River Sid

[billyfish]

I live near the river Sid which runs into the sea at Sidmouth.Its always had a reasonable head of brown trout and in the past ,eels.I learnt to fish on the Sid as my childhood home was just up the river from my present home.In recent years we have had runs of fish trying to get over the weir ,known as School Weir,but not successfully.The poor fish will never ever make it as it is too high even in the biggest of spates.For the last few years some local people ,with help from the EA ,have been netting the weir and transporting the fish upstream.Last Saturday we had our record catch and were able to transport 21 brown trout (up to 2lb),7sea trout(up to 5lb) and two salmon(5lb).These are incredible results for the size of the river and will hopefully lead to even better runs of fish.There is also the possibility of funding for a fish pass.
Good news in these times of austerity.
Colin.

[Pete Tyjas]

Great story Billy, did you get any pics?

[BarleBlanker]

Colin I hope the two salmon were a cock and a hen!
Is the School Weir the nearly verticle one at the bottom end of the park Sidmouth? Twenty years ago I saw a good shoal of school peal in the bit of river between the ford and the beach. I always wondered whether they spawned in the Sid or just came in for a look before going to the Otter or Axe.


Andy

[billyfish]

Noone expected so many fish and there weren't any pictures taken.Next time?
Fish have been seen spawning in the lower river for a number of years.I,myself was lucky to see the complete "act" a couple of years ago.I had a grandstand view watching from the wooden railings just below the road bridge near the Toll house at the end of the Byes(park).
One night I caught 8 up to about 3lb between the weir and the roadbridge.I was too excited to think about putting them back above the weir.It was quite strange catching fish of quality so close to my home.Also strange to watch people and cars crossing the bridge oblivious to what was going on under their noses.Big trout have regularly been caught below the weir but it was assumed they were Brownies when they were probably Sea Trout that have been in awhile.I have seen fish swimming through the ford when it has been closed to traffic.
the river mouth is now closed through the easterly winds that have prevailed for the last week.I expect that there are more in the system which should move up given water.
Colin.

[billyfish]

Just been down to the weir and there are lots of fish trying to get over.Sizes from 8oz to 5lb. The rain today has got them moving again.
Colin.

[billyfish]

We had three cameras on standby last Saturday and only netted two small browns.There were loads there in the week just after the rain.Some have been cutting redds just below the road bridge and there are two nice salmon (4/5lb) moving up and down the channel above the locally named "horses belly".Hopefully we can transport some more upstream if we get the rain that was promised.
Colin.

[billyfish]

I saw 2 salmon down in "Ham" pool this morning, both in double figures.It's amazing to see fish of this size in a relatively small river.One has a patch of white on its tail,which makes it easy to spot.There is plenty of evidence of spawning in the gravel runs below the impassible weir ("School") at the end of the Byes.
Looking forward to next season already.
Colin.

[billyfish]

Two lovely sea trout spawning today,both in the 4 to 6lb range.Its happening right beside the road just below Salcombe Hill Road Bridge.

[billyfish]

Two otters have been seen munching on our fish.Lets hope they did the business before they were caught.
Colin.

[billyfish]

I was crossing the ford through the river Sid yesterday and looking upstream saw the first trout rise of the year.It quickened the pulse and made my rod hand twitch."Cabin fever" has almost set in but I hope to tough it out for another month.
Colin.

[billyfish]

Netted the weir today for the second time.A fortnight ago we had 8 small browns and today we had 10 browns and a nice sea trout of about 2.5lb.They are not really running yet.When they do I will try to film them.

[billyfish]

Had another go at netting the weir but no luck.Some fish were felt hitting the legs of the people at the head of the net.
Tons of shingle filled the lower part of the pool and the lorries have been in removing it to prevent futher flooding.This has put a stop to our recue operations for the time being. We might have another go but it is getting late in the year.
Colin.

[billyfish]

I was down at the mouth of the river on Sunday looking at the precarious state of the cliffs when I looked down into the shallow tidal pool and saw a fish rise.The more I looked the more sea trout I could see.There must have been over a dozen there.It was difficult to size them but I would say they were all over 1.5lb.The mouth of the river has closed therefore trapping them in the river.I have been down since and not seen them.
colin.
Colin.

[billyfish]

Fish are starting to rise in the Sid. Four or five in the weir below the ford and a couple above in the tail of Horses Belly.
Still need warm weather to get things really moving.
Colin.

[rubble]

Is there any fishing to be had on the Sid then?

[billyfish]

See my recent other post.
Colin

[rubble]

Oh yeah! Silly me

[billyfish]

Sea trout are in the Sid. There is one about 3lb sitting in the tail of mill pool just below the ford . With the. River mouth open there should be some more in soon. Also saw a mullet just below ham pool which is just up from the mouth. Haven't seen one there for years.
Colin.

[billyfish]

Lots of sea trout in at the moment. Lots of people trying to catch them. They are rising freely in with the brown trout.
Might give it a go in the next few days.
Colin.

[billyfish]

We netted 74 fish,mainly sea trout , yesterday from the weir at the end of the "byes". They were all transported upstream to continue their spawning run.
We aim to try again next Saturday morning.
Colin.