Week ending 12 June 2016
Season’s best Rainbow at Grafham Water weighs in at 6lb 10oz
Competition hots up in popular Tuesday Night Boat League at Rutland Water
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 1,229 (Season 15,737) Returns 325 (3,196) Rod average 3.78 (4.92)
Anglers continued to take fish last week, despite the rise in temperature. A group of anglers from Yorkshire enjoyed a three day boat package and had their best results ever at Rutland Water. One of the group commented that they accounted for 118 fish between them across the three days. Big fish are continuing to show with Ian Fincham of Wragby, Lincolnshire, netting the biggest Brown of the week at 7lb. Ian was guided by Northants angler Rob Edmunds who took Ian down the South Arm to catch the nymph feeding specimen.
18 year old local season ticket holder Toff Crowther again weighed in an impressive Brown of 6lb ½oz. The best Rainbow of the week fell to Dave Willacy from Cumbria. Dave’s fish weighed in at 5lb 11oz, falling to a ‘snake’ and was part of a 15 fish catch. With the aerators being on along with the high temperatures, it was noticeable that fish were coming out of the main basin. However, the bigger fish came from a number of areas down the arms.
Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League
18 anglers fished in Week 4 of the boat league (the most so far this season). Kerry Richardson won on the night with 6 fish for 11lb 2oz, second was Adi Naylor with 5 fish for 11lb 1½oz. Richard Cooper took third place weighing in for 10lb 5½oz. The mid week boat winner was Keith Jones who fished the bottom of the South Arm and took the best fish for 3lb 6½oz. Richard Cooper leads the league with 30 points. Kerry Richardson lies second with 22 points and Adi Naylor is third with 19 points.
The Tuesday Night Boat League is based on a four fish (kill limit) then four fish returned with an allowance of ½lb per returned fish. Five points are awarded each week for the biggest fish.
Best Rainbow 5lb 11oz taken by Dave Willacy of Cumbria.
Best Brown 7lb taken by Ian Fincham of Wragby.
Best boat areas The main basin, bottom of the arms, Old Hall, Yellowstone, Sailing Club.
Best bank areas Normanton, the Dam, Sykes Lane, Old Hall Point Bay.
Best methods Bank – Nymphs, dry fly.
Boat – As above, including fish under the bung, also a variety of sinking lines with various lures, large and small.
Mid week boat winner J Blaxell of Gorleston.
Fish stocked 1,100.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 17 & 19 June; 2,10,17 & 23 July and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Fly fishing for Pike from 16 May (subject to boat availability)
England Eliminator ‘Odds & Sods’ 26 June
AWAI North of England Final 11 July
Anglian Water Over 50’s Match 30 July
Grafham Water
Fish week 832(Season 14,193) Returns 190(2,356) Rod average 4.38 (6.03)
Grafham Water has fished well over the past week. We have a new season’s best Rainbow with a fine specimen of 6lb 10oz falling to Andy Hynds. The rod average is 4.38 with boat anglers taking the better fish from the deeper water.
Boat anglers have enjoyed some good sport this week, starting 200 yards off shore and drifting into the deeper water in the north shore and into the middle of the reservoir. The fish have been taken mostly from deep down, usually between 10 and 25 foot down. The best boat methods have been to fish intermediate or floating lines with buzzers, diawl bachs, damsel nymphs, ptn’s and lures. Fast sinking lines fished with tubes, snakes, cat’s whiskers and Pitsford Peas are also taking fish.
Bank anglers are not finding it easy, although fish are still showing off the north shore and tend to be on the dry fly in the evenings around the dam area. Overwintered fish are feeding on shrimp, whereas stock fish are yet to turn onto the feed. The most effective methods for bank anglers have been floating lines with black and green tadpoles, diawl bachs, damsel nymphs, hares ear and ptn. The best bank areas have been Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hill Farm and north and south Dam.
Competition news
GWFFA boat match
20 anglers fished, taking 45 fish for a rod average of 2.3. Chris Bobby took both the best fish – a Rainbow of 3lb 15oz and the best bag at 17lb 14oz.
Services Championship
1st Fish Hawks A 22 fish for 47lb 15oz
2nd Police Blue 20 fish for 47lb 12oz
3rd Fish Hawks B 21 fish for 43lb 14oz
4th Soldier Palmers B 13 fish for 34lb 1oz
Best fish was awarded to Dean Rudd for a 4lb 12oz Brown and the best bag without time bonus fell to Jim Wright at 8lb 15oz.
As part of Grafham Water’s 50th Birthday Celebrations we are hosting a pairs boat match with a terrific prize pot on Sunday 3 July
This pair’s boat match will celebrate 50 years of fly fishing at Grafham Water. There’s a fantastic prize pot with £1000* going to the winner plus many more prizes. *Subject to the number of entries.
This event will take place on Sunday 3rd July to coincide with the official 50th anniversary week of activities at Grafham Water. This friendly fly fishing competition is to be fished to relaxed international rules (no anchoring or back drifting, any size fly is acceptable) with an 8 fish limit plus time bonus (2lb per hour).
Best Rainbow 6lb 10oz taken by Andy Hynds.
Best Brown 4lb 12oz taken by Dean Rudd.
Best boat areas 200 yards off north shore, dam and Hill Farm. Lots of fish have been caught in deeper water this week.
Best bank areas Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hill Farm and north and south Dam.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Mr A Bickwell of Great Paxton.
Fish stocked 2,000
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 18 & 30 June; 3,9,22,29 & 31July; 14 & 21 August and other dates throughout the season.
Fly fishing for Pike from 16 May (subject to boat availability)
EFFA ProAm 16 June
AWAI Midland Heat 18 June
Grafham 50th Birthday Pairs Boat Match 3rd July – terrific prize pot
Scierra Pairs 9 July
AWAI Southern Final 18 July
AWAI Midland Final 25 July
Pitsford Water
Fish week 326(Season 5,805) Returns 97 (1,165) Rod average 3.3 (4.98)
Despite tougher conditions, and the rod average taking a hit, there have been some good sized fish caught, particularly Browns. Roger Walker of Notts Police had a nice Brownie over 3lb in his 5 fish bag. Mark Turner took a Brown of 5lb in his six fish bag. Dave Jarvis enjoyed another holiday package, taking 15 fish including a 4lb Brown. George Hackett maintained his knack with Brown trout and took a nice Brown over 4lb on his recent trip.
Peter Watson had two lovely Rainbows of 3lb 6oz and 3lb 14oz. Best areas from the bank are Gravels, Holly Bush and Duffers. Boat anglers should concentrate on Brixworth Bay, Sailing Club Bay and the Flats. Try to fish in a depth of 12 feet.
Nymph tactics are still the best method with buzzers, diawl bachs and crunchers on a floating or midge tip line best. Damsels are now featuring in the trout’s diet and small damsel patterns are also working. There have been several good Brown trout caught this week and they are clearly feeding.
Dates for your diary include Pitsford’s popular Evening Summer fishing club which runs every Tuesday up to 9 August.
Mid Northants Trout Fishers Association meets at Pitsford Lodge on the second Saturday of the month with fly tying, casting tuition and friendly advice on all fishing matters.
Mid week boat winner Stephen Morton.
Forthcoming events
Evening Summer Fishing Club – Tuesday evening
Lure fishing and fly fishing for Pike from 16 May
Beginners courses 1,16 & 30 July; 6,12 & 27 August and other dates throughout the season.
Mid Northants Trout Fishers Pairs Match 26 June and 23 July
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 308 (Season 8,375) Returns 65(975) Rod average 4.7(8.59)
Fishing at Ravensthorpe is much improved this week with good results on dry fly. Orange seems to be the colour with some good quality Rainbows and Browns being taken. The best boat areas are the Coton End, Boils and Island. Bank anglers continue to get good results off the Dam and the two platforms up from Catwalk Corner.
Ravensthorpe’s Thursday Evening Boat Club runs weekly until August. This friendly boat club is open to all anglers, 6pm start.
Best Rainbow 5lb.
Best Brown 5lb taken by Trev Heseltine.
Best boat areas Coton end, Island, Boils.
Best bank areas Dam, Catwalk Corner, Platforms.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner Dave McSeveney of Northampton.
