- · Alan’s awesome 15lb 8oz Rainbow is best fish of the new season at Ravensthorpe
Alan Worley is top weight on opening day
- · Great start to the new season at Pitsford
- · Grafham Water opens Friday 4 March
- · Rutland Water opens Friday 11 March
- · 35½lb Pike breaks the scales during Ravensthorpe’s Predator 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
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
The new season at Ravensthorpe Reservoir got off to a fantastic start last Friday. Alan Worley was one of a number of anglers to enjoy some awesome sport. Alan took the biggest fish of the day – a Rainbow of 15lb 8oz. This whopping specimen was taken on an intermediate line and a Pitsford Pea.
Some of the best fish recorded included a Rainbow of 12lb 8oz for John Kembery (on an intermediate line with a Pitsford Pea). Derrick Bass took an 8lb 8oz Rainbow on a fast sink line and a minkie. Peter Bass took a 10lb Rainbow, again on an intermediate line and a Pitsford Pea. A 12lb Rainbow fell to Rob Keber with a neutral density line and an APPs Bloodworm.
A lot of great sport was had by all anglers on both bank and boat. Despite the cold, with temperatures struggling to get above 5°C, boat anglers came off the water with reports of having caught many fish during the day.
The super sport continued on Saturday with Alan Duffin taking a 13lb Rainbow off Platform 4 on a bloodworm pattern with an intermediate line. John Smith and Mick Griffin had over 40 fish to their boat, fishing floating line, Diawl Bachs, buzzers and black and green mini lures. Anglers enjoyed plenty of action on Sunday with lots of quality fighting fish falling to a variety of methods.
Predator week at Ravensthorpe
The recent Predator week at Ravensthorpe was a huge success. It was a busy week with the usual mix of lure anglers and static dead sea bait anglers. The first weekend was quiet for the static dead sea bait boys. The lure anglers had the most success with Paul Juba catching several Pike during the day, although none broke any weight records. As the week progressed sport hotted up with the lure boys coming into their own, picking up an estimated 28lb Pike. This good sized specimen was estimated as it broke the scales into several pieces. This was followed by a 33lb 1½oz Pike caught on a soft bodied lure, topped by a 35½lb specimen, again taken on a soft bodied lure.
Pitsford Water
Anglers recorded an excellent rod average of 5.8 during the opening weekend of the new season at Pitsford Water. There were lots of healthy hard fighting fish being caught. Among those anglers with outstanding catches were Rick Barlow who caught and returned 23 Rainbows and John Archer who had 21.
All areas of the lake have produced fish but the best areas are Northfield shore, Stone Barn, Duffers, Bog Bay and the Cliffs.
Best methods are slow sink or sink tip lines with black and green lures, orange blobs or cats whiskers. Bloodworm fished static under a bung has also scored well.
Best areas Northfield shore, Stone Barn, Duffers, Bog Bay and the Cliffs.
Best methods Slow sink or sink tip lines with black and green lures, orange blobs or cats whiskers. Bloodworm fished static under a bung.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 3,6,19,24 & 26 March; 3,10 & 15 April; 12,15 & 21 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 7 May.
Rutland Water
Rutland Water’s Trout season opens on Friday 11 March, there will be 12,600 fish stocked pre–season around the reservoir. Rangers Nigel Savage and Simon Pimlott recorded a few minutes of under water footage of rainbows being introduced off Half Moon Spinney. This can be viewed if you go onto the Rutland Water Fishing Lodge Facebook page.
Over the winter period the reservoir’s water level has crept up steadily, with the bulk coming in from November through to January, and is now standing at 95% full. With this in mind we have noticed early activity from insect life (buzzers) around the shoreline on settled days recently.
20 boats will be available from opening day (winter restrictions) through till the 31 March. From 1 April the whole fleet will then be available again.
There will be bank restrictions in some areas in the same period, you will be able to view these spots by going on the Rutland “Facebook” page, anglers will be given maps, and they will also be printed and erected around the fishing lodge/permit hut’s and the respected shorelines as well.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 13,17 and 31 March; 6,16,23 & 28 April; 8,14, & 28 May and other dates throughout the season.
Independence Day Trophy (best fish) 1 April
Anglian Water Airflo International Northern heat 11 April
Tuesday Night boat league commences in May
Bob Church Classic 7 May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 15 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 21 May
Grafham Water
Grafham Water celebrates its 50th Birthday in 2016 and prospects look good for a season to remember. The fishery opens on Friday 4 March.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 5,9,20 & 25 March;2,9,14 & 24 April; 1,26 & 29 May and other dates throughout the season.
New Lodge Trophy (best fish) 4 March
Anglian Water Rudder Match 9 April
Bob Church Open (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) 17 April
England Eliminator 29 April
Invicta Floating Line 7 May
