• 10lb Rainbow for Pat at Ravensthorpe
Pat Flynn of Northampton takes best Rainbow of the week

 • Nice one Nigel!
Congratulations to Nigel Savage, warden at Rutland Water, who came second in the Water Industries National Fly Fishing Championship at Bewl Water.
Nigel fished from the bank last Saturday

 • Popular Tuesday night boat leagues start
10 May at Rutland Water and Grafham Water

Call lodges for details

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 week 1,986 (7,961) Returns 653 (1,906) Rod average 3.04 (4.17)
Nearly 2,000 fish were caught last week giving an overall rod average of 3.04.  The best fish of the week fell to Phil Welbourn from Deeping St James.  Phil managed a superb 5lb 4oz Brown using a sinking line and a cats whisker booby.  The best Rainbow weighed 4lb 5¼oz and was taken by Leicester angler Lee Henfrey.  Coloured water has affected many areas of the reservoir with most anglers taking fish from the offshore wind bank, ie sykes Lane, Whitwell, Cardiac Hill, Barnsdale and the Old Hall.  A southerly wind has changed things around at the moment with some boats taking fish off the Normanton area around the ‘blue pipes’. 

4,000 Rainbows will be stocked this week bringing the number of fish stocked so far this season to 38,500.

This week sees the start of the 2011 Tuesday Night Boat League.  Registration is between 5.15 and 5.45 with the match starting at 6.00pm.

Competition news
Bob Church Classic 4 May
114 Anglers fished this popular match in testing conditions (bright, warm and breezy).  Top rod was Paul Shaw of Edith Weston, Oakham (14lb 14½oz).  It was a very good week for Paul who also went on to take third place in the Dave Hodgeson Memorial match.

Dave Hodgeson Memorial 8 May
Ron Gent won this match with 7 fish for 17lb 1¾oz.  Ron, of Great Glen, Leicester, also took the best fish of the match at 4lb 12½oz.  Second place was taken by John Emerson with 8 fish for 16lb 6oz and third by Paul Shaw 8 fish for 15lb 9oz.

Best Rainbow   4lb 5¼oz taken by Lee Henfrey of Leicester.

Best Brown 5lb 3 7/8oz taken by Phil Welbourn.

Best boat areas The main basin, Barnsdale, Cardiac Hill, Armley Wood to Carrot Creek, Church Bay.

Best bank areas Whitwell, Sykes Lane, Church Bay, New Zealand Point

Best methods Bank anglers – floating line with nymphs/small lures.
Boat anglers – as for bank anglers with the inclusion of various sinking lines.

Mid week boat winner Will Scott of Histon, Cambridge.

Fish stocked   1,000

Forthcoming events: Beginners courses 14 and 28 May; 4,8,12,19 and 25 June and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league starts 10 May 
At this time of year the fishery is very popular so please call the fishing lodge on 01780 686441 to check for boat availability before making your journey.  Please note on Monday and Wednesday from May until September boats to be returned by 8pm.

Grafham Water
Fish week 1,350 (6,593) Returns 257 (1,155) Rod average 5.25 (5.7)
There are some good quality specimens coming out of Grafham Water with 25% of fish caught weighing over 3lb.  Bob Wallinger of Sharnford, Hinckley, has had a very successful week taking both the best Brown and the best Rainbow of the week both weighing 5lb 10oz.

Grafham Water is fishing well with the majority of trout being caught on olive or black buzzers either on the bung or straight lined.  Medium sink lines with damsel nymphs or humungus are also proving successful. 

At the time of going to press (Monday 9 May) Grafham Water is hosting the Troutmasters final (results in next week’s report).

Best Rainbow 5lb 10oz Taken by Bob Wallinger of Sharnford, Hinckley

Best Brown 5lb 10oz Taken by Bob Wallinger

Best boat areas Valley Creek, L Buoy, Savages, Sanctuary Bay and Gaynes Cove.

Best bank areas South dam, Gaynes Cove, Marlow Stones, Lodge bank.

Best methods Floating lines with olive or black buzzers, diawl bachs.

Mid week boat winner Malcolm Fisher of Somerset.

Fish stocked   2,000

Forthcoming events
Tuesday Night boat league starts 10 May 
Beginners courses: 22 and 26 May; 5,11, 23 and 26 June and throughout the season.
Call the fishing lodge on 01480 810531 for more information.
Anglian Water Airflo International Individual Final 21 May.
EYFA Youth National 29 & 30 May

Pitsford Water
Fish week 562 (4,866) Returns 241 (1,455) Rod average 2.3 (3.34)
At last the wind has finally changed from the Easterlies and we should experience some good fishing weather.  This now opens up sections of bank that have rarely been fished.

Scottish anglers John Singleton and Keith Pace have just returned home from a successful trip with two days at Pitsford Water and one at Ravensthorpe.  John writes “My friend and I had a fabulous time at your waters.  This is our seventh year and we again had a great time.” They caught and released over 50 fish on their first day at Pitsford and over 40 on the second day.  Their best fish was a Brown trout of approx 5lb 8oz (returned) and  the best Rainbow weighed around 5lb. “We would like to thank the staff for their friendly and helpful approach and we look forward to our visit next year.”

Banks have fished well throughout the day, especially when it has been cloudy.  Boat anglers have been catching consistently because of the water clarity.  Anglers have been catching on diawl bach and hares ears and buzzers which is a sign that fish are moving up in the water and it won’t be long before the dry flies are the way to catch fish.

Best Rainbow   Approx 5lb.

Best Brown 5lb 8oz.

Best boat areas Sailing Club Bay, Brixworth Bay, Holcot Arm.

Best bank areas Sailing Club Bay and bank.  Gorse to Stilton.  Stone Barn, Sermans, Pines

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner David Davis of Guilsborough

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 8,11 and 21 May; 3,18 and 22 June and dates throughout the season.
  

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 392 (5,643) Returns 78 (1,022) Rod average 5.0 (5.5)
Ravensthorpe has continued to fish well this week.  Buzzers are still catching plenty of fish.  On cloudy days the fish have been up in the water, taking dries.  Best fish of the week was taken by season ticket holder Pat Flynn of Northampton.  Pat took a lovely 10lb Rainbow on a sinking line and a blob.

Best methods have been floating line using buzzers diawl bachs, damsels and dries in cloudy conditions.  Intermediate or sinking lines have also been taking fish with blobs or small lures.

Best Rainbow   10lb taken by Pat Flynn of Northampton.

Best boat areas Island, far bank.

Best bank areas Dam, Platforms 13 and 14.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner A Langford of Welwyn.

Fish stocked   500