Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Taming of the Tamar
Browns Angling’s Graham West heads to Upper Tamar Lake and explains why you shouldn’t be afraid of fishing large reservoirs
AS WE drive through the countryside, or even major cities, we occasionally come across a vast expanse of water, often a source to support local communities. As anglers, we all ask the same question: “I wonder if there are any fish in there?”. The chances are it’s absolutely full of fish. Most of these venues are owned by local water authorities and they need to strike a natural balance with wildlife and fish, hence the stocking of our favourite species. Some of these inland seas have been made famous by their angling pedigree. Sywell Reservoir, for its massive tench, Ardleigh Reservoir for its big bream, Grafham Water for its trout , perch and colossal pike and, of course, Bough Beech, the home of the FeederMasters final and some of the biggest pike in the UK. And who could forget, smack bang in the middle of London, the Walthamstow complex – made famous by TV programmes and its enormous carp? If you are brave enough to tackle these expansive waters the rewards can be fantastic. Most of them are rammed with fish, and with the correct guidance you could quite possibly have the session of a lifetime.
Careful preparation
When faced with such a vast amount of water it can be daunting. It’s crucial that you do your homework before you attempt to tame the beast. Social media is an amazing resource when tackling new venues, but speak to the staff at any local tackle shops to enquire about the best areas to fish for the species you are targeting. Over the years I have fished many reservoirs,
“To put it bluntly... it is wild fishing at its very best”
but in recent years no reservoir has got me more excited than the enormous 81-acre south-west gem of the Upper Tamar Lake. This reservoir is stuffed full of fish, with some massive perch recorded, carp over 40lb and more roach and skimmers than I’ve ever witnessed in a fishery. To put it bluntly... it’s wild fishing at its very best! Tamar is situated on the border of Devon and Cornwall and when you arrive you’re given the option of the Cornwall bank or the Devon bank. As with most big reservoirs, the hive of activities, sailing boats, canoes, yachting clubs are all situated by the entrance and car parks, so for a bit of tranquillity expect a bit of a walk with your gear to reach the rich fishing grounds.
Braving the elements
With the IYCF cameras in tow I decided to fish the Devon bank, and headed across the dam wall towards my chosen area with my barrow loaded to the hilt. Tamar is open to the elements and the weather can be breezy. Today was no exception. We were faced with wind speeds of 25mph30mph and possible gusts of 50mph. It was because of this that I chose the long walk to fish the Devon arm, which would hopefully provide a little shelter from the elements. Now, let me set the scene. It’s the middle of December, most of the UK has been hit by heavy snow and it’s been raining for five days non-stop in this area so the reservoir was at the highest level and the most coloured I’d ever seen it. The plan was to keep things simple. With depths averaging 13ft, the arm is an excellent area for big weights of roach and skimmers, plus the chance of some giant perch. During a festival in October I caught three perch in a match for a combined weight of 9lb 7oz, and I know specimens of more than 5lb have been recorded. On this occasion I opted for an out-and-out feeder approach. I paired a Preston Innovations 11ft 2in Sentient feeder rod with a PCR 4000 reel loaded with 5lb mono. The business end comprised a 60cm hooklength with a size 16 PR355 hook. Because of the size of venues such as Tamar it’s a possibility that your chosen swim hasn’t seen any bait for a few weeks. I like to feed heavily to try and get the fish into my area, and started by
throwing in 10 balls of groundbait at 18 metres. My feeder was then cast over the top and once it hit the bottom I clipped up so that I could hit the same spot every time. My groundbait mix was a triple Sonubaits mix of F1 Dark , Supercrumb Bream and a bag of my own Sonubaits prototype skimmers groundbait. This was laced with chopped worms, dead red maggots, casters and a generous helping of red squatts – a perfect meal for hungry skimmers. As with all fishing, varying your hookbaits can be crucial. Don’t be afraid to try everything until you find which bait gives you the most bites. This simple feeder approach produced close to 20lb of skimmers despite the horrific conditions. Even though none of Tamar’s monster perch put in an appearance, it was well worth the long walk. I’ll conclude by urging you not to be afraid of tackling venues such as Tamar Reservoir. Yes, they are enormous and daunting, and you will probably have to walk a fair way to catch. But don’t let that deter you from one of the best day’s fishing you’re ever likely to enjoy.