Hi all, have a holiday booked soon at Sidmouth and will be sneaking the rods in . Never been to the area for some time and looking for some advice about rivers in the area. Nearest river is the Otter, but seems there are few day tickets to be had. Seems there is some free fishing below Otterton towards the sea, is this worth a cast?
Any info please.

Steve

Can't help you with your fishing but wet a line earlier in the year as a guest and loved it. Hoping to get that way in a couple of weeks time.

Someone once descibed it as the "Test in the West" - I don't know about that but a super river all the same.

Best of luck.

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[COLOR="Blue"]"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"[/COLOR]

Samuel Taylor Colridge - Ode to the River Otter:

Dear native brook! wild streamlet of the West!
How many various-fated years have passed,
What happy and what mournful hours, since last
I skimmed the smooth thin stone along thy breast,
Numbering its light leaps! Yet so deep impressed
Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes
I never shut amid the sunny ray,
But straight with all their tints thy waters rise,
Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey,
And bedded sand that, veined with various dyes,
Gleamed through thy bright transparence! On my way,
Visions of childhood! oft have ye beguiled
Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs:
Ah! that once more I were a careless child!


I used to fly fish the Otter as a little boy with my Dad; we never caught a thing

Below Otterton at White Bridge there is parking. I believe the fishing is free from there to either Iron or Clammour Bridge. Absolutely shed loads of mullet and I have seen folk spinning for peal through there. There is a nice tea room at Otterton Mill and it is a pleasant walk along the banks to Budleigh Salterton with dog walkers, cows, cyclists etc etc... Access into the water is not consistent so take thigh waders.

Good luck and if you feel the need to take a fish back to Sidmouth with you, there is a fine fishmonger on Budleigh Salterton High Street.

I hope you enjoy East Devon, it really is very nice but as for being 'The Test of The West..... Well that gave me a good laugh (although I believe that some of the water further up beyond Otterton is good)



All the very best


DN

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

Devon Corporate Events Fly and Course Fishing - Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown and Rainbow Trout on various rivers and lakes throught Devon

Devon Corporate Events, Otter Lodge, Weston, Devon EX14 3PF.
01404 548 373 | 07980 783072

This company have 2 miles of bank on the Otter and other rivers. They charge £20 per day or £15 for an evening ticket.

BK

the strectch from the mouth of the river back to the first bridge is free.
definately worth a cast for a sea trout and also the bass enter the mouth of the river.
My mate caught a nice 4 1/2lb sea trout last year from that area.

Just had a days guiding cancelled today because of this weather, although the salmon and sea trout will welcome it down my way.

cheers
Richard

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Richard Jackson
Fly fishing instruction and guiding in the heart of Devon
www.devonflyfisher.com

The first Bridge is White Bridge, Richard.... We always fished above there as kids. I could be wrong but I believe it to be free to Iron Bridge which is the second - I am pretty sure that is the case

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

Just checked - yes free above White (road bridge) as far as Clamour (first foot bridge).

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

I cant remember the name of the bridge ,but the first bridge from the mouth of the river is where it is free from downwards.

Its a lovely peice of water and my x brother in law had a lovely Brownie of 3lb from there.Plenty of sea Trout and huge mullet as DM said,Spent many days weeks and hours fishing here.You used to be able to park beside the bridge and just down the path and across the bridge and fish down from there.Some nice pools.

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Kevin

Many thanks for all the replys. I will have a look at the free water towards the sea, are you allowed to night fish here?
I did hear there is some fishing in the Deer park, but it was pretty expensive. Does anyone know this stretch and is it good enough to justify splashing out.
Any other rivers in the area worth a look?

Steve

You could night fish it ten or so years ago ,do be careful some of the banks are rather steep,I remember falling in ,going back to the car change of clothes and catching a couple of seatrout (small) in the pool I fell into .

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!