Latest News and Information from

Week ending 11 May 2014

• Richard Cooper beats the clock to take Anglian Water Airflo International Individual title at Grafham Water
Time bonus helps Rutland angler Richard, from Empingham, secure victory.

• Peter Gover – also from Empingham – takes the best fish of the week at Rutland Water
6lb 6¾oz Brown is best fish of the week

• It’s that time of year – Evening Boat Leagues are here!
Rutland Water – Tuesday
Pitsford Water – Tuesday
Grafham Water – Thursday
Contact lodges for details

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 1,154 (season 11,371) Returns 309 (2,140) Rod average 3.73 (5.31)

Despite some seriously unsettled weather this week Rutland Water continued to produce some good fishing. From mid week anglers had to contend with strong winds, mainly westerlies that made for some uncomfortable conditions. Along with some stock fish there have been good numbers of overwintered fish caught with real quality Browns showing again.

The best Brown of the week, a 6lb 6¾oz specimen, fell to season ticket holder Peter Gover, from Empingham. Peter netted this lovely specimen during the Anglian Water Rudder match fished on Saturday. Martin Hearth, of Hambleton, also caught a lovely Brown of 5lb 12oz from the bank. Other good sized Browns were taken by Steve Crowder, 5lb 3½oz, and by Senior Rutland Warden John Seaton, 5lb 2oz. There were other fish of specimen size also caught and returned. Rob Teasdale caught the best Rainbow of the week at 4lb 2oz.

Good numbers of overwintered fish around 2-3lb have again shown up in bags, some long and lean, but fighting exceptionally well. Prospects look good with settled weather and high pressure forecast. Fly hatches are increasing again with the first signs of the big buzzer that comes off the water at this time of the year. Another 4,000 fish were stocked around the shoreline last week, bringing the total for the season to 32,500.

Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League week one
Eleven anglers turned out for the first night of this league and were doused in a heavy shower as they set out. Following this the wind dropped dramatically with a virtual flat calm for the rest of the evening. Some anglers came across some recent stock fish, whilst others found the conditions a bit of a challenge. Mick Bennett topped the night with seven fish, including an overwintered 4lb Brown which was a tremendous boost for his total bag weight of 16lb 9½oz.

1st Mick Bennett 7 fish for 16lb 9½oz
2nd Chris Evans 8 fish for 15lb 13oz
3rd Toff Crowther 7 fish for 13lb 11¼oz

Anglian Water Rudder Match 10 May
They say that to fish the rudder you need a bit of wind; however, there was a lot more than normal for this event!! Fine weather anglers Martin Hearth and Jim Watts decided to fish the main basin before the wind got up and they were rewarded with a quick fire 16 fish limit by 11.30am! The pair had to wait until the end of the match which finished at 5pm – but they were eventually rewarded with first spot. Boats were scattered around the reservoir with some up the far end of both arms where fewer but bigger fish were landed. 18 Anglers managed 70 fish on a very breezy day – to put it mildly!

1st Martin Hearth & Jim Watts 16 fish 32lb 6¾oz
2nd Al Owen & John Slavin 14 fish 30lb 7¼oz
3rd John Wotherspoon & Tony Holdsworth 14 fish 28lb 14oz
4th Rob Teasdale & Peter Gover 8 fish 25lb 14¾oz

Rob Teasdale took the best Rainbow at 4lb 2¼oz. Peter Gover took the best Brown of the match at 6lb 6¾, which was also the best fish of the match and of the week.

Best Rainbow 4lb 2oz taken by Rob Teasdale.

Best Brown 6lb 6¾oz taken by Peter Gover of Empingham.

Best boat areas Bottom of South Arm, Middle and bottom of the
North Arm. Normanton, Sykes Lane.

Best bank areas Finches to Armley Wood, Whitwell Creek, Normanton, Carrot Creek to Barnhill Creek.

Best methods Bank – floating lines with nymphs (some dries).
Boat – As for bank but include various sinking lines, with mini lures and tube flies.

Mid week boat winner D Dakers.

Fish stocked 4,000

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 24 & 31 May; 5,14,11,21 and 26 June and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night Boat League This year’s boat league runs through to the 15 August – a total of 15 weeks. Anglers meet at the Fishing Lodge between 5.15 and 5.45 p.m. with the draw for boat partners taking place at approx. 5.55pm. The match starts at 6pm.

Bob Church Classic 16 May by invitation
Vision Pairs 18 May [email protected]
England Qualifier ‘Odds & Sods’ 1 June http://www.fmfa.org.uk
Anglian Water Rudder match 7 June
Scierra Pairs 8 June http://www.scierrapairs.co.uk

Grafham Water
Fish week 1,103 (season 11,611) Returns 168 (1,615) Rod average 6.5(7.18)

Anglian Water Airflo Individual Final 10 May
This match was the highlight of the week at Grafham Water. The best of the individual anglers from the 2013 Anglian Water Airflo International 6 man team match had qualified to fish in this final. Forty two anglers came forward and caught 121 fish for a rod average of 2.88. This was pretty impressive considering the adverse weather conditions with strong winds conspiring against the anglers.

Two anglers tied for best fish with Paul Angell and Keith Jones both landing 4lb 8oz Rainbows. The overall winner and new title holder was Richard Cooper of Empingham. Richard took 8 fish for 22lb 13 3/8oz including time bonus – returning to the lodge a fair way ahead of most other anglers at 14.28.

1st Richard Cooper 8 fish for 22lb 13 3/8oz
2nd Keith Jones 8 fish for 21lb 6oz
3rd Graham Willis 8 fish for 17lb 14¾oz
4th Paul Shaw 8 fish for 17lb 10 1/8oz
5th Rob Edmunds 6 fish for 14lb 8¾oz
6th Craig Gimblett 7 fish for 14lb 3 5/8oz
7th Carl Malpass 6 fish for 13lb 10oz
8th Gareth Williams 5 fish for 11lb 6oz
9th Lindsey Simpson 4 fish for 10lb 8oz
10th Chris Bradshaw 5 fish for 10lb 3¼oz

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 18,25 & 29 May; 7,19,22 & 28 June and other dates throughout the season.

Evening boat league starts Thursday 13 May

EYFA Youth National 25 May http://www.eyfa.co.uk
European Masters 14 & 15 June http://www.europeanmasters.co.uk
Anglian Water Airflo International – Midland Heat 21 June 01780 686441
England Qualifier ‘Odds & Sods’ http://www.fmffa.org.uk

Pitsford Water
Fish week 780 (season 4,734) Returns 104 (1,015) Rod average 7.5 (4.6)

A superb week’s fishing at Pitsford with a rod average of 7.5 and a very healthy average for the season of 4.6. 104 Anglers caught 780 fish this week, many reporting several nice overwintered specimens in their bags. Four Czech anglers came on a holiday package and reported some great sport taking over 150 fish to olive and grey buzzers. Included in their catches were several huge Brown trout, one specimen measured at over 64cm in length.

Last Wednesday the English Disabled Fly Fishers held a boat match organised by Jim Watts. Top rod on the day was Stewart Hume with 8 fish for 18lb 8oz. His best fish was 3lb 13oz. There were 8 further limits with two other fish over 4lb. Jim commented that the rod average was just under five and that the anglers had one of their best ever days on Pitsford, fishing midge tip lines with teams of buzzers.

The best fish of the week was a Rainbow of 5lb 7oz taken by Brian Lloyd.

All areas of the water are fishing well with fish still in the margins and feeding on buzzers. In open water there are fish being taken on sunk lines and blobs and lures.

Don’t forget the Pitsford Tuesday Night Boat League starts on 13 May, all are welcome, fishing from 6pm to 9pm. The boat draw will be at 5.45pm.

Best Rainbow 5lb 7oz taken by Brian Lloyd.

Best methods See report.

Fish stocked 1,250

Don’t forget that there will be a boat league at Pitsford on Tuesday evenings starting on 13 May.

Tuesday 13 May sees the start of the Tuesday Night Boat League at Pitsford Water. Fishing will be from 6pm with a weekly prize for a free boat and the overall winner of the league receiving tackle vouchers.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 17 & 30 May; 8 and 20 June and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 24 May 01604 781350
Anglian Water Airflo International Midland Heat 01780 686441

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 571 (season 6,743) Returns 68 (777) Rod average 8.3(8.6)

Ravensthorpe Reservoir fished well on Monday and Tuesday with olive buzzers or diawl bachs on a floater or midge tip being the best methods. Wednesday to Friday, the fishing dipped with fish only really responding to lures presented on sinking lines. At the weekend fishing picked up again with anglers catching on p.t.n., diawl bachs and buzzers. The platforms have been fishing well with the best methods being static buzzer or diawl bach.

Competition news
Mick Griffin’s floating line match on Sunday fished well, despite blustery conditions, with several anglers catching 15 plus fish on olive buzzers presented on a washing line.

1st Mick Clarke 4 fish for 13lb 12oz
2nd Dennis Footman 4 fish for 10lb 14oz.
3rd Mick Griffin 4 fish for 10lb 4oz

Best Rainbow 6lb plus.

Best boat areas Island, Mongers, Tall Willows.

Best bank areas Platforms 1-7, Dam.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Mr D Walker of Milton Keynes.