|
|
Post by JB on Jan 9, 2014 14:51:14 GMT
I went for good long walk up the East Okement valley the other day, there was quite a bit of water coming through and some good looking pools and runs. I know there non-migratory trout in there (I've caught some) but I wondered if there were runs of salmon and sea trout as well, if anyone knows?
Last season I had a chat with a fella on the LAA water and he mentioned there having been salmon in the West Okement before they built Meldon reservoir. I just find myself wondering, every time I walk into town and peer over one of the bridges, if there might be a run of migratory trout or salmon. I understand the Okement and Torridge suffer a bit from pollution and their fish populations aren't what they could be, but perhaps there are still some fish who run the gauntlet?
I suppose if nobody else has any information the best thing to do would be to carry out some proper reconnaissance work. The thought sea trout only a few hundred meters from my front door makes my rod hand tingle.
|
|
|
|
Post by BarleBlanker on Jan 10, 2014 22:07:31 GMT
Well for what its worth they can't be far away because I caught an 8lb springer at Shilstone (about 2 or 3 miles below Okehampton) in May 2002. This fish fell to a size ten Black Pennel.
I have also read that within a few years of Monkokehampton weir being made passable (around 1980) salmon were observed spawning within Okehampton.
So in a wet year I don't see why a few fish, especially sea trout, wouldn't run up into the East Okement. The West Okement might not be so good being strangled at birth by the dam.
Incedentally I once caught some small but very pretty trout above Meldon but I'm not at all sure I had permission to fish...
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by BarleBlanker on Jan 10, 2014 22:20:04 GMT
Last season I had a chat with a fella on the LAA water and he mentioned there having been salmon in the West Okement before they built Meldon reservoir. Just to add that I doubt that as Meldon was built around 1972 and the weir at Monkokehampton was not made passable until after this date. Andy |
|
|
|
Post by BarleBlanker on Jan 10, 2014 22:48:25 GMT
Being at a bit of a loose nd I have had a dig around and found the River Torridge Salmon Action Plan from a few years ago. aquaticcommons.org/11131/1/Torridge_SAP_Final.pdfWhich contains the following giving the date of Monkokehampton fish pass as 1976 (so still after Meldon was built) and sounds encouraging about Okement salmon spawning. Monitoring of juvenile salmon populations indicates that there has been a partial recovery from the very poor levels recorded in the 1980s. The 1997/98 surveys indicated that overall juvenile populations were probably better than at any time since the 1960s, with the upper Torridge showing signs of recovery and the main river producing significant numbers of fry and parr. The salmon fry populations on the Lew and Waldon in 1997 were particularly encouraging. Since the installation of a fish pass on Monkokehampton Weir in 1976, the Okement has remained the most productive tributary by far. The results of a limited survey in 2002 suggest that the situation has remained largely the same, although the good fry populations on the Lew and Waldon have not been sustained. Further surveys of the main river sites are required to confirm that productivity here has been maintained.A bit further on however there is some slightly less good news... Historically, the West Okement and certain tributaries have suffered from acidic and metalliferous pollution events associated with heavy rainfall following drought periods. These have resulted in major fish kills throughout the Okement. One of the main contributory factors was runoff from Meldon Quarry, and the lack of dilution below Meldon Reservoir. The situation at the quarry is now much improved, but there is still potential for naturally-occurring problems. Contingency plans have been drawn up to deal with any future incidents, including special releases from Meldon Reservoir and over-dosing the quarry discharge with caustic soda. It is important that these contingency plans are maintained and developed to provide an effective response if and when required, to safeguard the salmon populations of the Torridge.On the other hand if I can catch an Okement springer then anyone can! Andy |
|
|
|
Post by JB on Jan 11, 2014 11:01:23 GMT
Well for what its worth they can't be far away because I caught an 8lb springer at Shilstone (about 2 or 3 miles below Okehampton) in May 2002. This fish fell to a size ten Black Pennel. I have also read that within a few years of Monkokehampton weir being made passable (around 1980) salmon were observed spawning within Okehampton. So in a wet year I don't see why a few fish, especially sea trout, wouldn't run up into the East Okement. The West Okement might not be so good being strangled at birth by the dam. Incedentally I once caught some small but very pretty trout above Meldon but I'm not at all sure I had permission to fish... Andy Hi Andy, That is really interesting, and just what I was hoping to hear. I've heard a few different things about the WO above Meldon, same as the EO and Upper Taw - either that it is free fishing or covered by the Duchy ticket (though this is not explicitly stated anyway). I've asked a few questions in the town and the answer has generally been "nobody knows, but if you want to fish then no-one is going to stop you". I think I will have to take a night time stroll up the East Okement this summer, if the levels are okay. |
|
|
|
Post by JB on Jan 11, 2014 11:05:24 GMT
Last season I had a chat with a fella on the LAA water and he mentioned there having been salmon in the West Okement before they built Meldon reservoir. Just to add that I doubt that as Meldon was built around 1972 and the weir at Monkokehampton was not made passable until after this date. Andy That doesn't surprise me in the least, he said a few things which I found hard to believe - but I didn't feel possessed of sufficient knowledge to question it, not that there would have been any great purpose to doing so even if I were. For instance, he talked about salmon being so thick below Meldon that you could practically scoop them out, a statement I was suspicious of as the chap was definitely under 100 years old! |
|
|
|
Post by JB on Jan 11, 2014 11:13:05 GMT
Being at a bit of a loose nd I have had a dig around and found the River Torridge Salmon Action Plan from a few years ago. aquaticcommons.org/11131/1/Torridge_SAP_Final.pdfWhich contains the following giving the date of Monkokehampton fish pass as 1976 (so still after Meldon was built) and sounds encouraging about Okement salmon spawning. Monitoring of juvenile salmon populations indicates that there has been a partial recovery from the very poor levels recorded in the 1980s. The 1997/98 surveys indicated that overall juvenile populations were probably better than at any time since the 1960s, with the upper Torridge showing signs of recovery and the main river producing significant numbers of fry and parr. The salmon fry populations on the Lew and Waldon in 1997 were particularly encouraging. Since the installation of a fish pass on Monkokehampton Weir in 1976, the Okement has remained the most productive tributary by far. The results of a limited survey in 2002 suggest that the situation has remained largely the same, although the good fry populations on the Lew and Waldon have not been sustained. Further surveys of the main river sites are required to confirm that productivity here has been maintained.A bit further on however there is some slightly less good news... Historically, the West Okement and certain tributaries have suffered from acidic and metalliferous pollution events associated with heavy rainfall following drought periods. These have resulted in major fish kills throughout the Okement. One of the main contributory factors was runoff from Meldon Quarry, and the lack of dilution below Meldon Reservoir. The situation at the quarry is now much improved, but there is still potential for naturally-occurring problems. Contingency plans have been drawn up to deal with any future incidents, including special releases from Meldon Reservoir and over-dosing the quarry discharge with caustic soda. It is important that these contingency plans are maintained and developed to provide an effective response if and when required, to safeguard the salmon populations of the Torridge.On the other hand if I can catch an Okement springer then anyone can! Andy Ah ha! There's some science behind my feeling then. What an absolute shame though, the WO would be cracking spot otherwise. The West Okement by the castle is better for me, and there are plenty of small brownies in there too. I've not fished above the reservoir, the water immediately below it looks to have something wrong with it. Thanks for digging all this info up, I don't fish from the doorstep all that much but it's hard not to be drawn to the river. I did fish it a bit last year, both above and below the town - though I certainly didn't come anywhere near to your achievement in catching a springer. I did manage to fall in. I should probably join the Okehampton Rivers Improvement Group, it's just that, as they meet on a Saturday, a lot of the time that's when I'm fishing. |
|
|
|
Post by BarleBlanker on Jan 11, 2014 19:37:40 GMT
Thanks for digging all this info up You're welcome. I only fished the Okement a couple of times but I really liked what I saw, well you would with a springer landed wouldn't you! How has the poor old Torridge faired for salmon and sea trout in recent years. I guess 2013 was poor with the low water, any figures available yet? Andy |
|
|
|
Post by JB on Jan 11, 2014 20:50:38 GMT
I only fished the Torridge once last year and it wasn't great - however, as Pete knows, I have a special block when it comes to rivers beginning with the letter 'T'.
My grandfather fished the Torridge for salmon a lot out of the Half Moon Inn, I've always intended to follow in his footsteps but I'm totally in love with the Dart and never quite seem to find the occasion to do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by JFB on Jul 27, 2015 18:46:04 GMT
This is an old thread now but thought I'd post in case it's of any use and I'm interested in the outcome...
I fished the river for brown trout as a boy and can remember my surprise the first time I saw a salmon in the water at my feet (around 1986 or 1987 but can't be sure).
The salmon used to tail walk while waiting in the pools and could be seen off both the West and East Okement bridges (plaques were fitted to the bridges informing the reader on the salmon in the water below them).
I used to watch the salmon late summer / early autumn until I joined the RAF and left the area in 1989. It was not uncommon to see 5 - 6 salmon waiting to move through the restriction in the East Okement in the centre of town (by the car park through the arch next to the church. Salmon could also be seen spawning here in the shallow water.
I've not seen the salmon for years now but would love to take my son to see them. So my question is are they still there each year?
|
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Jul 27, 2015 21:55:27 GMT
When we had our works meal ( Christmas 2013) at the Indian in the town and we parked in a car park where you could look into the East Okement over a stone wall (through the arch next to the church) and there were large fish in the pool (maybe 3 or 4) couldn't tell if they were sea trout or salmon though. I fish the river for brown trout and have to say despite looking into the deeper pools on numerous occasions I haven't seen any sign of salmon or sea trout, but I do catch a couple of parr each season so there must be some that make it up there.
|
|
jfb
New Member
Posts: 1 
|
Post by jfb on Jul 28, 2015 5:51:45 GMT
The fish I'm talking about were in the region of 2 - 3 foot long, does this compare to what you saw? From what I can remember by December the run of fish would have been finished by then. It sounds as if we were looking from the same spot in town (behind where Vicks and Partners estate agents used to be - Mansbridge & Balment now I think). |
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Jul 28, 2015 17:24:45 GMT
Yes about two feet long , date would have been mid December, used to see them under Fingle bridge on the Teign well into december, not sure about the run on the Okement or even if they still exist there!!
|
|
