River Culm

[swjoduk]

Has anyone been fishing the Culm at Killerton recently?

I have fished it a couple times since the new year and blanked both times! It wasnt just me either, another couple guys have also blanked when I have been on the river.

Is this a summer river hence the struggles now?

I can understand it the first time I went, the river was high, coloured and pushing through but I went yesterday and the colour had dropped out and it was at normal flow (I think).

I did hook something yesterday I think, I say I think as I didnt get to land it and it didnt tear off but hugged the bottom but seemed to be moving. It felt like a dead weight like a log or something but I could feel it kicking. I was thinking maybe it was a decent Barbel? I have caught only small ones on a still water before so I am not sure how they fight.

Your thoughts are welcome

[pingu]

it has been tough, only tried pikeing this year but failed there myself as did the others there

dave

[swjoduk]

I was trying for Chub etc, on the first occasion I tried both trotting stick/avon floats and swimfeeder/legering in a number of swims and the other day I tried trotting a stick float again.

It was very disappointing, I didnt even get bites from smaller fish. It makes me wonder whether there has been a pollution or whether Otters or something have descimated the fish populations?

I was on the mid/upper River Tone the other day and had a great session with Chub, Roach, Grayling and Trout in similar conditions!

[poltimore]

Hi all

There is an otter that has taken up residence on the beachy bend just down from the car park by the bridge. However, I don't think it'll getting through all the fish. That's the spot where I caught a six and a halff pound chub in the summer on breadflake.

The water shound have fined back down and i dont think that it's too cold for chub but roving tactics and trotting are out I think. Personally, I think it's best to hug the bottom with a smelly bait such as cheese paste or luncheon meat. More chance of a barbel with luncheon meat also and there are a few good ones in there. I've hooked three but never landed any of them due to light tackle! Will keep trying though. As it's cold the chub seem to be grouping up in the cutouts under the bank on the bends but they can be tempted out.

I fish that stretch a lot because I live there so it's a short walk for me.

Another good spot is to carry on driving down the main road to cullumpton and turn left after the motorway bridge. take your first right and park at the end of the small lane. If you walk across the field to your right, there is a stretch where small tributary joins the river. It's low and clear at the moment but you can see the chub moving about. Static bread flake seems to work best there when it's clear.

[swjoduk]

Hi Poltimore,

I suspected an Otter was at large.

The last time I fished that beachy bend I hooked into something large and heavy. It felt like a log but I could feel it kicking but it hugged the bottom and I could only slowly draw it towards me. I got it to where the water shallows and there is some vegetation on the bottom. At that point my barbless hook pinged out.

Do you think this was a fish? A Barbel or big chub perhaps? It reminded me of when I have caught big bream on the 'fast stretch' of the River Tone.

The other stretch you mention, is that Beare Gate? I was a bit unsure about parking down that lane in case my car gets broken into as its fairly remote, have you heard of any such problems? Alternatively I guess I could park at the top of the lane where the road bends round.

[poltimore]

Hi. Your fish was probably a Barbel to be honest but there are a couple of large Carp which also hang out in there, particularly over in the slack outside bend. I hooked into something right on that that beachy bend that did what you described - hugged the bottom and I couldn't budge it. The 4lb line snapped as it finally shot off. Barbel I think but as I said, I wouldn't rule out a carp

I fished Beare gate on Weds and had a lovely chub - about five pounds. Lost another also quite big - still no Barbel though but i know they're there! Fished hard on the bottom with luncheon meat.

I've never had any problems with my car on the lane but it is old and knackered so who'd want it!!!! It's a lovely stretch with all sorts of glides, back eddies, deep holes, gravel runs - lovely!

[swjoduk]

sounds good, biggest Chub I have ever had is 3 1/2 lbs from the River Isle in Somerset so a 4lb'r is my immediate goal.

Sound the perfect stretch for me, I like to trot with a stick or avon float with my centrepin.

[poltimore]

That is undoubtedly a lovely way to fish - very traditional and idyllic. I rememeber back to " a passion for angling" with Bob James and Chris Yates when my ideal way of fishing was the older more traditional method, however, having experimented I am convinced that modern methods will catch the biggger fish.

That does not mean that modern is better, for consider, which would be the most satisfying catch - a three and a half pound chub on tradional split cane and centre pin or a six pound chub on modern gear. For me it would be the traditional method every time but for others the SIZE of the catch would be the most significant.