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The Mill
Heathman Street
Nether Wallop
STOCKBRIDGE
Hampshire SO20 8EW
T: 01264 781988
F: 01264 782590
info@fishingbreaks.co.uk
www.fishingbreaks.co.uk
 

Salmon, sea trout and brown trout in Devon

Fishing Breaks offer sea trout, salmon and brown trout fly fishing in Devon.

Our rivers | Fishing advice and flies |

River Tamar

The briefest glance at the county map immediately tells you two things about Devon: the first are the vast empty spaces of Dartmoor and Exmoor. The second is the huge number of rivers and for the fly fisherman both these facts are important.

The many, many miles of water means an angler can easily go a whole day without the sight of another person, let alone another fisher and once you get away from the well known ‘hot spots’ many parts of even the most prestigious rivers are barely fished.

As you are travelling further west the dominance of the brown trout as the primary game species lessens, with salmon and sea trout becoming equally important. But one of the magical things about the Devon rivers is that you have the chance for all three; you can quietly venture upon a pool where the little brownies peck away on the surface, the sea trout buzz around like silver jets whilst the dark, torpedo shadows of the salmon wait at the tail of the pool.

Devon may have won its spurs in fishing literature for night time sea trout, but there is plenty more to this West Country county to be discovered for the discerning angler.

Our rivers

RIVER TAMAR

The River Tamar is an important river, arguably the most important in the southwest. It rises just five miles from the Bristol Channel but then promptly turns south heading some 75 miles to eventually reach the sea at Plymouth.

For nearly the whole of this distance the river marks the county boundary between Devon and Cornwall, with some important and spectacular bridges at the 20 or so road crossings. It is from the great height of some of these mighty bridges that the visiting angler first gets a glimpse of the Tamar as it cuts it's way through the hams (meadows) in the valley below. Clear in texture it tumbles over a gravely or rocky bed from rapid shallow to swirling pools.

The king of Devon rivers is famous for all the three games species; salmon, trout and sea trout and there is a chance of all three is single day.

ARUNDELL ARMS

The Arundell Arms Hotel has been one of England’s premier fishing hotels for 75 years and has 20 miles of its own water on the Tamar and six of its tributaries. These are spate rivers that rise on the moors and come down to the valleys through woods and farmland, becoming larger, deepening, providing an infinite variety of water, long slow pools, gravelly runs and stickles, fast shallows and open glides. Here you are alone all day, fishing a mile of river for wild brown trout - shy fish that rise savagely to a fly. In the late spring, the first salmon arrive and by mid-summer, shoals of sea trout bring out the night fishers. Non-residents are now able to book beats by the day via the Fishing Breaks on-line diary. The hotel Guides/Instructors are available on request if required, along with tackle and waders

Prices include VAT

For further details, please complete our enquiry form or e-mail info@fishingbreaks.co.uk

Fishing advice and flies

The delight of Devon is the diversity of game fish – the dilemma can be the right outfit to carry. Your Guide will carry the right outfits and flies, but if you want to be prepared here are some broad guidelines.

Top trout flies

March-September: Hawthorn (size 12), Klinkhammers in black (26), Adams (16) Parachute Adams (sizes 16-20), Tups Indispensable (14-18) and Elk Hair Caddis (14-16)

Recommended outfit: 7-8 1/2 ft rod, rated for lines 2 to 4. Leaders should be 9ft long with 2 1/2 to 3 lb breaking strain. Chest waders essential.

Sea Trout

It is possible to catch sea trout during the day, especially in high or coloured water. Fish lightweight tubes through the glides and tails of pools as the bigger fish will adopt the same lies as their larger brethren the salmon. During the summer, when the river is low, it is best to fish late into the evening with small flies, moving up in fly size as it gets darker. Generally the best time to catch ‘peal’ is when the foxgloves are in bloom, the bats come out to play and when everyone else is in the bar!

Best ‘Peal’ fly - #8 Black Bumble or Bobby Dazzler

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