Week ending 30 July 2017
- Nail biting finish at Grafham Water in Anglian Water Airflo International Midlands final
With just one ounce separating third and fourth placed teams the Renegades made it through to the International final at Rutland with Draycote Rio Masters taking fourth place - Numerous Brown trout nudging the 6lb mark at Rutland Water
- Summer offers across all of our trout fisheries
Extra senior day launching this summer!
Great news for our senior anglers, with ‘Senior Tuesday’ and ‘Senior Thursday’ reductions for the rest of the Summer season. On these days anglers over 65 can take a 2 man boat for £19 or a single man boat for £14.
Enjoy the last hours of the day from the bank or a boat this Summer! Special sunset boat and permit prices from 4.30pm
Terrific Summer sale at our tackle shops
Up to 30% off the marked price on rods, reels and clothing
There’s never been a better time to upgrade your kit.
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 333 (season 29,408) Returns 130 (5,264) Rod average 2.56(5.58)
The biggest fish of the week was a superb Brown of 5lb 12oz taken by Keith Jones. Keith took this fish during the popular Over 50’s match at Rutland on Saturday. Another good sized Brown was taken by Leicester’s Ken Salmon when he fished down the south arm last Tuesday. Ken stuck to nymphs for most of the day, but made the worthwhile decision to change to a Humungus late on to net another big Brown this one went 5lb 6¾oz .
Steve Reynolds and Adrian Cook took to the boats on Thursday, Steve who was here on holiday, has spent the last 30 years living in Australia, he originates from Great Barton in Suffolk. He teamed up for the day with his old friend Adrian. Under the guidance of Adrian, the pair fished nymphs again to no avail, and with a freshening South west wind, snakes were used, with the pair netting around a dozen fish, with clean silvered up rainbows up to 3½lb, with Adrian also returning two cracking Browns of 4lb 4oz and 5lb 8oz respectively.
Steve and Adrian’s boat was the last boat back in on Thursday night at around 7 .30pm; heavy showers saw the other boats avoiding the forthcoming rain coming back for an early bath around 6.30ish. With still plenty of daylight left, ranger Nigel Savage decided to have ten minutes off the harbour wall before going home that night, a decent Brown responded to a fry pattern off the top.
Some good fish were reported off the bank this last week for those who put in the effort. Oakham’s Mick Connor reported a fly line and backing stripping rainbow just under 4lb whilst fishing off the peninsula. Mick used a dry fly to fool the snail feeder. Peter De Kremer also used dries to net Rainbows to 4lb and browns to 5lb respectively.
It’s been a changeable summer at Rutland Water heavily influenced by the weather with variations in air pressure and wind direction. Approximately 13,000 stock fish have been released in the last six weeks around the shoreline with the transformer, the “Stones”/green bank, sailing club, half moon spinney and Cardiac Hill being used. The aeration system has been out of action for approximately eight weeks. As a result fish have been well spread out in the main basin, which has produced fish on some days, then it’s been a complete struggle to find them on other days. Logically with the aerators off, there should be a massive bonus of even more fish around when things start to cool down. Boats have been well dispersed with the main basin, middle of the North arm, and both ends of the arms also seeing some action.
Competition News
Anglian Water Loch Style 4 Man Team 9 August
Entries for this match are still being taken – please call Rutland Lodge for more information on 01780 686441.
Over 50’s match Saturday 29 July
20 anglers recorded a healthy rod average of 4.65 in this popular pairs match. Alan Stern and Nigel Angus successfully defended their title from last year, the pair weighing in 16 fish for 32lb 10oz! Only a pound separated first and second with Graham Pearson and Al Owen’s 16 fish going 31lb 9oz. Keith Jones and Keith Jones went specimen hunting and took 3rd spot with 8 fish for 21lb 8oz, including the best fish of the day (and the week) a 5lb 12oz Brown.
Great news for our senior anglers
In addition to our popular ‘Senior Tuesday’ we are now adding a ‘Senior Thursday’ for the rest of the Summer season. On these days anglers over 65 can take a 2 man boat for £19 or a single man boat for £14. Our 6 fish and c&r senior permit can be purchased 7 days a week.
Summer sale at our tackle shops
Up to 30% off the marked price across our Rods, reels and clothing ranges! Get in quick as the sale ends 31 August.
Enjoy the last hours of the day from the bank or a boat this Summer!
Sunset Boat £10
Sunset Permit (1 fish + c + r ) £10
Offer available from 4.30pm
Best Brown 5lb 12oz taken by Keith Jones.
Best boat areas Normanton bank (X to V buoy), New Zealand Point, Lax Hill and Cattle Trough.
Best bank areas Old Hall, Fantasy island/Normanton bank, New Zealand Point to Sailing Club.
Best methods Bank – dries, hares ear.
Boats – sinking lines, blobs, boobies, nymphs (Di3/intermediate).
Mid week boat winner M Janik of Spilsby.
Fish stocked 3,000.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 6,12 & 27 August;10,16 & 24 September and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Anglian Water Loch Style 4 man team 9 August
English National 1-3 September
WaterAid 8 September
Anglian Water Rudder match 16 September
Grafham Water
Fish 472 (season 14,509) Returns 99 (2,316) Rod average 4.76 (6.3)
Anglers have enjoyed some good sport this week, including a fantastic Midlands final in the Anglian Water Airflo International.
Some good fish have come out this week with far too many 3lb plus fish to mention. Some of the best include Lee Henfrey’s 4lb 2oz Rainbow caught in the AWAI Midlands Final. This was a cracking fish. The biggest Brown of the week was a fantastic 5lb specimen taken by Andy Linwood. Conditions look good for a few fish breaking the 6lb mark this coming week.
The best areas for boat fishing continue to be the weedbeds, open water drifting and the clearer bays fishing well with shrimp patterns, snail patterns and lures. In the overcast conditions fish can be found in the surface layers of water, with many seen moving over the last few days. When the sun shines it is worth switching to di5’s with blobs and boobies which could see you head home with your limit. The boils and aerators are starting to attract more fish so as always it’s worth a try on your next visit, with other hotspots including Gaynes Cove and G Buoy.
Bank anglers are taking big hauls of fish from the Dam. Fish are feeding readily on shrimp and snail on the dam with anglers keeping the flies relatively static and letting the wind do the rest. Diawl bachs are worth trying and some fish are still fry feeding first and last light. Other spots worth a shot include Perry Point, the Harbour Arms, the Seat and Plummers bank.
With the shrimp returning to the margins it’s worth mentioning the wash down facilities all anglers have to use at the end of the session. It’s essential that all individual invertebrates are removed from clothing and kit to reduce the chances of shrimp transferral.
Competition news
Anglian Water Airflo International Midlands Final Monday 24 July
The top three teams in this match qualified for the International Final at Rutland in early October. The fourth and fifth placed teams will be invited to fish in the Grafham Water Championship in September. This was one of the most closely contested AWAI matches ever with just one ounce separating third and fourth placed teams. The day was windy and conditions tough, however a rod average of 6.62 speaks for itself.
1st Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs 45 fish for 95lb 2oz
2nd Elinor 42 fish for 92lb 8oz
3rd The Renegades 42 fish for 89lb 9oz
4th Draycote Rio Masters 42 fish for 89lb 8oz
5th Greylags FFC 38 fish for 71lb
6th Greenwell Persuaders 33 fish for 71lb 7oz
7th Musketeers 36 fish for 71lb 4oz
Best fish Lee Henfrey of Draycote Rio Masters 4lb 2oz
Best bag Cameron Neil of The Renegades 30lb 0oz
Grafham Water continued
Great news for our senior anglers
In addition to our popular ‘Senior Tuesday’ we are now adding a ‘Senior Thursday’ for the rest of the Summer season. On these days anglers over 65 can take a 2 man boat for £19 or a single man boat for £14. Our 6 fish and c&r senior permit can be purchased 7 days a week.
Summer sale at our tackle shops
Up to 30% off the marked price across our Rods, reels and clothing ranges! Get in quick as the sale ends 31 August.
Enjoy the last hours of the day from the bank or a boat this Summer!
Sunset Boat £10
Sunset Permit (1 fish + c + r ) £10
Offer available from 4.30pm
Best Rainbow 4lb 2oz taken by Lee Henfrey.
Best Brown 5lb taken by Andy Linwood.
Best boat areas Rainbow Point, the Dam, open water drifting, particularly west side of reservoir (M Buoy), Pylon Point, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm.
Best bank areas Pylon Point, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm, South Dam, Plummers and the Bowl.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr Young of Stanwick.
Fish stocked 1,000.
Forthcoming events
Tuesday night boat league in conjunction with Invicta
Runs to 15 August. 5.30 pm start – 10pm finish
Beginners courses 5,11,20 & 26 August; 17,23 & 27 September and other dates throughout the season.
Mark Haycock’s Summer Pairs boat match 13 August
Lure anglers 1-2 September
Grafham Water Championship (by invitation) 15 & 16 September
Pitsford Water
Fish 186(season 7,536) Returns 34 (1,642) Rod average 5.4 (4.6)
The rod average at Pitsford is a healthy 5.4 for the week. Anglers have enjoyed some excellent days interspersed with more difficult conditions.
The best boat areas are the basin and the boils. Best bank areas are Sermans, Holly Tree and Digbys or the Cliffs. Fish are in the top 3-4 feet of water and the best methods have been diawl bach and cruncher patterns with booby and FAB’s in a washing line.
Bank anglers have caught using dries or shrimp patterns, targeting the vast weedbeds.
Throughout July and August we allow spinning for trout and this option has been very successful this week with several bag limits coming to this method. The predator fishing continues to produce very good Pike and Perch. We have had numerous reports of Pike over 20lb and Perch up to 3½lb.
Great news for our senior anglers
In addition to our popular ‘Senior Tuesday’ we are now adding a ‘Senior Thursday’ for the rest of the Summer season. On these days anglers over 65 can take a 2 man boat for £19 or a single man boat for £14. Our 6 fish and c&r senior permit can be purchased 7 days a week.
Summer sale at our tackle shops
Up to 30% off the marked price across our Rods, reels and clothing ranges! Get in quick as the sale ends 31 August.
Enjoy the last hours of the day from the bank or a boat this Summer!
Sunset Boat £10
Sunset Permit (1 fish + c + r ) £10
Offer available from 4.30pm
Mid week boat winner Bob Layton of Scaldwell
Forthcoming events
During July and August anglers are permitted to lure fish for trout.
Beginners courses 13,18 and 24 August; 9,15,20 & 30 September and other dates throughout the season.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 111 (season 8,414) Returns 38 (1,375) Rod average 2.9(6.1)
Fishing during the week has been sporadic with some good days followed by more challenging conditions. Fish are still in the top 2 feet of water. Mr Dighton had 16 fish on a claret hopper. Dave Naylor and his boat partner Steve had 17 fish to their boat, taken on various dries. More settled weather will see catches improve.
Dry fly seems to be more productive and fish are still up in the water with hoppers, ptn’s and crunchers working.
During Grafham Water Flyfishers’ recent dry fly only match at Ravensthorpe anglers found that fish would follow and come short. Most anglers caught with David Spall taking victory with 7 fish.
Ravensthorpe is hosting its popular Thursday Evening Boat Club from 6-9pm
Great news for our senior anglers
In addition to our popular ‘Senior Tuesday’ we are now adding a ‘Senior Thursday’ for the rest of the Summer season. On these days anglers over 65 can take a 2 man boat for £19 or a single man boat for £14. Our 6 fish and c&r senior permit can be purchased 7 days a week.
Summer sale at our tackle shops
Up to 30% off the marked price across our Rods, reels and clothing ranges! Get in quick as the sale ends 31 August.
Enjoy the last hours of the day from the bank or a boat this Summer!
Sunset Boat £10
Sunset Permit (1 fish + c + r ) £10
Offer available from 4.30pm
Best boat areas Main bowl.
Best bank areas Platforms 11-12, top bank.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Martin Foster of Buckingham.
