New Rods for a new season...

We've just received a huge box of rods from Sweden... Guideline's new Exceed range.
We tried some of the switch rods and smaller double-handers at the end of last year and we were very impressed. The trout and sea trout rods have just arrived. First impressions are very good indeed; not too 'pokerish' like many modern rods. These actually feel like 'proper', honest fishing rods and not just for the distance casting competitions! The 9ft, 9ft 6in and 10ft 7wt models should be spot on for sea trout. Please can we now have some mild weather in which to try them?

As a special introductory offer, we are giving £10 off any Exceed rod.

You can see the whole range, prices and more info here:

Guideline Exceed Fly Rods

Spring is coming (apparently!)

Despite the rest of the country being blanketed in snow and ice, the sun is shining in Lifton today. The only hint of harsh weather is a bitterly easterly wind which is freezing the fingers while we fish.
Due to a large dose of rain last week, we have been restricted to tackling Tinhay Lake's trout, but - remarkably - these fish have been rising well to hatches of large black midges.
Earlier last week, Aidan Decadenet managed a brace of fish on a sinking line and Green Pea black lure. One of the fish was most noteworthy - a superbly-conditioned, grown-on brown trout of between five and six pounds. The trout fought like fury, but young Aidan kept his cool and landed the fish in style, which he then returned to the lake.

Aidan Decadanet with a superb Tinhay Lake brown trout.

This weekend saw a group of anglers fishing the lake, and beginner Jan Spendlove showed the boys how it's done, landing three perfect rainbows of around 1 1/2lb on a Black Buzzer. Regular fisher, youngster Dan Barnard celebrated his 11th birthday in style with two lovely rainbows to 3lb on a lure fished deep. Well done that boy!
Amazingly on Sunday 24th March, we saw two sand martins at the lake. They were working hard in the freezing cold for a few adult buzzers, but they must have wished they were still back in Africa. Pussy willow is breaking on the riverbanks, the snowdrops are now all gone, surely Spring must now be just around the corner.

End of January on the river

Watery, wintery sunshine on the Lyd. A cold grey wind from the west, and a few local boys chasing the last of the pheasants across the Tamar. Snowdrops now open, the very first of the Dog's Mercury already showing flower, and tentative shoots of wild Garlic pushing up through the flood-swept banks.
Twenty-one herons erupted from the heronry on the lower Lyd, they will pair up on Valentine's day. The cormorants gave us the slip again, but our season for them goes on until April....
Masses of water in both rivers, more rain forecast tonight. Spring, however, is definitely in the air.
David Pilkington

Happy New Year!

After what seemed like absolutely endless rain and floods, we at last have a dry day. Tim and I have been opening up a nice little spot on the Lyd, felling a few small ash trees and hacking back some brambles, to give more casting and fishing space. The ground is still completely saturated, so we had to carry all the tools, rather slow and laborious work, but it was so good to be on the river - we saw an Olive!
Yesterday we checked out the Tamar, just a walk with the gun - given the slip by a couple of cormorants, but there will be other days. Also saw 5 goosanders. Massive floods have done terrible damage, at least two ladders washed away, one of which we found at head height in a hedge. Some major erosion of banks, trees fallen in, river-bank fences totally trashed - if the ground ever does dry out, we will be busy.Most of the pools look to be still nicely fishable, we will not be able to assess it properly until the levels drop.
Purple buds shooting on an elder which we felled, and sap rising from the cut sycamores. Snowdrops are showing white tips in my garden. I shall soon want to go fishing!
David Pilkington

Latest Update

River levels have remained very high for the past few weeks, although grayling fishing was just about possible on odd days, with around a dozen taken by the few brave enough to tackle the conditions. Best fish was a pound and a half, from the river Lyd, and all taken on Czech nymphs. It has been nigh on impossible to make even a guess at how the salmon spawning is progressing, with rivers running big and dirty almost without a break. The river Wolf, fed from Roadford reservoir, usually runs steady and clear with a measured amount of compensation water from the dam – this year the lake has overflowed, possibly for the first time since filling in the late 1980’s. When I have looked at the Wolf over the past few days it has been well coloured and running at a half-bank flood, with any observation of fish or redds being totally impossible.

The upper Lyd was clearer but still massive, with no chance of seeing fish in the pools. However,a pair of fish was seen cutting a redd on a favoured shallow stretch. A few days later it was impossible to distinguish the redd, despite being aware of the exact location. It is certain that fish have been spawning, with redds also seen on the river Lew, but any accurate assessment of the numbers is out of the question. Hopefully most of the fish will have completed spawning by now, and would have been pretty difficult targets for those morons who do still poach fish at this vulnerable time.

Already we are looking ahead to the new year, currently waiting for a dry spell to enable routine trimming and maintenance of the beats to take place. At present it is not possible to drive across the fields to access the water. We really would appreciate just a little less rain for 2013.

Fly Fishing Tuition, Courses & Events 2013

We now have our 2013 calendar set for the next season. Whether you fancy taking your very first steps in the wonderful world of fly fishing, could do with a brush up on casting or perhaps try for your first sea trout, salmon or bass... there is something for everyone.

Our hugely popular seasonal events are back, with the Wild Trout Festival, the Sea Trout Weekend and the Arundell Arms Macnab. If you would like more information or to book, please call on 01566 784666. We are already taking bookings for our 2013 courses and tuition, so it's best to book soon to avoid disappointment.

For the full list of events, dates and prices, please click HERE

Hotel instructor Tim (left) with a merry gang of newcomers to river trout.

A summer course on the banks of the Lyd. Let's hope for some sun during 2013!

Once you try night fishing for sea trout... there's no looking back!

David Pilkington demonstrates during last year's Sea Trout event.