Week ending 19 November 2017
- 39lb 2oz monster Pike at Pitsford
fish of a lifetime for Paul Adams
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
We have seen a number of big fish at Rutland Water this week with some huge specimens showing to both trout and predator anglers. Iain Barr fished from the bank in the harbour and was rewarded with a cracking Brown of 10lb 2oz which was safely returned to the water. Ady Naylor of Uppingham also had a great day from Rutland’s harbour taking two lovely Rainbows weighing 5lb 8oz and 4lb 12oz. Ady caught his fish on a black humungus.
Boat anglers braving the fresh Autumnal days are finding fish in the Main Basin around the tower, as well as westerly drifts from the Church to the blue pipes area. Bank anglers are targeting the weedbeds that remain on the end of the peninsula, particularly Barn Hill Creek, No Wading Bank and Armley Woods to Carrot Creek and they are having success on lures and fry patterns, casting up in the deep water.
Anglers fishing ‘Pelagic style’ have found the better sized fish. Reports of two 30lb Pike have also been received, one of which came to a trout angler on the rudder!
Don’t forget to book a place to fish in Rutland Water’s popular Fur and Feather on 3 December. Please call the lodge on 01780 686441 for more information.
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 455(season 22,680) Returns 93 (3,796) Rod average 4.9 (5.97)
Despite the weather not always being ‘on side’ Grafham Water’s rod average is 4.9.
It’s been the week of the Rainbow trout! Some huge specimens are beginning to show themselves, chasing fry or hunting shrimp, so keep a keen eye out for those submarines lurking just under the surface. This week there have been plenty of 4lb plus Rainbows providing some cracking angling for all. The two best fish of the week are colossal. The first fell to Jorn N Kristensen, a 6lb fish. A huge well done to Jorn – a cracking Grafham Rainbow like this would normally be the biggest fish of the week but that honour goes to Nathan Jackson. Nathan managed a sublime Rainbow – at 8lb 12oz not just the heaviest fish of the week but the best so far this season. Truly a momentous capture and one that should never be forgotten – well done.
Boat anglers have mainly fished the coves and bays with the vast majority of fish being taken on the lure. Fish are still shrimp feeding, though a bit sporadic and confined to the more rocky areas of the reservoir. It’s still worth bringing a good mixture of line in case conditions are tough on the day. With floating, intermediates and di5’s or di7’s being a popular choice at the moment. The weather is likely to be very windy over the next week so make sure you are well prepared for the conditions. Drifting with lures is likely to be the method that helps you bag up over the coming week.
Some cracking success stories from the bank this week with lots of anglers managing 10 or more fish in relatively short sessions. Those who are exploring are definitely producing some much larger over wintered fish than those fishing the main haunts, so again, travel light and travel far! Changing
between shrimp and lures throughout the day is producing the most sport, particularly if you are mobile.
Finally a big thank you to all anglers for adhering to the season and day ticket returns policy. We have seen a vast difference in the amount of returns submitted over the last couple of weeks and a near 90% reduction in the amount of out dated season ticket returns.
The Grafham Shrimp Masters
The Grafham Shrimp Masters started with a bang! 9 limits from 20 anglers along with fish up to 3lb 15oz really proved how good the winter sport is at Grafham Water. The weather was bright, windy and very cold, not great for fly fishing, though the fish don’t read the rule book and Grafham sport is extraordinary. Anglers travelled from as far afield as Yorkshire and Cheshire (one of whom took the initial lead). We look forward to seeing more local anglers at the next heat on 10 December with further heats on 17 December 2017; 14 January and 28 January 2018.
Results of the first heat for the top ten anglers
1st J Hunter 6 fish for 17lb 2oz
2nd G Morris 6 fish for 15lb 2oz
3rd R Keeber 6 fish for 14lb 14oz
4th C Abrahams 6 fish for 14lb 9oz
5th M Willatt 6 fish for 14lb 7oz
6th C McLeod 6 fish for 14lb 5oz
7th P Sorensen 6 fish for 14lb 2oz
8th P Wild 6 fish for 13lb 12oz
9th D Moore 6 fish for 13lb 11oz
10th S Jones 5 fish for 10lb 10oz
Great winter deals. Day boat prices reduced to only £19. Half day 4 fish permits now valid all day.
Best Rainbow 8lb 12oz taken by Nathan Jackson – the best so far this season.
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
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.
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 10 & 17 December; 14 & 28 January
Grafham Fur & Feather (bank) 26 November
Pitsford Water
Fish 155 (season 11,867) Returns 34 (2,641) Rod average 4.6 (4.5)
Pitsford Water is continuing to produce some stunning back end fishing with some superb hard fighting fish, many of which are over 3lb. The water has also produced one of its best ever Pike. Paul Adams was bank fishing on the Narrows when he tempted the fish of a lifetime – a Pike of 39lb 2oz. The fish was in stunning condition and smashed Paul’s previous best – a 28lb specimen caught at Pitsford only last week. Paul’s 39lb 2oz specimen was weighed, photographed and returned in great condition.
Trout anglers are enjoying excellent sport for the time of the year with the rod average for the week at 4.6 and of the 155 fish caught over 50 weighed between 3 and 4lb.
Pitsford is fishing well from both the bank and the boats with floating or midge tip lines producing with fry patterns and hares ear/diawl bachs.
Several notable Browns have been caught – please take great care when you return these beautiful fish as they are now out of season.
Pitsford Lodge is offering a massive 20% off the marked price of all tackle and clothing during November.
A reminder that the Small Half, Nature Reserve is now out of bounds until 1 April 2018.
Mid week boat winner Andrew Maslin of Market Harborough.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing Lure & dead sea bait to 31 January 2018
