Fly fishing on Dartmoor

Well this session started off rather slow but picked up nicely towards the end, it's always a pleasure to fish in such stunning surroundings. The Trout may be small but they are no less of a challenge from an angling point of view.
Whickhams fancy variant • Fly Tying Whickham's f...

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

An artist's and photographer's paradise as wel.. You are very fortunate to live n that region. :-)

[@paulackland3383]

Look forward to seeing the footage, well done catching on dries.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Lucky man-what a ravishing stream! :-) Gorgeous fish.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

It's a lovely spot, Terry, and generally, the trout are free rising (hooking them is another matter). Next year, I'm definitely going to explore the Duchy fishery a bit more. 26 km of rivers available, apparently.

[@flyfishingscotland863]

Such a beautiful we stream

[@paultownsend6043]

They maybe small, but there wild trout perfection, and what a place to spend a few hours, fantastic.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Cheers Paul, I know there's probably been some stocking down stream over the years but I still like to think that there is some remnant of the original strain of trout that have been living in these streams for thousands of years. I may be completely wrong but it's a nice thought and in keeping with the wild nature of the place.

[@mikehudson9083]

As usual, a lovely bit of filming on a lovely bit of river.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thanks Mike, Dartmoor is so photogenic it almost films itself! Got some great footage of a pair of dippers today, it's about so much more than just the fishing isn't it?

[@marcwinkels9328]

Really enjoying your videos. Beautiful country side.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

As a wise man once said "Trout only live in beautiful places" really glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@paulackland3383]

Cracking brownies Chris, you have to be so fast hooking up on those moorland trout. We are so lucky to have these rivers on our doorstep. Video and audio quality is excellent. I really enjoyed the film. Going to give the Culm another go tomorrow, optimistically hoping the river won't be to high.Think i may need my wading staff.Just wish it would stop raining for a while.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I think the Culm might be OK Paul, it is spring fed so should clear a bit quicker than the Crediton streams . Totally agree we are really lucky to have these wonderful moorland streams on our doorstep. I've never timed it right myself but apparently you can get some good hatches of grannom on the Culm so keep a look out. According to Mo it can pay to fish sub surface with a pupae pattern if they ignore your dries. Tight lines.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Did you get to the Culm Paul? I met Mo on the Yeo yesterday and he was saying there has been some good grannom hatches up there.

[@DaviekFlyFishing]

Stunning part of the world Chris, great to see a skilled angler at work! For what its worth I didn't think you were too crabbit!

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thanks Davie, I must remember crabbit ("in a bad temper, out of humour") what a great Scottish word, I'll admit I had to look it up👍

[@fieldsman3307]

hi Chris, with you and LB at the same time i'm made up, every time I see your stream I just want to be there.....we have the garlic and bluebells in flower but rarely a rising fish but at least you were catching plenty , thanks for a lovely video. ATB Mike

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Cheers Mike, yep I've watched the LB video twice already 👍 I just wish they were a bit longer! Planning a return trip next week when hopefully the Garlic and bluebells will be out, the fishing should start to pick up soon as long as the river levels behave. Not sure why I was so grumpy in this one, bad day at work I think, it soon wore off once I connected with a couple.

[@CornishChrisTheFish]

Great video Chris, I love the Streams on Dartmoor

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thanks Chris, yes it's a really magical place. Many congratulations on the springer BTW hopefully the first of many 👍

[@martincorcoran8263]

Fish size is only reletave, you got out, caught some fish and you enjoyed yourself. Fish on my friend.👍

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thanks Martin, I think I need to go back and do a lot more practice🙂 looking back at the footage I'm not sure why I was on such a downer? I think the poor spring is starting to get me down?

[@nickreeves2752]

Another few weeks and it will be stunning hey ! Great to see all that super clean water and the moor brownies. Tight lines to you my man

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Many thanks, the bluebells are well out lower down but high up on the Moor its always a week or so behind. I will try and get back and film them again 👍

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

Idyllic fairy land stream! this looks like something from Tolkien! Excellent video Chris, just to prove that size doesn't matter!! very high quality resolution, felt as if I was standing there with you. 👍

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thanks David, I've increased the resolution to 2.7k, it makes my computer struggle a bit when rendering but it forgives me in the end! If I ever win the lottery I'll go all out and try 4k 😆

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 I always do mine on 4k, I bought a 16gig laptop last year, but I can't get that quality of image, maybe its my cameras and phone ! More money.....🤣

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 having said that, it's a lot to do with the quality of light, I'm out a lot last 2 hours of daylights rather than midday

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I've tried 4k David but my poor old laptop objected somewhat. I think light is the key, these action cameras have a pretty small sensor and they just can't gather enough of it as the light fades. I've tried changing the iso and stuff as advised on youtube but you'll never get past the sensor size.

[@paulackland3383]

Hi Chris, yes I fished the Culm yesterday. The river was really fast with a strong tinge of tea. There was very little fly life, no hawthorn, only a few grannom, olives and a solitary large early Mayfly. Having a wading staff was a godsend, i really advise anyone to use one especially when the river is high. Did manage to winkle out a few trout on the nymph, using the duo method. Had my largest trout on the Crediton waters so far a beautifully marked trout of 14 inches. Beware the electric fence, ouch. Did you manage wet a line this weekend or were the Crediton waters to high and coloured. Had more heavy rain this morning, oh for normal weather. Tight lines Paul

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Hi Paul, well done on the 14" fish, you'll do well to beat that this season. The Culm is known for having the biggest fish in our waters, I really should fish it more often! I went to the Yeo at Uton Bridge, it was coloured but still fishable. I found the odd rising fish here and there and managed to just fish dries which was nice, caught a few best about 11". Recorded some cracking footage of a pair of dippers by strapping the camera to a tree and hiding out of sight with a remote control 👍

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Beautiful stream. Great fishing video

[@peterlaidler3895]

The water is fair pushing through Chris. Certainly in comparison to your other visits to the Moor. Some lovely fish, especially the last. Yet another enjoyable video. Thanks for all your efforts filming and editing. cheers

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thanks Peter, I did have a couple of "better not tell the wife about that slip" moments🙂 it's surprising how much force there is in that little stream when it's only 6" higher than normal. I actually quite enjoy the filming/editing and I make it a rule not to take the cameras every time. To anyone thinking of having a go I can thoroughly recommend it.

[@peterlaidler3895]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 Good morning Chris, honesty is not always the best policy. My good lady would have a fit had she known the amount of times I have lost my footing on my local spate river and gone for a ducking. I always take my "third leg" [wading stick] with my now. Age has dented my gung ho confidence somewhat, but hey, you see a fish move and you have to rise to the challenge. tight lines.

[@mylesreilly5912]

Very nice fishing well done.

[@thetattooedangler]

Those little parr can be an absolute nuisance some days, but when that's all that's biting theyre a godsend. I've had many a good days fishing that was saved from an early finish by half a dozen 5 inchers keeping me going.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Yes mate , they all count, even a little chap can be a relief when your staring at a blank. To be fair the fish on this stream don't get very big, an 8" fish is a good one and a 10" one would be a monster! Its all relative in the end isn't it.

[@thetattooedangler]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 I started out fishing on a wee burn very similar to this one, and was used to catching fish about 6-8 inches long. anything bigger got you in the local paper.

[@alfiekeele]

I've been waiting for this video to come out since I met you that day, we were just out wild swimming. Lovely fishing. Well done man.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Glad you found the channel, have you managed a cast yourself yet?

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

That was my first visit of the year so I haven't seen it brown? All the Crediton rivers turn brown after rain but they're running through farmland and you can see the dirty water pouring out of the fields and down the roads, not good. But this river runs straight off the granite of Dartmoor so I'd be interested to hear of any theories people have?

[@alfiekeele]

@Chris Matthews Fly Fishing Yes, people are saying sewage, but I find this very unlikely this far upstream. My theory is a mud slip somewhere on the moors. Either way I have seen trout survive much worse and I'm sure the stream will be back to crystal clear soon.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Or possibly Army manoeuvres up at the camp churning up the ground?

[@alfiekeele]

@Chris Matthews Fly Fishing That's definitely a possibility also. Water is looking clearer now, so whatever it was has passed.

[@johnmaskell5124]

Lovely spot! What length rod and what hook size are you using for that stream?

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Hi John, the rod is a 6' 6" two weight and the hook was a size 16 which might have been a bit big for some of these fish. Little size 20 Klinkhammers can give better hook ups but I needed something to bring the fish up on this occasion.

[@Speysider1962]

👍

[@martincorcoran8263]

P'S : love your channel

[@jimbutler6925]

Great video and a lovely spot - where is that stream (if you don't mind me asking)? I'd love to go there with my camera.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Is this the same Jim Butler (pusser) from the Devon Rivers forum? If so could I send you a private message on there?

[@jimbutler6925]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 yes it is Chris, thanks

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Right you are Jim, I'll pop some details on there.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I sent it jim but its not showing on my message history, did anything come through?

[@jimbutler6925]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 Got it, thanks, and replied

[@Jommm]

hi mate whats the rod youre using??

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

It's a 6'6" 2 weight v-lite Maxcatch rod. It seems to perform better "overlined " so I've put a 3 weight on it. Thanks for watching 👍

[@Jommm]

is this reel strong enough for salmon, im a newbie to fly fishing, also which fly line do you use? thanks@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724

[@Jommm]

also did that come with a reel and if not, which did you use@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724