• Easter special at our tackle shops
Friday 14th – Monday 17th inclusive at Pitsford, Rutland and Grafham
• If customers spend £100 or more in the fishing lodges on tackle and/or clothing they can take a free day boat *on the same day of the purchase*.
• If customers spend £50 or more on tackle and/or clothing then they can take a day boat for half price *on the same day as the purchase*. Single man boat was £17 offer price £8.50 Boat for 2/3 anglers was £27 offer price £13.50.
*offer excludes half day boats*.
• Stunning rod average of 10.5 at Rutland
• Best Rainbow of the season so far at Grafham Water
Yvonne Webb lands superb 6lb 13oz Rainbow
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 2,837 (season 4,991) Returns 270 (589)Rod average 10.5(8.47)
Rutland is buzzing! Both Browns and Rainbows are feeding heavily on the early buzzer hatches which are coming off in huge numbers, including large buzzers which are normally associated with the May/June period. All this has resulted in another great week on the reservoir with lots of fish caught. Season ticket holders Ron Oldroyd and Paul Wild had a very successful day afloat down the South Arm using buzzer tactics with 32 fish, many of which were overwintered.
Bank anglers Mick Connor and John Lee came across overwintered fish off the Peninsula last Friday evening. Amongst the overwintered fish have been Rainbows up to 4-5lb and numbers of Browns in the 4-5lb region. One fine specimen was a Brown estimated at over 6lb returned by Mark Rose whilst he was fishing in the Sportfish Team Challenge Competition on Sunday.
Simon Ashton fishes Rutland regularly. Simon writes “Just to let you know that I fished Rutland on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Both arms fished really well to black buzzers and roach fry patterns. I took some good grown on Rainbows of 3-4lb range, 4 Browns around 4lb returned as well as a lot of recently introduced fish. However two notable fish were an 18lb pike and a 5lb 8oz Brown.”
The weather was varied last week with cool northerly and easterly winds early in the week resulting in a significant number of fish moving off the dam in the late afternoon and evening. The brighter hot, cloudless conditions over the weekend made no difference to the fishing with great numbers of fish caught in the Anglers World Sportfish match (see Competition News).
It’s good to welcome several newcomers to Rutland this season, with many catching their first ever Rutland trout. The Tuesday Night Boat League starts on 9 May. This popular event is open to everyone and it’s very straightforward to take part. Book in at the fishing lodge from 5pm onwards with boats going out at 6pm. Supper delivered by ‘Syd’s Fish and Chip Shop’ is available at an additional cost, with a free cold drink provided by Anglian Water after the weigh in. The league runs from 9 May through to the middle of August with a free midweek boat awarded to the angler with the biggest fish caught on the night each week. Each week the heaviest six bags earn points with a prize awarded at the end of the series.
Competition news
AWAI Northern heat 3 April
Rutland Water hosted a North of England heat of this popular international. There were some outstanding bags of fish and the match fished to a rod average of 11.6. The top five teams have qualified to fish in the Northern Regional Final at Rutland on 10 July.
1st Northern Drifters 84 fish for 192lb 15¾oz
2nd New Angling Patriots 84 fish for 187lb 10 7/8oz
3rd Team Vision 83 fish for 184lb 7½lb
4th Iain Barr Flyfishing Costa A 80 fish for 172lb 9oz
5th Soldier Palmers A 77 fish for 172lb 3¾oz
Tom Finney, fishing for 7th placed Iain Barr Fly Fishing Team Costa B, took the best fish at 5lb 13oz and also the best bag weighing in at 35lb 12½oz.
Anglers World Individual 8 April
Fished in excellent conditions at Rutland this match achieved a rod average of 12.05. Richard Kesek weighed in the best fish at 3lb 12oz. It was a very close finish – the top four anglers were
1st Jim Rigby 16 fish for 36lb 7oz
2nd Mark Redfern 16 fish for 36lb 6oz
3rd David Hoppe 16 fish for 35lb 14oz
4th John Hood 16 fish for 35lb 6oz
Sport Fish Team Heat 9 April
This match for teams of six anglers fished to a rod average of 15.06 with some terrific bags of fish.
1st Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs 96 fish for 212lb 6oz
2nd Team Vision 92 fish for 205lb 7oz
3rd Renegades 83 fish for 183lb 5oz
Best Rainbow 4lb 2½oz taken by Lindsay Simpson.
Best Brown 5lb 13oz taken by Tom Finney.
Best boat areas Middle area of North Arm, bottom of the South Arm, Normanton/Sykes Lane.
Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, Yellowstone, Peninsula.
Best methods Buzzers, floating line (bung), straight lining.
Fish stocked 2,000.
Midweek boat winner John Eaton of Horncastle.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 15,22 & 27 April; 7,13, 19 & 26 May and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league commences 9 May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 7 May
Bob Church Classic 14 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 20 May
Grafham Water
Fish 1,457 (season 4,692) Returns 157 (529)Rod average 9.3(7.3)
The wonderful weather and superb fishing is still continuing at Grafham. The rod average is up from 7.4 to 9.3 this week, with an amazing total of 1,457 fish caught.
This week we have seen the biggest Rainbow of the season so far with Yvonne Webb weighing in a fine specimen of 6lb 13oz caught at Savages. The best Brown of the week went to Mr D Lyall who took a lovely 5lb 11oz Brownie off the Harbour Arm. There are a number of notable catches this week. Congratulations to Steve Jones who landed 48 fish on Sunday 2nd April. Steve is having a superb season so far with consistently high numbers of fish being caught. Norman Rushton has also continued his great fishing with another bag over 20, recording 24 fish this time. Other mentions and congratulations go to Martin Brocklebank who had 20 (including 2 Brownies), D. Harwick, also 20 and finally to Chris Mully who had a superb day on the 7th catching 30 Rainbows and 8 Browns.
The bank is still a challenge but fish are being caught, however boat anglers are still producing the highest numbers of fish caught.
Brownies have been in season all this week and it is nice to see a few big ones coming out. Many have tried fishing the recently re-opened Savages and West Bank and a number have had good fortunes, especially at Savages.
Boat angling is producing the best results at the moment with a number of anglers catching in excess of 20 fish. Anywhere along the north shore is proving profitable and it is worth moving up and down to find the fish. Savages is a good spot for catching over wintered fish. Martin Webster and Matt Harris fished there on Tuesday and caught many fish 4lb and up (on Buzzers).
Although it may seem a little early in the season, Shrimp patterns are working well for catching overwintered fish. But floating lines, fished near static, with buzzers have still provided many fish this week. Anything black, black and green, or black and white patterns. Black and Red Buzzers, Blobs and intermediate lines (Di5 and Di7’s) fished with lures in the same areas are still producing fish. Other successful flies include cats whisker, humongous, damsels and boobies.
Bank angling is still more of a challenge this week. The fish have moved from the shore to roughly 150 yards out. When the wind permits, the harbour arms and Marlow Stones are showing good results.
GWFFA had their first Bank Match of the season and their valuable feedback can be seen below:
“After a very cold and bright start fish were caught quickly at various places round the lake. The Sailing Club bay and the Seat fished well early with fish coming to buzzer patterns. Steve Jones had a decent bag from this area. Once the sun got up the fish moved further out from the bank. The dam was definitely the top spot. Andy Linwood fished a single green buzzer in the bowl and took eight good fish. Martin Brocklebank also fished green buzzer on a floating line at the South end of the dam for a tidy bag. 12 anglers caught 82 fish for a rod average of 6.8.”
1st Andy Linwood 8 fish for 17lb 1oz
2nd Martin Brocklebank 8 fish for 16lb 2oz
3rd Steve Jones 8 fish for 15lb 15oz
Lures are fishing best from the bank particularly in white, white and green, black and black and green colouring with fish following right up to the draw so keep those sunglasses handy. Good areas to try include the willows, the dam, plumbers, the seat, Marlow arm, deep water point and the stumps.
Thank you to all that have submitted your catch returns this week. The information is valuable to us and to other fisherman so please continue to do this and a gentle reminder to those who may forget, thank you.
This week we can also welcome another member to our Ranger team, Ross Lane.
The Bob Church Open will be taking place on Sunday the 30th April so contact the Fishing Lodge to book a place.
Good luck and tight lines for all at Grafham for the coming week.
Last Tuesday Martin Webster fished alongside Matt Harris. Martin writes “Our best fish weighed in at 4lb 3oz, along with some super fish that Matt Harris and I caught on buzzers on Tuesday. We fished in Savages and all the fish were of a similar (great!) quality, appearing to be over wintered rather than from this year’s stocking. Thanks for another cracking day at Grafham!”
The Bob Church Open will be taking place on Sunday 30 April, please contact the Fishing Lodge to book a place.
Best boat areas 6lb 13oz caught by Yvonne Webb.
Best Brown 5lb 11oz taken by D Lyall.
Best bank areas Stumps, the Willows, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm and Pylon Point.
Best methods See report.
Mid week boat winner A Bayford of St Neots.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 13, 23 & 30 April; 21 & 25 May and other dates throughout the season.
England Eliminator 28 April
Bob Church Open 30 April.
Anglers World Individual 13 May
Pitsford Water
Fish 608 (season 2057) Returns 97 (365)Rod average 6.2(5.6)
Anglers have enjoyed another cracking week at Pitsford Water with a rod average of 6.2 for the week. This is thanks to the continuing huge buzzer hatches, we are seeing some of the large black buzzers coming off now and the fish are continuing to gorge on them. As with last week, bank sport can be tricky during the middle of the day as the fish move out of reach. This has benefitted boat anglers who have enjoyed the best of the action.
Invicta FFC paid a visit last Tuesday for one of their boat league matches. 20 Anglers fished with 14 catching their limit. Most anglers caught on buzzer and diawl bachs. The best areas were Pig Stream, Gorse, Duffers and Stone Barn. By far the top boat on the day was Keith Gilchrist and Mack Facey. The pair reported catching over 60 fish.
There have been plenty of fish in the 3-4lb bracket with anglers commenting on the quality of the stock fish.
Best boat areas Causeway, Coton Car Park.
Best bank areas Platforms 11 and 12.
Mid week boat winner Paul Southgate of Guilsborough.
Forthcoming events
Anglian Water rudder match 6 May.
Beginners courses 21 April; 11,14 & 20 May and other dates throughout the season.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish 973 (season 4257) Returns 99 (453)Rod average 9.8 (9.3)
Ravensthorpe continues to be in top form. Graham Smith and Mick Griffin had 52 fish to their boat – quill buzzers with a fab on the point proved very effective.
Mick O’Farrell estimated he caught up to 80 fish again on floating line with buzzers. Andy Lane caught 24 fish with floating line with buzzers and diawl bachs, but also managed a few on dries.
The bank is also producing some good fish with Platforms 11 and 12 to the Causeway being the best area. Alan Duffin had a good fish of 5lb 4oz on buzzers.
Mid Northants Trout Fishers fished The Presidents Cup Floating Line Competition on Sunday. 29 anglers fished, netting 291 fish for a rod average of 10.
1st Stuart Eggleton 7lb 10oz
2nd Pip Jeffs 7lb 8oz
3rd Les Yarnall 6lb 7oz
Best boat areas Causeway, Coton Car Park.
Best bank areas Platforms 11 and 12.
Best methods Floating lines, buzzers and diawl bachs.
Mid week boat winner Paul Southgate of Guilsborough.
