The River Dart
Sea Trout Fishing on the River Dart
The East Dart
and West Dart begin on Dartmoor, becoming the Dart (or
Double Dart) at the Dartmeet confluence. The river flows on
through a wooded and often steep-sided valley with fast runs
and rapids, giving way to farmland near Buckfast Abbey,
although the river itself remains tree-lined for most of its
journey to the sea at Dartmouth. The weir at Totnes marks
the highest reach of the tide.
The River Dart at Buckfastleigh
Sea Trout Fishing on the River Dart
When heavy rain falls on Dartmoor, the river can come
into spate very quickly, with the water level rising by several feet
within an hour or so. Obviously, these conditions can be very
dangerous and indeed the Dart does sometimes claim lives. Anglers
are advised to keep a good eye on the water level when heavy rain is
likely. It is usually possible to fish again within a few hours of
the peak of the spate. The River Dart recorded a sea trout catch of
242 in 2008. The
Dart Angling Association
has Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout fishing on some nine miles of
the river Dart, with a mixture of single and double bank fishing and
offers a limited number of day permits to visiting anglers. The
association's ten year average catch (to 2011) was 271 sea trout and
45 salmon. The biggest sea trout, some into double figures, arrive
in April and May. The best chance of intercepting these bigger fish
is at Totnes Weir, at the limit of the tide.
Sea Trout Catches over Recent Years on the River Dart
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
519 |
553 |
261 |
611 |
292 |
123 |
167 |
View Google maps and aerial satellite views of the River Dart
Pan the whole length of the river and zoom into
aerial views of the salmon and sea trout fishing pools
View
Larger Map
|
