Latest News and Information from
Week ending 25 August 2019
• Rutland Tuesday Night Boat League
Nail biting finish
www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk
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 301 (Season 25,110) Returns 109 (5,239) Rod average 2.76(4.79)
Last week’s settled weather provided a real upturn in sport for anglers during the first half of the week; particularly around Browns Island down the south arm and in and around the weed beds in Manton, round Lax Hill and Cattle Trough bay.
Resident fish round the weedbeds have been responding to nymphs fished almost static. Retail team member Dave Summers and Nick Dunn recorded 10 fish to the boat from the weedbeds. Initially starting on dries the cloud cover soon dissipated and they changed to small nymphs. These fish are feeding naturally and taking advantage of the huge variety of food the weed beds hold. Fry, corixa, snails and shrimp are all on the menu for these fish and they will pick off a well presented suggestive pattern such as a small rough hares ear.
Manton Bay, Browns Island, and New Zealand Point to the sailing club have all produced this week. Also featuring has been Yellowstone Point, and open water in front of the sailing club, in particular 18-19 buoy. The main basin continued to produce in and around the boils but also between the boils and the Normanton Bank. Fish Di3 or a fast glass depending on wind strength, with FABs and cormorants proving a successful combination.
The second half of the week saw temperatures rise into the 30’s and the wind drop which made for challenging conditions. Anglers reported fish moving, but difficult to catch in some areas, they also mentioned that water clarity is very good. Simply avoid the windward shorelines of the reservoir in general. This year’s fry are slowly starting to feature; it has been a good year for them and they are around 3” long already, with huge numbers of roach and perch starting to congregate in the margins. Fish have been seen chasing/feeding on them sporadically but this is a great sign for the coming weeks as water starts to cool.
Tuesday Night Boat League
Week 15
Results on the night
16 anglers went out recording 25 fish. Top rod on the night was Adi Naylor with four fish weighing 10lb 4oz, Adi’s bag also contained the best fish of the evening, a 4lb 4oz rainbow, winning Adi yet another free mid week boat.
Second was Vince Sparrow, with three rainbows weighing 7lb 8 1/8oz, and third, Sean Hillaby with two nice fish weighing 7lb 6½oz.
League leaderboard
The overall winner of the boat league has not been decided yet, with it literally going down to the very last evening on Tuesday 27th with four people still in contention.
Rich Cooper has his nose in the lead with 69 points. However, any one of the other three contenders; Chris Evans and Vince Sparrow with 58 points each, and Keith Jones with 57 points, can win. So it’s all to play for on the final evening with ten points awarded to first place, plus five points for catching the biggest fish of the night. Rich has to be in the top three at least on the night to secure league victory, so no pressure!
Mid week boat winner: Mr C Bates.
Fish stocked: 2,000.
Please book boats in advance as demand is high. All boats are booked 1 and 2 September. From 5-13 September our boat numbers will be reduced to 48 as some of our fleet heads to Grafham.
Rutland will be hosting the Anglian Water Loch Style 4 man team event (fished to International rules) on Saturday 31 August – to enter please call 01780 686441 for more information. This will also be practice day for the England Ladies National Final which takes place on Sunday 1 September.
Lure fishing at Rutland commences on 1 September (continues to 30 September).
Forthcoming events
Anglian Water Lochstyle 4 man team match 31 August
England Ladies 31 August & 1 September.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 14 September.
WaterAid competition 19 September
Anglian Water Airflo International Final 7-9 October
Anglian Water Autumn Pairs Rudder & non rudder 12 October
Beginners courses: 8,14,22 & 24 September; 4,13,18 & 26 October and throughout the season.
Boat handling courses: 3 September; 16,21 & 30 October and throughout the season.
Grafham Water
Fish 610(Season 10,782) Returns 117 (2,462) Rod average 5.21(4.37)
Normally at this time of year trout fishing becomes more of a challenge – but not at Grafham! With a rod average of 5.21 for the week our returns reflect some very worth while sessions for both bank and boat anglers. Recent stocking has contributed to the success along with some quality fish in excellent condition and anglers are enjoying fantastic sport.
A lot of bank anglers are fishing off the Dam and the tried and tested shrimp patterns continue to produce.
Grafham Water Fly Fishers’ Association (GWFFA) held a two day event over the bank holiday weekend, inviting all comers to try their hand at fly casting under the supervision of qualified instructors, followed by a short session out on a boat under the guidance of experienced GWFFA members.
Given the excellent (almost too hot!) weather conditions, not surprisingly, the demand for casting tuition was extremely high on both days, as was the opportunity to try and catch a trout from a boat, which fortunately most novices were successful in doing.
The club also had the benefit of Fly Dressers’ Guild gold member Ian Ruff demonstrating the art of fly tying in the fishing lodge, which attracted a large number of interested fishermen and non fishermen.
John Batter, writing on behalf of GWFFA, says “We had 12 or more members present for casting, guiding and fly tying and all were kept very busy for the two days. Thanks once again to Anglian Water and their staff for all their support over the weekend. We hope that participants will have enjoyed the experience sufficiently to want to take up the sport.”
For further information about the club and future events, visit WWW.GWFFA.CO.UK
Competition news
World Predator Classic qualifier 17 & 18 August
This prestigious event enables the winners to represent England at the World Predator Classic in Holland with the chance to win some serious prizes! Ninety boat anglers and twenty kayak anglers took to the water following a hearty breakfast on site and a lot of preparation. The weather conditions were good (if a little breezy) allowing for some great catches. On Sunday evening the results were in. Janek Maciejewski and Justin Hitchcock have won places to represent England in Holland in the World Predator Classic Boat Event and Shaun Milner did the same in the kayak section. Everybody involved had a great time, especially our very own ranger Andy Moat who stood in for a competitor at the last minute and caught a 20lb 2oz Pike. This was the biggest pike of the competition and Andy’s first pike at Grafham.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 24 August
Twenty anglers fished in this popular pairs match. Ziggy Lesiakowski took the best fish at 3lb 14oz and the best bag went to G Pearson who weighed in for 19lb 10oz.
1st G Pearson & M Haycock 16 fish for 36lb 15oz
2nd S Lehane & J Castledine 16 fish for 35lb 15oz
3rd M Bennett & I Dalby 11 fish for 24lb 10oz
Grafham Water will be hosting the England Youth Fly Fishing National Championship on Sunday 15 September. This is open to anglers aged 12-17 years. For more information visit www.anglingtrustevents.net
Best boat areas: All along the north shore. Plummers along to Gaynes Cove and straight down the middle, particularly between M and J buoy.
Best bank areas: The dam, Plummers, Gaynes Cove and G mark when the wind allows.
Mid week boat winner: M C Stanton.
Fish stocked: 1,500.
Forthcoming events
Scierra Pairs final 7-8 September
England Youth Flyfishing National Championship 15 September.
Grafham Water Championship 21 September
Beginners courses: 15,20 & 25 September and other dates throughout the season.
Boat handling courses: 2 September; 14,22 & 29 October; 5 November.
Pitsford Water
Fish 336 (Season 12,194) Returns 80 (2,221) Rod average 4.2(5.5)
Early last week Pitsford was on fine form with anglers reporting many catches into double figures. However, sport slowed over the weekend in the heat; despite this the rod average for the week is a healthy 4.2.
In overcast conditions fish have been high in the water with floating lines and nymphs or dry fly working.
The bank is also fishing with good quality fish now in the margins feeding on the increasing number of shrimp. Gravel bank, Sermons and Cliffs are all areas holding shrimp feeding fish.
The biggest Brown trout of the week weighed 6lb and was caught and returned by Clive Wilkins. Clive had 16 fish, returning 15 including Rainbows up to 4lb. He fished from a boat around the Cliffs and along the Narrows fishing shrimp patterns.
Early in the week season ticket holder Charlie Watts enjoyed one of his best ever morning sessions, catching 19 fish and missing many more. Charlie was drifting from D buoy at the dam down the main basin, fishing diawls and crunchers on a floating line.
Francis Horn boat fished with his daughter and he caught while ‘dapping’. John Pearson and boat partner Ray Rouse continued their good form catching 22 fish between them on nymphs.
With the conditions set to cool down this week expect the fish to switch back on and even better sport.
Best Rainbow: 4lb taken by Clive Wilkins.
Best Brown: 6lb returned by Clive Wilkins.
Mid week boat winner: J Duncan of Rugby.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 29 August; 6,11 & 21 September; 5 & 11 October and other dates throughout the season.
Boat handling courses: 15,23 & 28 October & 6 November.
Mid Northants Trout Fishers Association
Hosts monthly open sessions for beginners at Pitsford where fully trained instructors are on hand to offer advice on fly casting, fly tying and water craft. Non members welcome. All sessions are 2-5pm
7 September and 5 October.
Charity match in aid of Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis 22 September Contact Charlie Watts on 07854173232 for more information.
Ravensthorpe Water
The water has started to clear at Ravensthorpe and the fishing is picking up.
The best boat areas seem to be drifting in the main bowl on both floating line and sinking line. Dries have been catching, but black lures seem to be working better on sinking lines.
Best boat areas: Main bowl.
Best bank areas: Dam and domes.
Mid week boat winner: Neil Harrison.
