Fish week 600 (Season 1,213) Returns 122(218) Rod average 4.91(5.56)
Rutland Water is continuing the new season in excellent form with anglers reporting plenty of fish for the week. As we are still in March fish are feeding very well on a variety of food which includes daphnia, buzzers, shrimp, bloodworm and snails.
Settled conditions early in the week saw good numbers of fish falling to nymph patterns that were feeding on the excellent buzzer hatches. The fish were pretty high up in the water for the time of year and have been seen moving on top. In this instance some anglers have had success with dry fly tactics.
Bank anglers caught well off Whitwell front, Stockie Bay and off the groins near the beach at Sykes Lane. With the wind changing direction later in the week fish were then caught out of Church Bay and along to the three tees area right down to Fantasy Island.
Boat anglers did best along the main basin shoreline, Normanton, Sykes Lane. There were however, a good few fish taken right out in the deeper water from the Sailing Club right the way through to the main basin. A number of these fish were over wintered Rainbows in very good condition (feeding well on daphnia), averaging around the 2lb mark.
Over wintered Browns have shown again along with this season’s stock fish. Please remember that Browns are out of season until this Friday, 1 April. Any caught before 1 April must be returned safely to the water. Any that are too badly hooked must be killed and handed to one of the rangers on duty.
The Independence Day Trophy will be fished on Friday 1 April. This is awarded to the biggest Brown or Rainbow caught on the day. You have until 5pm on the day to weigh in at the lodge – good luck!
Winter restrictions will be lifted on 1 April for both bank and boat anglers. Please note that at the moment the reservoir is at top level and areas like Manton Bay will be very coloured due to the bunds wall there being under water.
Best Brown 5lb returned safely to the water,
Best boat areas Sykes Lane, Normanton, Sailing Club, Church Bay. Number of fish being caught out over deep water Sailing Club through to main basin.
Best bank areas Normanton, Church Bay, East Creek, Sykes Lane, Stockie Bay, Old Hall.
Rutland Water continued
Best methods Bank – lures and nymphs (dries for some).
Boat – as for bank anglers but with sinking
lines.
Mid week boat winner Roger Bailey of Oakham.
Fish stocked 2,500
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 31 March; 6,16,23 & 28 April; 8,14, & 28 May and other dates throughout the season.
Independence Day Trophy (best fish) 1 April
Anglian Water Airflo International Northern heat 11 April
Tuesday Night boat league commences in May
Bob Church Classic 7 May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 15 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 21 May
Grafham Water
Fish week 618(Season 1,811) Returns 114 (321) Rod average 5.42 (5.64)
Grafham Water has continued to fish well for both bank and boat anglers with an excellent rod average of 5.42. On Thursday 24 March Rob Edmunds took his son Albert bank fishing from the Dam at Grafham. Albert enjoyed a superb couple of hours where he caught six fish all over 3lb. His best was 3lb 12oz. Well done Albert – like father like son!
The Easter weekend got off to an excellent start last Friday and Grafham Ranger Jack Abbs met a lot of happy anglers coming off the boats at the end of a successful day. On Good Friday Jamie Thomas (2015 Lexus Individual Champion) took his son Finn boat fishing at Grafham for the first time. They both had a fantastic day fishing a Di5 sweep and single tequila blob along Hedge End Bank. In total Finn had 15 fish whilst his Dad took 20 plus. Despite the windy conditions on Saturday 26 March Marley Smith had a beautifully conditioned 4lb 10oz Rainbow from a sheltered spot in Sludge Lagoons using a Diawl Bach.
Bank anglers have again enjoyed great sport with plenty of bag limits being taken from most points along the north shore. The most productive points along the shore have been Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hill Farm, Willows, North Dam and G Buoy when the wind has allowed. The best method for bank anglers has been to fish Pitsford Pea, Damsel Nymphs,
Grafham Water continued
Diawl Bachs, Tadpole, crunchers, Tequila Blobs and PTN’s at a slow retrieve.
Boat anglers have also enjoyed good sport with the North shore producing the most consistent catch rates. The most productive areas from the boats have been the Stumps, Seat, Willows, Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hedge End and G Buoy.The most prolific method for boat anglers has been to fish sink tip or slow sink lines with tequila blobs, Tadpoles, Montanas, vivas, PTN’s, Diawl Bachs, crunchers, GRHE and olive buzzers with a slow retrieve.
Best Rainbow 4lb 10oz taken by Harley Smith.
Best boat areas Seat, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point, Hedge End, Stumps, Willows.
Best bank areas Seat, G Bank, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point, Hill Farm, Willows.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Scott Clarkson of Surrey.
Anglers are reminded that Brown trout are out of season until 1 April. Any caught must be returned to the water alive. The winter fishing restrictions remain in place along the western end of the reservoir until 1 April.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 2,9,14 & 24 April;1,26 & 29 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 9 April
Bob Church Open (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) 17 April.
England Eliminator 29 April
Invicta Floating Line 7 May
England Eliminator (Odds & Sods) 22 May
EFFA ProAm 16 June
AWAI Midland Heat 18 June
Pitsford Water
Fish week 238 (Season 987) Returns 86(241) Rod average 2.7(4.09)
Congratulations to Jason Kirby from Kibworth who has reported hooking a 6lb 3oz Brownie from the boat (safely returned to the water).
Anglers have enjoyed a good week at Pitsford Water, despite the high winds and low pressure. Bank fishing has been exceptional with many anglers bagging up in short time and many 3lb plus Rainbows being caught. The best Rainbow weighed 5lb plus and was taken by Chris Butcher of Brixworth.
Saturday 26 March was a great day for our bank anglers with many bagging up in a short time. Season ticket holder Gavin Layton of Northampton landed a lovely 4lb plus rainbow which he caught on a white/green lure on a sinking line – he also had another 12. Despite the wet and windy weather young Daniel Davis managed to catch and safely release a fine 4lb 8oz brown trout. Daniel also took 7 rainbows. He was fishing with his Dad at the Stone Barn. He used a di5 with a short leader and a mit booby.
Season ticket holder Alex Urquhart of Hinckley was delighted with the fine 3lb10oz over wintered rainbow that he caught on Tuesday 22 March, together with another good sized bar of silver.
Among boat anglers overcoming the cold weather conditions were Trevor Hall who had three fish off Stonebarn and George Hackett who had four drifting across from the Dam to Pitsford Creek.
Best Rainbow 5lb plus taken by Chris Butcher of Brixworth.
Best Brown 6lb 3oz caught by Jason Kirby and returned safely to the water
Best boat areas Narrows.
Best bank areas Northfield shore, Stone Barn, Gravels.
Forthcoming events
Second Saturday of every month Pitsford will be open for fly tying tuition, casting coaching and general fishing advice by members of the Mid Northants Trout Fishers Association – everyone welcome.
Beginners courses 3,10 & 15 April; 12,15 & 21 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 7 May.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 611 (Season 1,707) Returns 66 (200) Rod average 9.2 (8.5)
Ravensthorpe continues to provide excellent sport with a rod average of 9.2 for the week and some superb fish. Charles Jardine took the best fish of the week – a lovely 12lb 14oz Rainbow.
All the early season methods are catching fish. Lures and blobs on Di3 or Di5 lines. Buzzers and diawl bachs on floating or sink tip lines are working, A few fish have been caught on dries. Rob Edmunds took a 12lb Rainbow on Saturday. This was a fine fish but not quite the biggest for the week with Charles Jardine landing a superb Rainbow on Sunday tipping the scales at 12lb 14oz. Charles took this fine specimen on a cormorant whilst fishing with the England Youth Team.
Bank anglers have also been catching fish – particularly Platforms 1-10. Buzzers and diawl bachs or lures are working fishing a floater, sink tip.
Best Rainbow 12lb 14oz taken by Charles Jardine.
Best boat areas Catwalk to Island, Tall Willow Bay.
Best bank areas Platforms 1-10.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Gary Gillespie, Newmarket.
