Rutland Water
Fish week 258 (Season 19,259) Returns 68 (5,453) Rod average 3.79 (3.53)
Another good week’s fishing with anglers reporting plenty of fish from around the reservoir. Boat anglers are taking the bulk of the fish with the main basin providing very quick limits with many fish around the 2lb mark, though a steady number of silvered up 3lb plus fish are finally starting to appear.
Most methods are working with lures favourite in the main basin, however, nymphs and dries in particular are proving effective. Oakham angler Mike Netherclift took drifts from the Dam down to the blue pipes for a good morning’s sport on dry fly.
For the specimen hunters the bottom of the arms are the place to be. They do say that effort reaps reward. This would certainly be the case for Young England angler Toff Crowther who managed eight quality fish using dry fly down the South Arm. Toff, from Oakham, used a single dry Yellow Owl to take his fish. His best fish was a 4lb 15¾oz Brown which with seven Rainbows made a total bag weight of 30lb 2oz.
There have been a few boat anglers fishing down the bottom of the arms, particularly the South Arm weed beds. A group of Scottish anglers found quality Browns and Rainbows with hoppers fished on a floating line, catching and releasing fish up to an estimated 5lb.
Bank anglers are still picking up the odd fish, but it has been hard work. However, with temperatures starting to fall and with the nights drawing in quickly, bank fishing will improve.
It is with a heavy heart that we report the recent passing of John Maitland. John was a highly respected fly fisherman and president of Rutland Water FlyFishers. Members of RWFF remembered John and observed a minute’s silence at their John Maitland Trophy match fished at Grafham on Sunday 30th August. RWFF took the trophy home to Rutland winning by just 1lb 8oz.
2,000 more fish were stocked at the Transformer and Green bank recently. Boat fishing remains very good with plenty of stock fish and limits being taken in the main basin. The more adventurous angler will be rewarded by targeting some specimen size fish away from the main basin. Cooler water temperatures should see fish come back to the shoreline for bank anglers – keeping on the move will get the best results on the day.
Rutland Water continued
Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League
The formal part of the league concluded on 18 August but anglers requested a couple of extra evenings. The first was on Tuesday 25th and anglers managed an impressive 38 fish in less than three hours. Chris Binley won on the night and although he didn’t leave the harbour until 6.20 he was back inside the harbour walls by 7.40 with 8 fish for 16lb 13¾oz. Second was Mick Bennett with another eight fish for 15lb 13¾oz and third was Loughborough youngster Elliot Fordington who had seven fish for 13lb 4½oz. Elliot’s dad and driver Keith, didn’t go home empty handed, netting three fish. With the days drawing in Tuesday 1 September is the final evening of this friendly get together.
Boat demand
With predator fishing (lures only) for Zander and Pike now available mid week at Rutland Water boat demand is very high. Please book boats in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Scierra Pairs final will be fished at Rutland Water on Sunday 6 September and all boats are booked for both Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th.
Information for all anglers
An invasive species of shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus), commonly known as Dv, has been found at Pitsford Water reservoir in Northamptonshire.
The presence of this species in the water does not pose any threat to human health. Water from the reservoir is treated to a very high standard before being supplied to local homes for drinking.
It is important that anglers continue to follow the Check, Clean, Dry procedures in place for the preservation of our environment and sport.
Best methods See report.
Best Brown 4lb 15¾oz taken by Toff Crowther.
Best bank areas See report.
Best boat areas See report.
Mid week boat winner Peter Harradine.
Fish stocked 2,000.
Rutland Water Continued
Forthcoming events
Predator Lure fishing 31 August – 30 September midweek boats only
Beginners courses 5,13 & 27 September; 4,10,24 & 31 October.
Scierra Pairs Final 5-6 September All boats booked
WaterAid 18 September
Anglian Water Rudder match 19 September
AWAI Final 5-7 October
Anglian Water Pairs non rudder & rudder 10 October
Fry Feeders Match 18 October
Grafham Water
Fish week 637(season 18,536) Returns 277 (4,401) Rod average 4.3 (4.21)
The recent unpredictable weather has made fishing challenging. The bank anglers have had a great week at the South end of the Dam to the valve tower on floating lines with shrimp patterns and hares ears. The boat fishing has been best at the South end of the Dam but from a drifting boat into open water and the points on the north shore.
Most anglers have been using an intermediate line to fast glass lines with boobies, tequila blobs, and hares ears. Floating lines with dry flies have proved successful as the fish have not been that deep, around two feet.
Areas producing fish this week have been from the Willows to G Buoy, 100 metres out from the shoreline. Some nice fish have been coming out of Savages Creek up to 5lb on dries and also from the Seat, approx. 100 metres out. The rod average is up slightly this week to 4.3 which is very healthy for this time of year.
Competition news
Grafham Tuesday Evening Club
1st Chris McLeod (32 points)
2nd Graham Bodsworth 23
3rd Gary How 19
4th David Moore 18
5th Alan Briggs 16
6th Keith Gilchrist 12
7th Paul Stevens 10
The new format was a big success with 34 anglers taking part in the series and it was encouraging to have many beginners from the Anglian Water courses who were able to fish with more experienced Invicta members and enjoy their first taste of boat fishing and in several cases their first ever trout.
Grafham Water continued
Information for all anglers
An invasive species of shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus), commonly known as DV, has been found at Pitsford Water reservoir in Northamptonshire.
The presence of this species in the water does not pose any threat to human health. Water from the reservoir is treated to a very high standard before being supplied to local homes for drinking.
It is important that anglers continue to follow the Check, Clean, Dry procedures in place for the preservation of our environment and sport.
Best Rainbow 5lb taken by Roger Tribe.
Best boat areas South Dam, G Buoy, Deep Water and Pylon Points, boils, Savages Creek, the Seat.
Best bank areas North Dam, Willows.
Best methods See report.
Mid Week Boat Winner Ray Jenkins.
Fish stocked 1,200
Forthcoming events
Predator Lure fishing 31 August – 30 September Monday-Friday boats only
Beginners courses 6,16, 20 (Pike) & 25 September; 3 & 18 October.
Lexus European Individual Final 12 & 13 September
Troutmasters Final (fishing closed to non competitors) 21 September
Bob Church Classic 27 September
Anglian Water Rudder Match 3 October
Fry Feeder Match 17 October
Pitsford Water
Fish week 189(season 9,152) Returns 33(2,037) Rod average 5.7 (4.49)
The weather has been unsettled but many of our boat anglers have bagged up this week with Pitsford recording an overall rod average of 5.7 for the week. Recent visitors to Pitsford included Mr R Dobson who had a Brownie weighing 4lb plus and Mr S Goodchild who reported catching a 3lb plus Rainbow. Pitsford regular and season ticket holder Alex Ferguson has enjoyed some good fishing this week, bagging up on two consecutive days, he found most of his fish in the Narrows using muddlers and dries on a midge tip line.
Mick Foster and Dick Osbourne also had a fabulous day with 15 fish to the boat weighing in at 36lb 8oz and a great fish weighing 4lb 8oz – all taken on red diawl bach with a FAB on the point. Pat Flynn had 28 fish using the same method and David Brady and John Fletcher had 12 fish to the boat – all on blobs.
Sam Grzyk has certainly honed his fly fishing skills this season and had a brilliant day out with his father with Rainbows averaging 2-3lb. A Pitsford Pike angler reported catching and safely releasing a 3lb plus Brownie off Duck bank on his second cast of the day. Season ticket holder Paul Hopwell took his ‘fishing mad’ grandson for an afternoon on the bank and was delighted and excited to report seeing an Osprey.
The spinning season for trout is now over and many anglers have used this opportunity to take some fish with this method over the past two months.
Information for all anglers
An invasive species of shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus), commonly known as DV, has been found at Pitsford Water.
The presence of this species in the water does not pose any threat to human health. Water from the reservoir is treated to a very high standard before being supplied to local homes for drinking.
It is important that anglers continue to follow the Check, Clean, Dry procedures in place for the preservation of our environment and sport.
Best Rainbow 4lb plus
Best Brown 4lb 1oz
Best boat areas Dam, Main Basin, Boils, Narrows.
Pitsford Water continued
Best bank areas Restricted with some weed growth but fishing quite well off the Pines, Pitsford Creek.
Midweek boat winner D Wainwright of Market Harborough.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 4,9,19 & 26 September; 11,17 & 25 October.
Second Saturday of each month Pitsford will be offering fly tying tuition, casting coaching and general fishing advice with MNTFA. Call the fishing lodge on 01604 781350 for more information.
EFFA match Thursday 3 September.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 72(Season 11,019) Returns 24 (2,531) Rod average 3.0 (4.3)
The water has been alive with fish showing everywhere but they are proving very difficult to catch. The exception to this was boat pair Mick O’Farrel and Jeff Makin who fished on Saturday and went on to have in their words “the best day dry fly fishing we have ever experienced”. They estimated around 80 fish between them.
Most anglers are taking two or three fish per session, mostly on dries, buzzers and diawl bachs. We are even seeing one or two fish taken on minkies.
Information for all anglers
An invasive species of shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus), commonly known as DV, has been found at Pitsford Water reservoir in Northamptonshire.
The presence of this species in the water does not pose any threat to human health. Water from the reservoir is treated to a very high standard before being supplied to local homes for drinking. It is important that anglers continue to follow the Check, Clean, Dry procedures in place for the preservation of our environment and sport.
Best boat areas Main Bowl.
Best bank areas Dam.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner N Bartlett of Bugbrooke, Northampton.
