- Toff takes Rutland’s top Rainbow
Oakham’s Toff Crowther lands 5lb plus Rainbow at Rutland Water - Buzzer bonanza continues at Pitsford Water
- Evening boat leagues start soon
Thursday evening boat club Ravensthorpe starts 7 May
Summer fishing club at Pitsford Water. Every Tuesday evening from 12 May to 11 August
Grafham Water Summer Fishing Club with Invicta starts Tuesday 12 May and runs to 11 August
Rutland Water Tuesday Night Boat League starts 12 May
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 1228 (Season 6109) Returns 336 (1329) Rod average 3.65 (4.59)
Toff Crowther of Oakham landed the best fish of the week at Rutland Water – a mint conditioned 5lb plus Rainbow. Toff took a good number of quality fish and found that big fish followed his large ‘snake’ pattern whilst boat fishing along the Normanton shoreline.
The best Brown of the week fell to Keith Jones of Northborough. Keith caught the 4lb 4oz specimen whilst fishing in the Northern Heat of the Anglian Water Airflo International.
Our comprehensive stocking programme continues with more fish being introduced later this week. Anglers are finding that many methods are working from buzzers/nymphs to boobies and tube flies. With the very unsettled weather continuing and with the wind varying from day to day, it’s not easy to predict where fish will be.
There have been many different lines used from floaters/midge tips fished under the bung or straight lining, through to various sinking lines. Nymph anglers are reporting having good numbers of takes but are missing quite a few fish – which is unusual. However, there is no shortage of food in the reservoir, with really heavy hatches of buzzers, these are mainly small but larger ones are beginning to show, along with daphnia, in stomach contents. Some fish are also feeding hard on shrimp.
Settled weather is vital for continuous sport and the recent changeable conditions are making life difficult.
Tuesday 12 May sees the start of the popular Tuesday Evening Boat League. Some of the best fish of the season have been caught over the years during this evening boat league. We look forward to seeing both season and day permit anglers at Rutland Fishing Lodge between 5 and 5.45pm on Tuesday evenings. Fishing starts from around 6pm. Following the weigh in there is the option to enjoy fish and chips supplied by Sid’s Fish and Chip shop (Stamford). All anglers receive a complimentary cold drink. Tuesday evenings are not to be missed with plenty of friendly banter and the chance to see or hear all about the best methods used on the night.
Best methods Various methods from nymphs to small lures/tube flies.
Best Rainbow 5lb plus taken by Toff Crowther of Oakham.
Best Brown 4lb 4¾oz taken by Keith Jones of Northborough.
Best boat areas Yellowstone, Old Hall, Normanton, Sykes Lane.
Best bank areas Normanton, Yellowstone, Inmans Spinney,
Sykes Lane to Stockie Bay, Whitwell Creek, Old
Hall.
Mid week boat winner Simon Gaines of Sedgefield.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 9,23 & 30 May; 4,14,20 & 25 June and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league commences 12 May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 10 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 16 May
Spring Loch Style International 26-29 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 6 June
Scierra Pairs 7 June
Anglian Water Floating Line Competition 13 June
Grafham Water
Fish week 1018 (season 4569) Returns 214 (1061) Rod average 4.75 (4.3)
Grafham Water has continued to fish well with a cracking rod average of 4.75. Dave Ladbury of Ware landed both the best Rainbow and the best Brown of the week. His Rainbow weighed 6lb 2oz and the Brown weighed 4lb 4oz.
Boat anglers have had the best of the sport with plenty of bag limits caught by two main methods. Fish Di7 and 8 lines with either black or olive buzzers fished almost static or to fish Cats Whisker Boobies or Tequila Blobs on the same lines with most trout being taken on the hang. The most productive boat areas have been Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hill Farm, Valley Creek and the lodge frontage.
Bank anglers have found fishing a little challenging over the last couple of weeks mainly as the trout have pushed themselves off the north shore to about 100-120 yards off. However, the North and bowl of the Dam, Marlow Stones, Harbour and Gaynes Cove have produced some good catches on floating lines with Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, Diawl Bachs and GRHE.
Competition news
England Qualifier 1 May
This one day qualifier was fished by 66 anglers who caught 344 trout for an impressive rod average of 5.21. Top rod on the day was John Hardy who caught 8 trout for a combined weight including time bonus of 29lb 2oz. John caught his magnificent bag by fishing a Di7 line with a team of black and olive buzzers drifting from the Sailing Club frontage to the Harbour. Second place went to Lee Patten who caught 8 trout for a combined weight including time bonus of 25lb 15oz. Lee fished Deep Water Point with a Di8 line with all his trout taking a Cats Whisker Booby on the hang.
1st John Hardy 8 trout for 29lb 2oz
2nd Lee Patten 8 trout for 25lb 15oz
3rd Mark Rose 8 trout for 24lb 9oz
4th Alex Urquhart 8 trout for 23lb 8oz
5th Carl Nixon 8 trout for 23lb 7oz
Rod average 5.21.
Troutmasters Fish Off Final Grafham Water 2 May
Dave Porter from Rutland won this year’s Grafham Water Troutmasters Fish Off final catching one fish for 4lb 4oz. Dave will now represent Grafham Water in the grand final at Grafham Water on Monday 21 September.
Important information for all anglers
There are new restrictions around the Dam Tower. These are marked by buoys. Please do not fish or anchor beyond the buoys, there are underwater pipes and equipment which need to be protected.
Best Rainbow 6lb 2oz taken by Dave Ladbury of Ware.
Best Brown 4lb 4oz taken by Dave Ladbury of Ware.
Best boat areas Hill Farm, Pylon and Deep Water Points, Valley Creek, Lodge frontage.
Best bank areas Gaynes Cove, Harbour, Bowl and North Dam.
Mid Week Boat Winner Kim Green.
Best methods See report.
Forthcoming events
Grafham Water Summer Fishing Club commences Tuesday 12 May
Beginners courses 17,24 & 28 May;6,18,21, & 27 June and other dates throughout the season.
Invicta Floating Line 9 May
Lexus Team Heat 18 May
EYFA Youth National 24 May.
Ladies National 1 – 4 June
Pitsford Water
Fish week 487 (Season 2051) Returns 145 (514) Rod average 3.4 (4.2)
Another good week has been reported on Pitsford Water in spite of the changing weather conditions. There are still some huge buzzer hatches during the day and anglers have enjoyed a bonanza with catches of 20 and 30 fish not uncommon.
Mark Marsden had an eight fish limit for 16lb, whilst Jim McGonicle fished on a three day holiday package and had Browns of 4lb 12oz and 3lb 10oz in his catches as well as many Rainbows. Martin Barley caught and returned three Browns of around 2½ – 3lb during his session.
Mark Bradbury had a good session from the bank taking 5 fish off the Gorse Bank. Eight Czech anglers had a cracking day, boating between 20 and 30 fish each using buzzer and nymph tactics in and around the Sailing Club Bank. The best areas for boat fishing have been the Small Half, Sailing Club bank and the Pig Stream, while bank anglers should try Duffers, Bog Bay, Gorse and Stilton.
Best boat areas Sailing Club Bank, Brixworth Bay, Bog Bay, Stone Barn Bay.
Best bank areas Northfields Shore, Stone Barn Point, Gravels, Rigbys Point, Sailing Club Bank, Duffers Reach.
Best methods See report.
Fish stocked 500
Forthcoming events
Pitsford Summer Fishing Club
Join us at our weekly fly fishing club for an evening of boat fishing from 5.30pm until dusk every Tuesday evening from 12 May to 11 August.
All anglers are extremely welcome, especially beginners.
Beginners courses 10,16 & 29 May; 7 & 19 June and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 23 May.
Second Saturday of each month Pitsford will be offering fly tying tuition, casting coaching and general fishing advice. Call the fishing lodge on 01604 781350 for more information.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 761 (Season 5814) Returns 105 (651) Rod average 7.3(8.9)
Despite the recent cold winds, Ravensthorpe continues to fish well from boat and bank. Buzzers fished static are still accounting for the majority of fish. The rod average for the week is 7.3.
Season ticket holder Bob Draper caught 8 Rainbows on Tuesday from the Dam and returned on Friday to bank several more fish which included the best Rainbow of the week. The weight of Bob’s fish has not been released as Bob has entered the fish in a ‘Guess the Weight’ competition at Duston Fete in aid of charity.
Another angler enjoying a good session was Mr Gordon who had an evening boat and between 4pm and 8pm boated 11 fish, using a Di3 line with a Pitsford Pea in the area around Coton End.
A group of four anglers from Essex fished on Saturday in two boats and caught 79 fish between them, of which 71 were returned. Mr Bangham, visiting Ravensthorpe from Newbury, landed then returned 34 fish in one session from a boat. If you want some great sport then head to Ravensthorpe!
Floating or midge tip lines are working well from the bank, with buzzer and diawl bach combinations banking a lot of fish.
This Thursday 7 May sees the start of Ravensthorpe’s Thursday evening boat fishing club starting at 6pm.
Best Rainbow See report.
Best boat areas Coton End, the Domes and Catwalk Corner.
Best bank areas The Dam, Platforms 2-6, 13-14.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr D Provan of St Albans.
Fish stocked 600
Forthcoming events Thursday evening Boat fishing club starts 7 May, 6pm.
Pic: Wiki
