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!