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Weekly Fishery News

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Week Ending 18 July

National fishing month with Anglian Water Free ‘have a go’ fly tying or fly fishing.

During National Fishing Month Anglian Water is offering free ‘have a go’ fly fishing and/or fly tying tuition with a qualified instructor on three different dates.  All are welcome (minimum age 12 years)

Available 10.00am to 4.00pm – no booking required.

Pitsford Water Thursday 22 July
Grafham Water Friday 30 July
Rutland Water Friday 6 August

Boat fishing for Pitsford Pike extended Boat fishing for Pike now available every day excluding Saturdays.  Call Pitsford Lodge on 01604 781350 to book a boat.

www.anglianwater.co.uk

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 316 (season 22,919) Returns 151 (5,753) Rod average 2.09 (3.98)
Some good fish in the 3-4lb range were taken last week despite challenging conditions with high winds. M Severn from Loscoe, Derbyshire landed two fish for 8lb 6oz off the bunds wall. The bottom of the north arm is still producing some fish of that size. Other notable catches were made by Martin Cottis and his boat partner who had eleven fish between them despite a strong wind and heavy showers. All of their fish fell to dry fly. Martin, from Bristol, said the fish were full of corixa.

There are fish moving all the way along the banks on the north side of the peninsula mainly feeding on pin fry, corixa and snails, floating lines with dries are working when the weather permits, as will diawl bachs and crunchers. The Normanton bank, Whitwell Creek and Sailing Club Bay are worth a try from the banks.

Boat anglers have also taken fish in the main basin and in front of the lodge to east creek. Some fish were taken on floating lines with nymphs and dries with other anglers taking fish on Di7 with blobs.

Competition News
Tuesday Evening Boat League

Week 10 of this popular league was won by Bob Norman in testing conditions.

1st Bob Norman, 3 fish for 7lb 2½oz
2nd Paul Wild, 1 fish for 2lb 2¾oz
3rd Chris Evans, 1 fish for 1lb 10½oz

League placings end of week 10

1st Phil Longstaff, 54 points
2nd Richard Cooper, 43
3rd= Paul Wild, 27
3rd= Hilary Tomlinson
5th= Chris Evans, 25
5th= Mike Netherclift

Anglian Water Over 50’s Match

1st Mike Barratt & Ron Gent, 10 fish for 18lb 13oz
2nd Ashley Davisd & Gordon Bramwell, 7 fish for 16lb 14oz
3rd Joan Russell & Paul Angell, 3 fish for 6lb 5oz

Hilary Tomlinson took the best fish of the match – a 3lb 1oz Brown.
Best Rainbow: 4lb 1oz taken by Andre Gysler of Basingstoke.
Best boat areas: With high winds last week the Bunds Wall and bottom of North Arm were the best areas.
Best bank areas: Banks on north side of peninsula, Normanton bank, Whitwell Creek and Sailing Club Bay.
Best methods: See report.

Rutland Water continued
Mid week boat winner: S Lord of Wigston, Leicester.
Fish stocked: 4,000

Forthcoming events:
Please remember that from May through to September boat anglers have to cease fishing by 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays only.
National Fishing Month. Free ‘have a go’ fly fishing and fly tying sessions with a qualified instructor at Rutland Water, Friday 6 August, 10am to 4pm, no booking required. All welcome (minimum age 12 years). Reservoir rods and double handed rods available, lightweight rods for children. Telephone  01780 686441 for more information.
Beginners courses: 25 July; 1,7,18 & 22 August and other dates throughout the season.
Don’t forget the Help for Heroes match Saturday 14 August call 01572 653021 for more information.

Anglian Water Loch Style 4 Man Team 18 August

Grafham Water
Fish week 532 (18,028) Returns 163 (3,747) Rod average 3.26 (4.81)
Grafham Water has once again continued to fish well with a healthy rod average of 3.26 and the vast majority of trout being caught by the boat anglers. The main tactics have been to fish floating to Di3 lines with diawl bachs, crunchers, gold rib hares ears, claret hoppers and tequila blobs or boobies. The best boat areas have been Savages Creek, Rainbow Point, Sanctuary Bay, L Buoy, south dam and the boils.

Bank anglers found the fishing challenging last week but Gaynes Cove has produced some good fishing on floating lines with small nymphs fished slow when the winds have been favourable.

Competition News

Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League
This week’s boat league was contested by 11 anglers who managed to catch 33 trout which gave an excellent rod average of 3 fish per angler with every angler catching. Top place on the evening was shared by England Youth member Kieran Bonas and old hand John Vincent who each managed to catch 5 trout.

1st = Kieran Bonas and John Vincent 5 fish
2nd= Peter Oldham and Mark Searle 4 fish
3rd= Alan Briggs & Kieran Caulfield 3 fish

Grafham Water continued
Anglian Water Airflo International Midland Final Twelve six man teams qualified to fish the Midland Final with the top four teams going through to fish the International final which will be held at Rutland Water on 5 and 6 October.

All the boats headed towards Savages and the Sanctuary Bay area with the main line of attack being size 12 diawl bachs and uv crunchers all straight lined on a floater or midge tip line with some fish being taken on shuttlecock cdc emergers.

1st Airflo Team Cormorants, 34 fish for 76lb 3¾oz. 
2nd Team Rio Draycote Flyers, 32 fish for 75lb 7½oz. 
3rd Grafham Water Fly Fishers, 29 fish for 67lb 5 3/8oz 
4th Hanningfield FF, 30 fish for 63lb 9 3/8oz

Andy Croucher of the Soldier Palmers took both the biggest fish – a Rainbow of 4lb 15½oz, and the biggest bag – 8 fish for 25lb 2¼oz.

Best Rainbow: 4lb 15½oz taken by Andy Croucher.
Best boat areas: Savages Creek, Rainbow Point, Boils, Sanctuary Bay, L Buoy and south Dam.
Best bank areas: Plummer and Gaynes Cove.
Best methods: see report.
Mid week boat winner: B House of Letchworth.
Fish stocked: 2,000

Forthcoming Events:
Invicta Tuesday Night boat league
Youth International 28 July
National Fishing Month. Free ‘have a go’ fly fishing and fly tying sessions with a qualified instructor at Grafham Water, Friday 30 July, 10am to 4pm, no booking required. All welcome (minimum age 12 years). Reservoir rods and double handed rods available, lightweight rods for children. 01480 810531 for more information.
Inter Club Floating Line Match 1 August
John Watts Trophy 28 August Beginners courses: 23 & 28 July; 1,8,15 & 29 August and other dates throughout the season.

Pitsford Water
Fish week 216(9,461) Returns 82(2,779) Rod average 2.6(3.4)
Boating pair Brian Moore of Ibstock and Rob Layton of Holcot fished on Saturday up at the dam. Rob caught a 4lb 10oz Brown and then two more fish weighing in excess of 12lb. They finally finished with 16 fish to the boat fishing the Northampton style method with Di5 sinking lines. Brian’s best fish weighed 3lb 8oz. Brian said ”It was my first time out for a month since I broke my ankle and so I enjoyed the day even more!”

Season ticket holder John Fletcher from Desborough, Kettering, fished on Sunday and caught a good bag of fish on wet flies. The recent cooler, windy days have suited this method well.

Alex Booth Fly Fishers fished on Saturday with ten anglers catching more than 50 fish! Dennis Footman of Kibworth fished with them and caught four good fish commenting that they all had a good day with some excellent quality fish being weighed in. Some of the anglers caught in Stone Barn and at the Dam wall.

Boat fishing for Pike at Pitsford has been extended – it’s now possible to Pike fish every day, excluding Saturdays. Call the fishing lodge on 01604 781350 for more information.

As part of National Fishing Month Pitsford Water is offering free ‘have a go’ fly fishing and fly tying sessions with a qualified instructor on Thursday 22 July, 10am to 4pm. No booking is required and everyone is welcome (minimum age 12 years). Call Peter Hartley on 07922 126154 for more information.

Best Rainbow: 6lb taken by John French of Market Harborough.
Best Brown: 3lb 8oz taken by Mr Dempsey of Bedworth.
Best boat areas: Boils and along Dam.
Best bank areas: Northfields shore, Sermans.
Best methods: See report.
Mid week boat winner: John Scott of Wellingborough.
Fish stocked: 1,000

Forthcoming events: National Fishing Month. Free ‘have a go’ fly fishing and fly tying sessions with a qualified instructor at Pitsford Thursday 22 July, 10am to 4pm. No booking required. All welcome (minimum age 12 years). Reservoir rods and double handed rods available, lightweight rods for children. Call 01604 781350 for more information. Beginners courses: 24 & 31 July; 4,14 & 28 August and other dates throughout the season. Pike fishing - boat fishing with lures over 18cm. Available every day excluding Saturdays.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 234 (7,569) Returns 67 (1,619) Rod average 3.4(4.6)
Ravensthorpe Reservoir is in top form from the bank. Season ticket holder Stuart Payne had some great sport this week in two trips he took 4 rainbows and returned 18. Stuart caught all his fish on floating lines with a red diawl bach. Bank anglers are catching best in the afternoon and evening.

Boat anglers are also catching well. The Coton End is the area to head for. The washing line is the best method to use with a big bushy dry on the point with red diawl bachs and hares ears on the droppers. Dries are also catching good quality fish with ginger hoppers late in the evening.

Best Rainbow: 4lb 6oz taken by C Jenkins.
Best boat areas: Coton End.
Best bank areas: Platforms 3 -12.
Best methods: Floating lines, black or green buzzers, red diawl bachs, hares ears or damsels, slow retrieve.
Fish stocked: 200
Mid week boat winner: David Fisher of Faversham, Kent.

CLA Ticket Winners

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall, Alcester, in Warwickshire (July 23rd, 24th, 25th) continues its celebration of angling with an enlarged fishing village and coaching for anyone who would like to learn more about coarse, sea or game fishing.

The winners of the five pairs of adult tickets for The CLA Game Fair are as follows:

Mr Phillips, Cuffley
Phillip Webb, Derby
Mrs K Palmer, Nottingham
Gary Cullen, Gillingham
K Smith, Redditch

www.gamefair.co.uk

Weekly Fishery News

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Rutland Water’s no riddle for Michael (Jimmy) Riddell . Personal best Brown and best Brown of the week weighs in at 12lb 9oz for Hartlepool angler.

Oliver lands more than he bargains for at Grafham Water . 11lb 12oz Zander for Oliver Avis as he practices for Youth International

Pick of the Pike with Anglian Water.

Boat fish for Pike from 16 June at Rutland, Grafham & Pitsford - permits to fish with flies over 10cm, using a wire trace for pike & zander.
Pike permits (plus usual boat fees)
Predator season permit £199 . Predator day permit £15

www.anglianwater.co.uk
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 957 (season 21,407) Returns 361 (5,215) Rod average 2.65(4.1)
Michael Riddell (known as ‘Jimmy’ to most people) recorded a personal best Brown last Thursday. Jimmy was fishing with boat partner Al Owen and netted a superb 12lb 9oz specimen, fishing a floating line and one of Al’s buzzers. The fish took around 30 minutes to boat. Originally from Hartlepool, Jimmy now lives in France, and made the most of his short stay in England to visit Rutland Water for two days. On the second day of his visit Jimmy fished in an RAF competition and recorded the top individual spot on the day.

The best Rainbow of the week weighed in at 4lb 14½oz and was recorded by Hilary Tomlinson of Whissendine. This was part of a brace of fish including a nice Brown which won Hilary this week’s Tuesday Night Boat League match.

The recent hot weather has made fishing more challenging, although fish are active on the surface feeding on pin fry and damsels. There are still good numbers of fish feeding on other items of food ranging from buzzers which are still hatching in good numbers, especially in late evening, to corixa, sedge and daphnia.

Competition news
Tuesday night boat league week 8

Hilary Tomlinson’s excellent brace of fish was the best bag on the night to give her victory in week 8. The title race is on between Phil Longstaff and Richard Cooper with both consistently winning points every week.

1st Hilary Tomlinson, 2 fish for 7lb 7½oz
2nd Phil Longstaff, 3 fish for 5lb 15½oz
3rd Richard Cooper, 2 fish for 4lb 0½oz

Best Rainbow: 4lb 14½oz taken by Hilary Tomlinson.
Best Brown: 12lb 9oz taken by M Riddell of Hartlepool.
Best Boat Areas: Top of the North Arm, Carrot Creek to Armley Wood. Sailing Club, New Zealand Point, Yellowstone, Laxhill, cattle trough Bay, Gibbets Gorse.
Best Bank Areas: Sailing Club, Normanton, Sykes Lane, Gibbets Gorse.
Best Methods: Floating/midge tip lines with nymphs/buzzers, diawl bach, damsel nymphs.
Mid Week Boat Winner: J Dempsey of Bedworth, Coventry.

Rutland Water Continued:

Forthcoming Events:
Please remember that from May through to September boat anglers have to cease fishing by 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays only. Beginners Courses: 11,18 & 25 July; 1,7,18 & 22 August and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Evening Boat League
Anglian Water Over 50’s Lochstyle Match (no fly size restriction) 18 July
Don’t forget the Help for Heroes match Saturday 14 August call 01572 653021 for more information.

Anglian Water Loch Style 4 Man Team: 18 August

Grafham Water
Fish week 251 (16,877) Returns 138 (3,401) Rod average 1.81(4.96)
The fishing at Grafham Water this week has been a little challenging with the hot and bright days that we have been experiencing for the past fortnight. Boat anglers have had the best of the sport this week mainly at Savages Creek, Rainbow Point and L buoy and on the Boils at I buoy. The main methods for the boat anglers have been crunchers, claret or bibio hoppers, tequila boobies and damsel nymphs pulled slowly just below the surface. Bank anglers have had some success by fishing floating lines with diawl bachs, damsel nymphs and crunchers from the Plummer and Mander banks.
Oliver Avis from Manchester got more than he bargained for whilst practicing for the Youth National. Oliver took an 11lb 12oz Zander on a yellow blob with floating line from the Willows.
Competition News Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

20 anglers took part in this week’s boat league. Top rod on the evening was shared by Fen Oakley and Bob Ayres who both managed to catch two fish each.
Best Rainbow: 3lb 14oz taken by Neil Cameron of Newmarket.
Best Brown: 4lb taken by J Reed of Bury St Edmunds.
Best Boat Areas: Savages Creek, Rainbow Point, L buoy, Boils.
Best Bank Areas: Plummer and Mander car park frontages.
Best Methods: See report.
Mid Week Boat Winner: P Burr of Knebworth
Fish Stocked: 2,500

Grafham Water Continued

Forthcoming Events:
Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League
Anglian Water Airflo International Midland Final: 12 July
Anglian Water Airflo International Southern Final: 19 July
Youth International: 28 July
Inter Club Floating Line Match: 1 August
John Watts Trophy: 28 August

Beginners courses: 17,23 & 28 July; 1,8,15 & 29 August and other dates throughout the season.

Pitsford Water
Fish week 159 (8,876) Returns105 (2,562) Rod average 1.4(3.4)
Fly fishing legend Bob Church and boat partner Mick Green shared a boat last Wednesday. Despite hot and bright conditions they both caught a fish each from the Small Half. Bob’s fish was a 7lb Brown and Mick caught a 7lb 6oz Rainbow. Bob, who returned his fish to fight another day, caught his Brown on a white and green minkie purchased from the tackle shop in the morning.

Pitsford Water hosted a qualifier for the Individual Lexus European Flyfishing Championships on Saturday. 15 Anglers fished catching 52 fish. The top rod was Milan Hladik. Milan, from the Czech Republic, caught his bag limit using a fast glass intermediate line and a damsel nymph.

1st Milan Hladik, 8 fish for 17lb 14oz.
2nd Gary Hedges, 6 fish for 13lb 2oz
3rd John Pearn, 7 fish for 12lb 4ooz
4th Laurence Foster, 6 fish for 9lb 15oz

Best Rainbow: 7lb 6oz taken by Mick Green.
Best Brown: 7lb taken by Bob Church
Best Boat Areas: The dam, small half and the boils.
Best Bank Areas: Northfields shore and the Pines.
Best Methods: Floating and intermediate lines, nymphs and dries just under the surface.
Mid Week Boat Winner: G Brown of Northampton.
Fish Stocked: 700

Forthcoming events:

Beginners courses: 14,24 & 31 July; 4,14 & 28 August and other dates throughout the season.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 313 (7,001) Returns 74 (1,471) Rod average 4.2(4.7)

Anglers at Ravensthorpe have enjoyed some great sport this week, despite the hot, bright conditions. Mr Elliot and Mr Hoskins from Bromsgrove had a super day from the boat taking 42 fish between them. Peter Gordon enjoyed another great day at Ravensthorpe catching over 30 fish in two afternoon sessions. Many other anglers reported catches into double figures.

The best fish of the week was a lovely Rainbow of 8lb taken by Martin Shea of Wrexham. Martin fished with a floating line and orange cheeked buzzers from a boat at the Coton End of the reservoir, also taking another nine fish in the evening.

Best methods have been floating lines, with black or green buzzers or green diawl bachs. Bank fishing has been good in early morning or late evening. Floating lines with hares ears, small nymphs or olives are working well.

Best Rainbow: 8lb taken by Martin Shea of Wrexham.
Best Boat Areas: Coton End.
Best Bank Areas: Platforms 5 to 12.
Best Methods: Susan Deacon of South Kilworth.
Fish Stocked: 500

Eyebrook Trout Fishing Report

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Weekly Report 25th June to 5th July 2010

Trout Taken 503(8261) Rod Returns 155(2881) Fish per rod 3.24(2.86). Season’s totals in brackets.

The 2010 Lexus European Fly Fishing Championships once again graced the Eyebrook and anglers from the Czech republic, Belgium, France as well as the Home counties competed to win a place in the final. The fishing was exceptional as sixty-seven anglers caught 284 fish over two days of competition, an overall rod average of 4.23 fish per rod, the biggest fish taken on day one of the competition at 9lb 13oz was caught by Ian Gaskell, last years overall Lexus winner, a cracking 9lb 2oz rainbow was taken by Andrew Scott on day two. Congratulations to all who qualified from Eyebrook and a big thank you to organisers Iain and Maggie Earle who did a sterling job in the absence of John Horsey.

John Griffiths of Uppingham and Ken Waters of Wing boat fished and drifted the Main Basin, they took a limit each on patterns such as Yellow Owl Emergers, Daddies and Orange Blobs, the pairs catch included some well-conditioned three pounders. John Miller of Uppingham enjoyed half a day afloat and drifted the Main Basin; John caught and released eight decent fish all taken on dry flies including a 5lb specimen. Chris Woodward of Frampton accompanied Dr Preston on a boat and caught on Daddies on the drift.

Due to the warmer conditions of late most of the resident trout seem to have accumulated in the confines of the Main Basin and the most effective fish catching method at present is to drift through them using the washing line method, a buoyant fly on the point to suspend the droppers in the surface, daddies are also well worth a try.

It was with great sadness recently that we are now without our good friend Michael Daymond from the Eyebrook Tackle Shop. All your friends and colleagues at Eyebrook wish you well for the future Mike.

Forth-Coming Events

The CLA Gamefair at Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire will be held on Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th July 2010, see you all there. Please come and visit The Eyebrook Fishery Stand No F0420 in Fisherman’s Row.

The Eyebrook Summer Fayre will be held on Saturday August 28th 2010, a great day out for all the family. All proceeds from this event will be donated to our chosen charity for 2010, The English Disabled Fly Fishers Association.

www.eyebrook.com

New Predator Flies

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100

A new predator brand will be heading for retailers’ shelves, with the unveiling of the PikePro range from Baitbox.

The Grimsby-based supplier has been working with Harrison Advanced Rods to come up with some exclusive hand-built blanks, which will be offered as part of the collection. The first PikePro products to hit the market will be a range of pike flies and the firm has signed up fly fishing expert Hywel Morgan as a consultant.

He will be using his experience to develop a range of pike fly lines and leaders as well as a specialist fly rod in conjunction with Harrisons. Contact: 01427 348404