Week ending 26 June 2011
• 9lb 6oz Rainbow for Darrell at Ravensthorpe
Darrell Howard takes best Rainbow of the week
• Richard wins Tuesday night boat league at Rutland Water
Richard Cooper of Empingham wins with 8 fish for an impressive 22lb 11½oz
• A great place to begin
Beginners courses for trout fishing at Rutland, Grafham and Pitsford throughout the season.
A great day out with experienced instructors.
New for 2011
We are offering tuition for fly fishing for pike on specific days
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 695(14,128) Returns 261 (3,994) Rod average 2.66 (3.53)
Another excellent week with a number of limits reported amongst the quality fish taken. Boat anglers have caught fish from two main areas, the best areas have been the main basin and the south arm from Yellowstone, Inmans Spinney to just past Spud Bay (buoys 18/19).
Bank anglers have taken fish along the Normanton shoreline during the day, however the evenings have been spectacular with fish rising late on.
Dry fly are accounting for many of the fish caught. The best fish recorded last week was shared between P Allison and Jeremy Ball, both netting Rainbows of 5lb 2oz.
Prospects look very good with superb fit Rainbows showing – with many around 2½-3½lb. Fly hatches have been steady with good hatches of small/tiny buzzers coming off and plenty of Sedge and Caenis. During the week there were some areas where this season’s pin fry were getting some attention. This year’s Perch fry in particular are growing quickly with some already over 2 inches in length.
Competition news
Rutland Water Fly Fishers Hanby Cup
This match was fished on Sunday 26th – results including time bonus
1st John Sutton 5 fish for 22lb 7oz
2nd Lin Walters 2 fish for 15lb 6oz
3rd Mike Barrett 5 fish for 12lb 10oz
Tuesday night boat league
Week 7 was won by Richard Cooper of Empingham. Richard caught a very impressive bag of eight fish for 20lb 1½oz
1st Richard Cooper 8 fish for 22lb 11½oz
2nd Bob Norman 6 fish for 12lb 9½oz
3rd Phil Welbourn 4 fish for 10lb 15½oz
The best fish on the night weighed 3lb 10oz and was taken by Mick Bennett. This followed a bit of a tangle in lines between Mick and his boat partner Keith Jones as they hooked a fish apiece at the same time – with one fish coming off.
The league is now at the halfway stage with Keith Jones still comfortably in the lead with 63 points followed by Richard Cooper on 40 points. Chris Evans is in third with 18 points.
Best Rainbow Two caught at 5lb 2oz – P Allison of Mansfield and Jeremy Ball.
Best boat areas Main basin, middle of the south arm.
Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, Yellowstone.
Best methods Bank – Floating line with nymphs and dries.
Boat – Main basin, middle of the South Arm.
Mid week boat winner Peter Davis of Oakham.
Fish stocked 2,500.
Rutland Water continued
Forthcoming events:
Beginners courses 2,10,17,24 & 31 July; 6,17 &21 August and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Anglian Water Rudder Match leg 2, 2 July
EDFF 6 July
Anglian Water Over 50’s match 24 July
Anglian Water Help the Heroes pairs match 13 August
At this time of year the fishery is very popular so please call the fishing lodge on 01780 686441 to check for boat availability before making your journey.
Please note on Monday and Wednesday from May until September boats to be returned by 8pm.
Grafham Water
Fish week 752(13,804) Returns 196(2,944) Rod average 3.83 (4.68)
Boat anglers are enjoying some good sport fishing floating lines with damsel nymphs, diawl bachs, crunchers and olive buzzers or Di5 lines with tequila blobs or cats whisker boobies. The most productive boat fishing areas have been Sailing Club Bay, the Seat, Gaynes Cove, south dam, G,Q and D buoys and Valley Creek.
Conditions have much improved for bank anglers now that the strong westerly winds have eased. The main method for bank anglers has been floating lines with damsel nymphs, diawl bachs, crunchers and pheasant tail nymphs. The best areas for bank anglers have been the Dam, Gaynes Cove, the Seat and Perry Point.
Best Rainbow 4lb 8oz taken by Don Bowyer of Bedford.
Best boat areas Gaynes Cove, the Seat, G,D and Q buoys, Sailing Club Bay, Valley Creek.
Best bank areas Seat, Gaynes Cove, South Dam, Perry Point.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner G Barstow of Towcester.
Fish stocked 2,500.
Grafham Water continued
Competition news
Regional Qualifer Midland Fly Fishers (Anglia) Round 2
41 Anglers took part in this match all hoping to qualify for the national final which will be held at Grafham Water on Saturday 3 September. Top rod on the day was Brad Gifford. Brad caught 8 fish and with his combined bag weight with time bonus his total weight was 23lb 8½oz. Brad caught his fish by drifting from G-D buoys with a Di5 line and a single tequila booby.
1st Brad Gifford 8 fish for 23lb 8½oz
2nd Ian Donaldson 8 fish for 22lb 11oz
3rd Steve Cullen 8 fish for 19lb 4½oz
Beginners courses: 3,22,27 & 31 July; 7,14 & 28 August and other dates throughout the season.
Beginners course for Pike 16 July
Pitsford Water
Fish week 594(8,760) Returns 124(2,435) Rod average 4.7 (3.5)
Boat and bank anglers are enjoying a rod average of 4.7. Bank anglers are fishing in the evening and are experiencing good rises. Dry flies and emergers are the order of the day. There are little signs of weed on the banks so if you are a keen bank angler get out and enjoy it now.
Bob Church and his boat partner enjoyed an afternoon session last week when they boated and released 19 fish to the boat all on emergers. Bob said “I had a great time – it was the best fishing I’ve had in a long time.”
Some top tips for bank anglers – fish when it is cloudy or late into the evening. Boat anglers will have the best sport by drifting and picking off rising fish with dry flies.
Best Rainbow 4½lb taken by G Whittaker of Holmer Green, Bucks.
Best Brown 5lb taken by R Spencer of Bradworthy.
Best boat areas Bog Bay, Stone Barn.
Best bank areas Bog Bay, Duffers, Stilton Point.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner M Spencer of Duston, Northants.
Fish stocked
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 2,13,23 and 30 July; 3,13 & 27 August and other dates throughout the season.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 337 (8,049) Returns 78 (1,622) Rod average 4.3 (4.9)
Ravensthorpe is fishing well with lots of fish showing in the deep water areas. These are being caught mostly on dries, black or green hoppers. Nymphs are still catching well with diawl bachs, cdc’s and buzzers fished just under the surface.
Fish of the week was a hard fighting 9lb 6oz Rainbow which fell to Darell Howard. Darell fished the Causeway area of the reservoir from a boat. Intermediate line and a gurgler damsel was the winning method.
Dennis Footman paid a visit to Ravensthorpe on Thursday and landed a superb Rainbow of 8lb 2oz. Floating line and a flue brush did the trick – well done Den.
A few fish are being taken from the bank with early in the morning or late in the day the best times. Again floating lines and hoppers are catching the majority of the fish. The dam has been the hot spot.
Best Rainbow 9lb 6oz taken by Darell Howard.
Best boat areas Coton End, around island.
Best bank areas Platforms 11 and 12, dam.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr T Evans of Kirby in Ashfield, Notts.
Fish stocked 500
Coarse fishing
Ardleigh
Although the pike anglers have struggled in the first 2 weeks of June, there have still been some good catches and signs are that things are picking up. Both Chris Palmer and Neil Pacey had one pike each, while Colin Smith who has yet to draw a blank here this season had 4 fish from his latest boat session.
Tim Parker and his young son landed 6 pike between them, three of which were in double figures, the largest was 16lb. Tim’s son broke his record here at Ardleigh with a nice fish of 11½lb. On the carp front, again things have been quiet because the carp have been spawning. New season permit holder Matt Delabruyere got off to a great start though, he netted three mirrors in his first session here, they weighed in at 12lb,19lb and 27lb. The Wick Lane lake continues to fish very well.
