West Dart

[troutbum]

Now I'm getting really excited.

I have a day pass for tomorrow (Wednesday) and will be heading for the West Dart mid morning ish. Just a few small errands to run in the morning and then its cooked breccy at the cafe leading to the moor and pick up a ticket in Princetown.

Good reading about all you guys who were out on Sunday, and hopefully these boards will be full of reports of browns, sea trout and salmon in the coming weeks - cant wait.

Hopefully I will have something to report tomorrow evening.

Mark

[BarleBlanker]

Best of luck. You couldn't ask for better weather in mid March.


Andy

[troutbum]

Thanks Andy

Will update on here later as I want to add some photos

Mark

[troutbum]

Fished the West Dart on Wednesday and decided start the season as I mean to go on by fishing dry fly. Chose a size #18 Bob Wyatt style DHE tied with a dark olive body.

I was amazed at the number of fish that were looking upwards and managed to see many lightning quick rises. I say 'see' because after the long winter lay off I was about a week late on the strike!!!! Managed to land a few browns though and there were a few parr about also. Nothing of note size wise but more on that later. The river was looking fantastic and was absolutely crystal clear. The weather was unbelievable for mid March and I did not need a jumper or coat all day - just t-shirt with a shirt over the top.



Glorious eh !!! Thats a controlled gorse burn on the distant hillside.

The was an incident which is still clear in my mind and will probably stay there for a long while yet. I was fishing the head of a deeper pool and allowed the fly to drift a little longer as there was no drag. All of a sudden a dark shape swam slowly across the pool and then just like a big reservoir rainbow calmly head and tailed to take my fly. My jaw hit the water at such a sight and I missed him by a mile but my conservative estimate was 15+ inches !!!!!! I tried for him again and on my way back down the river but not a sign - but I know where he lives and I'll be back.



Home of the West Dart monster !!



The view on my way back - The West Dart looks like a bar of liquid silver on the valley floor.

Mark

[Pete Tyjas]

Hi Mark,

great report...I know the spot well and being a gentleman I will always give it a wide birth until I hear you have caught him!!

[troutbum]

Ha Ha Thanks Pete

Be my guest next time you are there. I had my chance and he took which is the main thing.

Please have a go and dont forget to upload the photo if you get him/her.

Mark

[Pete Tyjas]

No chance Mark, you did the work, you go catch him, I won't be up for a little bit anyway.

[BarleBlanker]

Excellent report Mark. Best of luck with the monster!
Amazing weather for March.
Is that up above Two Bridges?


Andy

[loopy]

Mark
I have read that report of yours three times now and am absolutely mesmerised.

Thanks for the report and thank you for your photos.

[troutbum]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Andy you are spot on. It is above Two Bridges I think Pete likes to call it the high country.

Thanks Loopy, get fishing and get a report on here asap.

If anyone is thinking about the high country always let someone know where you are and what time you will be back, Not being a kill joy but mobile signals are sporadic at best and phone boxes are non existant. the day I was there the weather was fantastic but I was keeping an eye on the mist which did start coming down at around 4.30, Not the place to be if you cant see your fly infront of your face!!!

Mark

[Guest]

I went fishing on the West Dart for the first time recently 7th Sept. I bought my permit & a pasty from the post offce at Postbridge, then drove to the quarry car park at Two Bridges. After tackleing up I walked up the track towards the farmhouse Before I got there I turned left down across the field to the river. The weather was a bit misty/ light drizzle but cleared later. I then had a great few hours fishing up past the farm catching plenty of beautifully marked Browns Most were caught on size 20 Black Klinks or small Gold head PTNs in Black or Natural. All in all a great day I will be back again next season. Chris. PS I will try to put some photos on here!