Week ending 19 March 2017
• Fantastic rod average of 9.4 at Pitsford Water
• Red letter Day for Ron at Rutland
Ron Oldroyd nets 25 fish including a 5lb Rainbow and a 20lb Pike
• 8lb 8oz Ravensthorpe Rainbow for Mark Draper
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 884 Returns 130 Rod average 6.8
Rutland continues its good form. Season ticket holder Ron Oldroyd of Empingham described last Wednesday as his “best ever day on Rutland”. Amongst Ron’s 25 fish was the best Rainbow of the week at 5lb. Ron boat fished the south arm, setting up for his big fish using minkies. His bag included 18 overwintered fish and a couple of Browns (safely returned) for over 5lb. Ron also netted a 20lb Pike – so a memorable day all round.
Bank fishing was patchy due to the westerly winds. The transformer up to Armley Wood produced fish although slightly coloured, Whitwell, Normanton to Fantasy Island and East Creek to the Harbour Wall saw fish caught. Anglers boat fishing the main basin and certain parts of the arms found fish.
As usual a big variety of methods are being used, from nymphs through to large lures (snakes) producing. One angler reported a 5lb plus Brown off the bank on a dry fly. Fish are feeding on buzzers of different sizes from small (tiny) though to medium. Some fish are feeding on last year’s fry in a few areas.
Unfortunately the strong westerly winds on Sunday prevented boats from going out. Settled weather will see areas starting to fish again with winds moving around to the North by the end of the week, opening up many areas of the reservoir.
Best Rainbow 5lb taken by Ron Oldroyd.
Best boat areas The main basin (church to dam), Fishing lodge frontage, Berrybutts to Sailing Club.
Best bank areas Normanton (church to Fantasy Island), East Creek to fishing lodge,
Mid week boat winner K Height of Stanion.
Fish stocked 14,600
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 30 March; 5,15,22 & 27 April; 7,13, 19 & 26 May and other dates throughout the season.
Independence Day Trophy (best fish) 1 April
Anglian Water Airflo International Northern heat 3 April
Anglers World Individual 8 April
Sport Fish Team Heat 9 April
Tuesday Night boat league commences in May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 7 May
Bob Church Classic 14 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 20 May
Grafham Water
Fish 353 (909 season) Returns 58 (136)Rod average 6.08(6.68)
It’s been another great week at Grafham. Although conditions faced have been tough at times we still see a cracking rod average of 6.1!
This week it was the turn of the rainbows to throw up a surprise or two. Mr S Whitehead enjoyed a superb session, managing a fantastic total of 44 fish in a 6 hour session. Fishing on the north shore, presenting a Pitsford Pea on an intermediate line saw surely one of the best winter sessions to date. Some well sized fish were also landed with Mr W Simper managing a nice 3lb 4oz Rainbow. Mr T Cowen enjoyed a cracking session and landed Rainbows of 3lb 4oz, 3lb 6oz and 3lb 8oz. The best fish of the week was a fantastic 4lb Rainbow landed by Mr D McNair, this has slipped him straight into the current biggest rainbow spot.
The most successful boat anglers this week are approximately 50 yards off the shore in areas such as G Buoy, Plummers and the Seat. Techniques are much the same as last week with intermediate lines fished with lures such as the Pitsford pea or a Viva proving most popular with the trout. Other lines are successful too, pulling a Di7 with a boobie, floating lines with buzzer on the bung and also midge tips with buzzer are all producing fish, particularly in the blustery conditions.
The banks are still well on form with the majority of big bags falling to the bank angler. Take a roving approach to be successful, particularly trying harder to reach areas such as Gaynes Cove, Sludge Point and the Seat as you’ll find some great sport along these banks. The usual spots from G Buoy all the way to Hill Farm are still seeing the majority of sport with black and green lures being a must have! Techniques mirror the boat fishing with predominantly lures and intermediate lines though there are buzzers coming off more regularly now.
The fish are spreading through the water column nicely with huge variations between depths reported by the anglers. It would seem though that the majority are still being caught around the 6ft mark.
Best Rainbow 4lb taken by Mr D McNair.
Best Brown 6lb 11oz taken by Arthur Sykes.
Best boat areas Plummers, the Dam, G Buoy and the Seat, Deep Water Point, Perry Point.
Best bank areas North and South Dam, Plummers, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point, Perry Point, the Willows, Marlow Arm.
Mid week boat winner Stephen Vaughan of Grafham
Fish stocked 3,000.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 24 March;1,8,13, 23 & 30 April; 21 & 25 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 8 April
England Eliminator 28 April
Anglers World Individual 13 May
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 534 (2,273 season) Returns 64(230) Rod average 8.3 (9.8)
Anglers have enjoyed another great week’s fishing at Ravensthorpe with a rod average of 8.3 for the week. The best Rainbow of the week was caught by Mark Draper who landed a fine specimen of 8lb 8oz. Mark took 70 fish to the boat. Alan Duffin, one of our regular bank anglers, opted to fish mainly off the dam with buzzers or grey minkies. Alan took a total of 21 fish in three visits.
Fish are well switched on to buzzers. The best patterns are quill buzzers, black buzzer size 12 and 14 fished straight line or below a bung.
The best boat area is currently Coton End, 30 metres off the Causeway Wall.
Best Rainbow 8lb 8oz taken by Mark Draper.
Best boat areas Coton End, Island, Platform near Catwalk Corner.
Best bank areas Dam.
Mid week boat winner C Slack.
Pitsford Water
Fish 596 Returns 63 Rod average 9.4
Pitsford has been on fire with the more settled, milder conditions contributing to a fantastic rod average of 9.4. Boat anglers have been rewarded with huge catches and bank anglers have also been taking fish.
Topping the big catches this week was the boat shared by Chris Butcher and Simon Vandrill who fished last Wednesday. They drifted off the Cliffs fishing midge tip lines with teams of buzzers and blobs/fabs and boated an incredible 88 fish. Their haul included several overwintered fish, Rainbows of 3-4lb and Browns to 5lb.
Dave Jarvis also had a terrific time at Pitsford. Dave, a regular three day holiday package visitor, had a brilliant trip taking 17 fish, returning 5 overwintered Browns along with releasing over 80 Rainbows. Andy Hickey and Paul Gomez included Browns of 5lb and 3½lb as well as Rainbows up to 3½lb.
Mark Bradbury had a good week on the bank catching 45 fish, 41 of which were returned. Rob Aves bank fished the Sailing Club on Saturday taking over 20 fish on buzzers and diawl bachs. Richard Slater bank fished on Sunday and had 23 from Stone Barn. Keith Hickman reported catching a 6lb Brown on Sunday.
The Mid Northants Fly Fishers had their first match of the season, 19 anglers fished for the Pitsford Bank Shield. 102 fish were caught for a rod average of 5.3, in blustery conditions. The match was fished to a five fish kill limit. Top rod on the day was Grant Gibson with five fish for 10lb 12oz. The prize for the best fish was won by John Sumner with a Rainbow of 2lb 15oz.
Best Rainbow 4lb taken by John Castledine.
Best Brown 6lb taken by Keith Hickman
Best boat areas See report.
Best bank areas See report.
Mid week boat winner Kevin Daykin of Hollowell.
Forthcoming events
Anglian Water rudder match 6 May.
Beginners courses 23 & 25 March; 2,9 & 21 April; 11,14 & 20 May and other dates throughout the season.
