Latest News and Information from Anglian Water Fisheries
Week ending 7 May 2017
• Popular Tuesday evening boat leagues start soon
Rutland 9 May
Grafham 16 May
• Ravensthorpe rod average is 8.3
Mick Griffin’s 8lb 13oz Rainbow is best fish of the week
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 1,739 (season 15,061) Returns 271 (2,010)Rod average 6.41(7.49)
Despite the cold weather anglers caught plenty of fish last week. Both bank and boat fishermen were again rewarded with large numbers of good quality fish. Many silvered up stock fish and good numbers of overwintered specimens were reported from several areas of the reservoir. Sunday 7 May was Rutland Water’s 40th anniversary – celebrations are planned for 15 and 16 July; more information will follow.
Trout and Salmon editor Andrew Flitcroft had an early morning assault on the Dam and came up trumps with the best fish of the week – a super specimen Brown trout that was estimated at ‘a good seven pounds’. This fish fell to a Bob’s Bit dry fly and was quickly returned. Fellow season ticket holder Dave Warner also found fish on the Dam with three 4lb Browns and a 5lb 7oz specimen backed up with a 4lb Rainbow. All of his fish fell to buzzer tactics.
Graham Hayward fished with Toff Crowther last Saturday lunchtime using a mixture of dries and lures. Graham had five good fish with a 4lb 8oz Brown and Rainbows averaging 3½lb fishing down the South Arm. Hatches of buzzer continue to come off, however, anglers were witnessing bigger than average hatches of olives, with big fish showing on top, especially on Saturday, with lighter winds and overcast conditions all day.
The cold, mainly easterly winds, maintained low air temperatures, however there were plenty of areas of water to fish in comfort, including Yellowstones, Hambleton Wood, Old Hall and Green Bank and to a lesser extent Barnsdale and Dickensons Bay, not forgetting the Dam itself, which is where the biggest fish of the week was caught.
The Hare’s ear nymph is a general purpose nymph that works very well on Rutland as proved by season ticket holder Malcolm Janik. Malcolm netted quality fish off Whitwell Creek, the best of which was a 5lb Brown. Other notable fish caught off the boats included a 7lb Brown weighed and returned by Peter Brewer during an Invicta Club match, this fish fell to a diawl bach.
Competition news
Invicta Flyfishers from Grafham visited Rutland last Saturday. Organiser Mark Searle thanked the Rutland Fishery staff for a great day’s fishing. 25 anglers took to the boats and caught 188 fish. Mark himself was top rod with 23 fish, he returned a Brown estimated at around 6lb. Another notable catch went to David Moore who recorded his ‘best day ever’ with 16 fish.
Forthcoming matches include the popular Tuesday Night Boat League which starts this Tuesday 9 May.
The Bob Church Classic will be fished on Sunday 14 May – all boats are booked.
Best Rainbow 3lb 12oz taken by Graham Hayward.
Best boat areas Yellowstones to Green Bank. Dickinsons to Cardiac Hill, Barnsdale, Sykes Lane to Monument and Fantasy to Blue Pipes.
Best bank areas Old Hall, Green Bank, the Dam, Whitwell Creek.
Best methods Bank – floating lines with nymphs and dries and a few on lures.
Boat – as for bank but include midge tips, Di3 and Di5, large and small lures and boobies.
Fish stocked 3,000.
Midweek boat winner Dave Bradshaw of North Luffenham.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 13, 19 & 26 May;3, 14 & 18 June and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league commences 9 May
Bob Church Classic 14 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 20 May
EFFA 6 June
Anglian Water Floating Line 10 June 01780 686441
EDFF 5 July 01780686441
Rutland Water 40th Birthday celebrations 15 & 16 July
Grafham Water
Fish 477(season 10,224) Returns 98 (1,109)Rod average 4.86 (9.22)
Tough weather conditions impacted the rod average this week. Although locating the fish can be a challenge, once you have found them bagging up can be easily achieved.
Good fish coming out this week included four Rainbows for Mr Skipsey. Hilary Tomlinson is in fantastic form, managing a superb Brown of 5lb 3oz which was the biggest fish in the GWFFA boat match and Grafham’s best fish of the week.
With the stronger winds boat fishing has become tough with anglers struggling to present flies, particularly buzzer, leaving most fishing lures. Successful anglers have targeted fish in the surface layers of the water using floating lines, lures, blobs and boobies. Others have been successful by hanging a washing line with buzzer and nymph propped up by a booby or a blob. However, it is worth noting that the fish can be tempted more readily when you are twitching them back. Some anglers are fishing dries with varying success, though currently the smaller patterns are more successful.
Bank fishing can be a little sporadic with most doing better into the evening. Some anglers are finding spells of slow fishing before catching their bag in the final half hour. It’s worth trying to find the fish before you cast. Taking a roving approach will produce many more fish than trying to hold out in one spot. The strong northerlies have made it difficult to fish the south shore this week although the south and north end of the dam are perfect areas to try letting a washing line of buzzer drift around on the wind. The fish are still very close in so it’s important to cast before you start wading.
Competition news
GWFFA boat match
1st Mr Abrahams 8 fish for 16lb 11oz
2nd Steve Jones 8 fish for 15lb 14oz
3rd Andy Linwood 6 fish for 14lb 7oz
Hilary Tomlinson took the best fish of the match a superb 5lb 3oz Brownie.
Grafham’s Tuesday Night Boat League will be up and running again this year in conjunction with Invicta. Starting on 16 May and finishing on 15 August there will be 14 weeks of evening boat fishing (every Tuesday – 5.30pm start – 10pm finish). The retail shop will also be open for an extra 30 minutes for anglers wanting to purchase any tackle.
Mark Haycock is organising a fish with your boat partner Pairs Match on 27 May. Entry is £60 per pair plus fishing costs. Entry includes a barbecue and drinks. The match will be fished to relaxed international rules with no anchoring and no time bonus. Registration is from 8am at the fishing lodge. Match time 10am to 5pm. Please call the fishing lodge on 01480 810531 for more information and to book.
Best Rainbow 4lb plus taken by A Skipsey.
Best Brown 5lb 1oz taken by Hilary Tomlinson.
Best boat areas The Stumps, Hill Farm, Pig Bay, Rainbow Point, G Buoy, the Bowl, the Willows.
Best bank areas The Bowl, Marlow Arm, Hill Farm, Deep Water Point.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr S Middleton.
Forthcoming events
Tuesday night boat league in conjunction with Invicta
Starts 16 May and runs to 15 August. 5.30 pm start – 10pm finish
Beginners courses 21 & 25 May; 4, 10, 17 & 29 June and other dates throughout the season.
Anglers World Individual 13 May John Horsey
Sport Fish Team Heat 14 May John Horsey
Mark Haycock’s Fish with your boat Partner Pairs Match 27 May
EFFA ProAm 15 June 01480 810531
Anglian Water Airflo Midland Heat 17 June 01572 653021
Scierra Pairs 8 July Phil Dixon
Pitsford Water
Fish 740 (season 4,771) Returns 149 (841)Rod average 4.96(5.67)
It has been a busy week on Pitsford with a few matches and the anglers have not been disappointed with several notable fish caught. The rod average for the week has remained around 5 which is good considering the cold, northerly winds.
Competition news
The Mid Northants Fly Fishers fished for the Bruce Richardson Trophy. 25 anglers caught 153 fish for a rod average of 6.1.
Pip Jeffs was top rod and also caught the best fish – a fine specimen of 4lb 9oz. John Mills was is second spot with Derek Walker in third place.
The English Disabled Fly Fishers fished from the boats with 13 anglers catching 36 fish for a rod average of 2.7.
Anglian Water rudder match 6 May – 16 anglers caught 92 fish for a rod average of 5.75. M Connor caught the best fish with a specimen of 5lb 3oz. Messrs Bennet and Dalby were the best boat pair with 16 fish for 36lb 15oz.
The best methods continue to be floating or midge tip lines with teams of nymphs or buzzers. With the cold northerly winds the best areas have been where there is some shelter around Gorse, Stilton, Pig Stream and Cliffs. Boats are catching in the Narrows and Brixworth Bay.
Best boat areas Narrows and Brixworth Bay
Best bank areas Gorse, Stilton, Pig Stream and Cliffs
Mid week boat winner Seumas Halliday of Northampton.
Forthcoming events
England Eliminator 28 May 01604 781350
Anglian Water Airflo International Midland heat 3 June 01572 653021
Beginners courses 11,14 & 20 May; 11, 24 & 30 June and other dates throughout the season.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 904 (season 6,603 ) Returns 108 (778)Rod average 8.3 (8.4)
Ravensthorpe is in outstanding form with a rod average of 8.3 for the week and eight fish of over 6lb.
The fish are hard on the buzzer and up in the water with most being hooked on washing line tactics fished very slowly. FAB on the point with size 12 black, grey or red lightweight buzzers has proved to be a deadly combination. Diawl bachs and crunchers have also been very effective. There are still a few pond olives coming off the water and fish feeding on them can be tempted by wet fly imitations.
Dry flies have seen some success this week when the fish are showing consistently and the best patterns are bobs Bits, crippled midge and klinkhammer. The stamp of fish being caught is generally very good with 15 Rainbows killed and taken between three to four pounds and some lovely silver fish between four and six pounds.
Alan Duffin had a 7lb 6oz Rainbow on a size 10 black buzzer from Platform 12 and Mr B Osborn took a fish of 8lb 8oz this week, but the biggest Rainbow this week weighed 8lb 13oz and came to Mick Griffin whilst fishing in his floating line match.
Competition news
Mick Griffin Floating Line match
This was held on Sunday in good conditions with some great results. Most anglers caught their bag and then fished catch and release. Mick Griffin won comfortably with four fish for 19lb 10oz, including best fish of the week at 8lb 13oz. Mick also took a lovely silver fish of 5lb plus as part of his bag. Second place went to Anglian Water Ranger Simon Farmer with four fish for 16lb 1oz including a Rainbow of 7lb 2oz. Third place went to Frazer Duffy Jnr who caught four fish for 15lb 10oz including a fish of 8lb 6oz.
The bank has fished very well this week from both the Coton car park and the opposite corner of the Causeway. Fish are coming again mainly to buzzers fished on the washing line.
Best Rainbow 8lb 13oz taken by Mick Griffin.
Best boat areas Coton car park to the Island and Causeway Corner to Tall Willows.
Best bank areas Coton Car Park and Causeway Corner.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Alec Ferguson.
