Latest News and Information from Anglian Water Fisheries
Week ending 14 May 2017
• Popular Tuesday evening boat leagues
Rutland 9 May
Grafham 16 May
• Top four Rainbows at Ravensthorpe range from 9lb to 11lb
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
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 476 (season 7,079) Returns 88 (866)Rod average 5.4 (8.1)
Fishing is proving to be slightly harder at Ravensthorpe this week. Huge amounts of fish are showing topside, though being quite fickle with takes. The best method is washing line or straight lining. The best areas of the reservoir are Coton End for both boat and bank anglers. Fish are in the top four feet.
Amongst the best fish this week were four cracking Rainbows. The biggest fish of the week was an 11lb Rainbow caught by Peter Davidson. James Hope landed a fish of approximately 10lb, Mark Bradbury took a fish of 9lb 12oz and Peter Tanner landed a fine fish of 9lb.
Best Rainbow 11lb taken by Peter Davidson.
Best boat areas Coton End, Coton car park down to Island.
Best bank areas Top platforms, Coton Car Park
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Andrews Rogers of Clipston.
Rutland Water
Fish 2,097 (season 17,158) Returns 371 (2,381)Rod average 5.65(7.2)
Anglers are enjoying exceptional fishing at Rutland Water with plenty of fish in many areas around the reservoir. Season ticket holder Cameron Neil recorded the biggest Brown of the season so far – a superb 10lb 2 1/8oz specimen. Big fish are again featuring with some over wintered Rainbows amongst the big Browns.
Roger Oliver from Sheffield had a great day last Friday with five quality Rainbows averaging 3½lb, the best of these was a 4lb specimen. Roger used a slender olive nymph on a floating line. He also returned a brace of 4lb Browns. Roger Marshall bank fished the North shore and netted Rainbows of similar size with these fish feeding on corixa and some on fry.
Al Owen who guides at Rutland Water, recorded a splendid 5lb 2oz Rainbow to his boat last week. Al guided father and son pairing Roger and Matthew Coates. Matthew said he had a “brilliant day” and he and his father took 21 fish with Rainbows to 3lb and Browns to 4lb.
Boat angler Bill Ward and bank angler Mick Connor both recorded fish over 7lb. Tony Storey had a 6lb 4 1/8oz cracker last Tuesday while fishing with his usual boat partner Ken Salmon. Tony was grateful to Ken as he’d given him a black buzzer to catch his fish.
A group of eleven anglers from Scotland enjoyed a great four day trip to Rutland Water recording and returning 650 fish.
Fred Pike and Mike Stone travelled up to Rutland from Devon for their annual May fishing trip and had a great three days fishing, both catching their 8 fish limits. The pair took advantage of advice from Rutland Ranger Nigel Savage before heading out to the best areas each day. Adrian Baggerley, from Nottinghamshire, enjoyed a great day last week taking 8 fish for 27lb from the South Arm.
2,097 fish were caught last week, of which 1,069 were returned. Both these figures exclude the fish caught during the Bob Church Classic. The best tactics for bank anglers are nymphs, black or green buzzer, hares ear, crunchers (ptn). Dries are working well with fish moving on settled days and late evenings. Boat anglers are using similar tactics but are including midge tip with FAB on the point and nymphs. Various sinking lines with large and mini lures and fry patterns are working.
Competition news
The popular Tuesday Night Boat League started last week.
13 anglers fished on a cold evening. Big fish expert Keith Jones won a free boat for the biggest fish on the night – a cracking 4lb 7oz Rainbow. Neil Squires was top rod with four quality fish for 12lb 11oz. Neil’s bag included a 4lb Brown. Second place on the night went to Rich Cooper with Hilary Tomlinson placed third.
Bob Church Classic.
This was the 30th anniversary of this match which was fished on Sunday 14 May. 106 anglers took to the boats. Allan McLachlan was top rod weighing in at 15.55 for a 3lb time bonus and a total bag weight of36lb 6¼oz.
1st Allan McLachlan 36lb 6¼oz
2nd Iain Barr 31lb 4½oz
3rd Laurie Taylor 30lb 15oz
4th John Hardy 29lb 5½oz
5th Steve Cullen 27lb 15¼oz
6th Murray Hunter 26lb 8oz
Best Rainbow 5lb 2oz taken by Al Owen of Cranwell.
Best Brown 7lb 6oz taken by Neil Cameron.
Best boat areas Bottom of both arms, Sykes Lane, Normanton, Sailing Club, Carrot Creek, Church Bay.
Best bank areas Normanton, the Dam, Sykes Lane, Whitwell Creek.
Best methods Bank – nymphs, dries, lures (floating line).
Boat – as for bank but include midge tip, various sinking lines with the above plus mini and large lures, and fry patterns.
Midweek boat winner A Weatherey of Cambridge.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 19 & 26 May;3, 14 & 18 June; 1,9,16 & 22 July and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Anglian Water Rudder Match 20 May
EFFA 6 June
Anglian Water Floating Line 10 June 01780 686441
EDFF 5 July 01780686441
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 882 (season 11,106) Returns 172 (1,281) Rod average 5.1 (8.67)
Anglers have taken some excellent fish at Grafham Water this week. Steve Battle of Bedford managed a cracking haul of 31 fish. Well done to Keith Gilchrist and Simon Lehane who both caught 15 fish apiece. Simon landed the biggest Brown of the week an impressive 7lb. The biggest Rainbow of the week fell to Ziggy Lesiakiwski who caught a lovely specimen of 6lb 4oz near to the Seat with a cruncher on a floating line.
This week the rod average has risen slightly and we have also seen a big change in the movement of fish with over wintered specimens being found in more open water. With the recent changeable weather gauging the depth of fish has been difficult. At some times of the day fish are being caught on the surface and at others found at a depth of up to 12 feet.
In calm conditions buzzers and crunchers are still proving effective from the boat. Although in the more unsettled windy weather it is well worth trying blobs and cats whisker boobies on an intermediate. With the fish in more open water now long drifts are proving very effective. Although fish are still coming out all along the north shore and there have also been reports of nice fish coming out at the Seat.
For bank anglers, buzzers are still the fly of choice, however diawl bachs and crunchers will also do the job. Good numbers of fish are coming out at Deep Water Point, Pylon Point and the bank near G Buoy. The Seat has also been fishing well and is a less challenging fish when the wind is in the south west.
Competition news
Grafham Water hosted both the Anglers World Individual (13 May) and the Sport Fish Team Heat (14 May). It was a cracking two days with plenty of fish caught. The individual match was won by Mathew Griffiths with a bag of 16 fish. Congratulations to RAF Fish Hawks who won the team match with 37 fish for a total weight of 78lb 11oz.
Mark Haycock is organising a fish with your boat partner Pairs Match on 27 May. Entry is £60 per pair plus fishing costs. Entry includes a barbecue and drinks. The match will be fished to relaxed international rules with no anchoring and no time bonus. Registration is from 8am at the fishing lodge. Match time 10am to 5pm. Please call the fishing lodge on 01480 810531 for more information and to book.
Best Rainbow 6lb 4oz taken by Ziggy Lesiakowski.
Best Brown 7lb taken by Simon Lehane.
Best boat areas Stumps, the Willows, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm and Pylon Point and Open Water, M Buoy.
Best bank areas The Seat, Pylon Point, Deep Water Point, bank near to G Buoy.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr B Tranter.
Fish stocked 2,600.
Forthcoming events
Tuesday night boat league in conjunction with Invicta
Starts 16 May and runs to 15 August. 5.30 pm start – 10pm finish
Beginners courses 21 & 25 May; 4, 10, 17 & 29 June; 2,8,21,28 & 30 July and other dates throughout the season.
Mark Haycock’s Fish with your boat Partner Pairs Match 27 May
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 829 (season 5,600) Returns 138 (979)Rod average 6.0 (5.7)
Pitsford Water continues to fish very well and is still producing specimen fish to buzzers. We have seen several fantastic Browns caught and released. The rod average for the week is 6.
The outstanding performance of the week goes to Phil Jordan. Phil has spent some time on the water and his work has paid off. He boat fished in the Narrows and had a real red letter day with Browns of 10lb and 6¼lb along with several Rainbows up to 5lb and even a good Perch between 2-3lb, all taken on buzzers.
Duncan Keir fished on a holiday package and reported a quality day catching and releasing 10 Browns and 17 Rainbows. Duncan’s group of 11 anglers from Scotland caught 255 fish during their two days at Pitsford.
The best areas are the Narrows, Gravels and Gorse with floating line and buzzers, diawls and crunchers being the most effective.
Mid week boat winner Gary Stafford of Milton Keynes.
Forthcoming events
England Eliminator 28 May 01604 781350
Anglian Water Airflo International Midland heat 3 June 01572 653021
Beginners courses 20 May; 11, 24 & 30 June; 15 & 29 July and other dates throughout the season.
Raven
