Latest News and Information from Anglian Water Fisheries

Week ending 4 June 2017

• Rutland Water’s best Rainbow and best Brown of the week tip the scales at 6lb plus

• Popular evening boat leagues
at Rutland and Grafham on Tuesdays
and Ravensthorpe on Thursdays

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 1,128 (season 23,501) Returns 271 (3,574)Rod average 4.16(6.57)
The best Rainbow of the week weighed 6lb 7/8oz and was taken by R O’Brien whilst fishing with Tim Morrell and guided by Al Owen.

Fish have changed their feeding habits this week with the big hatches of the larger species virtually coming to an end. Boat anglers fishing the Main Basin have been catching numerous fish, including recent stock fish and a very good number of slim overwintered Rainbows. These are giving a very good account of themselves and feeding on masses of daphnia. Bank anglers are catching in some areas. However, those fishing into the evening are reporting lots of fish moving on the surface later on. Some of these are taking sedge but others are taking adult buzzers that are going back onto the water to lay their eggs.

There should be plenty of surface activity soon as this year’s pin fry are starting to show with reports of fish movement close in to the shoreline. Good patterns to try for these determined fish are small dries, hares ears etc, silver (pearl) ptn, fished on a short leader.

Fish are also feeding on the ‘demon’ shrimp. ‘Pink’ shrimp have also been sighted in the Harbour. However, some of the larger fish are feeding on crayfish and there was evidence of this in four of the 3lb plus Rainbows caught this week.

On the big fish front Mark Bowler, editor of Fly Fishing and Flytying magazine, caught and released a 6lb plus Brown whilst boat fishing in the South Arm. Mark also caught and released a mid double Pike which also fell to a black buzzer. Toff Crowther of Oakham returned Browns of 4lb plus and 6lb last week. Simon and Elliot Guthrie took eight cracking Rainbows for 21lb with crunchers. The pair took their fish down the bottom of the North Arm.

Weardale Fly Fishers fished Rutland at the weekend. They opted for the Main Basin rather than the Arms and enjoyed some great sport. Top rod amongst the group was Alan Moore with 11 fish for 21lb 14oz. Ian Malpass took the biggest fish a 4lb 4oz Rainbow.

Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League
1st Keith Jones 8 fish
2nd Hilary Tomlinson 4 fish
3rd Chris Binley 3 fish.
The best fish on the night was taken by Chris Binley who won a free mid week boat for his fine 3lb 4½oz Rainbow.

RWFF Cutting Trophy Bank Match.
This was challenging and fished in a flat calm, with surface weed, and falling atmospheric pressure along with an abnormally high water temperature, now approaching 20C.

Rutland Water continued

Congratulations to “Big” Dave Porter for doing so well in such testing conditions. He caught on hoppers from the South Arm. Peter de Kremer came second and claimed the prize for best fish which weighed 2lb 6oz. Despite the conditions there were quite a number of fish showing. No doubt the forecast strong winds will cool the water down and we will see a dramatic upturn in the fishing. Our thanks to Peter for organising the event and congratulations for netting the best fish.

1st Dave Porter 4 fish for 6lb 8oz
2nd Peter de Kremer 2 fish for 3lb 5oz
3rd Neil Squires 1 fish for 1lb 10oz

Prospects look good, although the big buzzers are now in shorter supply there are plenty of small buzzers including sedge and damsels and caenis at night. Expect to see a lot of surface action along the shoreline with this year’s pin fry attracting a lot of attention in any weather conditions.

At this time of year the fishery is busy so please book your boats in advance and check for availability on 01780 686441.

Best Rainbow 6lb 17/8oz taken by R O’Brien.

Best Brown 6lb taken by M Bowler.

Best boat areas Main basin, aerators, a few boats are heading down the arms.

Best bank areas Normanton, Sailing Club, peninsula

Midweek boat winner Peter Welton.

Fish stocked 2,000.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 14 & 18 June; 1,9,16 & 22 July and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Anglian Water Floating Line 10 June 01780 686441
EDFF 5 July 01780686441
EFFA 6 July Steve Ottridge 07788 605016
AWAI North of England Final 10 July
Rutland Water 40th Birthday celebrations 15 & 16 July
Anglian Water Over 50’s Match 29 July
Anglian Water Loch Style 4 man team 9 August

Grafham Water
Fish 388 (season 11,355)Returns 89 (1,614) Rod average 4.35 (7.04)
The largest fish of the week was a fine Brown of just over 5lb landed by David Bishop. The rod average is currently around 4.35, set to rise with the change in the weather forecast in the next few days. The zander fry are now showing and it’s worth bringing fry patterns in case they decide to swim past you. There will always be a few trout after these, a well worked pattern will not be refused and could produce a couple of lovely over wintered fish before the fry move on.

Boat fishing is the most successful method as most of the fish have moved off shore and are out in the deeper, cooler water, although there is some action close in. Many anglers are catching on crunchers, hoppers, nymphs, diawl bachs and even floating shrimp, particularly out in the open water, fished on floating lines. Other methods working include pulling on di5’s and di3’s using blobs, boobies and lures. With the strong winds forecast this week it’s going to be tough on floating lines so bring backup! Good areas to target include around the aeration tower and drifting in front of Hill Farm and Sanctuary Bay.

Bank fishing has certainly toughened up, though reports for the week have so far been good, with captures on the rise. The fish are predominantly coming early or late in the day with many anglers fishing dry flies, nymphs, hoppers, crunchers and lures. Some good fish are coming off the dam and the harbour arms, with both always worth a go.

Best Brown 5lb taken by David Bishop.

Best boat areas Perry Point, South Dam, Gaynes Cove, the Seat, Sailing Club Bay, G Buoy, the Willows, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm.

Best bank areas North and south Dam, Plummers, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm, Pylon Point, Harbour Arms, Perry Point, the Seat.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Chris Bugg of Milton.

Fish stocked 1,000

Forthcoming events
Tuesday night boat league in conjunction with Invicta
Beginners courses 10, 17 & 29 June; 2,8,21,28 & 30 July and other dates throughout the season.
EFFA ProAm 15 June 01480 810531
Anglian Water Airflo Midland Heat 17 June 01572 653021
Scierra Pairs 8 July Phil Dixon
AWAI Southern Final 17 July
AWAI Midland Final 24 July
Pitsford Water
Fish 135 (season 6,236) Returns 62 (1,163)Rod average 2.2 (5.36)
Floating lines and black buzzers are working well from both the bank and the boat. Although conditions have been challenging this past week we have seen multiple catches with one angler catching and releasing ten fish.

Most anglers are catching on static buzzers on floating lines, with some reporting success with damsels and diawl bachs.
One of the Midland Heats of the Anglian Water Airflo International was fished at Pitsford on 3 June. Chris Bobby was top individual rod with 8 fish.

Team Results
1st Greenwell Persuaders 35 fish for 76lb 5oz
2nd Greylags FFC 17 fish for 38lb 14oz
3rd Mid Northants Saints 11 fish for 28lb 15oz
4th England Ladies 7 fish for 17lb 1oz

The Pike anglers are having a great time at Pitsford and we have had reports of several good specimens captured. Hot on the heels of last week’s 32lb 6oz specimen was a superb Pike of 31lb captured by Sebastian Jarmoluk, which was lure caught in the big half of the reservoir.
Best Brown 4lb taken by Mark Frost.
Best boat areas Dam.

Best bank areas Gravels.

Mid week boat winner Mr Warn of Watford.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 11, 24 & 30 June; 15 & 29 July and other dates throughout the season.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 189 (season 7,887) Returns 44 (1,050)Rod average 4.5 (7.5)
A tricky week at Ravensthorpe this week. The trout seem to be pre-occupied with the large numbers of damsel nymphs coming in to hatch. Floating or slow intermediate lines with damsels are catching a few fish but the top method above all others is the washing line, tequila fab on the point with black quill buzzers on the droppers.

Mr Foster and his boat partner fishing the washing line and had 16 fish to the boat. The Spencer brothers also did well on the washing line taking 14 fish to their boat. Alan Duffin opted to fish the bank again with the washing line method and landed seven fish.

Ravensthorpe is hosting its popular Thursday Evening Boat Club from 6-9pm

Best boat areas Coton End, Catwalk Corner.

Best bank areas Platforms 11 and 12.

Best methods Washing line with quill buzzers, slow intermediates with damsels.

Mid week boat winner C Thomas of Woburn Sands.

Fish stocked 500.