Rutland Water

Opening Day at Rutland Water started with an over wintered fish bonanza. Almost half of the fish recorded had over wintered in the lake and were in top condition for the start of the season.

Winner of the Independence Day Trophy was Peter Webb from Northampton. Peter took a superb 7lb 13¾oz Rainbow whilst boat fishing in Yellowstone Bay on a Di7 line and a green and white booby. He also took home £80 worth of Anglian Water gift vouchers for the best fish of the day. Neil Squires came a close second with a 7lb 9¾oz Brown Trout.

Rutland Water Senior Warden John Seaton commented “In 29 seasons of fishing at Rutland Water I’ve never seen so many over wintered fish caught so early in the season. We are delighted with the positive comments from both boat and bank anglers and wish everyone ‘tightlines’ for the rest of the season”. The rod average on Opening Day was a very healthy 5.3.

Both bank and boat anglers took top quality fish in several areas around the water with most methods working. George Hall from Spalding was the first angler back with a six fish limit for 14lb 9oz, all taken from Sykes Lane shoreline. Martin Hearth of Hambleton caught 8 fish for 25lb 6oz from the bank at the mouth of Whitwell Creek. Other areas that produced limits were the Dam, Old Hall, Yellowstone, Whitwell car park frontage, the Mound and Barnsdale Creek and Sykes Lane.

Season ticket holder Nick Preston of Deeping St James also took 6 fish for 20lb 7oz from Whitwell Car Park frontage. The majority of the bank anglers took fish on floating lines with various nymphs and black and green lures. Fish were also taken on sinking lines with black, green and orange lures taking the majority of fish.

Boat anglers also fared well on Opening Day with Leicester anglers Ron Gent and Julian Hubbard first back on the pontoon with 16 fish for 51lb 12oz. Ron took his fish on floating line with nymphs, whilst Julian took his on a sinking line with boobies. All of their fish came from the Old Hall area in the South Arm. Tom Davis from Leicester boat fished with his father Ashley and recorded 8 fish for 28lb 8oz, including a 6lb 4¼oz Rainbow. All fish fell to boobies fished in conjunction with a di7 line in the South Arm. Keith Jones from Glinton, Peterborough, weighed in 4 fish for 16lb 10¾oz including two fish over 5lb, all taken from the North Arm.

Best bag weighed in on Opening Day fell to Jim Watts and Ken Merriden who took 16 fish for 57lb 11½oz – all taken from the North Arm while fishing Di5 lines and tube flies.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 5,11,22 & 28 April; 4 & 12 May and dates throughout the season.
Pike beginners course 26 May
Alan West Memorial Match 6 April
Lexus European Qualifiers; Individual 9 April; Team Qualifier 10 April.
Anglian Water Airflo International Northern Heat 22 April
Anglian Water Spring Rudder Match (leg one of three) 28 April