Latest News and Information from

Week ending 24 November 2013

• STOP PRESS!
Grafham Water will be open for fishing – both bank and boat during January 2014.

• Special offer on November and December permits.

• Perfect gift ideas for Christmas at our fishing lodges
We are official stockists of the Go Pro Sports camera – what better way to capture the one that got away!
Come and browse our amazing range of tackle and outdoor clothing.
Anglian Water gift vouchers make an ideal gift – redeemable for permits, tackle, clothing and courses at all of our fishing lodges and tackle shops.

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 156 (season 43,461) Returns 52 (10,243) Rod average 3.0 (4.28)

Rutland Water is in fantastic form for the time of year with a rod average of 3.0. Adrian Baggerley and his boat partner Phil Allinson have had tremendous sport in the middle of the North Arm fishing floating/intermediate lines with a mixture of bright coloured lures and minkies. The fish that they caught were stuffed with corixa, even though they fished over deep water for most of the time. The majority of the Rainbows they caught were over 3lb in weight. Adrian and Phil said that the area was alive with fish.
Boat anglers are catching fish around the shorelines in some areas whilst fish are also being taken out over deep water, but not particularly deep, in some cases a couple of feet down.

Bank anglers have managed fish from Sykes Lane and Whitwell Creek. Warden Andy Ainscough had four fish from Whitwell Creek last week, mainly by casting and covering as much water as possible in the creek, with minkies working and an amount of interest to floating fry last thing. Other areas to try were Barn Hill Creek, East Creek, the Finches and Yellowstones and Sykes Lane.

Predator fishing specimen hunter Mike Green recorded a personal Rutland best zander last Friday at 10lb 4oz along with seven other fish. James Gardener and Andy Lush had the reservoir to themselves last Wednesday, despite the cold conditions, the pair managed 40 Zander. On the Pike scene, a fish of 26lb 4oz was recorded on Saturday to senior warden John Seaton.

Sunday 1 December is the final day of boat fishing at Rutland Water, with a limited number of boats available this week. Please book in advance to avoid disappointment. Bank fishing at Rutland Water will continue until 31 December.

Rutland Fur and Feather bank competition Sunday 8 December
This popular match starts at 8.30 with a weigh in no later than 4.30pm. Entry fee is only £5 – please bring a table prize (bottle of wine, box of chocolates etc). Please book in advance, either call in at the lodge or telephone 01780 686441.

Brown trout are now out of season and any Browns caught must be returned alive as quickly as possible. Winter fishing restrictions are now in place with no boats past the sailing limits to the nature reserves on either arm of the reservoir. Bank angling restrictions also apply with no bank fishing on the North Arm from the transformer all the way round to Dickensons Bay. Whilst on the South Arm no bank angling is permitted from the Sailing Club all the way round to the Old Hall Point.

Best methods Fry patterns and nymphs (bank) and tubes/lures (boats).

Best boat areas The main basin and the shoreline of the peninsula.

Best bank areas Whitwell, East Creek, Sykes Lane, the Dam, Yellowstones.
Forthcoming events
Anglian Water Rutland Fur and Feather (bank) 8 December.
Fishing permits from 1 November to 31 December we have a special offer of two four fish permits for just £25, a saving of £8 on normal prices of £16.50 per day. This promotion is based on one angler only, fishing two separate days.
Rutland Water continued

Winter restrictions
See main report for details of restrictions.
Brown trout season has ended, any browns caught after this date must be returned back alive as quickly as possible.
Boat availability
Subject to weather conditions boats will remain on the water until Saturday 30 November/ Sunday 1. Please phone 01780 686441 in advance before travelling.
Rutland and Grafham lodges are open 8am to 2pm in November, seven days a week and in December Wednesday – Sunday inclusive 9am to 2pm (closed 24,25 & 31 December).

Grafham Water
Fish week 280 (season 23,269) Returns 87 (6,066) Rod average 3.21 (3.83)

Great news from Grafham Water – the fishery will be open to both boat and bank anglers during January, until Sunday 2 February. Around 10 boats will be available for hire throughout December and January with the remainder coming off the water for essential maintenance. Fishing and boat charges will be the same during January as they are in December. This means half day permits are valid all day and day boats are just £18 or £16 for single man. All anglers who bought a Season ticket during 2013 are invited to ‘have a go’ and fish Catch and Release only free of charge (boat charges will apply). Anglers wishing to take a fish will need to buy a permit before fishing.

Grafham Water has continued to fish well this week with a healthy rod average of 3.21 for both bank and boat anglers with 49% of the trout caught weighing over 3lb.
The most successful bank angler over the past week has been season ticket holder Michael White from St Neots who caught and released 30 trout in five visits by fishing an intermediate with a Rutland Rat mainly at the G Buoy and Deep Water Point areas.
Bank anglers have once again had an excellent week’s fishing with the North shore being the most productive area mainly due to the influence of the strong northerly winds that have been ever present on the reservoir over the past week. Hill Farm, Deep Water and Pylon Points and G Buoy have all produced good consistent fishing on intermediate lines with Pitsford Pea, Rutland Rats, Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, Shrimp Patterns, Minkies and Black Boobies.

The boat fishing over the past week has been mainly dominated by the strong northerly winds which have prevented boat fishing on three occasions. However when boat fishing has been permitted there has been some excellent fishing mainly on the north shore. Intermediate lines with Black and Green lures, Tube Flies, Minkies and the good old Shrimp Patterns have all produced good catch rates. Hill Farm, Deep Water Point, G Buoy and also The Lodge Frontage have been the most consistent boat areas.

Best Rainbow 4lb 8oz taken by P Welch.

Grafham Water continued

Best methods See report.

Best boat areas G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point, Lodge Frontage.

Best bank areas Pylon Point, G bank, Hill Farm, Deep Water Point.

Forthcoming events
Pike fishing from boats with lures and dead sea bait over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
7 October to 1 December.
Anglian Water Grafham Fur and Feather (bank) 1 December.
This popular seasonal bank match is on Sunday 1 December. For more information contact the fishing lodge on 01480 810531.

Fishing permits from 1 November to 31 December we have a special offer of two four fish permits for just £25, a saving of £8 on normal prices of £16.50 per day. This promotion is based on one angler only, fishing two separate days.
Brown trout season ended 29 October, any browns caught now must be returned alive as quickly as possible.
From 1 November the West Bank is out of bounds to both bank and boat anglers.

Rutland and Grafham lodges are open 8am to 2pm in November, seven days a week and in December Wednesday – Sunday inclusive 9am to 2pm (closed 24,25 & 31 December).

New for 2014
Grafham Water will be open to both boat and bank anglers during January, until Sunday 2 February. Fishing and boat charges will be the same during January as they are in December.

Pitsford Water
Pitsford Fishing Lodge is now closed, re-opening February 2014. Bank fishing continues to 31 December. See http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/what-to-do/fishing/ for details of 2014 opening times. For 2014 boat bookings please call 01780 686441.
Pike fishing from the bank 1 November to 28 February 2014.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Ravensthorpe Fishing Lodge is open until 1 December. Boat fishing continues until 1 December (pre booking essential) and bank fishing continues to 31 December.
See http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/what-to-do/fishing/ for details of 2014 opening times. For 2014 boat bookings please call 01780 686441.
Pike fishing at Ravensthorpe 15 -23 February 2014.