Local stars shine ahead of Anglian Water Airflo International final at Rutland Water

The most prestigious match of the season will be fished next week; in the meantime there have been personal bests for Graham Hayward (8lb 7oz Brown) and Toff Crowther (8lb 8oz Brown)

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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
Top anglers from across Europe will head to Rutland Water later this week to practice for the Anglian Water Airflo International. The final of this prestigious match will be fished on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th October. However, the local stars have been shining this week. Rutland based fishing buddies Graham Hayward and Toff Crowther both landed personal bests at the weekend. Graham was first with an 8lb 7oz Brownie, but Toff went one ounce better and netted an 8lb 8oz Brown from the harbour. Both fish were safely returned.
Floating Line Pairs 23 September 10am to 6pm14 anglers fished this match. Rob Edmunds and Rick Cooper both stormed in to first place with a combined weight of 27lb 6oz for 16 fish.  Rob Wieldon and Peter Skelton took second place with 10 fish for 19lb 3oz.  Third place went to Hilary Tomlinson and Keith Jones with 10 fish for 18lb 9½oz. Wayne Windsor took the best fish at 6lb 1½oz.

Best boat areas New Zealand Point, Sailing Club, Spud Bay to Half Moon Spinney. Carrot Creek to Barnhill Creek.
Best bank areas Blue pipes to Fantasy down the Normanton bank and Barnhill to Carrot Creek.
Best methods Fish are well up so fish flies high in the water. Close in fish suspender minky/floating lines and fry patterns. Further out in open water try intermediate lines with blobs and hoppers and crunchers up the cast.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing at Rutland Water – Pike, Zander and Perch only
Predator fishing on the fly to 31 January 2018
Lure fishing 1 – 30 September
Lure and dead sea bait 6 October 2017 to 31 January 2018

Beginners courses  8,15 (Pike), 21 & 28 October.
Anglian Water Airflo International Final 2-4 October (all boats booked).Anglian Water Autumn Pairs Rudder & non Rudder 7 OctoberFry Feeders Match 22 OctoberGeorge Moore Memorial Trophy (Rudder) 28 OctoberRutland Fur & Feather (bank) 3 December

Grafham Water
Fish 326 (season 18,265) Returns 80(2,990) Rod average 4.0 (6.1)
Another good week at Grafham for both boat and bank anglers.  Some of the most notable catches this week included a 4lb 7oz Brown for Mr W Mounce and a 4lb Rainbow for Mr M Hammond. There have been reports of a number of Browns being caught on both the banks and in the boats.
There is some algae around which can make areas unfishable, depending on the wind conditions. That said the fishing is good with a rod average of 4 for the week and many anglers catching their limits, or very close to it.
Boat angling this week has seen G Buoy and towards the Dam really come on. Although the fishing can be a bit up and down depending on the conditions. There have been reports of there being plenty of fry out in the water, so this is something to bear in mind when going out. Those fish that are being spooned are being found to be packed full of shrimp, so fishing on the margins would be a safe bet (where this does not clash with bank anglers). Between the Seat and Plummers has also proved a profitable spot this week, with some big fish coming out. Diawl bachs, crunchers and shrimp patterns are still proving effective, as well as fry patterns.
Where the banks are accessible they are fishing well, with the shrimp coming into the margins. Many anglers are catching quite a few off the Dam, with double figures regularly being reported.
Coming soon – A new competition – the Grafham Shrimp Masters.A winter league to be fished from the bank across five dates with your three best results submitted. The six fish limit no catch and release match will be fished between 9am and 3pm with prizes for the best bag on the day and of course the top three and best fish of the league. Further information can be obtained from Grafham Fishing Lodge with no booking necessary.Dates (all are Sundays) are as follows12 November; 10 December, 17 December 201714 January , 28 January 2018

Competition news
GWFFA 3rd boat match Sunday 17th September 2017 at Grafham9 GWFFA club members fished the 3rd and final boat club match of the year. Boat pair Charlie Abrahams and Mark Brinkman headed down towards the Sludge Bank drifting the area close to the bank. Charlie had 8 fish on a floating line using hoppers and netted a brown of 4lb 4oz and a 4lb rainbow. The fish were full of shrimp. Charlie also returned another 3lb plus brown. Others opted for drifting out in the lake pulling blobs and fabs. 51 fish were caught for a rod average of 5.7.1st Charlie Abraham 8 fish for 21lb 6oz.2nd Mark Brinkman 8 fish for 16lb 15oz.2nd Chris Bobby 8 fish for 16lb 15 oz.Grafham Water continued
Best Rainbow 4lb – Mr M Hammond and Charlie Abrahams
Best Brown 4lb 7oz taken by W Mounce.
Best boat areas Rainbow Point, the Dam, open water drifting particularly west side of reservoir (M Buoy), the Seat, in front of harbour, west bank and Hill Farm.
Best bank areas The Seat, south shore, south dam, Pylon, Harbour Arms, Sludge Bank, Perry Point, and Deep Water Point.
Mid week boat winner John Leldon of Haynes, Bedfordshire.
Forthcoming events
Predator fishing at Grafham Water
Predator fishing on the fly to 31 January 2018
Lure fishing 1 – 30 September
Lure & dead sea bait 1 October 2017 to 31 January 2018

Beginners courses  1 (Pike),6 (Pike), 14,  29 (Pike) October B C Hall 5 OctoberAMFC 7 OctoberFry Feeders Match 22 OctoberGrafham Shrimp Masters Bank League starts 12 NovemberGrafham Fur & Feather (bank) 26 November

Pitsford Water
Fish 183 (season 10,026) Returns 42 (2,194) Rod average 4.4 (4.6)
Once again Pitsford Water is providing some great fishing with a rod average of 4.4 for the week. There have been many reports of fish between 3-4lb being caught. The best fish of the week was a lovely Brown of 5lb which was caught and released by Peter Proctor.
The fish are now feeding hard on the shrimp in the weed margins and floating lines with nymphs such as hares ear, diawl bach and cruncher are working well. During overcast conditions wet flies, such as invicta and Dunkeld have fished well in the surface.
More fish are due to be stocked this week, taking our total stocked to 29,500. This, combined with the fish just beginning to show signs of fry feeding, means we have some exciting fishing to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Pitsford Water continued
Best Brown 5lb caught and released by Peter Proctor.
Mid week boat winner Phil Waples of Wollaston

Forthcoming events
Predator fishing at Pitsford Water
Predator fishing on the fly to 31 January 2018
Lure fishing to 31 January 2018
Lure & dead sea bait 6 October 2017 – 31 January 2018
Beginners courses  30 September; 7 & 22 October.Pitsford Fur & Feather (boat) 11 November

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 285 (season 9,441) Returns 52 (1,743) Rod average 5.4 (5.4)
The fishing this week has been fantastic. The cooler weather has helped and dries are catching very well. A stocking mid week has induced the fish to feed well.
Some exceptional catches to note include Messrs Naylor and Houlton who had 33 fish to their boat. The largest Rainbow was 5lb 4oz and a lovely Brown of 4lb 12oz which was returned. Peter Wingrove had an afternoon boat and took 6 Rainbows and two Browns, the largest was around 6½lb. Mike Osgood had 11 fish off the Dam.
Hoppers, Daddies and crunchers are all working well. Intermediate lines with cormorants, crunchers.
Best Rainbow 5lb 4oz.
Best boat areas Main bowl, Catwalk to island.
Best bank areas Dam.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner A Alexander of London.
Fish stocked 500.

Predator fishing at Ravensthorpe
Predator fishing on the fly to 30 November 2017Lure & dead sea bait 1 October 2017 to 30 November 2017

Forthcoming events
Ravensthorpe Fur & Feather (boat) 5 November