News & Catches

Fishing Report April 2008

Seven salmon (largest 14lb).

Several Sea Trout (to 4lb).

Despite the cold weather the Brown Trout fishing has been surprisingly good. Highlight of the season so far has been 3 salmon all caught by regular visitor Jonathon Sykes, on Saturday 19th April below Beam Weir.

At long last with warm South West winds, prospects are most encouraging.

last update — 29 April 2008

Fishing Report February 2008

Just like the rest of the country, it has rained incessantly for the last three weeks,and the Torridge is in full spate.

It has also been incredibly mild with the river water temperature rarely dropping below 45F, so any early spring salmon will have ample opportunity to move into the middle or even the upper beats by the time the season starts on March 1st.

As well as the water at Sheepwash The Half Moon has retained all the beats on the middle and lower river, so expect the first salmon of the year to come from Beam or Madeira.

After a dry fortnight in December it was possible to conduct some redd counting and from all those who ventured out there was a very positive feedback.

In early December several hen salmon were stripped and over 50,000 eggs are now being cared for in our own Torridge hatchery. Having now 'eyed up' with only minimal losses, these eggs will be hatching within the next three weeks, and the young fry will be released into the headwaters in late spring.

last update — 14 February 2008

News from July 2007

Having had 61/2 inches of rain for May the fishing was rather hit and miss. However my father had the best fish of the month, a fresh salmon of 12lb caught at Beam weir pool.

Towards the end of the month we started seeing a good number of sea-trout. Regularly fish were caught at the 5lb mark, the best was a sea-trout of 7lb caught at Brightlea.

The river rarely dropped below 4 ft during June, however Ron Burton landed a Sea-trout of 9lb on the 8th June. Many school peel were caught on the few fishable days through the month.

Having recieved 12 1/2 inches of rain from 15th June to 14th July watch the space as the conditions should settle to be perfect.

Update 31-7-07

The river is now at 1 ft 10 inches clear and dropping, for you fisherman that know the Torridge if the good weather stays with us then August well be flyfishermans paradise at the Halfmoon. We look forward to seeing you booking in.

last update — 31 July 2007

April 2007

From the 1st to the 5th April we saw a cold east wind but then the weather turned warm and sunny. The river was 1ft and in excellent condition. Bob whittaker took a 12lb salmon from the weir pool at Beam, his second of the season. the 9th April saw a 9lb salmon caught also at the weir pool by Brian Lovering. The river then fell away to just 6" on the board resulting from a 22 day drought. 2 sea-trout were hooked and lost on the 15th at Beam.

Brown trout fishing has been excellent on the home beats with regular wild brownies of upto 1 1/4 lb now being taken on a dry fly.

last update — 1 May 2007

March 2007

For the first week of march the river oscillated between 3'6" and 6'6" with 3 inches of rain recorded for the week. It was very mild with river temperature 48 - 49F. The river was fishable by march 2nd. The river then fell to 1'6" by the 16th, with our first salmon caught the following day at Brightlea, a fish of approx 13lb. The 18th march brought another salmon of 9lb from Beam weir pool, well done to Reg Lawton. The following 2 days gave us a bitterly cold north gale bringing with it snow showers. By the 21st the river was down to 1'2" and looking perfect, producing an 8lb salmon at Madeira caught by Bob Whittaker. The river rose to 1'8" by the 25th march producing an 8lb salmon from sunken tree at Beam. On the 28th Mr Stemp took a 12lb salmon from Madeira. A cooler northwest wind brought showery weather to see out the month, however weather forecasts look good for easter. For upto date weather see related links.

last update — 4 April 2007