Wilderness Fishing

[JustMark]

After the worst of the weather subsided yesterday, I decided to head up on to Dartmoor to recce a couple of the lakes I have been reading about.

I'm planning a few trips up there later in the year.

First of all, I went to Vennford Reservoir near Ashburton. Actually, it's nearer to Hexworthy and Holne.

Well, if the weather had abated at lower altitudes, it certainly hadn't up here!

When I got there the wind was gusting up to 60mph and snow and hail was coming in horizontally. It was hard work just opening the car door!

After getting this shot of a tree beside the car park I decided to head for another lake a little lower down.


I headed for Avon Dam, near South Brent. Come off the A38 at South Brent, at the roundabout go straight on and follow the signs for Avon Dam.

There is a good size car park at the entrance with toilets and in summer no doubt there will be the ubiquitous ice cream van.
From here, the ads say it's about a mile and a half walk beside the river to reach the dam. The ads lie, it's at least two miles, probably nearer two and a half!

Still it's a very nice walk with the Avon thundering along beside you and picnic tables dotted around. There is no fishing allowed in the river itself.


I nearly broke my leg getting this shot. Just after taking the pic I slipped on a mossy wet rock and ended up sliding toward the centre of the rapids. The only thing that stopped me being washed away was my leg jamming between two boulders. Helluva bruise and hurts like hell.


As you get closer to the dam, at about the spot in this pic, the path splits left and right. The climb up is a lot steeper to the left,and once you get to the lake the bank is a lot steeper too.


Once you get up there though, you are in for a treat. It's wide open desolate moorland. If you like your fishing raw, this is your place.

On the real upside though, it's below the highest points around, so it is sheltered from the worst of the howling gale that was still battering the area. You do however have to make sure you take whatever you are going to need for the whole day. It's a long way back to the car and once you leave the car park there is no mobile signal whatsoever.

Fishing here is allowed on fly, spinner or bait. The top fish in 2009 was a 7lb wild brown trout landed by a local angler. The 2010 season is 15th March-12th October

Best part of all, the fishing is FREE. Bag limit is 4 fish over 7" a day per angler. Not that I would expect to see very many folks around this lake often.

One thing's for sure though, I'll be one of them.

When the weather calms down I'll have another crack at Vennford and maybe even the other lakes on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

great read mate

[pingu]

some cracking pics there mark
love the lines on this one though

[BaggieRich]

Nice pics Mark.

[tjnorton]

Super pics mate, lloks very troutish

tj