Pic: Roy Taylor of Oakham is a happy camper after tempting this 9lb 10oz rainbow trout from Rutland Water on a dry fly.
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 161(season 40,179) Returns 86(9,936) Rod average 1.87 (4.13)
Rutland Water recorded two memorable fish of note last week. Firstly John Lee netted a very fit looking 7lb 2oz specimen taken on a small floating fry off the Normanton shoreline, then on Thursday afternoon one of the biggest Rainbows this season fell to Roy Taylor of Oakham. Roy was fishing a short afternoon session and hooked a superb 9lb 10oz Rainbow close into the shoreline with the fish falling to one of Roy’s size 14 dry flies. Other Rainbows were recorded between 2lb and 5lb during the week from the bank.
A few boat anglers fished last week with Jim Watts and warden Andy Ainscough fishing on Thursday to take six fish with Rainbows up to 3lb. Jim also netted and returned an estimated 6lb Brown and a smaller one on the day.
Bank anglers need to keep mobile and be brave enough to fish small flies, alternating with medium sized fry patterns minkies/zonkers around 2 to 3 inches in length. Fish aren’t feeding hard but they are eating a few corixa, shrimp and roach fry.
Boat anglers should aim to fish close into the shoreline, but also keep an eye out for any surface activity out in the open water with gulls giving away the fry feeding that can happen at any time during the day. Similar methods to those used by bank anglers apply but also include the added attraction of a gold/silver tube fly.
Predator fishing
Senior warden John Seaton shared a boat this week with one of the top predator anglers in this country, Mr ‘Doctor’ James Gardener. John was given a quick run down of how to ‘drop shot’ and he managed ten fish, the best at 7lb while James had fish to 8lb with an overall total of 50 fish to the boat.
Rutland Water Fur and Feather – this annual event takes place on Sunday 7 December.
Don’t forget that now is a great time to bag a bargain in our tackle shop sale which runs throughout November with reductions of up to 30% on a wide range of tackle and clothing.
Best Rainbow 9lb 10oz taken by Roy Taylor of Oakham.
Best boat areas Fishing Lodge frontage, middle of the
North Arm.
Best bank areas East Creek to fishing lodge, Whitwell, blue pipes to Fantasy Island.
Best methods Bank – Fry and dry fly patterns.
Boat – Middle of North Arm.
Winter boat demand
There will be a maximum of ten predator/trout boats available (weather permitting) from December all the way through to 31 January 2015. For all bookings and further details phone the lodge on 01780 686441.
Forthcoming events
Sale – throughout November we have reductions of up to 30% on a wide range of tackle and clothing at each of our tackle shops.
Predator fishing – Lure and dead sea bait from 1 October through to 31 January (subject to boat availability)
Improve your bank fishing 22 November
Rutland Fur & Feather (bank) 7 December
Grafham Water
Fish week 370(season 26,711) Returns 119(6,301) Rod average 3.1 (4.23)
Grafham Water has continued to fish well for both bank and boat anglers with a rod average of 3.1.
Bank anglers have had the best of the sport over the past week with the south shore again giving the most consistent catch rates. The best bank areas have been Plummer Bank, Seat, Sludge Bank, South and Bowl of the Dam. However, when the wind has been favourable G Bank, Marlow Bay, Deep Water and Pylon Points have all produced good consistent fishing. The most effective methods for bank anglers have been to fish floating lines with minkies, diawl bachs, ptn’s, GRHE and shrimp patterns.
Boat anglers are having good sport mainly by fishing fast intermediate lines with minkies, tubes, snakes, diawl bachs, crunchers and ptn’s. The best boat areas have been Sludge Bank, Gaynes/Plummer bank, G,A and Q Buoys, Marlow Bay and Pylon Point.
The Brown trout season ended on 29 October, any Browns caught must be returned safely to the water. Winter restrictions at Grafham commenced on 1 November along the western end of the reservoir. Details in the tackle shop or from our wardens. The tackle shop is open daily during November 8a.m. to 2p.m.
Sale – throughout November we have reductions of up to 30% on a wide range of tackle and clothing at each of our tackle shops.
Best Rainbow 4lb 14oz taken by Julie Elsgood.
Best boat areas A,G and Q Buoys, Gaynes Cove, Marlow Bay, Sludge, Pylon Point.
Best bank areas Plummer Bank, South and bowl of Dam, G buoy, Seat, Sludge Bank
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Ken Dainty.
Forthcoming events
Sale – throughout November we have reductions of up to 30% on a wide range of tackle and clothing at each of our tackle shops.
Predator fishing – Lure and dead sea bait from 1 October through to 31 January (subject to boat availability)
Improve your bank fishing 23 November.
Grafham Water Fur and Feather (bank) 30 November.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Water clarity is improving, and with that sport has picked up this week.
Anglers are enjoying good sport from the bank using intermediate lines with lures fished slowly. The Pitsford Pea and cats whisker are taking some good fish. Mark Bradbury landed a hard fighting 8lb Rainbow in front of Platform 4 and that fish was safely returned to the water. Chris White landed four fish in a two hour visit to the same area of Mongers Bank using a sink tip line with lure/nymph set up.
Boat anglers are also having some good sport with most anglers landing fish. Coton End and the area of the Island to Catwalk Corner continue to produce fish on slow sinking lines and lures fished very slowly. Sparse pin fry patterns are working well and diawl bachs are also still worth trying.
The Brown trout season ended on 29 October, any Browns caught after this time must be returned safely to the water.
Best Rainbow 8lb taken by Mark Bradbury.
Best boat areas Main bowl, Coton End.
Best bank areas Dam, front of Platforms 4-7.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mark Bradbury.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing – Lure and dead sea bait from 1 October through to 30 November (subject to boat availability)
Pitsford Water
Although the fishing has been steady at Pitsford Water anglers are taking fish.
The fish remain deep in the main bowl and sunk line methods from the boats is the only way to catch. Flies such as minkies, humungus or tubes have been taking the best bags.
Bank fishing is slow with one or two fish being tempted around the margins on fry patterns.
The Pike fishing has been productive with plenty of fish being reported. The best pike methods have been to fish static with dead bait.
Anglers are reminded that the Brown trout season ended on 29 October. Any Browns taken must be returned safely to the water.
Predator fishing – Lure and dead sea bait from 1 October (subject to boat availability)
Lure fishing for predators, boat only, to 31 January (subject to boat availability)
