Anglian Water Trout Fishing Sept 3rd, 2013

Rutland Water
Fish week 2,191 (season 34,932) Returns 599 (7,629) Rod average 3.65 (4.57)
Several nice fish have been recorded this week around the 5-7lb mark. Michael Parsons of Cornwall took a 5lb 7oz Rainbow on a boobie fished deep. David Allason from Market Overton caught the best fish of the week a 6lb 15oz Rainbow. David struggled for half an hour to land his fish as he had only got a 5 weight rod and 5lb nylon.

Toff Crowther and his boat partner managed to net 16 fish from around the boils and slicks in the main basin. Several of the fish were taken on dries. One or two nice fish are starting to turn up down the South Arm. Robbie Winram landed three really good specimens while fishing Daddies around the weedbeds. Several other fish were seen to be feeding on Daddies in cloudier conditions.

On the banks some fish are now being taken around the weedbeds on dries and small fry patterns and most have been caught first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening. Fish have been reported feeding on sticklebacks, snails, daphnia and Daddies.

Senior Warden at Rutland, John Seaton, has the following advice for boat anglers “Boat areas to try include the Main Basin, Boils and slicks, between the lodge and Half Moon Spinney (on the Peninsula) and between the Sailing Club and Spud Bay. Don’t be afraid to venture down the arms and fish the weedbeds.” For bank anglers John recommends the Sykes Lane frontage, blue pipes to Fantasy Island and Old Hall.

The WaterAid Fly Fishing Challenge will be fished this Friday 6 September. Rutland Water has hosted this charity match for a number of years – boatmen are still required so if you would like to volunteer please contact Dave Knapp on 07736 116171.

Best Rainbow 6lb 15oz taken by David Allason of Market Overton.

Best methods Boobies, blobs, friendly tubes on sinking lines. Small minkies, dries, nymphs, crunchers, diawl bachs, GRHE’s and daddies.

Best boat areas See report.

Best bank areas See report.

Mid week boat winner Paul Friend.

Fish stocked 2,000

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 7 & 11 September; 12 & 26 October; 2 November.
WaterAid charity match Friday 6 September.
Anglian Water Rudder match (leg 4 of 5) 14 September
Pike Beginners course 6 October.

Pike fishing from boats with lures and dead sea bait over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
1 October to 24 November.
Mid week Pike boats also available from 2 September.
Grafham Water
Competition news
The Troutmasters final on Monday 2 Sept – full report in next week’s Fishery News
Forthcoming events
All boats are booked 12, 13 and 14 September as Grafham is hosting the English National.
Beginners courses: 8,18 and 27 September; 5 and 20 October.
Pike Beginners course 22 September.
Pike fishing from boats with lures and dead sea bait over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
7 October to 1 December.
Mid week Pike boats also available from 2 September.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 379 (season 7,071) Returns 63 (1,485) Rod average 6.1(4.8)
Top of the water action continues apace at Ravensthorpe with anglers taking many double figure bags from boats. Warm winds and cloud cover provided ideal conditions with fish cruising in the upper layers. The washing line method is proving highly successful, blob or booby on the point with GRHE, cdc’s, crunchers, diawls or small dries on the droppers.

Drift the main bowl or anchor tight to weedbeds. The aerator and catwalk corner are top spots. Sunk daddies, cormorants and Pitsford Peas will take fish pulled when conditions are still and bright. Bank anglers fishing the dam around the draw off tower are taking fish on dries and emergers. Evening or daytime cloud cover conditions are best. Bob Day and Mick Bird brought 30 fish to their boats on Thursday using midge tips and crunchers.

Scott Frazier brought six anglers down from Dundee on Sunday to take 110 fish to 4lb. Small nymphs and dries fished from drifting boats proved very effective.

Best Rainbow 3lb 12oz taken by Scott Frazer of Dundee.

Best methods See report.

Best boat areas Main bowl, Island to Catwalk Corner.

Best bank areas Dam tower.

Mid week boat winner Mark Lewington of Market Harborough.

Fish stocked 83

Forthcoming events
Pike fishing from boats with lures and dead sea bait over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
7 October to 1 December 2013 and 15-23 February 2014.

Pitsford Water
Fish week 316 (season 10,677) Returns 108 (3,103) Rod average 2.9 (3.4)
Although the weather has been reasonable the fishing has been surprisingly challenging this week. The fish are there for all to see but are perhaps preoccupied with the massive shoals of pin fry.

The fish are high in the water and the best methods have been to fish right in the surface with teams of dries or wet flies pulled through the surface. Judith Tuffs did just this, fishing a booby pattern on a floating line and taking nine fish with many more takes and follows.

The falling water level has meant that the banks are very weedy and bank fishing is proving difficult. The best boat areas are the Dam, Rigbys, Narrows and main basin.
Competition news
East Midlands Fly Fishers match 1 September
24 anglers fished catching 48 fish, conditions were hard due to a combination of wind and bright sun.

It fished well in the morning, and went off after lunch. Anglers broke for a barbecue lunch back at the lodge, and then fished on until 6pm.
Best fish was caught by Ray Storer at 4lb 10oz
1st Neil Young and Lloyd Chantrell 13 fish for 22lb 6oz
2nd Graham Bosworth and Alan Sefton 7 fish for 13lb 5oz
3rd Joshua Clayton and Tony Dighton 6 fish for 9lb 2oz

Pitsford Pike Cup – Saturday 31 August
Kev Taylor, Chairman of the Lure Anglers Society reports on this popular annual boat fishing fixture. “The weather for this event at Pitsford Water was glorious and the 20 members taking part were looking forward to this annual boat fishing fixture set in the picturesque Northamptonshire countryside. With the hot and sunny weather of the last two months, the extensive weedbeds around the perimeter of the water looked set to provide a few surprises for our members from all over the UK. The water clarity in the larger half of the water was excellent, which is a real bonus when targeting sight feeding predators.

The last minute boat pairing of Chris Jones and Alex Roberts was a great success as North West Chapter member Alex from Wigan landed a Personal Best pike of 24lb 6oz which he caught on a homemade pike pattern lure made from a piece of window sill! The struggle with the monster pike took its toll on Alex’s favourite lure and it now requires a new paint job! Alex caught the winning pike from the edge of a large weedbed, shortly after a trip through the causeway tunnel.

Not to be out done, Steve Hollens from Ashby de la Zouch not only caught the second biggest pike at 15lb 14oz but also added a further 5 pike to complete the best bag of the day. His boat partner, who will remain nameless – blanked!

In third place was Paul Parnell from Reading who caught a 12lb 2oz pike, in his three fish bag.

Overall bringing this fixture forward by 6 weeks seems to have improved the catch rate as over 25 pike were caught. Many big pike were reported following lures, especially early in the morning, along the numerous weedbeds and in water up to 20ft deep.

The Pitsford Pike Cup was presented to Alex Roberts by LAS Membership Secretary and Treasurer Ron Dalton, who originally donated the trophy to the club.

The Lure Anglers Society would like to thank Senior Warden Nathan Clayton and his staff for hosting this event. We were made to feel very welcome and look forward to a return visit.”

Best Rainbow 6lb plus

Best Brown 4lb.

Best methods See report.

Best boat areas Dam, main basin, Rigby’s, Narrows.

Best bank areas Currently very weedy – boat fishing preferable.

Mid week boat winner Vic Byrne of Leicester.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 6,15,21 and 28 September; 13,19 and 27 October.

Pike fishing from boats with lures and dead sea bait over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
1 October to 24 November.
Pike fishing from the bank 1 November to 28 February 2014.