The 'best months' to fish - these are MY statistics for what they are worth!

These quantities are based on my catch record published earlier on this blog. If you look at the catch record you will see that there are quite a few years missing!



Whilst I have caught more fish in July over these years the total weight of sewin is heavier in August!

So the message is - stay in doors till July, catch your specimen sewin in August? Take up badminton or coarse fishing for the rest of the year!!!

NOT SCIENTIFIC!

Guess what?

I am a grandad - Sofia Marie - 8Lb - 5oz born Wednesday 23rd April 2008 - a good size springer - apparently she fought well too!

A disappointing trip to the River Torridge - Spring 2008

Rod and I arrived at the Half Moon Inn at Sheepwash on the evening of Friday 4th April with lots of anticipation, hoping that the fishing conditions would be conducive to catching a spring salmon or two! The water was about 300mm too high by all accounts but that didn't bother us as we were there for 4 days so maybe we had hit the river just right?

As far as the water was concerned then I think we had arrived at a good time! The water was falling and clearing - just what we wanted! The problem was that there were no salmon to be seen anywhere! We both fished hard, Rod for 3 days and me for 4 days but neither of us saw a salmon let alone caught one!

The expert at work on Sunken Tree Pool at Beam

Saturday was quite warm but Sunday morning we sat eating our breakfast watching the snow falling outside. Early mornings and nights were cold from then on but the days themselves were very pleasant and fairly warm. Its a lovely place to fish and we had a good laugh in the bar at night with Bob and his wife. Charles, the previous owner, still organises the fishing and has hardly changed over the years that I have known him. We were lucky to be put on one of the best beats on the river every day - Beam!

Rod trying his luck in the Weir Pool at Beam

Time for a break!

This is Yew Tree Pool at Beam

We tried sinking lines, sink tips, floating lines the lot! Big flies, small flies and every colour you can think of but to no avail. We didn't even see any sea trout!

Now it's my turn in the Weir Pool

The Torridge, looking down stream from the Bridge and Boulders Pool

By the time I left on Tuesday afternoon the water was at about optimum height and very nearly clear! One good thing is that the Hotel is more like what it used to be when Charles and Benji had it. A nice place to stay and a very pleasant holiday! Rod is off to Sweden next week and hopes to get a few days fishing in - might get some pictures of 'fish' for the blog? Tight lines Rod! Watch this space.

There were 3 of us fishing on this occassion!

The water level was almost perfect but the weather had turned cold

For latest news on the Torridge click on the link below

www.halfmoonsheepwash.co.uk

And some of yours!

I went into the hazel wood
Because a fire was in my head,
I cut & peeled a hazel wand
And hooked a berry on a thread.

And when white moths were on the wing
And moth-like stars came fluttering out
I threw the berry in the stream
And caught a little silver trout.
Anon.

Unknown contributor