- Anglian Water Fur & Feather matches
These are always popular and great fun – call the lodges now to enterPitsford Water
(boat) 11 November (01604 781350)
Grafham Water (bank) 26 November (01480 810531)
Rutland Water (bank) 3 December (01780 686441)
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 357 (season 43,066) Returns 104 (8,750) Rod average 3.43 (4.93)
One of the highlights of 2017 at Rutland has been the large number of high quality Brown trout. Over the last couple of weeks we have seen a number of Browns estimated between 8-10lb. The Brown trout season ended last Wednesday with a fine specimen of 6lb 9½oz caught off the bank by Mr Marsden. Browns may still be caught but must be returned safely to the water.
Toff Crowther and Graham Hayward enjoyed a couple of days’ boat fishing. Toff took two 7lb Browns and Graham a Brown of 6lb plus and the pair had Rainbows to 3½lb. On their second day Graham had a 7lb Brown, with other Browns and Rainbows caught in good numbers. Graham returned to bank fish on Wednesday and took two 3lb Rainbows from the Harbour wall.
Long term season ticket holder Malcolm Janik boat fished a couple of times last week and he recorded 13 Rainbows and two Browns (safely returned). Malcolm said the Rainbows were in excellent condition with clean gills. The fish had been feeding well with 8 fish averaging 2½lb.
There are good signs that a lot of the Rainbows that are out in the middle of the water are now slowly but surely coming in to the shoreline, where hopefully they will feed on the amazing abundance of fly and the plentiful numbers of corixa.
Winter restrictions apply (so no fishing down the north or south arms). All browns caught must be returned as quickly as possible and any that can’t be returned must be handed to fishery staff.
During November the fishing lodge is open 8am to 2pm.
Great winter deals – day boat prices reduced to only £19. Half day 4 fish permits now valid all day.
Best Rainbow 3lb 8oz taken by Graham Hayward.
Best Brown 6lb 9½oz safely returned by Mr Marsden of Bourne.
Best boat areas Main basin, plenty of fish out over the deeper water. Good numbers of Rainbows coming into the shoreline feeding on fry.
Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, the Peninsula, Armley Wood, Carrot Creek, Barnhill Creek, Spud Bay, Yellowstone.
Best methods Bank – Fry patterns, nymphs, hares ear, crunchers.
Boat – As for bank plus various mini lures, gold/silver tubes still working.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing at Rutland Water – Pike, Zander and Perch only
Predator fishing on the fly to 31 January 2018
Lure and dead sea bait to 31 January 2018
Rutland Fur & Feather (bank) 3 December
Grafham Water
Fish 629 (season 21,717) Returns 102 (3,624) Rod average 6.17 (5.99)
It’s been another great week of bank and boat fishing at Grafham with the rod average increasing to a fantastic 6.17.
The specimen hunters have been taking fish out over the 6lb mark, though these anglers have stayed anonymous! Other anglers catching well include this week’s free boat winner John Archer. John managed a huge 22 fish on his sessions last week including a couple of Browns returned safely to the water. Mr Walker took a 4lb 10oz Rainbow and Mr Provan caught and returned a Brown of over 5lb.
Boat fishing has been much more successful this week, though certainly not easy with the swirling winds. Anglers are finding that throughout the day swapping between floating and intermediate lines, from shrimp to lure, is improving catch rates. Drifting close to the shore lines will increase success rates. However, the predator anglers fishing open water are reporting vast numbers of trout on the east side of the reservoir, particularly around ‘I’ buoy in the surface layers.
The bank fishing is currently fantastic and you would be hard pushed to find areas that are devoid of fish. Although most anglers are catching well on shrimp and GRHE’s all anglers must remember that not all of the fish are after shrimp. Other flies work well too at this time of year, particularly lures and floating fry, with the majority of big fish coming to these methods. When the wind is right the south shore will produce well, with specimens seen around the harbour and some good fish landed recently from the Seat.
Please note that the November line restriction on the west side of the reservoir is now in force.
Competition news
Grafham ranger Mark Haycock ran the final boat pairs match of the season on a cold and wet November day. Unfortunately the weather conditions lead to nearly half of the anglers pulling out at the last minute which was a great shame for such a successful boat series. The anglers who braved the elements were rewarded with some fantastic hauls of fish including the winning pair who bagged up within three hours, there were three others who also achieved bag limits.
1st Mr Beaumont & Mr Speak 37lb 10oz
2nd Mr Rose and Mr Hardy 37lb 3oz
Biggest fish fell to Mr Jenkinson and Mr Finney – Rainbow of3lb 9oz.
Well done to all that fished the match, let’s hope to see many of you fishing the Shrimp Masters which starts on Sunday 12 November.
Starts Sunday 12 November – the Grafham Shrimp Masters.
A winter league to be fished from the bank across five dates with your three best results submitted. The six fish limit no catch and release match will be fished between 9am and 3pm with prizes for the best bag on the day and of course the top three and best fish of the league. Further information can be obtained from Grafham Fishing Lodge with no booking necessary.
Dates (all are Sundays) are as follows
12 November; 10 December, 17 December 2017
14 January, 28 January 2018
Great winter deals. Day boat prices reduced to only £19. Half day 4 fish permits now valid all day.
Best Rainbow 4lb 10oz taken by Mr Walker.
Best Brown Estimated at 5lb plus by Mr Provan.
Best bank areas G Buoy, the Bowl, south Dam, Plummers and Gaynes, the Seat, the Willows, Marlow Arm, the Stumps, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm.
Best boat areas G Buoy, the Bowl, south Dam, Plummers and Gaynes, the Seat, Pig Bay, Rectory Bay, Deep Water Point, Hedge End, I Buoy.
Mid week boat winner John Archer.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing at Grafham Water
Predator fishing on the fly to 31 January 2018
Lure & dead sea bait to 31 January 2018
Grafham Shrimp Masters Bank League starts 12 November
Grafham Fur & Feather (bank) 26 November
Pitsford Water
Fish 278 (season 11,456) Returns 62 (2,549) Rod average 4.5(4.5)
Pitsford Lodge is offering a massive 20% off the marked price of all tackle and clothing during November.
With the weed starting to die back the banks are now fishing in more areas at Pitsford leading to a healthy rod average of 4.5 for the week. The Sailing Club bank, Stone Barn and Northfield Shore are all producing fish with lots of Rainbows between 3-4lb.
The best fish of the week was a fine Rainbow of 4lb 3oz taken by Toby Cousins.
Fry or shrimp patterns are working or fish the washing line method with a small booby or fab on the point.
A reminder that the Small Half, Nature Reserve is now out of bounds until 1 April 2018.
Pitsford’s Fur and Feather boat match is on 11 November and a few boats are still available please call the lodge on 01604 781350 to book.
Great winter deals – day boat prices reduced to only £19. Half day 4 fish permits now valid all day.
Best Rainbow 4lb 3oz taken by Toby Cousins.
Mid week boat winner Gordon Alleyne of Wansford.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing at Pitsford Water
Predator fishing on the fly to 31 January 2018
Lure fishing to 31 January 2018
Lure & dead sea bait to 31 January 2018
Pitsford Fur & Feather (boat) 11 November
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 94(season 10,156) Returns 30 (1,934) Rod average 3.1 (5.2)
Ravensthorpe hosted the annual Fur and Feather boat match on 5 November. In pleasant, although chilly conditions, anglers recorded a rod average of 2.5. First place went to Rob Edmunds and Gary Geoghegen who caught eight fish for 18lb. Rob also took the biggest fish prize with a lovely full tailed 4lb 2oz specimen. Second place went to father and son team Frazer Duffy senior and junior with eight fish for 17lb 4oz. Third place went to the boat of Terry Bayes and Ashley Cooper with eight fish for 16lb 8oz. After a cold day’s fishing the anglers warmed up at The Chequers in Ravensthorpe.
Ravensthorpe for the most part has been a challenging water to fish this week with a rod average of 3.1.
The majority of boat caught fish are coming from just outside the white buoys in front of the lodge and alongside the wheelyboat. Large shoals of roach and perch appear to be attracting the fish and they are being taken on snakes, cats whisker, black and green Bunny Leech and blobs.
The bank fishing at Ravensthorpe is still worth a look although sport has slowed somewhat. Regular bank angler Alan Duffin continues to take fish along Monger Bank.
Boats are available at Ravensthorpe until 30 November and bank fishing will cease on 31 December.
Great winter deals. Day boat prices reduced to only £19. Half day 1 fish permits now valid all day.
Best Rainbow 4lb 2oz taken by Rob Edmunds.
Best boat areas Outside white buoys.
Best bank areas Monger bank.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr Arnold
Predator fishing at Ravensthorpe
Predator fishing on the fly to 30 November 2017
Lure & dead sea bait 1 October 2017 to 30 November 2017
