2008 Season 

June 1st Axe is 0.5m and clearing well, perhaps a bit much colour for night fishing but its so hot and muggy I might be tempted to have a go! Tomorrow - with no more rain should be perfect! Reports will soon be moving to www.riveraxe.co.uk/blog  where comments can be left. Tightlines a few should be caught this week.

May 29th Axe still high after more rain yesterday, better but still quite coloured and 0.9m.

May 27th Axe is still high at 1.1m and chocolate, perhaps spinable tomorrow. May 26th Axe is 1.2m and heavily coloured, hold fire for a day or two.

May 23rd A Chilly easterly and little cloud last night and a quiet start to the evenings sea trouting. Then on long walk back to the car some cloud moved over had a quick cast in a few likely spots and caught a sea liced 3lber.

May 20th Axe still had a bit of colour and pushing through quite quickly last evening, chilly wind and looked as if it was going to be very quiet. However a bit of cloud cover kept the temperature reasonable and managed a few trout and nice little 2 lb sea trout on a tube

May 19th Axe had a bit of colour last evening, a quick swish round with a fly after tescos visit nothing much seen although loads of trout rising to some Mayflies. A few sea trout caught last Friday, best 8lb!

May 17th Axe still coloured but a few more to 3lb on spinners.

May 15th Back from a few days on wye and usk, few trout and chub and a shad but no salmon. Axe currently 0.8m and chocolate. One caught last night on fly before rain 3lb.

May 3rd The axe was looking perfect today. Had a dawn raid and though a bit breezy, caught a few trout on fly but not a sign of a ST. One of 5lb was caught near axminster on Friday. Might be ideal come sunday night, get down there asap!

May 2nd Axe has dopped back to 0.65m and clearing well should be good for spinning and probably ok for fly tomorrow and then perhaps clear enough sunday night for the first night session.

April 29th - Decent rain today and Axe burst its banks and over the fields with a filthy good flood! Hope this gets things started but its going to take several days to clear and more rain is forcast but I will be down there as soon as possible for that first ST effort of the year! Several ST already been caught on other devon rivers so far some even in March so lets hope a few are about in the axe. A few bass have been caught locally and mackerel around too, at last things are looking up!

April 14th - My brother managed an hours trouting late sunday afternoon, unfortunately just as a hail storm came in! A promising start and one to a pheasant tail nymph was quickly halted as hail the size of marbles lashed down! River looking clean and well trimmed after the excellent bank clearing efforts this winter.

2007 Summary;A very warm spring and Bass were being caught before easter with Mullet around before the end of March in the Axe. Best local Bass spinning was 14lb (though I know of several over 10lb!) and there seemed to be more schoolies around - at least if you found them! Sea trout to arrived by early May but the rain started and was a question of dodging the continuous floods to get on the river untill mid/ late August which made it difficult to get stuck into the night fishing. Considering all the rain this season with several days fishing in "perfect conditions" there did not seem to be the numbers of salmon around as hoped for, though I was grateful to catch three outside scotland! Sadly little rain from end of August till the season close resulted in dire conditions for the last few weeks. The best Axe Sea trout I heard of was 11lb caught above axminster early in september when several other good sized ST were caught. A friend netted one of 10lb below axminster which was the second double for that angler in 2007! There seemed to be very few fish around again last season at least jumping at night, though some huge fish were seen. On the Dart two massive sea trout were caught approaching 20lbs! Like many others, I did very little brown trout fishing because the river was flooded and rarely settled, however, I often caught them when fishing for ST including one cracking fish around 1.5lb during a spate on the yarty.

Oct 24th The river is low and clear and seemed devoid of fish! However one little sea trout took hold which was surprisingly fresh and went back to complete its journey. Charles had a nice birthday, afternoon spent teaching some youngsters catching garfish and huge mackerel and in the evening he had a 6lb Bass!

Oct 22nd Some really good bass around and huge mackerel with the odd gar fish. River levels been dire for weeks, and very cold at night lately. Fished the lower river yesterday saw a good sized fish roll, not sure if a salmon or large sea trout. Last week now, usually a few fresh fish around but most are well past it!

Sept 22nd Scotland was fishing in a puddle 3 weeks after the last rain, a friend managed 3 one with sea lice, I lost 3! Left as a 3ft spate arrived. Last few days got to winkle out a few fish!

Sept 10th Some really good sea trout and Bass caught lately. River been settled at last, low and clear and some very decent sized fish coming out, the same with the Bass. Off to scotland thurs - with no rain, I hope I'm not 500 miles away from the action! I'll be trying my darn hardest though! Tightlines.

Sept 1st Been away for a week, river looking good and keen to get on it perhaps tomorrow. Loads of Bass caught lately, had 4 to 2lb early morning last week, brother had 5!

August 22nd Axe is 0.5m and clear.

August 20th 5pm Axe filthy and 1.1m at castle hill.

August 19th Axe dropped a little to 0.65m at castle hill by 6pm today and cleared a little. No Sea trout but numerous browns on the Yarty today including one I thought to be a seatrout, about 1.5lb!! My best brown ever, ironically fishing an aftm 8 with a size 10 cascade!

August 18th Cpt flood here again, if i ever offer to go fishing with you, politely decline and go the following day - you'll have superb water after a 3ft spate! Interesting day on the Dart today, river going up and down and colouring and clearing then rising again! Managed one trout and a little sea trout. Axe is back up to 0.8m at 8pm tonight not horrendously coloured but good spinning tomorrow if no more torrential downpours! Anyone any fish ?

August 17th The axe has cleared really well, friday afternoon/ evening was excellent colour and height for fly by day though no sea trout banked! Should be ok for fly saturday night and ideal by sunday if showers don't upset things.

August 16th Heard of one 4.5lb from the yarty. Axe dropped to 0.7m at castle hill by 8pm thursday. Still coloured though getting alot better. Tomorrow (friday) it might be good for spinning.

August 16th Axe was filthy over the fields and 1.5m at castle hill last night (wed), where did that lot come from?!! I expect a few days and probably saturday before its fishable, will check tomorrow. Not much to report although one local has clocked up 127 bass to 8lb so far this season! The sea is coloured today, NW forcast so might clear by the weekend inshore.

August 6th Sorry no reports lately been away last week fishing the Wye, superb water and a few fish about too, had one salmon 36". Lots of Peel caught on the axe recently and some really good catches of Bass locally too. Make the most of these warm evenings!

July 29th The axe had a bit of colour last night and up a bit at 0.5m at castle hill. Light showers last evening probably fishable today with fly and perhaps even tonight? Reports of lots of peel about.

July 23rd The axe was just low enough and had a bit of colour last night. Fished a higher beat well upstream with a friend, he found just the spot hooking three unfortunately all came off. Several trout to 1lb gave some sport though. Its raining again will try to check the river this afternoon and report back. Oil at Axmouth looks a bit worrying!

July 21st Got to the river about 11pm last night, just as the dreaded mist appeared and an otter! Got very cold and all very quiet not even a trout. Hope to try further upstream tonight. Several bass to 6lbs caught on Friday.

July 20th The Axe is 0.4m at castle hill Axminster and clear at 4pm despite local showers and even flash flooding in parts of Dorset! Looking ideal again for tonight and a bit more cloud cover about perhaps. The sea is clear also.

July 18th The axe is back down to 0.4m and clear after floods and continued showers for the last few weeks. Should be ideal for some night seatrouting. The sea got rough yesterday and very coloured inshore, probably a few days yet before it clears.

July 16th Sorry server problems could not update till now. Axe is 0.45m at castle hill and probably just about clear enough for tonight - if you can go! At last a good weekends fishing on the Taw and Exe; 1 seatrout and a fresh 8lb salmon. The sea is still too coloured for the bassing within lures but get on the river between the showers!

July 12th Axe at Castle Hill is clear and 0.45m looking superb for sea trout tonight. Just seen a Kingfisher fly past, nice and warm and muggy with plenty of cloud about. Good luck if you can fish - I can't!

July 9th Mad busy weekend and did not get to fish the river which should have been very good. Coly was clear and had a very height yesterday, axe should be ideal tonight if showers coming in don't ruin it?

July 6th Axe at castle hill is 0.55m and grey/olive green, caught a few trout on nymphs on the yarty, probably not clear enough for night sea trouting tonight.

July 5th The Axe is back down to 0.6m at castle hill good spinning water and fly by day but not clear enough for tonight. Tightlines all!

July 1st Cpt flood checking in, been away trying to get some fishing in for a few days and just about where ever I have gone it has just rained and within minutes of setting up on a bit of perfect water a wall of filthy brown chocolate comes down! The Axe is currently 1.8 m at Whitford! I'd better get back to work so other poeple can get some quality fishing in - perhaps by next weekend!!!

June 30th The Axe was dropping late last night but filthy grey/ brown colour and 0.6m at castle hill.

June 27th The Axe at castle hill is 0.6m dropping and clearing well, ideal for spinning and perhaps fly in runs and pool tails.

June 24th The Axe was up a bit today and coloured though clear enough for fly in the runs and caught a few trout. Rain this morning (monday) has local rivers high and very coloured. The Sea locally is flat but too coloured for lures.

June 21st Just drove past the Axe 4pm, looked ok for fly by day though a few heavy showers about still, probably not tonight.

June 19th Recent showers have made the river rise to 0.5m at castle hill and colouring by 8pm.

June 11th Charles had one mullet of 3lb and two nice Bass on saturday, 3.5lb + 4.5 lb and lost a few more.

June 8th Scorching hot day and the sea has cleared at last. Looking spot on for some bassing this evening if you can get there, though only neap tides and low at 17.49pm.

June 6th Fished the Exe last evening with my brother, reasonable water and a few coloured fish rolling about teasing us! Charles managed to get a reel screaming pull but unfortunately did not stick! Local fisherman have had some good sized Bass to 9lb recently. Yesterday and todays easterly winds has stirred up the sea a bit, a bit too coloured locally for lures.

June 5th Perfect evening for the sea trout last night, very mild, plenty of cloud cover, no moon and good water but no fish on the bank! Met the otter about 10pm so went downstream and disturbed a sizeable fish again.

June 4th The Axe was clearing well last night should be good for fly tonight.

June 2nd Thursdays showers put alot of colour in the river, this am it is dropping 0.45m at castle hill. Fished a fly early this am in the runs and caught some trout, probably still too coloured for sea trout tonight. The sea is too coloured for bassing with lures or fly also.

May 31st Not seen the river yet today, we had hard showers this am so maybe a bit coloured though it was clearing well after mondays spate. Sea got really rough yesterday so will be murky for a few days.

May 30th Two friends fished fly at Axminster yesterday, several excellent trout to over 1 lb, one thumping pull on a large waddington but no sea trout.

May 29th am The axe is dropping and clearing well ideal for spinning or fly in the runs, just need a bit of cloud cover!

May 28th Axe at Castle hill is 0.7m and chocolate coloured, sea is also too coloured. Reports of several sea trout to 4lb caught before the weekend.

May 27th Always one for initiative, Charles was using a 6m roach pole for the mullet in west bay harbour, had one about 3lb and also a 2.5lb slob trout!

May 22nd Monday night the grey colour has almost gone from the River Axe. Brother had some trout in the early evening. A few Sea trout fishers arrived and I pricked a good fish which charged off upstream leaving its wake washing the bank! About 10.30pm nearly caught a sea king helicopter on my back cast as it flew over - strangely all the promising activity stopped for the night! The sea is now clear enough for lures.

May 21st My brother fished the Axe sunday afternoon, strange grey colour still in the water but caught plenty of trout on dries upto 3/4 pound.

May 20th Axe was at an excellent height last night (Sat) but has a strange grey taint to the water. However caught a superb trout about 1lb within a few mins, the otter did not appear and all was looking good. Sadly with the clear sky the temperature plummeted about 10pm and the river went very quiet. Nothing moved or jumped though I am sure they were infront of me, typical spring sea trouting! Sea still just a bit too coloured for the lures/ flies today around Lyme.

May 18th Rivers should be in excellent order. The sea is choppy and too coloured for lure fishing.

May14th Monday 11am The Axe at Castle Hill is 0.65m and dropping though chocolate brown. Perhaps spinning later today but probably tomorow. Sea is coloured too!

May 12th Again the rain has done little except put a bit of colour and rise a few inches to 0.5m at Castle Hill Axminster yesterday. More reports of sea trout caught. Today castle hill was registering 0.5m and coloured so tried yarty, Also a bit too coloured but caught some trout in pool tails.

May 10th Very frustrating the showers/rain has done little to the river. The Axe at 2.30pm has a bit of colour, 0.3m at whitford (summer level) probably not fly fishable tonight though. The sea is still coloured and may take a day or two yet to clear unlikely as the forcast is for more wind.

May 8th Showers all day and reports of Sea trout in, made me check the river in the evening. As it had not moved from its low level and still clear I spent a few hours till 11pm trying some new tube flies but with no success. First pool I walked to an otter swam through, nice but preffer seeing them when i want to go home! Hopefully these showers/ rain will get things going. Good to be out again though!! Sea too coloured for lures/ fly.

May 6th Kindly invite to fish the lower Frome today, despite promising cloudy conditions did not see any sea trout or salmon. The Axe is looking good but low, my brother had a few trout on dries in the evening giving good sport. Sea got a bit choppy and coloured this evening.

April 25th The Bass have arrived several been caught locally on lures to about 3lb. No sea trout yet, rivers could do with a bit of rain!