Hello everybody, reckoned I'd introduce myself.

My name is Ben, and I've fly-fished since I was about 11 (I'm 26 now) but haven't done much at all for the last few years as pretty much all of my fishing has been plugging for bass. I recently went trouting with a friend, realised what I'd been missing and now fully intend to make up for lost time! I have a few questions for anybody from down this way who doesn't mind helping me out.
First things first, my casting is pretty rusty (I was never Lefty Kreh anyhow but I used to have some sort of intuitive technique and timing that seems to have gone for a burton), can anyone recommend a good instructor based somewhere near me (Newquay)?
Secondly, does anyone know what became of Full Bag Fishery in Cubert? I remember that they closed with a lice problem a ways back but never found out if they re-opened. It'd be a real shame if that place is no more, it had a lot of character.
Thirdly, I've fished my local river (the Gannel) and the river that runs through St. Mawgan (Menalhyl) but would like to branch out. I know rivers like the Camel and the Fowey by their reputation for salmon and sea trout but what is the trout fishing like? I'm mainly interested in catching (and releasing!) browns, I know about and intend to visit Colliford and I used to get the odd nice brown at Rose Park, but are there any other waters (still or running) around Cornwall that I've missed that have good fishing for spotties?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Ben

Have a look on the Angling 2000 website! a good little stream near you would be the river Allen,a camel trib.Its £5 a day and I had some cracking
sport in early may a couple of years ago.Also they have a stretch of the camel,which mentions the trouting is good in may and june
You need a short fly rod for the Allen but 8-9 foot is fine for the camel.

Worth having a day with a guide from somewhere like the Arundle Arms,Lifton.
You will pick up alot of info on casting and techniques.I'm not sure about
instructors around Newquay,sorry.

Good luck

CF

Thanks Canefly, I'd not heard of the Angling 2000 scheme before.

I did go to the Arundel Arms with my old man when I was younger but the guide mainly helped my dad. I probably wouldn't have listened if he had tried to give me some advice as I was a bit headstrong back then! I think their prices would be a bit out of my range these days.
The AAPGAI website lists three casting instructors for Cornwall; Annie Chapman, Gary Champion and Howard Tonkin - I mainly wanted to see if someone vouched for one of them or suggested a good alternative.

Thanks again for the info, I think I'll have to pay the Allen a visit sometime this year!

Hi Supernaut

Welcome to the Forum.

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

Supernaut,

Camel and Fowey trout fishing is not really encouraged, when I was a member of Liskeard & District AA they said that members should have a migratory (salmon/sea trout) licence. I never saw many trout in the bits of the Fowey that I fished anyway.
As has already been said the Angling2000 waters are worth a look (some nice looking beats on the Ottery) and there is a Bude AA with 3 miles of the upper Tamar which might be worth a look. Details for Bude AA can be found in Get Hooked http://www.gethooked.co.uk/


Andy

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Hi mate
I'm at Indian Queens, as you know if you want brown trout fishing Cornwall is not the best place, even the Camel and Fowey don't produce big fish if that's what your after. Colliford is about the best we have and I think me and my mates are going up on Sunday opening day, and your welcome to come along.
full bag has gone to course
If you want to join St.Mawgan AA their A G M is on Friday 20th at the Merrymore pub at Magan Porth price per year 2 or 3 quid and they get a sea trout run
other than this Temple, Tree Meadow, Siblyback, Stithians and Drift all have some browns in but the skill there is to get past the rainbows.
We can work on your casting
good luck
mike

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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,9 bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey bee.

Hi Supernaut, Welcome to the forum. I know that Garry Champion is well thought of although I have no personal experience. There is a fellow I can recommend as a guide in Devon. Gary Pearson- ex England rivers team and all-round good guy. I had a day with him on the Inny- a tributory of the Tamar I believe. I learned a huge amount and had a great day's fishing.
He has a website-www.comeflyfishing.co.uk.
Hope this is of some use
Paul

Thanks Loopy!

Exerod: Ah, I suspected that would be the case. I've seen some lovely trout in the Fowey myself... at Trago Mills! No fishing there, of course. Those Ottery beats do look nice, I'll probably have a good nose around the Tamar system once I get going. Ta for the info!

Marazion Midge: Hello! Yes, it'd be nice to have a few more options around. I'm not especially looking for big fish - 90% of my river fishing has been on the Gannel where a palm-sized trout is a nice one. My only real problems with the Gannel are that the available stretch is heavily affected by the tide and is boggy and estuarine as well as being pretty short. The Menalhyl was much more pleasant to fish and felt more like a trout stream. I've been re-reading Mike Weaver's "In Puruit of Wild Trout" and feeling the urge to find water more like he describes in his accounts.
I fished Temple when it first opened but I can't remember if I liked it or not. If I went up that way I'd go to Rose Park at Altarnun. I've had some beautiful wild brownies there in the past. I presume it's still open although the gentleman that owned and operated the lake was getting on a bit and it must be at least 6/7 years since I last went.
Tree Meadow is where my friend and I fished recently. The top lake was completely drained for cleaning (although apparently it will be back in order for April or thereabouts) so we had to fish the "specimen" pond. I've actually never fished a large water before so have never been to Siblyback, Stithians or Drift (or Colliford for that matter). They're all on my "to fish" list.
I won't actually start fishing until April (I don't have a licence for last season and the tiny drop of Yorkshire blood I have in me objects to the principle of stumping up for one-dayers at £3.50). In the meantime my activities are confined to sorting through my kit, retying my flies and practicing casting (as well as learning to drive at the comparatively ripe old age of 26!). Thanks for offering to show me the ropes at Colliford, I'll gladly take you up on that later on if that's alright!
Terrible shame about Full Bag. I used to love it there.
Thanks for the info about St. Mawgan AA, will definitely go along and join up.

Pan: Hi! Yes, I reckon I'll give Gary Champion a call. I've heard of him before and I'm pretty keen to smooth my casting out ASAP. I'll certainly consider paying Gary Pearson a visit, his prices seem fair and I'd like to get some first-hand guidance on rivercraft a bit further down the line.

Cheers for your answers, everybody!

Ben

Ben

I have used Gary Pearson and he is a top bloke! I'm having a couple of days with him again in May on the Teign. His fees are very reasonable and it's not just a day fishing - it's about understanding what to do and why which stands me in good stead when i'm foshing on my own.....after all, actually catching fish is more enjoyable than just going fishing!

Enjoy!

Regards

Peter

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Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/

rose park is still going but no more browns, its £5 to fish then £1.75 per lb for the fish, same old bloke owns it.
Gary Champion is a first class instructor as is his wife but is a bit over priced.
my friend has been to another chap don't know his name but meant to be very good, will try to find out
If I can be of any help let me know by pm if you like, I'm a bit worried about the Yorkshire blood! but that's better than Devonshire i spoze.

__________________
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,9 bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey bee.