Newhouse Fishery, Devon

[Pross]

I had Easter week down in Devon and as the sea fishing is patchy at this time of year and boot space was limited I decided to leave the sea tackle at home and take my new fly rod to try out Newhouse Fishery in Gara Bridge which I have seen sign posted on many occassions but never visited.

I arrived at about 10.00am and the weather was sunny as it had been all week but with a strong breeze which was a bit of a worry for only my second attempt at fly fishing after a 20 year break but it did give a better chance at the fish coming up in the water with the ripple it was causing on the surface. The complex comprises 3 lakes with the smallest lake classed as a beginners pond and I bought a 3 fish ticket that allowed me to fish the main lakes and make my bag limit on the beginners lake if necessary. I was quickly set up with my 5 - 6# outfit and floating line fishing a green buzzer on the advise of the owner. The early signs were encouraging as the only other angler quickly landed 3 fish and when he moved pegs past me I asked what he was fishing. He was using an intermediate line though and didn't rate the chances on floating line which was a problem as I only have a floating line at present. As the day went on my casting was improving despite the wind with the only problem a few snags on my backcast but there were no signs of fish other than the occassional jumper.

At around lunchtime I moved onto the middle lake and tried various flies having somehow lost the green buzzer but again couldn't attract the fish. I eventually saw several fish feeding but quite far down and couldn't get them to take my fly so I went back to the office and got another green buzzer and returned to the middle lake and eventually winkled out a rainbow of around 2lb which put up a good show leaping from the water on numerous occassions before I got it in the net, my first fly caught trout in over 20 years! As tyime wore on with no further fish and with a father & son who were numpty jnr and numpty snr arriving to thrash the water to a foam I moved onto the beginners lake to make up my bag before returning home. I quickly had my second fish in the bag but Numpty Jnr had spotted my success and quickly decided to join me on the pond which could fish 2 anglers in comfort and 3 at a push whereupon he immediately started "casting" into my swim. I have to admit to feeling slightly happier with my rusty fly fishing ability when watching the other anglers technique, especially as he seemed to be fishing his fly statically but as I was moving a bit further away he somehow hooked a fish himself and, after running around the lake with the poor fish flapping away in his net to show his father, the pair of them returned to fish with Dad apparently on a day off from his job as a lion tamer brandishing the rod like a bull whip. I moved as far as possible from them to give myself some space to cast in and enjoy playing any fish I caught and soon had my final fish despatched and in the bag. To my amazement the other two also hooked into fish as I was packing away.

My fish were 1lb 3oz, 1lb 4oz and 1lb 10oz on the fishery scales but were 6oz heavier when weighed on my own. If anyone in the area is looking at starting fly fishing then I would strongly recommend this venue as you are virtually guaranteed to catch in the beginners pond as I, and the other 2, demonstrated. I think you can pay to just fish the beginners pond but I would suggest it is more enjoyable to try your luck on the main lakes first and only move to the small lake towards the end of your day to make your bag if necessary. I had a great time and had forgotten what a joy it is to feel the fight of a fish directly through the line. The only downside was the breeze had meant I didn't notice the strength of the sun and now have a very strange sun tan on half of each hand and panda eyes from my sunglasses! Sorry about the lack of pics, I had started preparing the fish for tea before thinking about it.

[pingu]

sounds like a great day mark

numpty snr sounded not unlike me last year,

[Fishing Forum Admin]

great read mate and sounds as if your getting well into the fly fishing

[fishypaul]

nice one mate, well done