Go Wild In The West!

Do you like catching wild fish on the fly? Why not try the Devonshire Fly-rod MacNab - a wild brown trout, bass and sea trout... on the same day!
On the spring tides of July and August, sea trout run the rivers of Devon and school bass swarm in the estuaries. Sieze the opportunity to enjoy a full day's guided fly fishing for these truly wild fish, in spectacular surroundings at the Arundell Arms.
If you think this is for you, if you can cast competently and walk a mile, then contact the hotel for details.

We now have three dates available (Tuesday 1st July, Monday 18th August and Tuesday 19th August), for up to six anglers (between two guides) each day. These dates are bookable on a first-come, first-served basis, exclusively for hotel residents.



Typical Itinerary

10.00am Trout fishing on hotel rivers

12.00pm Drive to Torridge Estuary (approx. 1hr)

1.00pm Packed lunch on the water

2.00pm Bass fishing on the flooding tide

6.00pm Drive back to hotel

7.30pm Dinner

9.30pm 'til late! Sea trout fishing on hotel rivers



Ideal Tackle

It is possible to achieve the MacNab with one outfit - a 9ft 6-wt. However, here's a basic guide to tackle...

Trout: 7ft 6in to 8ft 6in 3-wt to 5-wt outfit
Bass: 9ft 7-wt to 8-wt outfit (plus line tray)
Sea trout: 9ft 6-wt outfit
Waders essential

Tackle can be hired at the hotel. Suitable flies, leaders and accessories are also available.

Spotting Otters

While on the rivers, David and Tim have seen lots of evidence of a healthy otter population. Silt banks on the edges of pools are places to track the shy creatures...


This otter print was spotted today while trimming overhanging trees on beat 6a at the Thrushel / Wolf confluence...


Perfect dry fly water for the wild trout fisher!

First Time Success

The first Beginner's Quickie course of the 2008 season was a great success despite changeable weather. Saturday saw a hectic schedule of casting lessons, knot tying, video replays and demonstrations, culminating in an afternoon's fishing on the lake. Most participants managed to hook fish, with several good rainbows landed on buzzers, dry flies and olive lures.
Unfortunately, heavy overnight rain coloured the River Lyd for the start of Sunday, but it remained fishable and everyone took to fishing the downstream wet fly instantly. Although conditions were less than ideal (everyone got a good soaking at some point!), some lively wild brown trout were caught and released. David and Tim were impressed with the progress made by the group, and hopefully a seed was planted for a fishing future for all!


A squad of new anglers! Plus David (far right) makes the first ever honest judgement of the one that got away!


David demonstrates the art of classic upstream dry fly fishing.


Alas, the two residents of the banks of Blue Charm Pool weren't really that fussed...

Spring is (nearly) here!

Grins all round: Sean and Fionnoula Gammons with their first rainbow trout from Tinhay Lake.

It's been busy this week for beginners and improvers, most of whom have managed fish from the lake, and some that have braved the cold and fished the rivers. While the sun has shone and given some much-welcome warmth, morning frosts and a persistent, chilly northerly breeze have slowed insect hatches.
Yesterday, nine-year-old Fraser Bell showed his Dad how to land trout, by catching and releasing a fine two-pounder, while his father Mike managed to lose not one but two at the net!
Jamie Thompson, fishing with father Hugh and son Oskar, did well to land four trout on the Tamar today, which all fell to heavily-weighted shrimp patterns. Young Oskar caught his first grayling yesterday when wet-fly fishing with David, and has shown real promise, firing tight loops under the Lyd and Tamar's over-hanging trees... good work!
The warm weather last week saw the arrival of sand martins and swallows to Lifton... they must be confused by the arctic blast we've had this week!

Casting For Recovery

The past weekend saw the hotel hosting a Casting For Recovery retreat - it was a tremendous success! Here is the full press release from the Countryside Alliance...

Arundell Arms hosts “magical” weekend for breast cancer angling initiative

Nine brave ladies enjoyed a weekend of fly fishing at the Arundell Arms in Devon from 28-30 March as participants in Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, a unique outdoor-based programme specifically designed for women who have, or have had, breast cancer.

Casting for Recovery provides fly fishing programmes at idyllic retreats around the UK and Ireland. The Arundell Arms retreat was only the second to be held in the UK, and further retreats are planned for Wales in April, West Sussex and Northern Ireland in September. Venues for 2009 will be announced over the coming months and will include Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Any woman who has experienced breast cancer is eligible to apply to attend a retreat (with medical clearance from their doctor). Retreats take place over two-and-a-half days and all accommodation, meals, counselling, and professional instruction are provided at no cost to participants due to the financial backing of the Countryside Alliance, although Anne Voss-Bark, owner of the Arundell Arms, generously donated the recent retreat to the programme. Trained medical staff and fly fishing instructors are on hand at all times and the fishing tackle and appropriate clothing is provided by Orvis UK.

Fly fishing offers proven benefits for recovering breast cancer patients. The casting action provides the gentle exercise recommended by physiotherapists for joint and soft tissue mobility. Fly fishing also offers participants a chance to reflect and escape in tranquil surroundings. Casting for Recovery was founded in the United States in 1996 and has since helped almost 3,000 breast cancer survivors.

The UK and Ireland Programme Co-ordinator is Sue Hunter, who recovered from breast cancer to become an international gold medallist fly fisher. Sue said: “The retreat in Devon was a huge success and we are immensely grateful to Anne Voss-Bark and her staff for their hospitality and enthusiasm for the programme. The participants arrived on the Friday not knowing exactly what to expect and left on Sunday having made friends for life and having thoroughly enjoyed their time in the beautiful Devon countryside. The delight on some of the ladies’ faces as the caught their first fish was magical and left no one in any doubt that Casting for Recovery is an immensely rewarding initiative that will continue to help many other ladies across the UK and Ireland.”



It's smiles all round for the participants, guides and organisers at Tinhay Lake.



First-time anglers and CFR participants Maureen (left) and Ava with Ava's first trout!