Latest News and Information from

Week ending 18 May 2014

• Best Rainbow of the season so far at Rutland Water
Leon Smith of Peterborough takes superb 10lb 10oz specimen

• Pick of the match results from across our waters
Results of the Bob Church Classic and other matches

• 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 899(season 12,270) Returns 264 (2,404) Rod average 3.4 (5.1)
Rutland Water has been producing quality overwintered fish this season, especially Brown Trout. However, it was a Rainbow trout that made the headlines this week with a superb 10lb 10oz specimen – the best fish of the season – for Leon Smith. Leon, from Peterborough, was practicing for the Bob Church Classic last Wednesday. Leon boat fished down the south Arm of the reservoir with a team of nymphs and the fish fell to a diawl bach fished under the bung. This grown on fish, which has been declared a ‘Blue’ Trout, gave Leon a tremendous battle before being beaten.

Fishing has been mixed this week, dependant on the variable weather conditions. High pressure has taken over from the strong winds of the previous week, bringing with it high temperatures and flat calm. For the time being sport has steadied but will improve as low pressure moves back in.

Competition news
Tuesday Night Boat League week
15 Anglers fished in week two of the boat league. Marc Ladi, from Norfolk, was visiting Darren Hayward from Empingham and decided to fish this friendly match. It was a good decision with Marc winning with four fish weighing 7lb 6oz.

1st Marc ladi 4 fish for 7lb 6oz
2nd Mick Bennett 3 fish for 6lb 10oz
3rd Warren Landridge 4 fish for 6lb 8½oz

Bob Church Classic 16 May
This popular invitation match is in its 27th year. Iain Barr fished along the Normanton to Fantasy Island area taking 16 fish, the best four came to the scales, the rest were returned. Iain commented that the bigger fish ‘came on’ late and he was returning Rainbows of 3-5lb. The top fly on the day was a cruncher. Steve Smalley took the best fish at 5lb 3oz. Tracey Tuck was Top Lady rod.

1st Iain Barr 35lb 5oz
2nd Peter Appleby 34lb 4½oz
3rd Glenn Appleby 34lb 2oz
4th Fredo Charlier 30lb 5½oz
5th Steve Smalley 30lb 4oz
6th Graham Willis 29lb 15oz
7th Neill Barrett 27lb 4oz
8th Paul Shaw 26lb 6½oz
9th Ron Gent 26lb 5½oz
10th Stuart McCormick 25lb 15oz

Rutland Water continued

Vision Pairs 18 May
Belgian anglers Guido Vinck and Patrick de Schutter put in a superb performance to win this match. Some anglers found it very hard work with some big names struggling, but others made up for it with a rod average of 3.68. 60 Anglers fished this match with high temperatures and clear skies making conditions challenging.

The highest placed local anglers were Rob Sosbe from Leicester and Graham Hayward of Empingham who took third place with 12 fish for 34lb 3¼oz. Rob was the top individual with a bag weight of 27lb 2¾oz which included the best fish of the match a Rainbow of 5lb 5½oz.

1st Guido Vinck & Patrick de Schutter 14 fish for 38lb 9 5/8oz
2nd Lee Patten & Peter Elliott 13 fish for 36lb 2½oz
3rd Rob Sosbe & Graham Hayward 12 fish for 34lb 3¼oz
4th Ron Gent & Clive Morgan 10 fish for 32lb 3½oz
5th G Janseens & C Jadouille 13 fish for 28lb 6 7/8oz
6th Stuart Hume & Matthew Holdroyd 13 fish for 27lb 11 3/8oz
7th Keiron Bonas & Adam Worker 11 fish for 24lb 8 7/8oz
8th Mark Roekaerts & Benny Poffe 10 fish for 24lb 2¼oz
9th David Lang & Mike Gunnell 9 fish for 22lb 13¼oz
10th Mark Macleod & Graham Willis 10 fish for 22lb 3 5/8oz

Rutland Water Flyfishers John Wadham Trophy bank match
13 Members fished this match on Friday 16 May, one of the warmest evenings of the year so far. This was in stark contrast to the Arctic conditions experienced in 2013. Despite a welcome light South Westerly wind the catch was quite depressed compared with previous seasons.

The apparent paucity of the large buzzers, the unusual clarity of the water and lack of marginal cover for the fish will have played a part. Sadly there were some nine blanks. Most had a pull or two with Graham Hayward having a huge Brown follow and inspect his fly while fishing from the Harbour Wall. It was good to see new members taking part. The evening finished with presentations to the winner Martin Blakeston and to Steve Crowder for the best fish followed by Fish & Chips and liquid refreshment.

1st Martin Blakeston 4 fish for 8lb 4oz
2nd Graham Hayward 2 fish for 3lb 11oz
3rd Steve Crowder 1 fish for 2lb 8oz
4th Phil Brown 1 fish for 2lb 0oz

Best Rainbow 10lb 10 1/8oz taken by Leon Smith of Peterborough

Best Brown 6lb 6¾oz taken by Peter Gover.

Best boat areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, bottom of South Arm,
middle and bottom of North Arm.

Best bank areas Old Hall, Green bank, Church Bay, Normanton, Whitwell Creek.
Best methods Bank – Floating line, with nymphs/dries.
Boats – As for bank but include midge tips and various sinking lines with mini lures and tube flies.

Mid week boat winner R Hearth of Oakham

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.

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 1,244 (season 12,855) Returns 252 (1,867) Rod average 4.9 (6.88)

Grafham Water is still fishing well for both bank and boat anglers with a magnificent rod average of 4.9. Adrian Cook of Suffolk caught the heaviest bag of the week with 8 fish for 21lb 10oz.

Bank anglers have enjoyed brilliant sport with the most consistent catch rates coming off the North shore. Floating lines have again been successful teamed up with either black and green buzzers, diawl bachs, or pheasant tail nymphs. The best areas for the bank anglers have been North Dam, Marlow Stones, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Church Bay and Harbour.

Boat anglers have had some good sport, especially off the North Shore which is producing the most consistent sport. The best boat areas are North Dam, Marlow Bay, G Buoy, Rectory Bay, Deep Water Point, Church Bay, Hedge End and Pig Bay. The most successful methods for the boat anglers have been to fish floating/midge tip or Di3 lines with black and olive buzzers, diawl bachs, crunchers, gold ribbed hares ear and orange blobs all fished static or very slowly.

Competition news
RAF Championships
The RAF Championships were held over two days with excellent sport throughout, particularly along the North shore. Buzzers were the most effective with 48 anglers catching 418 fish over the two days.

Thursday Night Boat League Week 3
Anglers enjoyed good weather for the third week of our boat league. The warm, sunny evening impacted on sport with only 5 fish caught for a rod average of 2.5. First place went to Paul Heavens who caught two trout. It would be great to see some more anglers on a Thursday Evening – so give it a go – if you would like to find out more call the lodge on 01480 810531.

Best Rainbow 6lb 4oz taken by R Garrett.

Best boat areas Hedge End, Deep Water Point, G Buoy, Pig Bay, Church Bay, Rectory Bay, North Dam.

Best bank areas Harbour, Gaynes Cove, Deep Water Point, G Buoy, Marlow Stones, North Dam.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Geoff King

Fish stocked 2,000

Grafham Water continued

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

Thursday Evening boat league now underway.

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 552 (season 5,286) Returns 102 (1,117) Rod average 5.4 (4.7)
The best fish of the week fell to Rick Barlow. Rick caught a fine Brown of 5lb 8oz. However, much bigger Browns have been reportedly caught and returned. Most notably was the fine specimen caught by a group of Czech anglers on a holiday boat package. They were pictured with a fish over 60cm in length – this was clearly a double figure specimen but was not brought to the scales.

The buzzer hatches on Pitsford are relentless and fish continue to gorge on them making for some fantastic fishing. The rod average for the week is 5.4 with the majority of the fish coming to nymphs fished around the margins.

The Pitsford Tuesday Night Boat League had a poor turnout with only eight anglers fishing. However, they were rewarded with a good evening’s fishing. Top rod on the night and winner of a free boat, was Mick Hawkins with seven fish. Mick was closely followed by Less Prickett who took six fish.

Thanks go to Mid Northants Fly Fishers as ten of their members undertook a litter pick at Pitsford on Saturday.

Best Rainbow Several up to 3lb.

Best Brown 5lb 8oz taken by Rick Barlow

Best boat areas Northfields, Stone Barn, Brixworth Bay,
Pines, Flats.

Best bank areas Northfields, Stone Barn, Duffers, Stilton.

Best methods See report.
Pitsford Water continued

Mid week boat winner David Brady.

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: 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 569(season 7,314) Returns 117 (894) Rod average 4.8 (8.1)
The fishing at Ravensthorpe has slowed down a bit this week with a rod average of 4.8. This is largely due to the bright weather conditions.

Boat anglers continue to land some pretty impressive hauls with several boats landing over 30 fish.

The best tactics include black or olive buzzer on a washing line with an orange F.A.B on the point or a team of diawl bachs with a gold head damsel nymph on the point. A longer leader will prove beneficial. Lures on intermediate or Di3 lines are also catching fish when they are not in a feeding mood.

Dry flies such as klinkhammers, bobs bits and small hoppers can work well in the evening if there is a strong midge hatch. The bank continues to fish reasonably well with anglers catching on the platforms around Mongers and from the Dam. Damsel nymphs and diawl bachs are best here.

Best Rainbow 8lb 14oz taken by Mr Nash

Best boat areas Tall Willow Bay, Island to Catwalk.

Best bank areas Platforms 3-8, the Dam.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Mick Griffin of Northampton.

Fish stocked 356