Lower East Dart fishing and access

[johnesmithson]

I'm interested in exploring brown trout fishing on the East Dart around Babeny and up to Bellever. Is anyone familiar with this stretch? I can't see anywhere obvious to park other than at Bellever, but that means a long walk downstream before you can start to fish back up again. Any tips gratefully received thanks!

[boisker]

I've fished that stretch a few times, some nice water. I pretty much do what you already suggested park up and walk downstream, I quite like it that way- do the walking at the start of the day, fish back to the car rather than a long walk back at the end of the day.

[jezney]

You could also Park at badgers Holt at Dartmeet and walk up.

Not sure if you can park near babeny farm and walk down the wallabrook.That would be the shortest.

There are fishing restrictions above badgers Holt up to the wallabrook I think.

I really need to get on the dart soon to be honest and bellever is one of my favorite spots.
I walk down past the white house and fish back up for a few hours.

[johnesmithson]

Thank you both very much for the advice, I hope to get down there soon.

[pusser]

I take it you just buy a ticket on the Westcountry Angling Passport scheme?

[jezney]

You can buy them at various outlets too.

I get mine at either Postbridge post office,or white heart at Moretonhampstead.

[johnesmithson]

Here's my match report from last weekend on East Dart. Babeny Stables said I couldn't park on their access road so I headed to Bellever as recommended by Boisker and walked downstream along the ridge to the east of the river, keeping out of the treacherous valley floor (man-eating bogs, boulders, gorse etc). Next 5 hours were a very enjoyable assault course as I waded most of the way back to Bellever. Somehow I didn't fall in, but I did put an impressive bend in my wading stick which got trapped between two rocks. Lots of rises to #16 Black Klinkhamer but nothing stuck until I switched to #14 black bodied EHC on which I had three nice fish up to 9 ins in quick succession near Laughter Hole. Downstream wind really got up in the afternoon which made it tricky to present the fly properly. Although my fish to cast ratio was spectacularly small I had a lovely day out, and saw some great birds and insects. Will post a couple of pics if I can work out how to load them.

[johnesmithson]

Haven't managed to upload my pictures yet. I've followed Pete's instructions using Photobucket but when I click on IMG then copy and paste into the thread it gives a web address rather than showing the image. Help please!

[pusser]

Tried to post instructions but the forum keeps reading the code and won't display the full text because of the forum tags.

[johnesmithson]

Hopefully uploading now...

[BarleBlanker]

Thanks for posting these pictures. They remind me of happy days scrambling about the Dartmoor streams.


Andy