- · 11lb 14oz Ravensthorpe Rainbow for John Smith
- · Rutland Water’s Independence Day Trophy goes to Carl Peers
www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure
Rutland Water 01780 686441; Grafham Water 01480 810531;
Pitsford, Ravensthorpe & Hollowell 01604 781350,
Taverham Mills Fishery 01603 861014; Alton Water 01473 589105
Recreation Dept Anglian Water 01572 653021
Rutland Water
Fish week 474 (Season 1,687) Returns 97(315) Rod average 4.88(5.35)
In the week that saw the winter restrictions lifted and the Brown trout season start, anglers spread out over the reservoir and found good sport all over.
The trout are thriving in the crystal clear water and food rich depths of Rutland. Freshly stocked fish are quickly turning to natural food sources and those resident fish stirred by the activity of the stockies are also feeding hard. Fish are targeting snail, shrimp and buzzer with the occasional sticklebacks more common in resident fish.
As with most weeks, boat anglers are catching the greater number of fish with many taking limits. Boats are mainly drifting with floating or intermediate lines, teams of buzzer and nymphs doing the trick with the addition of a cormorant or other mini lure a benefit. Bank fishing has been enjoyable for many with early season lures and again nymphs are working well. As always at a water as big as Rutland searching out the water is essential, fish and move tactics are ideal.
Both bank and boat hotspots have been similar. Normanton continues to produce all the way down to Fantasy Island, Yellowstone and Sykes Lane with Transformer and Green Bank now producing as the winter restrictions are lifted.
Season ticket holder Malcolm Shepherd banked a nice 4lb Brown along Normanton on Sunday with a nymph being its downfall. Another 4lb fish, and the biggest recorded of the week, was taken by the winner of our annual Independence Day Trophy, Carl Peers, with a lovely silver Brown trout of 4lb ½oz. Well done to Carl and to all those who took part. Mike Nethercliff of Rutland had some good sport during the week with time spent straight line nymphing. David Mann, who is relatively new to the sport, continues a superb start to the season with a string of successful sessions and his favourite fly doing the business.
2,000 Rainbow trout and 500 Browns have been stocked this week around the reservoir with fish being split equally between north and south arms.
Anglers fishing on our boats are reminded that nets are provided but Drogues are not until further notice. We also remind anglers to be considerate and abide by the Check Clean Dry policy in place at our reservoirs.
Best Rainbow 3lb 3¼oz taken by Steve Crowder
of London.
Best Brown 4lb ½oz taken by Carl Peers of Sandy who
won the Independence Day Trophy
Best boat areas Normanton, Sykes, Dickensons, Yellowstone, Transformer, Green bank.
Best bank areas As for boat.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner R Holloway of Grantham.
Fish stocked 2,500
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 16,23 & 28 April; 8,14, & 28 May; 4,9,17& 19 June and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Airflo International Northern heat 11 April
Tuesday Night boat league commences in May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 15 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 21 May
Grafham Water
Fish week 668(Season 2,479) Returns 130(451) Rod average 5.13(5.49)
Both bank and boat anglers are enjoying good sport at Grafham Water with an excellent rod average of 5.13.
Bank anglers have taken plenty of bag limits from most points along the north shore. The most productive areas have been Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hill Farm, Willows, North Dam and G Buoy (when the wind has allowed). The best bank method has been to fish Pitsford Pea, Damsel Nymphs, Diawl Bachs, Tadpole, crunchers, tequila blobs and PTN’s at a slow retrieve.
Boat anglers have also enjoyed a great week. The most prolific method for boat anglers has been to fish sink tip or slow sink lines with tequila blobs, tadpoles, montanas, vivas, PTN’s, diawl bachs, crunchers and GRHE’s with a slow retrieve. The most productive boat areas have been the Stumps, Seat, Willows, Deep Water and Pylon Points, hedge End and G Buoy and the North Tower.
Competition news
On Saturday 2 April 14 anglers from Derby Fly Fishers enjoyed an exceptional day boat fishing with plenty of quality Rainbows being caught from the Stumps, North Tower and Hedge End. The rod average was 7.14. The biggest fish of the day was caught by Stan Cierech who took a fin perfect Rainbow of 4lb, whilst Clive Wilkins caught and released the most trout with 22 fish.
Best Rainbow 4lb 4oz taken by M Grey of Norfolk.
Best Brown 4lb released by David Campbell.
Best boat areas Seat, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point, Hedge End, Stumps, Willows, North Tower.
Best bank areas Seat, G Bank, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point, Hill Farm, Willows, Dam, Stumps.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner B Patel of Buckden.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 9,14 & 24 April;1,26 & 29 May; 5,11,18 & 30 June and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 9 April
Bob Church Open (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) 17 April.
England Eliminator 29 April
Invicta Floating Line 7 May
England Eliminator (Odds & Sods) 22 May
Bob Church Classic 12 June
EFFA ProAm 16 June
AWAI Midland Heat 18 June
Pitsford Water
Fish week 256 (Season 1,243) Returns 53(294) Rod average 4.8(4.2)
Pitsford fish are being taken on the buzzer. The milder weather has seen the buzzer activity rise dramatically and the fish have responded feeding hard on tiny black buzzers.
The bank action has slowed but only due to the fish holding slightly further out which has meant that the boat anglers have had a bonanza.
Messrs Web and McPherson travelled up from Windsor and enjoyed their ‘best ever day on Pitsford’ on Sunday. The pair took over 40 fish to the boat, losing many more. They fished buzzers under an indicator in Bog Bay and had fish up to 4lb 6oz all of which were returned.
Season ticket holder Richard Williams had a cracking morning catching twenty on buzzers on Stilton Point.
Phil Jordan, having struggled to reach the feeding fish from the bank, hopped into a boat and had fourteen fish in the afternoon on nymphs.
On Sunday the East Midlands Fly Fishers had a bank match. The match was won by Alan Sefton with 6 fish for 12lb. Second was Mick Stevens with three fish for 9lb 12oz (although he did have a nice Brown of around 4lb which he kindly returned). Third place was shared by Mick Facey and Ray Jenkins with three fish each. The best fish was caught by aptly named Jim Pike and weighed 3lb 4oz.
The rod average for the week is a very healthy 4.8.
Forthcoming events
Second Saturday of every month Pitsford will be open for fly tying tuition, casting coaching and general fishing advice by members of the Mid Northants Trout Fishers Association – everyone welcome.
Beginners courses 10 & 15 April; 12,15 & 21 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 7 May.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 635(Season 2,342) Returns 73(273) Rod average 8.6(8.57)
Ravensthorpe has been fishing very well over the last week with many boat anglers catching up to 40 fish on buzzers. John Smith caught the best fish of the week a superb Rainbow of 11lb 14oz taken on a Pitsford Pea over near the island.
Many boats are finding good numbers of fish spread out from the island to the Cat Walk. Bank anglers have been catching well from the Dam and platforms 1-8.
Small black buzzers and lures are still catching well at all depths.
Best Rainbow 11lb 14oz taken by John Smith.
Best boat areas Island to Cat Walk.
Best bank areas Platforms 1-8 and Dam wall.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner John Smith.
