Matt Pepperel and Chris Hudson take top honors at Mainline Baits Carp Open

Matt Pepperel and Chris Hudson claimed the top prize at Upper Tamar Lake’s Carp Open with three carp totaling 46lb 5oz, winning £2,000 and setting the stage for an exciting autumn of angling

Matt Pepperel and Chris Hudson won the Mainline Baits Carp Open top prize of £2,000 at Upper Tamar lake with three carp totalling 46lb 5oz.

Dan Hole and Jack Chilligworth were runners up with three carp for 44lb 7oz and received the second prize of £1,000.

Third place and £500 was taken by John Kneebone and Wayne Batemen with 41lb 12oz.

Jamie Lashbrook caught a stunning common carp of 32lb from Bulldog Fisheries near Barnstaple.

Autumn is a great time to target carp as they often go on a feeding spree as the cooler months approach.

Jennet’s Reservoir near Bideford has produced some excellent catches in recent weeks.

As the cooler Autumn weather sets in small-stillwater trout fisheries start to produce some superb sport.

Bulldog Fishery has a fine trout lake stocked with rainbow trout, tiger trout, and brown trout.

It is a perfect venue for a social fishing session with a fishing lodge and easy access banks.

Stephen Found won Bideford Angling Club’s monthly rover with a thornback ray of 8lb 13oz. Andrew Clements was second and third with a bass of 6lb and a conger of 17lb 1oz.

Appledore Shipbuilders’ rover was won by Andrew Atkinson with a specimen rockling of 2lb. Runner up was Josh Atkinson with a bull huss of 10lb 15.25oz and Andrew Atkinson third with a huss of 8lb 12oz.

Combe Martin SAC held a weekend long competition for the mullet anglers in the club that was fished between seven keen members. Fishing a variety of marks a total of 32 mullet were caught over five tides.

The winning fish, a fine specimen thick lipped grey mullet, fell to the rod of Callum Gove and weighed 5lb 2oz. Daniel Welch was runner up with a thick lipped grey mullet of 3lb 14oz.

Members concentrated their efforts over high waters that coincided with first and last light each day with members fishing from pre-dawn until after dark on some tides.

The competition concluded with a full English and tea and coffee in the Lynmouth Pavilion.

Reece Woolgar caught a stunning bass of 73.5cm to extend his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure fishing league. Reece has now recorded five bass for a total length of 334.5cm. I am in runner up spot with five bass for 310cm.