Post by morendat on Feb 20, 2019 12:25:13 GMT
Having spent a number of days over the last few weeks bank clearing on non club water between Willand and Culmstock with others, last seasons success or lack of it was discussed. It seems far fewer smaller fish between 4-6 inches were caught and more larger fish between 6-12 inches caught overall the total number of fish was down from the last two years. All wild trout. If this is the same situation over the whole of the Culm from Hemyock to Cullompton it is very worrying as it seems fewer fish are finding suitable spawning areas. Some of the river is very overgrown and hasn't been cleared recently and the smaller streams are virtually cut off from the main stream causing problems for fish to spawn in shallower, suitable water. There is more work being done to clear the river but I would be interested to hear from CFFC members as to whether their last season catches indicate the same problem as their banks are regularly cleared every season. Interestingly I heard of three sea trout being caught 2 above Culmstock and one of about 2lbs above the top boundary of CFFC water above Willand. I was a bit dubious and questioned that they were perhaps escaped rainbows but assured that that those who caught them new exactly what a sea trout looked like! Also a number of large chub were caught on dry flies. Over four days not a cormorant to be seen!! Would be interested to receive any views.
