Dartmoor Leats - hold fish?

[loopy]

Just wondering if the leats on Dartmoor hold fish. I understand there are a few and there must be a possibilty or am I just barking?

[sandy]

Most hold fish. Try a walk along one in the summer - usually heaving with little 4-6inch wild broonies.

They do not grow very big due to their prolific numbers and small water. But they are still fascinating to watch while walking SWMBO ;D.

Sandy B.O.

[BarleBlanker]

As Sandy has said most, if not all, of them hold trout. Whether anyone holds the fishing rights to them I don't know. I suppose you could fish the ones high up on the moor on the Duchy ticket.

The following text from Successful Fishing For Salmon And Sea Trout written in 1951 by Major Kenneth Dawson gives some idea of the potential of these waters long ago. The year in question is 1892.

"This year the Tavistock Canal, which runs from the Tavy at Abbey Weir, and after passing through a long tunnel discharges into the Tamar, was cleaned out. While this was being done, 2,365 trout and two peal were netted and placed in the Tavy; hundreds were over a pound in weight, while a great number of others passed into the river with the water from the hatches. The Tavy was obviously vastly better trout water than it is today."

You will notice that even back in 1951 "things weren't what they used to be!"


Andy

[loopy]

Thank you gentlemen - fascinating info.