River at Vikers Bridge

River Devon 2008 Season

The 2008 season has got off to a very cold start .Some anglers were on the river mostly to try their casting and get some fresh air as the fish were not in the mood to rise to a fly. Their was a hatch of black flies about an inch in length in the warmer part of the day also some caddis were sticking to the underside of the stones. As the water warms up A No 10 Blae and black might do the trick also weighted Nymphs are worth a try. 

The weather in March was not very kind to any fisher out on the water. However some fishermen did catch some nice fish up to a pound and a half were caught. Also one Salmon Kelt was landed on a trout fly and returned to the river. Gold head Pheasant tail Nymphs was one that was getting fish to take fished slow and deep.

                                                         April

April started off how March finished cold and wet as in March the fish were reluctant to come to the surface for any flies that did hatch out. The first week some fish were tempted on the Nymph. As the weather improved in the second week there was a hatch of Olives on the water Also a hatch off big black flies like sedges Which were being taken on the surface by a small amount of fish the others were taken as they were emerging so the nymphs or one representing an emerger  seem to be the best one to try. As the twelfth of April came which meant it was any legal method time and some fish were being caught on the worm but even the worm fishermen were finding it hard to find the fish as they seem to be well spread out the length of the river. Same as the fly fishermen it seems to when there is some sun on the water about mid day that the fish start to take an interest. The big black fly is the stone fly they were hatching today16th Wed  about 2in the after noon when there was a bit of heat about the fish are taking them as they rising in the water and not off the top of the water. It is just a small dimple on the water as they take them sometimes it is just a displacement of water you will see this points to them taking them as they are rising near the surface.

                                      May

The Dry fly to use is a Pale C.D.C Emerger it is catching nice trout just now when their is a rise on. Wet Fly, Gold headed ones on the point are taking their share of fish teemed up with a Bibio and Zulu on the droppers. Also the bait fishers are doing well with trotted worm and maggot .The fish are in top condition and give a good acount of themselves when caught more out of the water than in giving some heart stopping moments. A nice fish of 2lbs 8 ozs was taken from the stretch at the Glenochol Prison with a trotted worm it was not a long fish but deep in girth and in perfect condition. The rain seems to be on its way at last it should make a difference to the river as it was about at summer level.

                       June

The rains finally came but it only raised the river a couple of inches. It was enough to get the fish interested, trout up to 2lbs 12ozs have been recorded. The stretch from Rumbling Bridge up to Fosaway Bridge is performing well on Dry and wet fly Small black patterns like the Blae and black , Black spider , also Greenwell Glory and  Wood cock and hairs Lug. Some nice fish are showing up on the lower stretches to the bait fishers they are getting some nice fish  with the trotted worm or maggot with at the most one split shot just to get it down quick in the taking zone.

                                                            July