Week ending 31 July 2011
• Best Rainbow of the season so far at Rutland Water
James Daymond of Oakham takes 6lb 8oz Rainbow plus 6 other fish for 22½lb
• 11lb 2oz Rainbow at Ravensthorpe
Andy Kress of London lands biggest Rainbow of the week
• Help for Heroes Pairs Match Rutland Water 13 August
A popular match and auction
To find out more please call 01780 686441
Rutland Water
Fish week 822 (18,166) Returns 276 (5,361) Rod average 2.97 (3.38)
Boat anglers have enjoyed a good week at Rutland Water and the best Rainbow of the season so far was recorded by James Daymond of Oakham. James took a 6lb 8oz Rainbow plus six other fish in his bag of 22½lb, whilst fishing the Main Basin using sinking lines with boobies.
There have been plenty of fish taken in the main basin and the South Arm. Season ticket holder Keith Jones of Wittering said “The main basin is solid with fish”. Keith had an afternoon boat last Saturday and in spite of the hot and calm conditions he managed eight fish for around 20lb, taking fish to 3½lb with boobies on a fast sink line.
Scottish anglers Bill Barnes and Frazier Renwick from Sterling had a brilliant time on their three day boat package holiday last week with 83 fish including catch and release. Boat anglers catching notable fish included Pat Veasey from Frisby on the Wreake with a Rainbow of 5lb 13½oz and well known match angler Gary Owen took a 5lb 12oz Rainbow last Wednesday. Mr Elliot of Derby was also pleased with the 5lb 4oz Rainbow he took.
Bank fishing has been testing with the wind direction being very changeable. However, Leicester angler Vince Ward netted a superb 6lb 4oz Rainbow fishing the bank around the Old Hall area. Vince was delighted with the fish which he said was in tremendous condition. The fish had been feeding heavily on snails and was taken with a diawl bach. Mr Stephen Farrar from Wiltshire weighed in a Rainbow of exactly 6lb. There have been some good sized fish showing around the weedbeds off and around the Old Hall with some fish feeding on snails. Fry feeding isn’t really happening yet with the water level dropping off steadily and exposing the weed.
Prospects look good with boat anglers faring best in the main basin. However, anglers looking elsewhere have found fish in large numbers along Gibbetts Gorse, Old Hall, Hambleton Wood, Yellowstone and Inmans Spinney.
Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League week 11
Lots of fish were caught this week with ten anglers catching 56 fish. Wittering angler Billy Miller won a very close match. Four took their 8 fish limits, at least two of the limits were taken in less than two hours! The main basin produced all the fish in and around the aerators. Best fish on the night was taken by Rob Teasdale of Morcott who weighed in a 4lb 4¾oz Rainbow.
1st Billy Miller 8 fish for 17lb 11oz
2nd Keith Jones 8 fish for 16lb 4½oz
3rd Paul Wild 8 fish for 16lb 13¾oz
Rutland Water continued
Best Rainbow 6lb 8oz Rainbow taken by James Daymond of Oakham.
Best boat areas The main basin, aerators, fishing lodge frontage. Old Hall Bay all the way through Hambleton Wood, Yellowstones and Inmans Spinney.
Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, fishing lodge frontage, East Creek.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner B Elliott of Derby.
Forthcoming events:
Beginners courses: 6,17 & 21 August and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Rutland Water Fly Fishers Juniors Day 4 August
A boat competition for youngsters in two age groups – 12-14 and 15-17 years
Each boat will be accompanied by an experienced RWFF boatman.
Entry forms from John Wadham 01572 771092 or Malcolm March 01780 722466.
Anglian Water Help the Heroes pairs match 13 August.
Anglian Water Loch Style four man team 17 August. To book or find out more please call 01780686441.
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 638 (16,609) Returns 203(3,847) Rod average 2.47 (4.31)
Anglers this week have had their skills well tested, but rewards have been good for those with the right tactics. Chris Bobby fished Sanctuary Bay and landed Rainbows of 5lb 4oz and 5lb 14oz, one to a hopper and one to a booby. Phil Cotton, took 8 fish for 24lb 7½oz whilst fishing for Team Airflo in the Southern final of the Anglian Water Airflo International.
Fish have been feeding on a wide variety of items including snails, pin fry, various nymphs and a range of dry flies in addition to shrimps. The water surface has often been littered with ants, spiders, sedges and some buzzers, perhaps explaining why groups of fish have regularly been seen at the surface, even in bright, sunny conditions.
Various methods have been successful and have included teams of nymphs, wet flies and mini lures on anything from floating lines to midge tips, slow sinkers and Di5’s. The washing line method has been the most popular. In general boat fishing has been most productive, but banks have fished best early in the morning or in the evening.
Grafham Water continued
Competition news
Anglian Water Airflo International Southern final.
Nine teams contested the southern final hosted at Grafham Water on Monday 25 July. Competition was very keen with the top three teams earning a place in the International final at Rutland Water in October.
The most popular destinations for the boats were the Dam, G buoy, Gaynes Cove and the Willows. Blagdon FF Bristol had made very good use of their practice day, discovering that the fish were down and sinking lines and blobs were the best method. Team member John Braithwaite was one of only three anglers taking limits on the day. His team fished fast glass lines with a small blob on the point to Diawl Bachs in the middle and a small drab booby on the top dropper. All the team caught fish and weighed in 28 fish for 66lb 11¼oz to take victory. The margin between second and third placed teams was tiny, but it was Team Airflo’s Phil Coton who took top rod and secured his team’s second place. Phil had netted his eight fish limit for 24lb 7½oz by 11.45 am contributing to Team Airflo’s 25 fish for 63lb 15oz. Third placed Anglo Welsh Fly Fishers weighed in 27 fish for 63lb 3/8oz, including team member Martin Barrett’s Rainbow of 4lb 13¼oz which won the prize for best fish.
1st Blagdon FF Bristol Water 28 fish for 66lb 11¼oz
2nd Team Airflo 25 fish for 63lb 15oz
3rd Anglo Welsh Fly Fishers 27 fish for 63lb 3/8oz
4th Team Snowbee 23 fish for 50lb 3¾oz
5th Team Grand Max 18 fish for 41lb 11½oz
6th Meridien Fly Fishers 17 fish for 41lb 9¼oz
7th Tunbridge Wells FF Soc 17 fish for 38lb 12½oz
8th Bewl Chingly Chompers 16 fish for 34lb 13½oz
9th Kent & Sussex Fly Fishers 12 fish for 29lb 14oz
Best fish Martin Barrett, Anglo Welsh FF Rainbow 4lb 13¼oz
Best bag Phil Coton Team Airflo 24lb 7½oz.
Wychwood Mixed Pairs
Chris Bobby and Lianne Frost won this match with four fish for 13lb 7oz, including two Rainbows of 5lb 4oz and 5lb 14oz for Chris (one to a hopper and one to a booby).
Lexus European
First place went to Charlie Abrahams with 6 fish for 14lb 8oz and Nick Preston was second with 4 fish for 13lb. Ed Foster was third and Jeff Wilkinson fourth.
Best Rainbow 5lb 14oz taken by Chris Bobby.
Mid week boat winner Mr Hughes of Milton.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 7,14 & 28 August and other dates throughout the season.
Juniors Day 4 August – National Fishing Month.
Highly respected fly fishing coach, Peter Hartley, has put together a programme for young anglers interested in learning to fish. Two identical sessions running from 10 am to 12.30 pm or 2pm to 4.30pm.
The programme will include tactics, casting some fishing and fly tying.
Floating line match 6 August – All boats booked.
Pitsford Water
Fish week 288 (11,602) Returns 121(3,257) Rod average 2.39 (3.8)
Boat fishing in the main bowl is the best option at present, with water temperatures rising as always this is the place to head for. Good quality fish are being taken on mainly surface patterns and emergers in cloudy conditions. In bright sunny conditions fast sinking lines and bright lures will pull the Rainbows.
Brian Moore from Ibstock near Leicester took a limit on Sunday from the basin on fast sink lines and tube flies. Brian was delighted with the quality of fish.
Banks are still fishable with some weed growth about, but as water levels continue to drop bank anglers will be able to enjoy clear water again. Early morning and late evening are the best times for bank anglers to fish.
Best Rainbow 3lb 10oz Taken by Alec Ferguson of Leicester.
Best Brown 4lb 10oz Taken by Malcolm Eeles of Halesowen.
Best boat areas The Pines, Sailing club Bay, Dam wall.
Best bank areas The Cliffs, the Flints, Bog Bay.
Best methods Floating lines, mini booby hoppers, small mergers, c.d.c’s and ‘F’ fly, small wets and spiders also working well.
Mid week boat winner P Walker of Wisham.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 3,13 & 27 August and other dates throughout the season.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 113 (8,833) Returns 39(1,885) Rod average 2.9 (4.7)
The fishing has picked up at Ravensthorpe with fish rising freely in all areas of the reservoir. Small slim dry flies from the boat have been the most successful tactics. Try klinkhammer down to size 16 f fly or cdc emerges. Smaller hoppers are also well worth a go.
Coton End has been producing some good catches with Mr Calvert taking 15 fish there all to small dries on Friday. The fish are feeding all over but other good areas have been drifting from the Island or across the main basin. In brighter conditions teams of diawl bachs or crunchers have worked well. Catwalk Corner produced the best fish this week with a nice 11lb 2oz Rainbow taking a diawl. Andy Kress from London was delighted with the catch. Ravensthorpe regular Graham Smith took a 9lb fish from the same area. Graham landed the fish on a size 16 klinkhammer.
Bank fishing is still not easy but the dam has been producing some fair catches. Platforms 11,12 13 or 14 are still fishable also but weed growth is excessive in other areas so boat fishing is the best method.
Best Rainbow 11lb 2oz Taken by Andy Kress of London.
Best boat areas Coton End, Island, main bowl, Catwalk Corner.
Best bank areas The dam.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner P Throne of Southam.
Fish stocked 60
Coarse fishing
Taverham Mill
A number of Tench have been caught at Taverham recently. Members catching included James Imohoffe 12 Tench, John Gray 5 Tench and Adi Pearson 10 Tench. John Rushton took a 15lb Common Carp plus 12 Tench and Teresa Rushton took two tench. Ian Stockley was kept busy with a 31lb 14oz Common Carp, another of 14lb and Mirrors of 16lb and 11lb, plus a couple of Tench.
On the river we have had one member – Martin Rejzek who took an 8lb 9oz Barbel and a 5lb 2oz Chub. Lodge resident Kerion Rushton had a 5lb 3oz Chub and another of 3lb 8oz. Fish are on the feed. Weed is still an issue but is dying back slowly.
