Fly Fishing on Devon's rivers and stillwaters

The River Teign rises on Dartmoor above Chagford. It is a classic Dartmoor spate or freestone river and holds a good head of wild brown trout known for their beautiful colouring and fighting qualities. Fly fishing extends for over 8 miles from the moorland village of Chagford down to Steps Bridge near the village of Dunsford.

Below Chagford the river runs gently through pasture land down as far as Drogo Pool, noted as a good holding pool for salmon and sea trout. Below Drogo the river is for the most part fast moving down through the 'gorge' to Fingle Pool, then on to Fingle Bridge, Upperton Pool and down to Clifford Bridge, below which it passes through an SSSI nature reserve to Steps Bridge where the UTFA fishing ends.

The Upper Teign is looked after by the Upper Teign Fishing Association (UTFA) - see Links.

The Rivers Yeo, Creedy and Culvery are typical of many meandering lowland Devon rivers characterised by their abundant fly life amid the cattle grazing pastures of mid Devon. The fishing extends over five miles of the Rivers Creedy, Yeo and Culvery,  most of which is double bank fishing.  

The rivers fish particularly well early in the season and have abundant fly life, including a Mayfly hatch, which together with a healthy abundance of aquatic flies and terrestrials ensure superb opportunities to fish the dry fly for wild brown trout throughout most of the season.

Because of the abundant wild trout population these rivers are not stocked. which controls the fishing on these rivers, one of the few angling clubs in the South West which is able to offer true wild brown trout fishing.

Bridesmere Lake lies in a secluded valley above the River Teign. It is a private 2 acre lake, nestling in a tranquil position surrounded by deciduous woods and hillside pastures.

Here I take my clients for stillwater fishing techniques or for basic fly casting lessons on Mondays before letting them loose on the sometimes quite technical Westcountry rivers.

Being a private lake and syndicated out to just 2 anglers per day ensures almost exclusive use for me and my clients on Mondays, a great bonus as it is in complete contrast to the crowded and sometimes pressurised 'put & take' commercial stillwater fisheries often used by instructors elsewhere.

The season opens on 15 March and closes on 30 September.

Helemoor Fishery is a beautiful little 'catch & release' fishery near to Moretonhampstead in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park. This 2 acre lake contains a healthy stock of both rainbow and brown trout, some of which grow to 8-10 lbs.

It is refreshing to have the use of a 'catch & release' stillwater in the Dartmoor National Park and I use Helemoor for both basic casting lessons and for those who have progressed beyond the early stages and who are casting well. Here fishermen learn to play trout humanely and skillfully, releasing them quickly and efficiently by the use of barbless hooks to fight another day. The fish here are quite superb in condition and they are not easy to fool!

There is no close season at Helemoor so instruction can go on throughout the autumn and winter.

Kennick Reservoir lies near Christow and Bridford above the beautiful Teign valley in the Dartmoor National Park. It is owned by South West Water and is restricted to angling activities only which are administered by the South West Lakes Trust.

It is well stocked with rainbow trout throughout the season. Kennick arguably provides the best reservoir angling in Devon and is fished from both boat and bank. I use it for large stillwater fishing techniques and boat fishing.

The season runs from 15 March to 31 October. Day Permits are £18.50, evening £15 and over 65s £15. Boats £11 per day, booking essential.

The Devon Fly Fishing Experience