Danielsson Reels Now In Stock

We're proud to announce that we are now a stockist of Danielsson fly reels. We use these for most of our fishing as they are, in our opinion, among the best that money can buy. Designed and manufactured in Sweden, these premium fly reels feature the finest engineering you are likely to see anywhere.
We are currently stocking the following reels, although we can order any model or spool from Danielsson's range. We can also offer lazer etching on the reels for that personal touch.

Danielsson L5W 4sevenW at £269
Danielsson L5W 6nine at £279
Danielsson L5W 8twelve at £289

Danielsson Original Nymph W at £169
Danielsson Original Dryfly at £169
Danielsson Original 2W at £169


For more information or to buy online, visit our ONLINE SHOP. The shop is now up and running with new products being added all the time.

The Lyd In White

Beat 3 as you don't often see it. John Barnard, Dave Chapman and Gerald Spiers braved the blanket of snow and went grayling fishing today. They landed three fish to around 1 1/4lb and the view was well worth wrapping up for...

Come Grayling Fishing in Devon...

It's not all bad for us fly fishers in the winter months. Why not wrap up warm and try for a wild west country grayling. The Tamar system is home to the most westerly grayling population in the UK and fish of over a pound are relatively common. We tend to find that goldhead nymphs fished under an indicator are the most reliable flies, yet milder days (remember them?!) can see hatches of flies and rising fish. We can offer you a private grayling beat at the reduced rate of just £20 per day; this gives you up to a mile of Devon countryside to yourself.
Escape the Christmas chaos... and go fishing.

2010: End of Season Report

The October salmon fishing at the Arundell Arms broke all existing records. After a summer dogged by consistent low flows, occasionally broken by small, short lived and very coloured spates, heavy rain in the first few days of October gave a 4 foot flood, followed shortly by a 7 foot flood. As this water fell and cleared, the Tamar system simply filled up with salmon, to give excellent sport here at Lifton, sadly only for the very last few days of the season. Some fish were coloured, and had obviously been holding on the lower beats, but others were still silver. The October catch of 42 salmon is a record for the 14 days in which we can fish, 27 of which came in a week, also a record. The other records which tumbled were the most fish taken in one day, 11 fish, plus another from one of our rods on the lower Tamar, and the record for the most fish to one rod in a day, 6 salmon for the now tediously fish-magnetic Gerald Spiers.

Individual catches are too numerous to mention, but ‘first fish’ were taken by Jacqueline Cork ( 10 lbs, Bottom Beat, River Lyd), David Rail (6 lbs, Beat 8A, River Tamar), 9-year–old Dan Barnard (6 lbs, Beat 7B, River Tamar), Mike Haines (10 lbs, Beat 7A, River Tamar), Dennis Mitchell (10 lbs, Beat 7A, River Tamar), Julia Tweedie (5 lbs, Beat 7B, River Tamar), and J. Crockett (5 lbs, Beat 8B, River Tamar). Spinning was the order of the day in the initially very high and coloured water, but as levels settled many fish also fell to the fly, topped by the best fish of the season, a fine 13 lb hen fish for David Pilkington in Ash Tree Pool on Tamar Beat 7A, which took a small orange bottle tube fished on a floating line. This fish has gone to Endsleigh hatchery for broodstock. Of the 42 October salmon, only 2 were kept, making the season salmon total for the Arundell Arms 54 fish, with only 3 killed for the year. In addition, our rods also caught 6 fish on our Endsleigh beat, and another 6 on the lower Tamar.

The trout and sea trout fishing, which all finished at the end of September, were also pretty good. The sea trout total of 252 is only one fish less than last year, and well above average. Best sea trout was estimated at 6 lbs, by Alexander Jones, and came on fly at night from the weir pool on Beat 3 of the River Lyd. Sea trout catches would have been better still if we had enjoyed some higher water at some time in the peak season, as very heavy runs of sea trout were entering the lower river, but became stuck in dead low flows. Figures from the fish counter at Gunnislake weir for both salmon and sea trout this season are well above average.

Brown trout fishing was good, particularly in May and June, becoming harder work in the very low water of high summer. Some of the June catches were impressive, with almost a thousand fish for the month. Many rods landed up to 30 trout in a day, some of these fish being 12 inches in length. A monster brown trout was caught and released by Graham Bray while night sea trout fishing above Hartley weir on Beat 3 of the Lyd. This fish, a hen in superb condition, was estimated at 3 pounds, our biggest river brownie since 1969. The 2010 trout total of 2,553 is one of our best catches for many years, and an encouraging indication of the healthy state of the wild fish stocks.

60 grayling were also caught during this year, several of the best fish being one and a half pounds in weight, and some much bigger grayling seen during daylight sea trout reconnaissance on the Lyd beats.

Record Salmon Catches 2010!

The 2010 Arundell Arms salmon season has been one to remember.
With a highly disappointing 12 salmon for the season up to the end of September, we were desperate for rain. It came at the start of October, and a lovely clear flood brought the fish up. In the last 14 days of the season, Arundell Arms rods landed an amazing 42 salmon, bringing the total to 54 (51 released) for the season. The first week of October was a hotel record with 27 fish landed in the week. We landed 11 in a day (another record) and regular rod Gerald Spiers landed 6 in a day (another record!). If only the rain had arrived sooner.

Some pictures of happy faces...!

September Report 2010

The trout and sea trout seasons are now over for another year. The salmon season closes on October 14th.

Eight salmon were reported caught from the Arundell Arms water in September, with a handful more by hotel rods fishing other beats on the Tamar. All fish were released. The total was a little disappointing and was largely due to consistent coloured water with little height – a knock-on effect of a low water summer. Three anglers celebrated their first fish: young Seb Perry a five-pounder in Quarry Pool, Mike Haines a 10-pounder in Lydfoot, and Dennis Mitchell, also with a 10-pounder in Lydfoot. All three were caught and released on fly – well done all! A decentish spate on the 7th September made a big difference, with salmon reported moving on most beats soon afterwards.

Cold nights and thinly-spread pods of fish gave an average total of 20 sea trout at the hotel for September with the best fish at 3lb for ‘fish magnet’ Gerald Spiers. The fish took a WMD fly on beat 3 of the Lyd. Trout fishing finished well, with 217 wild brown trout recorded and several large grayling. Despite periods of persistent northerly winds slowing what could have been a superb climax to the season, most anglers enjoyed some good sport to the dry fly with some lovely fit trout gracing the record book. Mr Foster landed a trout of 1lb on the Ottery on a Klinkhamer and Gerald Spiers one of 1lb 4oz while salmon fishing on the Lyd. Several other trout of over 10 inches were landed. As we write this report the Tamar is high and rising rapidly due to very heavy rain. With a little luck this should set us up nicely for a salmon bonanza in October!

The total number of sea trout for 2010 at the Arundell Arms was 252. Only one down on last year, but with many more fishable nights over the summer. Certainly not the superb run of fish that we saw in 2009. Best fish estimated at 6lb by Alexander Jones in June on the Lyd.

Total number of wild brown trout was 2553 - that's nearly double the five-year average. May and June were heaven for the small-river dry fly fisher with 1600 trout recorded.

The salmon total so far is 12 off AA beats - we've got some serious catching up to do in the final two weeks of the season! Beats are still available in October - phone 01566 784666 to book a space!

Salmon fishing is looking up...

Nearly an inch of rain fell in Lifton last night, meaning that the water we so badly needed in the rivers has now arrived.
The Tamar and tributaries are all up and coloured, which is great news for salmon fishers. The extra water has nicely coincided with the big spring tides, which should encourage numbers of fish to run.
If you are able to grab a last minute day or two with a salmon rod, now's the time!
You can catch David or Tim on 01566 784666 between 9am and 10am and 6.30pm and 7pm for more information.

River Report

Four salmon have been landed and released on the Arundell Arms water this week, following a rise of a few inches last weekend. Dennis Mitchell landed his first two ever salmon - a 10-pounder on fly at Lydfoot on Monday, followed by a 9lb fish on spinner in Railway Hut Pool on Tuesday. David Pilkington landed a grilse of around 4lb and lost a much bigger fish in Silver Doctor on the Lyd on Wednesday on a Sunray Shadow. Yesterday evening, young Freddie Wordie landed a fish of around 6lb on a Sunray Shadow in Tunnel Pool on beat 7B. Several fish have been showing, but a little rise in water would bring more to the beats and give more favourable conditions in which to catch them. At present, the Tamar and Lyd are both running relatively low.
Trout fishing is good with fish freely rising to black gnats, small, dark sedges and stoneflies. Some good trout of 10in + have been caught, mainly on dry flies and small goldhead nymphs. Sea trout fishing has petered out rather, with low night time temperatures providing difficult conditions in which to catch fish.
Overall a little rain should provide a good back end to the salmon season.

River Levels Online

The Environment Agency has just launched its new website which gives access to daily river levels... of every river in England and Wales! Absolutely superb (although perhaps a little confusing to read at first). Here's the link to the Tamar & tributaries levels page.

Follow the link below. Each green spot represents a gauging station; click on one to get the level information.

EA RIVER LEVELS - TAMAR

River Ottery Webcam

Below is a great link to a new live webcam of the River Ottery (Beat 16) and wildlife cameras, courtesy of the ingenious folks at Waterloo Farm. The camera also works in the dark via infra-red... sea trout running at night have been spotted! Select Camera 3 from the drop-down menu for a large view of the river.

RIVER OTTERY WEBCAM

River Report

Salmon prospects looking good!
With a near 3ft spate running on the Tamar at present and (hopefully!) not too much more rain to come, salmon fishing conditions could be perfect for the weekend. Good numbers of grilse have been seen on our Tamar beats this week, but the low water made them hard to catch. Young Seb Perry did well on Saturday, landing two small sea trout, also returning a grilse of 5lb on a size 10 Silver Stoat's Tail. Another couple of salmon have been hooked and lost, although plenty have been splashing about in beats 7a,b and 8a. This extra water should be just the ticket to bring more fish up and bring them on the take.
We do have some availability on our prime salmon beats this weekend, so it's best to book now (01566 784666) to avoid disappointment.
The Lyd is currently too high for night fishing for sea trout, although it should hopefully drop back within a couple of days. Several large sea trout have been seen and even connected with, with Gerald Spiers landing a three-pounder and losing a much bigger fish. September can be a very good month for night fishing, although most fish will be coloured and are best returned to the river.
Trout fishing is today limited to the smaller tributaries due to spate conditions on the main rivers, but once they drop back, the last few weeks of the season are usually superb.

August Report

Trout fishing in August was typically tough with very low water levels for most of the month and little fly on the water. On the few days that trout were seen rising, anglers did well with small stonefly imitations and the usual favourites, the Klinkhamer and Parachute Adams. Most fish however were taken on goldhead nymphs in sizes 14 to 16 or on wet flies fished in the streamy runs and riffles. The month total was 263 wild brown trout. Most of the trout landed were in the six to eight inch size, with a dozen or so fish of 10 to 12 inches. James Palmer had a great day on the Lyd, landing 22 small brownies at the start of the month and several other anglers had double-figure days.
64 sea trout were landed in August, nearly all at night. While reports of large numbers of peal entering the system provided optimism, there were no shoals of fish seen at Lifton. Instead, small pockets of fresh school peal were scattered on the Lyd and anglers worked hard to locate them. Unsettled conditions meant that night fishers tried varying tactics and several fish were caught on two-inch lures fished deep, as well as the usual size 8 to 10 wet flies commonly used in August. The best fish was one of 3lb caught and released by Peter Radford on beat 3 on a 2 1/2inch WMD Stinger. As we write, sea trout fishing has picked up despite the cold weather, with Alex Prentice catching his first two night sea trout within 10 minutes of starting. Well done Alex!
Only two salmon were caught at the Arundell Arms in August – a reflection of very low water levels and therefore low fishing pressure. Mr Impey landed a bright silver fish of 5lb 12oz on a Rapala at Lydfoot on the Tamar, and at the end of the month, Ben Garnett returned a grilse estimated at 3 1/2lb and lost a larger fish at the net, both on a size four Mepps. Ben’s fish came as the river fell and cleared after the first decent spate of the summer. As we write this, the river is once again low and little rain is on the cards. Sea trout fishermen will brave cooler nights and venture out throughout September, although the vast majority of fish will be returned.

Rivers Update

The rivers are all currently unfishable due to a much welcome spate. Once they fine down over the next couple of days we will hopefully see our first serious chance of decent salmon fishing... watch this space!
Trout fishing has been patchy, with (up to now) low water conditions and dour fish making life tricky. With some extra water and cooler temperatures, things should improve. Sea trout fishing will be restricted to day time fishing until the water drops and clears, although the spate should bring with it large numbers of fish.

To keep an eye on river levels, don't forget the FishPal website:

Tamar River Levels

River Update

The rivers remain very low indeed, so salmon fishing is a bit of a non-starter at present. Heavy rain forecast for Thursday this week will hopefully change things so watch this space.

We landed 28 sea trout last week, all at night. The season total (on Arundell beats) stands at 198. Small pods of fresh school fish were encountered throughout the Lyd, with Peter Radford landing the best of the week - a three-pounder - on beat 3 using a slow sink line and a 2.5 inch Stinger fly. During recent cold nights, big flies fished very slowly seem to have done the trick.
Trout fishing is tough as per usual in August, but they are still there to be caught. Few fish are being seen rising, so wets and nymphs are taking most of them. The biggest brown last week was caught at night while sea trout fishing by Roger Selby, a beauty of 14 inches.
Newcomers to fly fishing, Fiona and Mark Napier experienced Tinhay Lake at its best on Saturday. With a strong breeze ruffling the water, the big rainbows came on the feed and they landed grown-on fish of 4lb, 3lb 10oz, 4lb, 6lb and two of 1 1/2lb! All fish were caught on dry Klinkhamers.

BBC Spotlight on the Lyd

Click the link below for a short clip taken from BBC Spotlight's series on the River Tamar...

BBC Spotlight - Fishing in the Tamar valley

River Report

The 2010 sea trout catch now stands at 163, with 41 caught last week and most anglers picking up a fish or two at night. While there are still no great numbers of fish about, all of the pools have a sea trout or two in residence. Pods of school fish are on the move and pools can become alive with fish as a shoal moves in under the cover of darkness. No big fish to report, although one angler was unlucky enough to lose two large ones last night on beat 3.
Trout fishing is typically tough for August, though nymphs and wets are taking a few fish. Until we get more water, salmon fishing is still realistically on hold.

Arundell Arms on BBC Spotlight

Just back from filming with David Braine of BBC Spotlight on the Lyd and Tamar. It's for a short section on a series on the Tamar being shown August 9-13th on BBC Spotlight (south west). Featuring Adam and Tim from the Arundell Arms and Toby Russell from the Westcountry Rivers Trust... we even managed to find a decent Lyd brownie or two!

Rivers Update

The much-needed rise in water over the last weekend has brought with it a reasonable number of sea trout. 28 fish to 4 1/2lb were landed last week, with most caught at night. A river walk yesterday revealed a few fish in most pools, with many of them being larger specimens of 2-3lb, rather than the school peal that we would be expecting in numbers. The schoolies are starting to arrive now however, with some also being picked up by trout fishers during the day. After a slow start to the season it's now picking up. The total so far stands at 115 sea trout, with the majority of fish released.
Trout fishing is always slow in high summer, but reasonable numbers of fish to 12 inches have been caught, mainly on goldhead nymphs. Evening fishing is certainly the most productive.
Until we get a much larger, sustained rise in river levels, salmon fishing is not really on the cards. All rivers are now back at summer low level.

Some recent pictures...

... of some of the larger fish caught recently. We haven't yet had the usual influx of smaller sea trout, but some great fish have been caught by anglers putting in the time...



G.Spiers, 3lb, Thunder & Lightning Pool


D.Chapman, 5lb (returned), Silver Doctor Pool


T.Smith, 4 1/2lb (returned), Silver Doctor Pool


T.Smith, 3 1/2lb (returned), 3B Weir Pool


A. Jones, salmon 12-13lb est (returned), Quarry Pool

River Update

With several very heavy showers last night and this morning, we were hoping that the rivers may rise with a well-deserved extra drop of water. However, at the time of writing, there is little change and both the Lyd and Tamar only seem to be up by an inch or two. However, this, in addition to a release from Roadford Lake, should encourage many more sea trout to run both rivers. The night fishing has been tough of late, with reasonable numbers of fish present but they are proving harder to catch than usual. Anglers landed 17 last week, to around 4lb, but the fish were coming in ones and twos, rather than threes, fours and fives as we'd like!

Watch this space!

VIDEO: Tying the Pilk's PR

Here's a video from the fly tying demo during the West Country Sea Trout Festival. David Pilkington ties his Pilk's PR.

VIDEO: Tying the Pilk's Bumble

Here's a video from the fly tying demo during the West Country Sea Trout Festival. David Pilkington ties his Pilk's Bumble.

Arundell Arms Fly Lines - now available

Our fly lines are now available to buy through the online shop. Designed by our hotel instructors for use on the West Country rivers. The PR Sink-tip is proving to be very effective for those night-time sea trout!

Arundell Arms Fly Lines

June Report

June proved a fantastic month for trout fishers at The Arundell Arms Hotel, with 929 wild brown trout landed on the rivers. With a five-year average of 425 trout for June, most fishers enjoyed bumper days with the majority of fish caught on dry flies. The rivers were low due to a distinct lack of rain yet the trout rose well all month. A brief but significant mayfly hatch over the first week was followed by prolific black gnat fishing during mid-June and superb sedge activity in the latter part of the month. Regular Arundell rod, Mike Kent, had four evening sessions on the rivers Lyd and Wolf, releasing 121 trout with six fish of 12 inches, mostly to a Grey Klinkhamer. Mr Tony Bostock fished to his usual top form, releasing 92 trout in three short evening sessions on a Coachman and Sparkle Dun.
Only one salmon was caught in June, a rather skinny fish of 24 inches, estimated at five pounds. The fish was caught by Barry Unwin in Mar Lodge Pool on the Lyd on a Goldhead Black Tadpole.
Sea trout fishing was patchy due to the very low water holding fish back a little and what seems to be a slightly later run of fish this season. Despite this, 32 sea trout were caught in June, just down on last June’s 34. Local rod Alexander Jones had a superb night on the Lyd’s beat 3, landing four fish of 1lb, 2lb, 4lb and the best of the month, estimated by Alexander at 6lb. All of the fish were landed on a one-inch Black Bear tube. As this is written in early July, more sea trout are arriving each day with catches increasing dramatically. All bodes well for the rest of the month!

Sea Trout Specials - new flies in stock!

Arundell Arms 'Super Stoat'

The complete range of Arundell Arms Sea Trout flies is now available, with some deadly daytime and dusk favourites now available.

Buy Sea Trout Specials Online

Please note that the pictures are taken of actual production flies, not of samples tied for photographs!

How low can it go?

The rivers are now very low thanks to persistent scorching weather. It's making things incredibly tough for any salmon fishers, but the river trout anglers are still fairing well with June's total now approaching 700 for the month. The sea trout catch is up to 18 off hotel waters, with 7 landed last week. With the difficult conditions, smaller flies fished carefully have been tempting most fish by night. Some warmer night-time temperatures wouldn't hurt and a drop of rain would be most welcome!


Hard work but not impossible - a Lyd sea trout caught last week.

Devon sea trout - by day and night

Thanks to the current showery weather, sea trout are now running the River Lyd in ever-increasing numbers. The rain has also meant that the river is fluctuating between clear and murky, making it ideal for night fishing one minute, and then day fishing the next! Our hotel instructors David and Tim have managed to land one or two, with David catching two to 1lb 10oz by day, and Tim one at 1lb 4oz in daylight and a cracker of 3 1/2lb after dark. All of the fish were returned to the river.

The sea trout season starts here!!


A 3 1/2-pounder for Tim Smith on beat 3.


David and a Lyd sea trout by day.

The mayfly are here...

Mayfly on the River Tamar, yesterday!


Better late than never, they have finally arrived. The mayfly bring with them the season's best trout fishing. We have some of the West Country's finest wild trout beats available this June, at just £26 per day for up to a mile of water to yourself!

Biggest brown trout for 40 years!

As in most West Country rivers, River Lyd brown trout average 6-8 inches in size. A big one is anything over 10 inches. A pounder is a monster and the best of the season is usually a touch larger.

In 1940 a fish of 3lb 4oz was caught.
In 1969 a fish of 3lb 1oz was caught.
On 28th May 2010 a fish estimated at 2 1/2lb + was caught...

Fishing for sea trout at night, local angler Graham Bray thought he had hooked the first sea trout of the season... it turned out to be this colossal brownie. The fish took a size 4 WMD sea trout fly and was carefully returned - after a couple of snaps - to fight another day.
Well done Graham for catching what is truly a once in a lifetime fish!

The Sea Trout Are Here!

Sea trout are now present on our Tamar and Lyd beats. They're not here in numbers as yet, but some very large fish have been spotted during this current spell of scorching weather. David, Tim and regular fisher Gerald were all out last night, but despite a few fish being heard jumping, none were caught. A bright moon, clear, cold skies and a family of young otters learning to hunt probably didn't help... but then, every angler needs an excuse!

If you fancy a crack at what looks to be the onset of a real sea trout fisher's summer, book now. If you've never tried it before, but have a little fly fishing experience then don't worry as guided night fishing for sea trout is a speciality at The Arundell Arms.

BBC 2 - filming on the Lyd

Following on from the successful BBC 2 programme The Victorian Farm, the forthcoming series of The Edwardian Farm features Arundell Arms instructor David Pilkington - in full period costume! - teaching fly fishing on the River Lyd. The film crew descended on the river last week to shoot a sequence where one of the team is taught to fish. David was filmed tying flies using traditional materials and also teaching casting and fishing methods with Edwardian-era tackle.
Watch this space for news on Mr Pilkington's prime time appearance!!

First on the fly for James!

We've been following the fishing career of regular guest, James Graham, in the blog for a while now. Last year James not only caught the night sea trout bug, but landed an his first ever salmon - a six-pounder on a spinner in October. This year the challenge put to him was to catch his first salmon on a fly. He did it on the first day!
Fishing with hotel instructor Tim, James was on the lower end of the Tamar, trying for an elusive early sea trout. However, the large silver shape that rose to take the fly - a size 8 WMD was no sea trout!
After a nerve-wracking 15-minute battle on his 7wt outfit, James finally managed to guide the fish to the net. Quickly measured at 31.5 inches and conservatively estimated at 11lb, the bright silver springer was returned to the river.
What a superb day - CONGRATULATIONS James!


Arundell Arms guest James Graham with an 11lb spring Tamar salmon - his first on a fly.

Devon trout fishing - the cream of the season starts here

The fish are up and rising - seriously fun fishing starts here!

After a real washout over the bank holiday weekend, and despite persistent cold easterly winds, trout fishing at the Arundell arms is now moving rapidly into top gear. Ben Garnett had a good day on the Lyd, releasing 38 trout, several between 9 and 11 inches, and three grayling up to 14 inches.
David and Tim have been on the Tamar tidying up some recently fallen trees and improving access into a couple of pools for night sea trout fishing. The river has suddenly come to life, with some nice trout rising steadily to a mixture of hawthorns, black gnats and olives. A small rise in water level a few days ago has at last given the smolts the impetus they needed to head rapidly down to sea, leaving the resident brownies to get on with devouring the rich harvest of insects which the longer days are now producing.
Tim saw a mayfly yesterday, and David saw the first swifts, so summer is well and truly summoned to Devon, and dry fly will be the weapon of choice from now on. Sea trout are also starting to trickle into the river in increasing numbers and we should see our first ones here at Lifton in the next week or two.


Hawthorns are currently appearing in droves - the trout think this is marvellous!


Failing light on the Tamar - view of the sea trout fisher.

Modern technology...

What did we ever do before blogs, Facebook and Twitter? Here's a great email we received from regular Arundell Arms fisher, Mike Haines, who's been skipping school work to go fishing...

Hi folks,

I'm just dropping you a line to let you know that I was lying in bed this morning and had decided that I had too much school work to do and couldn't afford to spend time fishing. No sooner had I decided that and sat up to get out of bed than your Twitter came through about the 10 brownies on the dry fly. Well, that was that... stuff marking english books and up I came!

And, for once, everything went perfectly - my casting was light and accurate - as was my wading. Some way downstream of me I could see a fish taking from the surface, from the ripples he made I could tell he was a fair-sized fish. With cast after cast I slowly made my way downstream - and I watched him all the time taking at exactly the same spot. And then...and then...I made the cast that would cover him and he took. What a feeling!! When I landed him I estimated him to be 9 inches, but I noted the spot on my shirt where his tail came up to - I've just measured it now I'm at home and the fish was 11 inches. I don't know if that counts as a large fish for the Tamar, but I'm pretty sure it's my personal best. I got 9 fish in the first 90 mins or so, then it suddenly went dead. As I was foolish enough to forget my fleece, and the northerly wind was bl**dy freezing, I decided to call it a day after another hour or so and face this mountain of english books. But I just wanted you to know that your using Twitter has given me a great Bank Holiday.

Cheers,

Mike

The trout are about!

The perfect result - a first fish for Australian journalist Penny Mote.

Despite the return of a cold north-easterly wind, trout fishing is picking up with some good catches reported on dries, nymphs and wet flies. Tony Bostock fished the Wolf for two evenings, landing 30 trout to 10 inches on nymphs and an Olive Quill. Local rod Ben Garnett used nymphs to great success on the Thrushel's beat 5, with a catch of 18 fish. Regular Mike Haines thoroughly enjoyed his day on the Tamar with 9 fish - including a personal best 11-incher - on wet flies. Among our recent pupils it's also been great to introduce some beginners from abroad to the joys of West Country fishing. Penny Mote - journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald - enjoyed a crash course in river fly fishing, losing several trout on the Lyd before finally landing a lovely eight-incher. Also visiting from afar was Toshiyuki from Japan, who made a trip all the way over to Devon on a recommendation in a Japanese book on fly fishing. Toshiyuki took to the upstream dry fly like a duck to water, landing 11 trout to nine inches and a decent grayling, in very windy, cold conditions - a very fast learner indeed!
With a little luck, this cold wind will turn tail and a little warmth will further improve the fishing. Plus, sea trout season is getting closer...!

Westcountry sea trout flies - now available

Online Shop - Sea trout flies

A range of our favourite flies for Westcountry sea trout fishing is now available at our online shop. Stingers and surface lures will be available very soon. Here's to a summer of nocturnal activity and screaming reels...

Happy Birthday to England's premier fly fishing school!

The Arundell Arms celebrates 75 years as England's premier fly fishing school in 2010. The landmark year was marked by a week of 1930s-themed events, culminating in a Murder Mystery dinner this coming weekend.

Over the years, many thousands of anglers have taken their first casts under the guidance of Arundell Arms instructors. It's a wonderful privilege to often meet three generations - grandfather, son and grandson - who have all learnt to fish at the hotel. To put it into perspective, we asked Roy Buckingham how many people he taught in his time as senior instructor (between 1969 and 2008): "I worked it out to be in the region of 16,000!"

Here's to another 75 years and many thousands more new recruits.

(Left to right: hotel instructor Tim Smith, director Adam Fox-Edwards, manageress Heather Measey, hotel instructor David Pilkington.)
The photo above shows current hotel AAPGAI instructors David Pilkington dressed in typical 1930s attire and Tim Smith in modern fisher's dress.

Fly fishing in Devon - Spring on the River Lyd

Just a couple of pictures of the River Lyd that has been spoiling our guests with its spring show of daffodils and wood anenomes. Unfortunately its resident wild brown trout haven't quite been playing ball! The successful anglers have been those fishing heavy nymphs and covering as much water as possible. A bout of warmer weather should do the trick and encourage fish to take advantage of the prolific grannom and large dark olive hatches.





PS: After last week's success, all seems to be quiet on the salmon and sea trout front... for now!