Rutland Water
Fish week 2,148 (Season 7,918) Returns 390 (1,479) Rod average 5.5 (5.35)
It’s May and Rutland Water is on fire with buzzers galore. Anglers are recording some memorable catches despite the changeable weather conditions.
There are huge columns of buzzers around the entire reservoir and with such exceptional water quality the trout are gorging. Subsequently, anglers employing buzzer tactics have been the most successful.
Bank anglers sporting floating lines with teams of buzzers utilising the wind to swing them round have enjoyed good sport. Boat anglers are using similar tactics; either at anchor or drifting with floating lines when cloud cover persists and midge tip lines as the fish drop in the water column when brighter spells occur. The bung/indicator is also working at times for boat bank and boat anglers. During times of adverse conditions and stronger winds mini lures and sinking lines are also proving effective.
The best boat areas have been Green Bank, Church Bay, and the Normanton Bank; Old Hall, Armley Wood and Sailing Club. Best bank areas have been Old Hall, Barnhill Creek and Savills Travels, Steep Bank, Barnsdale and the Sailing Club.
Regular visiting angler John Slavin had a superb week with us alongside local expert Al Owen. They boated over 100 trout with many overwintered fish between 3-4lb. They fished mainly with buzzers but turned to mini lures and sinking lines when conditions turned.
Eight year old starter Henry Weaver had a surprise when his self tied brown buzzer was taken in Barnhill Creek by a personal best 6lb 1oz Brown trout. He was over the moon and proudly displayed it in front of the camera.
Seasoned angler Graham Pearson and his boat partner had an outstanding day on Saturday boating a double limit using a midge tip line and epoxy buzzers from the South Arm. Amongst the fish was a hard fighting, terrific 6lb 3oz Rainbow – the best of the week.
Don’t forget Rutland Water’s Tuesday Boat League starts on 10 May – all welcome. Roll up at 5pm for a 6pm start.
Jan Porter
We were sorry to hear about the death of Jan Porter last week. Jan was a renowned coarse angler and star of many TV programmes.
Jan was a frequent visitor to Rutland Water over the years. Initially he visited us with his coarse fishing match friends during the river close season and later he fished off the boats during the predator season, becoming a regular visitor during the autumn months.
Our condolences go to Jan’s family.
Best Rainbow 6lb 3oz taken by Graham Pearson.
Best Brown 6lb 1oz taken by Henry Weaver of Oakham.
Best boat areas Green Bank, Normanton Bank, Old Hall, Armley Wood.
Best bank areas Old Hall, Barnhill, Savills travels, Steep bank, Barnsdale, Sailing Club.
Best methods Buzzers.
Mid week boat winner Jason Kightly of Hartlepool.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 8, 26 & 28 May; 4,9,17 & 19 June and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league commences 10 May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 15 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 21 May
Anglian Water Floating Line match 11 June
England Eliminator ‘Odds & Sods’ 26 June
Grafham Water
Fish week 1,099 (Season 8,199) Returns 101 (1,154) Rod average 10.88(7.1)
Grafham Water continues to provide excellent sport with a rod average of 10.88. Both bank and boat anglers have had fantastic results despite the windy, challenging weather with snow and sleet thrown in.
The north shore is again the place to be for bank anglers – especially Hill Farm, Pig Bay, Deep Water Point, G Buoy, Marlow Stones and the north end of the Dam. The best bank methods are floating lines with black or red or olive buzzers, GRHE, damsel nymphs and large black and green lures.
Boat anglers have also enjoyed great sport especially off the north shore. The most productive boat areas have been Sanctuary Bay, Stumps, Hill Farm, Pig Bay, Deep Water Point, G Buoy, Willows, north Dam and the Seat on the South Shore. There have been two main methods for boat anglers; floating lines with buzzers, crunchers and diawl bachs or fast sink lines with tequila blobs, Pitsford Pea, black and green boobies, damsel nymphs and snakes.
Don’t miss Grafham Water’s 50th Birthday celebrations
As part of the forthcoming Grafham Water 50th anniversary we are organising a boat pairs match to celebrate 50 years of fly fishing at Grafham Water. There’s a fantastic prize pot with £1000* going to the winner plus many more prizes. *Subject to the number of entries.
This event will take place on Sunday 3rd July to coincide with the official 50th anniversary week of activities at Grafham Water. This friendly fly fishing competition is to be fished to relaxed international rules (no anchoring or back drifting, any size fly is acceptable) with an 8 fish limit plus time bonus (2lb per hour).
Best Rainbow Two at 4lb 8oz taken by Harley Smith and Gordon Watson.
Best Brown 4lb 8oz taken by Peter Oldham of Great Chesterford.
Best boat areas Deep Water Point, Stumps, Willows, North Dam, Pig Bay, G Buoy, Willows, Seat.
Best bank areas Deep Water Point, Hill Farm, Willows, Dam, G Buoy, Marlow Stones, the Seat, Harbour Arms.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner D Cormach of Cheshunt
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 26 & 29 May; 5,11,18 & 30 June and other dates throughout the season.
Invicta Floating Line 7 May
Angling Trust: Team England Qualifier 22 May
Bob Church Classic 12 June
EFFA ProAm 16 June
AWAI Midland Heat 18 June
Pitsford Water
Fish week 584 (Season 2,995) Returns 100 (637) Rod average 5.8 (4.7)
Pitsford Water is on fire at the moment with a fantastic rod average of 5.8 and plenty of overwintered fish between 3 and 5lb.
Boat anglers are enjoying the best of the sport as the fish are holding 40-50 yards off the bank. Bank anglers fishing early in the morning will pick up fish before they move out.
Buzzers are featuring on the menu with the odd fish now starting to reveal damsel nymph in the spoonings. Floating or midge tip lines with buzzers in black or olive or damsel patterns should do the trick.
The best areas for boat anglers are the Small Half, Causeway and Brixworth Bay. Bank anglers should head for Gorse, Sermans and Holly Tree.
Competition news
Pitsford Water’s Troutmasters Fish off was fished on Saturday and won by Mick Griffin with 6 fish for 14lb.
The Angling Trust Team England Squad had a team session on Saturday and in a five hour boat session 14 anglers caught 180 fish for a rod average of 13 with buzzer tactics accounting for the majority of fish.
Mid week boat winner Mr George Cheney of Olney, Bucks.
Fish stocked 2,000.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 12,15 & 21 May;3 & 12 June and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 7 May.
Anglian Water Airflo International Midland heat 4 June
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 176 (Season 5,669) Returns 38 (541) Rod average 4.6(10.4)
There were some fine specimen fish taken at Ravensthorpe last week. The best fish of the week was a superb 13lb 8oz Rainbow taken by John Eccles with a silver lure and an intermediate line. Bob Draper took an 11lb 10oz specimen on a repard off the Dam wall near the Cat Walk.
Boat angler Paul James landed an 11lb 12oz Rainbow to the boat on a snake near the Coton End. Alan Duffin took a 9lb 12oz Rainbow on a black buzzer off the Domes.
Last week’s cold and windy weather had an adverse effect on Ravensthorpe’s rod average. Buzzers are still catching but due to the cold weather they haven’t been hatching. This should change with much improved conditions forecast.
Best Rainbow 13lb 8oz taken by John Eccles.
Best boat areas Coton End.
Best bank areas Dam wall.
Best methods See report.
