Latest News and Information from

Week ending 25 March 2018

• 5lb 5oz Rutland Rainbow for Toff Crowther

• Overwintered fish galore at Grafham Water

• Read Weekly Fishery News online at www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk/news

www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk

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 398(season 865) Returns 83 (170)Rod average 4.79 (5.08)
Both boat and bank anglers have enjoyed great early season sport this week at Rutland Water with a healthy rod average of 4.79.

Toff Crowther braved a biting east wind last Monday and took the biggest rainbow of the season so far at 5lb 5oz from the bank at Sykes Lane, he also recorded 3 others over 3lb. Stuart Ross of Nottingham also recorded a fine rainbow of 4lb 4oz off the bank. Rob Keeber from Leicester recorded over 20 rainbows from the bank at Sykes Lane beach area, intermediate line and a single blob fished slowly taking fish throughout the session including 6 overwintered rainbows.

Fish have remained relatively close to the bottom and tight to the margins in many areas around the reservoir with classic early season favourites such as bead headed black and green, humungous, cats whisker, orange lures and blobs being the most consistent patterns.

Bank anglers are generally employing floating and intermediate lines, whereas boat anglers have been using Di5 –Di8 lines and small boobies to get the flies close to the bottom whilst drifting.

During the latter part of the week temperatures increased and the fish responded by coming higher up in the water with anglers reporting seeing fish moving in some areas. A few buzzers have been seen coming off on those milder days so prospects are looking good with spring finally on its way? With temperatures looking relatively mild for the week ahead expect nymphs, buzzers, diawl bachs and bloodworm patterns to be well worth a try.

Competition news
UKAF vs Police
Rutland hosted its first competition for the season with a combined UK armed forces team fishing against the police. The UKAF team ran out comfortable winners on the day recording 127 fish for 259lb 4oz vs 84 fish for 172lb 12oz for the police. Dave Eames was top rod on the day with 14 fish (3+11 c+r and time bonus) for 30lb 9oz. Al Gamble took the best fish of the competition with a fine 3lb 5oz rainbow. Interestingly some areas produced on match day that had almost been discounted in practice making match day interesting, a good reflection of the number of areas holding fish around the reservoir.

Don’t forget Senior anglers can take advantage of discounted boats on Tuesdays – £20 per boat; Single man £14.

Best Rainbow 5lb 5oz taken by Toff Crowther.

Best boat areas Hambleton Wood, Yellowstone, Spud Bay. Normanton bank, Sykes Lane beach, Church Bay, Dickensons Bay, Old Hall Flats.

Best bank areas East Creek, Whitwell Creek, Old Hall, Sykes Lane frontage, Church Bay, blue pipes.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Mr Paterson

Fish stocked 2,500.

Forthcoming events
Independence Day Trophy 1 April
AWAI Northern heat 16 April
EFFA (by invitation) 17 April
England Eliminator 29 April
Beginners courses 29 March; 4,14,21 & 27 April; 6,18 & 25 May and other dates throughout the season.
Boat handling courses 30 April; 15 & 31 May and other dates throughout the season.

Grafham Water
Fish 246 (season 607) Returns 61(181) Rod average 4.0 (3.35)
Another week of great fishing at Grafham Water – the rod average has increased to 4.0 and plenty of over-wintered fish are showing.

Over-wintered specimen fish have fallen regularly to anglers on a mixture of lines and fly. Things have ended in a fair draw this week with two fantastic 5lb fish landed, the first being a Rainbow trout landed by Jim Stevenson and secondly a Brown trout landed by Mark Postles. Robert Maples nearly matched these fish, weighing in a fantastic Rainbow of 4lb 15oz. Other anglers performing well included AJ Smith and Paul Willis with Rainbows of 4lb 3oz and finally a top performance by young angler Keiron Gumm who landed a 4lb 1oz rainbow.

Boat fishing this week has been producing the better bags of fish, with many reporting the fish close in or on the limits of the bank angler. The majority of boats have been fishing the Willows, G Buoy, Pig Bay, Hill Farm and the Stumps though anglers are also regularly catching out of Plummers and off of the Sludge bank. The go to method currently is the intermediate line with black or black and green lures, particularly the Pitsford Pea or the humungous, though others have been achieving good fish on buzzer and blood worm too. The coming week will see a bit of changeable weather moving in, making conditions a little tougher, although switching your lure colour to a lighter pattern and a quicker retrieve may induce a few more bites.

The banks have certainly improved over the last week, particularly as we start to see some warmer weather, with the fish visibly hunting around the surface layers. The lure anglers have undoubtedly got into the fish more so than the buzzer fishermen, however this week could see a change in that. The odd few hatches are coming off too, suggesting that small black or black and white buzzer may be worth a go on your next visit. When the conditions are right for it, try the Sludge bank, there are some very good areas to fish here, and with the water being relatively shallow, you can wade closer to the fish.

Best Rainbow 5lb taken by Jim Stevenson

Best Brown 5lb taken Mark Postles.

Best boat areas North shore bays, south dam, Willows, Plummers, Hill Farm.

Best bank areas North shore, Pylon, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm, Pig Bay, Plummers.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Colin Best.

Forthcoming events
Anglian Water Rudder Match 7 April
Snowbee Floating Line 14 April
Beginners courses 28 March; 7,12,22 & 25 April;5,20 & 26 May and other dates throughout the season
Boat handling 1,14 & 28 May and other dates throughout the season.

Pitsford Water
Fish 187 (season 437) Returns 51(121) Rod average 3.7 (3.6)
Pitsford is slowly coming to life with some hatches of small black buzzers around lunch time when the water warms up. During these periods odd fish can be seen on the surface and can be tempted on buzzer patterns.

However, the best method has been bloodworm patterns fished deep or under an indicator. Alternatively it has been sunk lines with black boobies. The rod average for the week is 3.7.
The best boat areas are Stone Barn, Pitsford Creek and Brixworth Bay. Bank anglers should try Stone Barn Bay, Gorse and No Fish Point.

On Sunday the Mid Northants FF had a bank match with 17 anglers catching 60 fish for a rod average of 3.6. The top rod was Pip Jeffs with a five fish limit for 11lb 14oz. Pip also had the best fish of the match with a Rainbow of 3lb 1oz. All of his fish fell to a bloodworm pattern.

Mid week boat winner Ashley Cooper.

Fish stocked 2,200.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 31 March; 8 & 20 April; 3,16 & 19 May and other dates throughout the season.
Boat handling courses 2, 17 & 29 May and other dates throughout the season
Anglian Water Rudder Match 5 May

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 148 (season 423) Returns 28 (82)Rod average 5.2 (5.1)
Anglers have enjoyed a good week at Ravensthorpe with a rod average of 5.2.
The best methods have been lures fished on slow sink lines or buzzers fished slow.

We are seeing good catches from both the bank and the boats.

Mick Spencer had 19 fish from the Platforms on Thursday. He caught using black and green lures and size 12 black buzzer. Mr Woolnough had 14 fish to the boat on Wednesday using a Di3 line and lures.

Best Rainbow 4lb taken by D Cool.

Best boat areas Catwalk Corner.

Best bank areas Platforms 4,5,6 and 13 & 14.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner J Spencer of Duston.