River Avon, Dartmoor

[loopy]

Hi guys

Most of you know me from other boards (groan)! I love coming to Heaven sorry Devon and am hoping to snatch a couple of days away with the missus before the end of the season.

I like fishing the Dart, Teign and Fernworthy among others and the good lady enjoys walking.

I am looking to fish, weather permitting, Avon dam and am wondering if any have fished the River Avon? And if so is it fishable and worthwhile or not? Any special permits needed for the river? I believe the rezzy is free.

Thanks in advance.

[Pete Tyjas]

Hi Loopy and welcome,

the Avon isn't really my neck of the woods but I am sure there are plenty of people reading this who might be able to help!

I don't think you are able to buy day tickets but a weekly permit costs £57 from the Avon Fishing Association (Mr Pickup 01803 867460) or from Loddiswell Post Office.

Hope this helps a little bit.

Pete

[loopy]

Thanks Pete

I'll look into that.

[troutbum]

Hi Loopy

I have not fished Avon Dam this season but did a few times last season. Well worth a trip, A bit Scottish Loch like. Can be a bit exposed but thats part of the fun. They do love dries off the top if the conditions allow. Go as light as possible and a good 5wt should be plenty however if a bit breezy step it up a bit. No boats up there but long casting is not necessary. Its stuffed full of wild looking browns around the 8 inch class but you never know!! Small dark dries work well and I have always found a Black Klink to work pretty much as well as anything, but we all have our favourites right.

Park in the car park and its a 1.5 mile walk uphill on a tarmac path to the Dam. Some good moorland walking all around though which should keep the wife happy.

As for the river I have only ever fished it once when I was a kid and at that time about a mile down from the Dam was free with a normal EA licence but I think things may have changed since. So dont quote me.

Although I love small river fishing I dont rate this stretch. Its a bit difficult to get near it for the first half of the walk until it opens out to the moor and then its a bit, well I just dont like it and the pull of the Dam is just too much.

Hope that helps.
Mark

[troutbum]

Loopy

P.S

Yes the rezzy is free with an EA licence

Mark

[loopy]

Thank you troutbum, you have tickled the fishing tastebuds still further.

I look forward to going and it just seems to be one thing at the moment......

Fingers crossed for the weather!

[loopy]

Yomped on Tuesday up to the Avon Dam from Shipley Bridge.



I didn’t fish the river but saw quite a few trout in pocket water as the steepness of the gradient meant that the river had a good flow and looked tricky to fish.



The reservoir itself was being treated with the aerators and otherwise all still. Some good insect life with daddies and dragon fly and the odd caddis coming off the water. But only saw rises and oncers at that in the corner by the dam. No hooked fish I am afraid.



The river Avon looked very fishy coming into the reservoir but nothing seen. It looks to be quite high up and exposed with very few trees outside of the valley.



Saw one lonely cormorant up by the neck of the reservoir and that was it!



A fisherman was weaving his way up the valley from Shipley when we left carrying a net and wearing neoprene chest waders. Guess he could have ben one of you guys!

[sandy]

Had a few trips up to Avon Dam last Season with the usual success best fish was probably ¾Lb. It's a typical high moorland water with a reasonable head of 4-8oz fish. They do like to come to the dries and are als keen on the traditional Scottish Wet pulling patterns.

It is not bad venue if the rivers are unfishable with either too much or too little water - Fly Fishermen are never satisfied .

There are quite a few wildies in the stream coming out of the dam in the pools usually small and heavily hammered by the kids and maggot brigade in the summer. Never seen anyone checking on that stretch I suppose they think it is not for the serious fisherman and certainly does not see any migratories. Might lend itselfone day to the upstream nymph on the smallest of rods in one or two pools.

The river coming in at the top is pretty fishless, I suspect it suffers from acid spikes from the peat Moorland. A chap told me last year that about 5/6yrs earlier he had caught a 6Lb brownies on a spinner in the reservoir but had been fishing it for years with these and bait.

Hope some of this might be useful for any wanting a wee walk and a cast or two.

Sandy.