trout taken on the River Mole, and several salmon on the Taw. Two salmon were seen in Blackpool on the Exe near us -- interestingly learned wisdom from those who fished it in the heyday of major springs runs used to reckon salmon would be up there on the 17th. April! Alder flies are starting to appear and hawthorn is leafing up quickly so we will soon be into Hawthron fly time. Dulverton Angling Association: The last Tuesday evenings bank clearign will be devoted to small in-river casting obstacle clearing -- meet at Wier Bridge at 18.00 next Tuesday 26th. Thanks to those who have completed the slog of clearing up after major bank clearing work -- the lower DAA waters are all done and look fantastic!

Report 14 April. The Lakes: Wimbleball: walking our dogs round the north east side on Monday evening I saw a rise the like of which I haven't seen for 20+ years! All along the bank from Rugs, thinning out along the bank in the Narrows but concentrated again all along the north bank of Cow Moor, there fish within a rod's length of the shore actively chasing hatching black buzzers. Often there would be three or four different fish showing at the same time within the same few square yards. It was a sight to gladden the heart and quicken the pulse! The only bank angler I saw was having a great time, not easy but productive and exhilarating. His fish were all just under the 2lb mark and nicely finned. This showed there was a good spread of fish along a very long lengths of bank. Clathworthy: I fished there for the first time yesterday -- a mix of cloud and sun and a minor cool breeze from the south, north and then south again! I was content with 4 fish around the 1lb 12oz mark, some with not quite perfect fins. Compared with three seasons ago, these are small fish and now very much the run of the mill stockies. Nevertheless both Clatworthy and Wimbleball are fine places to fish because of their wild quiet scenery and wildlife. If you like to fish on your own and explore long lengths of deserted shoreline, then these are superb places and you can end up walking two or three miles or more! Returning to the car fish five of six fish they can get pretty heavy! I took my fish on a sink tip line and a goldhead black and green Montana and found fish all along the western shore of the main arm up from the dam. I also saw some taken right on the northern bank, so here also the fish are well spread. Currently the weather is typical April: cloudy with showers and bright intervals with a cool breeze.

Dulverton Angling Association. The bank clearing by the contractor we've employed, thanks to the grants from the Exe Foundation Limited and the Exmoor National Park, has finished and all clearing up been done except in the rougher field down below the fishing hut. Assuming a reasonable turnout by members on Tuesday evening this month, (meet at Wier Bridge at 18.00 hurs), this should be done after a couple more evenings. This partial clearing has made a tremendous visuall difference. The extra light now allowed into previously heavily shaded sections of the river will kick start the whole in-river food chain in these areas so we look forward to benefit being seen to trout size and numbers over the next 2 - 3 years. We hope that the Exe Project will be successful in its bid for the third tranche of funding necessary to be able to employ an "Exe Officer" to manage longer lengths of river improvement to benefit salmon numbers. Members 2005 returns noted in the logg in the fishing hut, record some good trout and also grayling. We are very grateful to West Country Rivers Trust and the Exmoor National Park for their practical and financial management of the first, walkover survey, of this Exe Project, whose results were presented a couple of weeks ago.

Dulverton Angling Association (DAA), 25th. March: Following some grant money from the river Exe Foundation Limited and the Exmoor National Park Conservation Fund with English Nature, we have employed a contractor with some heavier gear for major bank clearing. I, and other committee members, have put in very nearly 100 hours work in the last two weeks and we have made a major impact on the river, opening it upto light. We expect benefit to trout numbers and size within the next two years and a start to longer term benefit to salmon numbers. For the latter we need remedial attention over a much longer length of the river and this is the logic for the Exe Project. From the majour bank clearance work there is still lot of clearing and burning to do, in the fields above and below Weir Bridge. After this is cleared up, we will be meeting at the hut at Weir Bridge at 6.00 p.m on Tuesdays in April to do smaller, in river, clearing to make fishing easier -- all welcome. "If you want something doing ask a busy person!": Our thanks to our long distance members who turned out for the last DAA work weekend, the long advertised second bank clearing weekend. Amongst our helpers we had a river keeper and his wife from the Meon in Hampshire, three guys from the Yeovil area who do a lot of work on the Axe, a lady member from Exeter, a husband and wife from Barnstable, one from Taunton and one of our nearer loyal helpers -- but where were the rest of you, especially the locals???????

JOINING for 2007:Just £25 annual membership and then phone, 01398 323409, to book any of 3 of its beats on the rivers Little Exe and Hadeo in the Dulverton area, also access to some fine salmon beats on the main Exe between Dulverton and Tiverton at very modest day ticket prices. all through the generosity of other riparian and RETA member, (River Exe and Tributaries Association) , owners. Further general details and news below. Also see the DAA page on Lance Nicholson's, (Dulverton tacke, clothing, etc, shop), website for maps of the fishing and other details, (via the "Dulverton Angling Association" link in their home page site index table:

See more DAA news further below.

Reflections on the 2004 season:

Salmon: Thanks to rain in late August and September, in comparison with recent years, 2004 was the year of the salmon, although, possibly more than usual, a lot depended upon your luck and timing. It seemed that salmon came up in small pods and mostly moved quickly upto the headwaters; if your were fishing at the right time and caught up with one of these pods, you could hook two or three fish fairly quickly. On a very good beat on the Exe that I fish near Dulverton, the return was over forty fish, but none for me nor my guests, despite fishing several times in what seemed to be perfect water conditions. However, one guest day on the Barle gave me three fish, two fresh run as I hit a small pod moving quickly -- such is salmon fishing, especially nowdays in England. On the last day of the season's extension, a friend to whom I gave my Exe beat took, (and returned), a 10lber, -- great since he very kindly gave me some of his "special Exe flies" earlier in the season!

Wild trout: Dulverton Angling Association's, (DAA), waters on the Little Exe, gave me some very nice brownies in the 10 - 19 oz range and the main river produced brownies upto about 1.75lbs when fly fishing for salmon. DAA members have been carrying out bank clearing work and have two weekends clearing scheduled for this February and March. They also carried out half the walkover survey of the Little Exe from just above Junction Pool to Exford, after training by West Country rivers Trust who surveyed the other half. This was the survey part of the Exe Project which is intended to improve the salmon run up the Little Exe. Most of the funding for this survey stage came from the Exmoor National Park's Sustainable Development Fund. (More information below).

Clatworthy and Wimbleball Lakes, (Reservoirs): Both these lakes are in superb scenery and offer miles of bank fishing and acres of boat, (oars or own electric outboards), for stocked rainbows and some wild browns according to where you choose to fish. Part of wimbleball even has a small mayfly hatch! For 2005 prices and opeing dates: see the bottom of this page. My experiences of both of these fisheries in 2004 were mixed. Wimbeball's baot arrangements for most of the season were a fiasco although an apparant change in stocking policy produced a wider and better range of sizes, frequently with fish in the 3 and 4 lb range. All the fish I caught during my few visits were of very good quality. At Clatworthy I enjoyed some excellent fishing but, like 2003 and in contrast to my previous seasons' experiences, I failed to catch anything over about 2.5 lbs and my fish often had slightly poor fins. This was a pity because upto 2003 my bags nearly always contained one or more 4 pounder and always with really superb fins. Maybe this year will be better!

All year Round Fishing: Exe Valley Fishery at Exebridge has rainbow fishing all the year. this is a great place for a bit of fishing from beginner to experienced. Beginners will be seeing and casting over fish and expereinced fishermen can concentrate on the dry fly or very small emergers. Bellbrook Fishery near Oakford, towards Tiverton, has specimen and normal lakes and various ticket permutations. Last week, (early February), one of our cottage guests had one of 6lbs and a more normal sized one very quickly on a small buzzer. The mild weather over the last few weeks has caused some sights morte typical of late April, e.g. rising fish on Wimbleball -- so early season fishing should give contact with some of last year's fish -- something that several locals also seek at Clatworthy

Dulverton Angling Assocation(DAA)

Can you afford NOT to join Dulverton Angling Association? £20 per year and FREE WILD TROUT FISHING and access to salmon beats on the main River Exe. See below for further details. Membership gives you access to this sort of water, on the Little Exe and Hadeo, amidst plentiful wildlife and superb scenery: wild browns, grayling and salmon, plus salmon on the main Exe, (browns to be returned on this beat but escapee rainbows to be taken).

DAA now has access to THREE fine salmon beats on the main Exe, as well as its own water, (a long beat on the Hadeo and three good beats on the Little Exe, for wild browns, grayling and the chance of a salmon in the right water conditions), details and £20 per year membership, (for 2005),from Pat or James at Lance Nicholson, Dulverton, tel. 01398 323409

The Exe Survey Project: Dulverton Angling Association, (DAA), has worked with the West Country Rivers Trust, (WRT), who are leading and managing this project, to survey the Little Exe from Exford to almost its junction with the Barle, particularly assessing habitat for salmon life stages, (habitat for spawning, fry and par). This stage was enabled through matched funding with the Exmoor National Park being a main funder and interested party, along with The Environment Agency, River Exe and Tributaries Association and English Nature. WRT now have the data for analysis and reporting by this autumn latest. DAA are hoping that once the limiting factors are identified to salmon habitat to explain the lesser than expected Little Exe salmon stocks in comparison with the River Barle, (ref. WRT analysis by Simon Evans, WRT), funded can be gained to enable remedial action to be taken -- to everyone's benefit. In the meantime, DAA will be continuing, in wintertime and early spring, its own water improvement work on its Little Exe beats as far as committee and volunteer member work will allow. An presentation of results meeting has been help and it is expected that there will be an announcement soon of the creation of an Exe project Officer to progress the action implementations and to seek further funding to make him, or herself self-sustaining.

Some notes from the April/May period of the 2004 season: early salmon reports, which may be helpful for the 2005 season:

18 May Quick update: now into our fourth day of hot weather following last week's cool air temperatures. Salmon: good news!: 1. There were fresh run salmon in Blackpool on the main Exe last Thursday, (but not interested in any flies I showed them!!). 2. Through the generosity of another fishery owner, Dulverton Angling Assocation has one day a week access to another fine salmon beat -- lower down near Cove. Mayfly: seen at the end of last week on the top of the Exe and lower Barle and on the northern end of Clatworthy. The River Hadeo, (Dulverton Angling Association, DAA, has a good beat) and Wimbleball's Upton Arm have worthwhile mayfly hatches.

11 May Quick update: Salmon: the river Exe has been in excellent condition since last Thursday, but 6 hours hard fishing then, with Mepp and fly, didn't yield anything for me on a good beat just below Exebridge. Reports of salmon taken or seen haven't increased a lot but there have been a few fish about (it is still early!) Hawthorn fly: since last Sunday when the weather warmed up significantly, quite a lot around Wimleball, (which I think has a more profilic hatch), and reports of rises to them, but less on both fronts at Clatworthy as of now. Mayfly: could be early on the Hadeo this year.

5 May Quick update: Salmon: confirmation of the salmon caught as per report on 1 May: caught on Saturday. Reports of 3 others caught slightly further downstream and various other sightings reported by beat owners. Nearly 1 inch of rain yesterday put Barle and L. Exe into moderately high very brown spates, (too dirty to fish as I found out! -- should have been here yesterday story!); light rain overnight and very damp today. So river should be starting to clear, hopefully to be fishable tomorrow if not much more rain.

1 May Quick update: 2 salmon caught very locally, one a fresh run 8lber in the Little Exe. This morning the L. Exe was fining down and fishable above Hadeo junction, Hadeo still in slightly coloured spate influencing Exe downstream -- Clatworthy and Wimbleball now brim full and Wimbleball overflowing dam for first time for a long time, at least, as significantly as it is now, so increasing water into the Exe -- meaning salmon fishing is on for now, and if forecast of more rain correct, for longer. Clatworthy: Friday cold n. e wind; I found fish in the slightly more sheltered n. w. bay and "cliff" area; previous small bloom now gone and water back to clear, took 2 fish on a small black and green goldhead Montana and 3 on a goldhear olive pupa/buzzer type nymph, well down using a sink tip, small olives were hatching; all nice bright, well finned fish totalling 9.5 lbs.

29th. April The weather doesn't seem to know what to: summer temperatures over last weekend with a heavy sedge rise on Wimbleball Lake on Friday evening, (incredibly early to see the ferocious rises to the large sedges!), now back to March temperatures! Today, after about 1.5 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, the Barle and Little Exe are both in moderate height muddy spates.

22nd. April The recent spell of wet weather seems to have finished. It gave a small, slightly muddy, spate in the Barle and and a clearer one in the Little Exe about 10 days ago, perhaps more of a freshlet than much of a spate. However the manager of the Execarnarvon fishing club was told of a 5lb salmon caught and a larger one lost about two weeks ago.

From the 2003 season: Wimbleball no longer looks like this, thank God (end of 2003 season)!

Permits are available on a self-serve basis from the fishing lodge on the south side of Clatworthy and west side of Wimbleball.

RIVER AND STREAM FISHING FOR WILD FISH

The newly resurrected Dulverton Angling Association has 4 two-man beats on about 4 miles of fishing on the River Little Exe and its tributary, the River Hadeo, near to Dulverton. Fishing is for wild brown trout, some grayling and the chance of salmon and grilse in the right water conditions, mainly in the latter part of the season. This is truly wild fishing in wild unspoilt scenery amidst abundant wildlife -- beware of the Beast of Exmoor! Membership of the Association is just £20 per year, (2005), for adults and open to anyone. Day permits are free to members for two beats, changing at lunchtime, by booking at Lance Nicholson tackle shop, Dulverton -- contact details below. (We can arrange membersip and permits out of hours). A normal river fly rod will do for the Little Exe, ideally 5 or 6 weight, but anything over 7'6" will be a handicap on the Hadeo. Salmon on the new for 2004 salmon beats: a shorter double handed rod, e.g. 13 feet or a 10-11 foot single handed fly rod. Studded wadders are recommended for all beats and chest waders will be advantageous on the main River Exe salmon beats.

Contact local tackle shop for more information and some permits, Lance Nicholson in Dulverton: tel. 01398 323409 -- live contact link:

©Weatherham Farm 2008

Brompton Regis, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9LG, England. Tel. (0)1398 371303