• Rutland Water welcomes world’s greatest lure anglers with Estonia winning world title
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 618 (Season 34,935) Returns 180 (6,869) Rod average 3.43(5.08)
World Lure Championships 11-14 October
Wow – new World Champions were crowned at Rutland Water this weekend. We welcomed 16 teams from across Europe, the USA and South Africa to fish in the 11th FIPS-ed Carnivorous Artificial Bait Boat Angling Championships. Following two days of official practice the teams faced strong southerly winds in unseasonable warm conditions on Saturday. Day one saw Lithuania in the lead, followed by Estonia in second and Czech Republic in third. Day two on Sunday was very wet, but less windy and there was a turn in fortune for some teams. On Sunday evening at the closing ceremony and medal presentation victory went to Estonia with the Czech Republic in runner up spot and Latvia in third. England were placed 14th.
To coincide with the World Lure Championships we offered taster sessions in both lure and fly fishing. This was a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy a free coaching session, learn how to fish or brush up on their skills, and was open to all ages. This was run with the support of Rutland Water Fly Fishers and the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain, in association with Anglian Water.
Last week was also an excellent week for our trout anglers with plenty of big fish and Rutland’s infamous Browns were feeding especially well.
Neil Atkins (tackle shop manager) and Graham Hayward (retail assistant) had a great day on Wednesday, the pair had three 6lb Rainbows, one at 5lb and 9 others all around the 3lb mark. Their tactics were sinking lines and fry patterns. Also on Wednesday, Tom Finney had a 7lb 8oz specimen from the Normanton shoreline, this was the biggest fish of the week. Nigel Savage followed this up with a 6lb 8oz fish off the dam in the late afternoon. This fine specimen fell to a 20 year old floating fry! All fish were caught and returned.
Jake Waterman, a member of Rutland Water Fly Fishers, fished the Normanton area towards the dam and recorded a 6lb 9oz specimen, along with a 4lb Rainbow and four other rainbows. Jake’s big fish fell to a small suspender minkie.
There are plenty of fry for the fish to feed on but don’t ignore dry fly tactics/nymphs. There are still very good hatches of buzzers coming off the dam with beetles, daddy long legs and lady birds.
Best methods: Bank – Fry patterns, dries and nymphs. Boat – As for bank but include tubes and mini lures.
Best Rainbow: 6lb 1oz taken by W Donald.
Best Brown: 7lb 8oz taken by Tom Finney.
Best boat areas: All areas.
Best bank areas: Bank fishing has improved with fish being caught in a number of places including Normanton, the Dam, Sailing Club, Sykes Lane, Whitwell.
Midweek boat winner: L Cook of Amesbury.
Boat bookings
Please phone the lodge (01780 686441) to check for availability before travelling as demand will be very high for the next four weeks.
Throughout October our fishing lodges are open daily 8am-4pm
Forthcoming events
Fly fishing for Pike 16 May to 31 January 2019
Beginners courses: 20 & 27 October.
Fry Feeders match 21 October (by invitation)
George Moore Memorial Trophy (rudder) 27 October.
Anglian Water Rudder match 17 November
Rutland Water Fur & Feather (bank) 2 December.
Grafham Water
Fish 253 (Season 10,650) Returns 50 (2,487) Rod average 5.06 (4.28)
The fishing at Grafham this week has been fantastic with many anglers catching their bag limit and we have a high rod average of 5.06.
A change in the weather has finally seen the activity increase, with fish feeding readily throughout the day and hunting close in to the banks, feeding predominantly on shrimp.
Bank fishing has improved drastically, particularly with shrimp feeders, with many spotting large brownies cruising around amongst the rainbow trout. Anglers are reporting a lot of differing styles and methods; lures coupled with sinking lines, washing lines with midge tips, washing lines on floaters and intermediate lines with smaller lures all being commonly mentioned. Shrimp patterns, hares ears, small black lures, diawl bach with red, larger red dries and daddies are all reported to be working well, though a hares ear with silver flash is definitely worth trying over the coming days. Good areas include the dam, G marker, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point and off west bank, though many areas are holding fish again.
Boat fishing is very similar to the bank currently with many anglers fishing shallower water on the methods previously mentioned. Although mini snakes are well worth a go with some good fish succumbing to them earlier in the week. Many boat anglers have concentrated their effort in Plummer, Gaynes Cove, Sludge Point, south dam and in front of the lodge, although fish are often coming from the north shore bays, Willows and the north dam area too.
Competition news
We are delighted to announce the return of the Shrimpmasters! Join us for this sociable bank league on six Sundays, starting in November and finishing in January. Be sure to practice your shrimp shuffle for this one!
Throughout October our fishing lodges are open daily 8am-4pm.
Best boat areas: Pylon Point, Deep Water Point, G marker, in front of lodge, Perry Point, the Seat, Gaynes Cove, Plummer and south dam.
Best bank areas: Deep Water Point, G bank, hedge End, Hill Farm, south dam, Plummer, Sludge Bank.
Midweek boat winner: Stephen Brocklebank.
Forthcoming events
Fly fishing for Pike 16 May to 31 January 2019
Beginners courses: 28 October.
Fry Feeders Match 20 October (by invitation).
Grafham Water Fur & Feather (bank) 25 November
Shrimpmasters bank league: Sundays 11 and 25 November; 2 and 16 December; 6 and 20 January.
Pitsford Water
Fish 411 (Season 10,359) Returns 100 (2,204) Rod average 4.1 (5.7)
Pitsford Water is currently providing some of the best grown on hard fighting fish seen for many years. The number of quality Brown trout over 5lb is exceptional, with Rainbows in big numbers around the 4lb mark.
Fish are feeding freely on fry, shrimp and snail and are showing throughout the lake both in the margins and out in open water.
Some of the standout catches of the week were by Nick Dunn who was fishing with Richard Slater. They were targeting fry feeders and Nick had Browns of 5lb 10oz, 5lb 6oz, 5lb 5oz and 5lb 4oz, as well as several other smaller fish. His best Rainbow weighed 4lb. Richard had 8 or 9 fish, the best being around 3lb.
A huge Brown trout of 14lb 4oz was caught by predator anglers, the fish being released in good condition and swimming off strongly.
With another stocking of 2,000 fish bringing the total stocked to 28,700 for the year to date the fishing will continue to be excellent from both boat and bank.
The best bank areas are Cliffs, Gravels, Stonebarn and Rigbys, with lots of double figure catches on shrimp and fry patterns.
Mid Northants Trout Fishers Association are hosting open taster sessions on Saturdays as follows: 3 November and 1 December 1-4pm.
Best Rainbow: 5lb taken by Glen Wright.
Best Brown: 6¼lb taken by P Proctor.
Midweek boat winner: Ron Blackwell.
Forthcoming events
Throughout October our fishing lodges are open 8am-4pm seven days a week
Mid-Northants Trout Fishers Association offer taster/introduction sessions at Pitsford Water on the following Saturdays; 3 November and 1 December 1-4pm.
Fly fishing for Pike 16 May to 31 January 2019
Predator Lure fishing 16 May to 31 January 2019
Beginners courses: 21 October.
Pitsford Fur & Feather 10 November (boat).
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 235 (Season 5,269) Returns 38 (969) Rod average 6.1 (5.4)
A fantastic week of fishing at Ravensthorpe with lots of boat anglers returning at the end of the day reporting 20 plus fish caught. Favoured methods have been floating lines with dries or a washing line with green diawl bachs. The dam is the hot spot but some better quality fish have been caught around the weed beds at the Coton End.
Bank Fishing is much improved. The dam is the best place but Platforms 3-6 have been producing fish again with floating lines and a daddy the best method.
Best boat areas: Dam, Boils, Lodge.
Best bank areas: Dam, Platforms 3-12.
Midweek boat winner: Gordon Thompson.
Forthcoming events: Ravensthorpe Fur & Feather 4 November (bank).
