Latest News and Information from

Week ending 17 June 2012

• Ray’s Rainbow is best of the week at
Pitsford Water
Ray Linnette of Creaton lands 10lb 2oz Rainbow

• Terrific opportunity for youngsters at Rutland Water

Rutland Youth Fly Fishing Day at Rutland Water
Sunday 22 July
Organised by Rutland Water Fly Fishers and open to all youngsters aged 10-17 years who are new or inexperienced fly fishers
Contact Malcolm March as soon as possible on 01780 722466 or e-mail
[email protected]

http://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 850(season 16,490) Returns 250 (4,020) Rod average 3.4 (4.1)
The best fish of the week – a Rainbow of 6lb 2oz, was taken by Mr B Williams of Gwent. Not far behind was a 5lb 6oz Rainbow taken by Mr M Idle of Penrith. The best Brown of the week was a splendid fish of 6lb 1¾oz taken by Mr M Peppitt of Newton Abbot. This fish fell to a Hares Ear nymph off the bank down the South Arm.

Fish are feeding on a variety of food items with various sizes of buzzer, some of them very, very small indeed. Whilst daphnia and snails are also showing up. This year’s pin fry have started to show in small numbers. Good numbers of fish have been seen out in the open water and on some occasions dry flies are proving successful. Most areas of the reservoir have been producing fish with the bottom of the north arm proving the least popular.

Despite the June weather proving to be unsettled so far, fishing has been very good. Many areas of the reservoir are fishing well and recently more fish have been seen on the surface.

Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League – week 6
17 Anglers enjoyed a great evening’s fishing with a total of 84 fish brought to the scales for a rod average of 4.94. Only ounces separated first and second place with Mick Bennett netting 8 fish for 20lb 11oz and Richard Cooper taking 8 fish for only two ounces less at 20lb 9oz.

During the evening anglers reported fish moving in many areas with plenty caught and lots of follows and missed fish. Geoff Wanless took the best fish on the night – a 4lb Rainbow.
1st Mick Bennett 8 fish for 20lb 11oz
2nd Richard Cooper 8 fish for 20lb 9oz
3rd Gary Cooper 8 fish for 19lb 15¼oz
4th Cameron Neil 8 fish for 17lb 15½oz
5th Paul Wild 8 fish for 16lb 13¼oz
6th Toff Crowther 7 fish for 16lb 4¾oz

After week 6 the top 6 in the league are as follows –
1st Keith Jones 32 points
2nd Richard Cooper 27 points
3rd Ady Naylor 25 points
4th Geoff Wanless 23 points
5th Mick Bennnett 17 points
6th Toff Crowther 12 points

Best Rainbow 6lb 2oz taken by Mr B Williams of Gwent.

Best Brown 6lb 1¾oz taken by Mr Peppitt of Newton Abbot.

Best boat areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, off Sailing Club, Gibbets Gorse, New Zealand Point, Armley Wood to the Finches.

Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, the Dam, New Zealand Point, Sailing Club, Armley Wood to Carrot Creek.

Best methods Bank – floating line with nymphs, dries, mini lures.
Boat – As for bank, also include various sinking lines with mini lures and tube flies.

Mid week boat winner Ian Facey of Pontefract.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 23 and 29 June; 8,15,22 & 29 July and dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night Boat League commenced 8 May.
Mid-summer Rudder Match (leg 2 of 3) 30 June
Anglian Water Over 50’s Match 21 July
Rutland Water Fly Fishers Youth Flyfishing Day 22 July
Floating Line competition date to be confirmed

Grafham Water
Fish week 541(season 10,398) Returns 199(2,643) Rod average 2.71(3.93)
The recent unsettled weather conditions have made the fishing at Grafham Water challenging. The conditions over the last week have either been flat calm or strong south westerlies. The worst conditions have made the north shore unfishable at times, which is very unfortunate as this has been where bank fishing has been most consistent.

Boat anglers have enjoyed some good fishing mainly along the north shore when wind conditions have permitted – Hill Farm, Hedge End, G Buoy and the Willows have all produced good fishing mainly on midge tip lines with black or red buzzers, diawl bachs, GRHE and crunchers. The Seat, Bowl of Dam and around K Buoy have also produced some good sport with the same methods. Lots of fish have been seen in the central areas of the reservoir. Fish are mainly feeding on daphnia but some are starting to feed on shrimps and large buzzers.

Bank anglers are finding conditions challenging but the bowl and south dam have started to produce some good fishing with floating lines with buzzers, diawl bachs, GRHE and shrimp patterns. The Seat has also started to fish well for the bank anglers.

Competition news
The second leg of the England Qualifier for 2012
The second leg of the England Qualifier 2012 was held at Grafham Water on Sunday 17 June. The thirty four anglers faced some difficult conditions. Tom Davis fishing to the left of the dam wall with Mark Haycock hooked into a cracking fish that looked like a good 6-pounder just after the first hour. Local angler Richard Kesek showed his fishery knowledge taking three fish drifting just off ‘G’ Buoy.

With many of the front runners from the first leg at Rutland Water struggling at Grafham, the competition for the 10 or so places at the National Final to be held at Bewl Water in September was thrown wide open. Mark Haycock took the top bag on the day with 8 fish for an amazing 29lb 1 3/8oz (including time bonus) “It was the best bag of fish I’ve ever taken from Grafham Water”, said a delighted Mark. Fishing with Tom Davis, who himself had the biggest fish of the day, Mark fished in front of the dam using a Di7 and a black eyed Sparkler Booby. “It was just a case of casting out and pulling it back. And, every fish fought like mad each one of them was a bar of silver.” Tom’s fish weighed in at 5lb 143/8oz and won the Leicestershire rod the best fish of the qualifier.

Chris Bobby proved to be the most consistent angler over the two legs taking the overall win with 9 points. Kevin Appleton also put in a very consistent performance to take second place overall with 11 points.

The top 8 anglers combined from both matches are

1. Chris Bobby 9 points
2. Kevin Appleton 11 points
3. Steve Ellerbeck 16 points
4. Ashley Davis 17points
5. Mark Haycock 18 points
6. Richard Slater 20 points
7. Tom Davis 20 points
8. Phil Longstaff 21points
Grafham Water continued

Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League
15 Anglers took part in this week’s boat league catching 22 trout, top rod on the evening was Kieran Bonas from Bedford who caught 5 trout.

1st Kieran Bonas 5 fish
2nd Graham Bodsworth 4 fish
3rd Kieran Caulfield 3 fish

Best Rainbow Two at 5lb one taken by Alan Hine the other by R Sherriff.

Best boat areas Hedge End, Willows, Hill Farm, G and K Buoys, Seat.

Best bank areas Hill Farm, Marlow Stones, Seat, Bowl and South Dam.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner W Bannister of Royston.

Fish stocked 2,000

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 21 and 24 June; 1, 20, 25 & 29 July and dates throughout the season.
Pike Beginers course 14 July
Pro Am Wednesday 20 June.
Major Leagues Group 1 30 June
Floating Line Inter Club Match 28 July.

Pitsford Water
Fish week 593 (Season 8,316) Returns 128 (2,008) Rod average 4.6 (4.1)
The best fish of the week at Pitsford Water fell to local angler Ray Linette of Creaton. This fine Rainbow of 10lb 12oz fell to a mallard and claret on floating line from the Pines. John French took several good quality fish from the Gorse Bank, fishing buzzers under an indicator. Mick O’Farrell reported 16-18 fish drifting across the Narrows with wet fly patterns.

Although weather conditions haven’t been ideal the water remains clear and fish have been caught across the whole lake. A healthy rod average of 4.6 has been achieved.

Various methods are working from floaters to on the rudder. The best boat areas are Brixworth Bay, Pitsford Creek and the Small Half. Bank anglers should try Rigbys, the Pines or Gorse Bush.

Best Rainbow 10lb 12oz taken by Ray Linette of Creaton..

Best Brown 4lb 8oz taken by W Brown.

Best boat areas Small Half, Brixworth Bay, Pines.

Bank areas Pines, Stone Barn, Rigbys Point.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Tim Allanson of Countesthorpe, Leics.

Fish stocked 1250.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 22 & 30 June; 11,21 & 28 July and dates throughout the season.
Alex Booth Charity Match 28 June – contact Rob Dobson 07809 172721.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 168 (season 5,412 ) Returns 39 (990) Rod average 4.3 (5.4)
Ravensthorpe continues to fish well. The best fish of the week fell to Mr Dixon. Fishing from the dam wall using a floating line and a lure he landed a superb Rainbow of 11lb. Bob Draper also opted to fish the bank at Platform 11 and landed a number of good fish to 4lb plus.

Boat anglers continue to enjoy some very good sport. Mick Griffin caught 14 fish in the weed on various patterns. Doug Whibley managed 6 fish on wets. Mr Sells had some great sport on Saturday landing some superb Rainbows between 4 and 5lb. He fished a floating line with buzzer and diawl bachs.

Best Rainbow 11lb 0oz taken by Mr Dixon.

Best boat areas Boils, Island, Lodge.

Bank areas Dam, Platforms 11 and 12.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Mick Spencer of Northampton.

Fish stocked 375