July Report - Record AA Sea Trout!

Persistent rain throughout the Tamar catchment in July produced yet another month of unseasonably high water levels at the Arundell Arms. As a result, trout fishing was confined to the smaller tributaries and sea trout night fishing was pretty much a non-starter. On the upside, salmon fishing continued to be good, with a total of 15 landed (12 released) for the month of July, bringing the season total up to 29 at the time of writing. Most of the fish were fresh summer salmon of 8 to 10lb, with three grilse amongst them. One of the grilse was a first fish for Austin Weldon with a five-pounder from Oak Tree on the Tamar on a Park Shrimp tube - the fish was returned. Peter Ahluwalia caught and returned a lovely fish of just under 10lb from Lydfoot on the Tamar on a Black Ally’s Shrimp. Most of the other fish came to more locally-based rods who had the chance to fish in the short windows of opportunity between bank-high spates. July produced a very disappointing total of 17 sea trout at the hotel, a month were around 100 would be expected on a normal year - whatever that is these days. Night fishing was confined to about four nights at the end of the month when the Lyd dropped back to a level that made fishing possible. One fantastic fish made the effort all worthwhile for local rod Rob Swan however. On his fourth and final night of the Westcountry Sea Trout Festival, Rob hooked a big sea trout in a favourite lie on the Lyd’s beat 3 on a WMD Stinger sunk lure. After a tense battle in what is a narrow, snaggy piece of water, Rob landed, weighed and returned the new Arundell Arms record sea trout, a superb 26in hen fish of 7lb 2oz. Congratulations Rob!

126 brown trout were reported on the rivers during July, with most fish being caught on the smaller streams such as the Wolf and Ottery. In the high flows, wet flies and nymphs took most of the fish, although fish rose well on the few dry days during the month. Mr Puttock had a superb day on the Ottery at month end, with 25 trout caught and released to a Hare’s Ear.

With the rivers once again in spate at the time of writing, it certainly seems to be a salmon fisher’s year!

Rob Swan's magnificent 7lb 2oz sea trout: the new Arundell Arms record.

Rob Swan (left) receives his tackle prize from David Pilkington for winning the Westcountry Sea Trout Festival 2012.