- Biggest Rainbow of the season at Rutland Water
11lb 14½oz specimen landed by Rik Varley from Yorkshire - Europe’s top anglers head to Rutland for the biggest match of the season
Rutland Water hosts final of prestigious Anglian Water Airflo International.
Full report next week
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
2015 Anglian Water Airflo International – anticipation builds as Rutland Water hosts the final of this on prestigious match on 6 and 7 October 2015. The current title holders, Elinor who were crowned Champions in 2014, have made it through to the 2015 final and will be keen to defend their title.
This is the biggest competition of the season with 22 teams of six anglers heading to Rutland from all over England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Shetland Isles, Orkney Isles and Belgium. The final results will be announced at the presentation dinner on Wednesday 7 October. The awards include the silver salver first presented in 1982, the WaterAid trophy (for the biggest fish) and the Overseas Trophy (best placed Overseas team) and substantial cash and tackle prizes. Members of each of the top three teams will also receive medals.
The following teams have qualified for the 2015 International Final
From Scotland
Leven Flycasters
Change Flyfishers A Team
RASC AC
Menteith Ospreys
Alba Orvis FF
From the North of England
The Old Youth
RAF Fish Hawks
Team Vision
Ospreys
From the Midlands
Rio Masters
Reservoir Dogs
Elinor
From the South of England
Team Airflo
Weald of Kent
Blagdon Fly Fishers
From Wales
Welsh Hawks
Nymph a Maniacs
Team Drifters
Overseas
Ireland – Corrib Hoppers
Belgium – G Loomis-Shimano Belgium
Orkney – OTFA (Kirkwall)
Shetland – Shetland Anglers Association
Rutland Water
Fish week 549 (Season 22,987) Returns 173 (6,452) Rod average 3.17 (3.56)
Rutland Water gave up one of its Leviathans last week, and the biggest Rainbow of the season to date, a superb 11lb 14½oz specimen caught from the South Arm. Season ticket holder Rik Varley from Yorkshire caught this superb fish close in to the boat whilst he was fly fishing for Pike. Elsewhere big fish have shown with a superb 6lb 10oz (returned) Rainbow falling to Colin Lidstone. It was Colin’s only take of the boat session, but what a fish! “The fly line and many, many yards of backing disappeared very quickly during the first run” said a delighted Colin.
Teams were busy practicing for the Anglian Water Airflo International Final over the weekend. On Sunday Gareth Jones and Rob Edmunds both managed creditable Browns of 5lb 8oz and 6lb 2oz respectively.
A 6lb 8oz Brown was reported by the members of Norfolk Fly Fishers who went down the South Arm last Friday. 3 and 4lb plus fish are being caught around the shoreline and weedbeds, whilst silvered up Rainbows are showing to many boat anglers fishing out over the deeper water of the reservoir, falling to all manner of tactics including lures, dries, nymphs and tube flies.
Bank anglers are getting amongst the fish with one season ticket holder reporting a 6lb Rainbow caught on a floating fry pattern off the Green Bank. Fish have been moving close in feeding on sticklebacks, corixa, snails, Perch and Roach fry.
Prospects look very good with the weedbeds holding plenty of fish. Both boat and bank anglers pursuing specimen fish should head to these areas. There are also plenty of fish in the open water for boat anglers to target.
Please call 01780 686441 in advance to book boats. Some predator boats are also available at the weekend.
Best methods Bank – dries, nymphs and fry patterns.
Boat – as for bank and around the shallows/weedbeds, then open water. Various lures, cormorants, boobies.
Best Rainbow 11lb 14½oz taken by Rik Varley.
Best Brown 6lb 2oz taken by Rob Edmunds.
Best boat areas Middle of the reservoir from Normanton, right down to the bottom of the South Arm. Big fish are around the shallows and weed beds around the shoreline.
Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, Green Bank to the Stones, Old Hall, Barnhill Creek to Armley Wood.
Rutland Water continued
Mid week boat winner C Smalley of Clitheroe.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 10,24 & 31 October.
AWAI Final 6-7 October All boats booked 3-7 October
Anglian Water Pairs non rudder & rudder 10 October
Fry Feeders Match 18 October
George Moore Memorial 24 October
Fur & Feather (bank) 6 December
Grafham Water
Fish week 990 (season 23,321) Returns 245 (5,502) Rod average 4.04 (4.23)
Another good week at Grafham Water for both bank and boat anglers with a rod average of just over four fish and 20% of the trout caught weighing 3lb or over.
Bank anglers have again enjoyed good sport, catching consistently from the south Dam, Gaynes Cove, the Seat, Deep Water Point, G Buoy and the Willows. The main method for bank anglers has been to fish shrimp patterns and small nymphs almost static on a floating line. Season ticket holder Roland Hudson had a great week catching and releasing 49 fish in six visits. Roland fished shrimp patterns on a floating line from the south end of the Dam. Season ticket holder Johnny Johnson caught the biggest fish of the week – a superb over wintered Brown of 7lb which he caught on a shrimp pattern at the south end of the Dam on a floating line.
Boat anglers have again taken many limits – mainly from around the margins on floating or fast glass lines with shrimp patterns, GRHE, crunchers, fab’s, Cats Boobies, Daddies and tequila blobs. The most consistent boat areas have been Deep Water and Pylon Points, G Buoy, Willows, Gaynes Cove, Sludge Bank, Valley Creek and Sanctuary Bay.
Competition news
Bob Church Classic
95 anglers took part in this prestigious match, catching 475 fish for an excellent rod average of 5.0. Top rod on the day was former world champion Iain Barr who caught 16 fish for 42lb 6oz. Second place went to Ray Maylon with 12 trout for 28lb 14oz. Graham Willis took third place with 11 trout for 27lb 2oz. The biggest fish of the day was caught by Iain Barr – a superb Rainbow of 4lb 10oz.
Congratulations to Bob Church who will receive the MBE he was awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this week.
GWFFA bank Match 27 September
Ten anglers took part in this club match, catching 27 trout for an excellent rod average of 5.7. Steve jones was top rod with 8 trout for 19lb 3oz. Steve fished a floating line with three shrimp patters from the south end of the dam. Second place went to John Vincent who took 8 trout for 18lb 10oz and third place went to Mark Brinkman with 8 fish for 17lb.
Best Rainbow 5lb taken by S Clawson.
Best Brown 7lb taken by Johnny Johnson.
Best boat areas G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Sanctuary Bay, Gaynes Cove, Seat, Sludge Bank, Willows.
Best bank areas Deep Water and Pylon Points, G Buoy, Willows, Dam, Gaynes Cove, Seat.
Best methods See report.
Mid Week Boat Winner Brian Naylor of Norfolk.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 18 October.
Fry Feeder Match 17 October
Fur & Feather (bank) 29 November
Pitsford Water
Fish week 175 (season 10,598) Returns 43(2,202) Rod average 4.06 (4.81)
The cooler weather conditions have brought the trout into the margins and the bank fishing has improved. The best areas are the Cliffs, North Shore and Stilton with patterns such as fry patterns and daddies performing best. Boat anglers have had good sport from the Causeway basin, Narrows and Pines.
The rod average for the week has been a very good 4.06 with many fish in the 3-4lb mark. Best methods are floating or intermediate lines with daddies or teams of nymphs fished washing line style.
Pat Flynn bucked the trend by fishing with a Di7 with boobies to take 32 fish. Tim Polito had 8 fish for 18lb.
Terry Wright and Ian Pickering Pike fished from kayaks and had a great day and included a Rainbow of approx. 6lb in their catch.
Information for all anglers
An invasive species of shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus), commonly known as DV, has been found at Pitsford Water. The presence of this species in the water does not pose any threat to human health. Water from the reservoir is treated to a very high standard before being supplied to local homes for drinking.
It is important that anglers continue to follow the Check, Clean, Dry procedures in place for the preservation of our environment and sport.
Best boat areas Bog Bay, Stonebarn Bay, North Farm Bay, Brixworth Bay, Sailing Club Bay, Narrows.
Best bank areas Northfields shore, Duffers, Stilton Point, Sailing Club Bay.
Midweek boat winner Bill Kingston.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 11,17 & 25 October.
Fur & Feather boat match Sunday 8 November.
Second Saturday of each month Pitsford will be offering fly tying tuition, casting coaching and general fishing advice with MNTFA. Call the fishing lodge on 01604 781350 for more information.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 180 (Season 11,884) Returns 41 (2,734) Rod average 4.39 (4.35)
Once again Ravensthorpe is the place to be. Both trout and pike anglers are enjoying some fantastic sport. Boat partners D Naylor and and S Houldon had 22 fish to the boat each. The Spencer brothers took 10 fish each. Other trout anglers recording good numbers of fish included Mr Simons who landed 9 to the boat and Mr Keeble who returned 9 fish to the water and took two.
Hoppers and popper hoppers and daddies are all taking fish. Bank anglers are taking plenty of fish with John Smith taking fish off the Dam on buzzers. Bob Draper caught off Platform 14 on lures and nymphs.
Ravensthorpe is hosting its popular Fur and Feather on Sunday 1 November. Please call the fishing lodge on 01604 770875 to book a place.
Pike fishing at Ravensthorpe is a great success. Nathan Andrews took specimens of 24lb, 21lb and 19lb. Marek Zwierschowski landed a whopping Pike of 29lb 3oz and also had two at 18lb and 17lb. Ray Matthews had a 26lb 14oz Pike and a 4lb Perch.
Best methods See report.
Best Rainbow 6lb.
Best boat areas Main Bowl.
Best bank areas Dam.
Mid week boat winner J Spencer of Northampton.
Forthcoming events Fur & Feather boat match Sunday 1
November.
