Latest News and Information from

Week ending 5 June 2016

• Spotlight on Pitsford Water

Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs prove ‘top dog’ status to win Pitsford’s Midland Heat of AWAI with 69 fish for 160lb 7oz

Pitsford’s rod average for the week is 6.6

Pitsford ‘lures’ predator anglers with lure fishing available now until January 2017

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 1,005 (Season 14,508) Returns 205 (2,871) Rod average 4.9 (5.05)
Despite the blustery conditions early last week Rutland Water fished well and is in fantastic form. Apart from Tuesday (when the wind prevented boats going out) both bank and boat anglers have caught well in many areas, from the main basin through to the bottom of the south arm. The food supply is very good at the moment with an excessive quantity of daphnia in the water, plus large and small buzzers, shrimp and snails. Bank areas fishing well include the Green Bank, Old Hall Bay and front, Yellowstone and Sykes Lane to the Dam.

Many methods have worked including floating/midge tip lines with buzzers and nymphs. A few fish have been taken on dries from the shoreline. Boat anglers are using the same methods coupled with various sinking lines with a mixture of large and small lures.

Amongst the overwintered fish this week have been quality Browns, the best being 6lb 8oz caught by Eckington angler Roger Oliver, who had a brilliant day last Saturday. Roger added another two browns of 4lb 7oz and 3lb 10oz all of which were sportingly returned. Roger then took six rainbows, three of which weighed over 3lb. All of his fish fell to floating line and buzzers fished from the boat.

Toff Crowther of Oakham also found a nice Brown of 5lb 14oz whilst boat fishing in the North Arm.

The South Arm has also had its moments. Phil Brown of Empingham headed down to Manton Bay with Richard Bacon and the pair came into contact with seventeen quality Rainbows between 2½lb and 3lb with diawl bach proving the most effective nymph on the day, fished on a floating line. Hideaway Bay and drifts around Browns Island have accounted for a good few overwintered fish caught along with silvered up stock fish.

During last week’s half term break Elliot Guthrie enjoyed another great visit to Rutland with his Dad. The bad weather on Tuesday prevented boats going out but the pair made the most of Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday was a red letter day with good fish from Barnsdale Creek and Elliot took great pleasure in catching six fish on his home made dry fly.

Prospects look good. Despite the hot weather that is forecast water temperatures remain low considering the time of year. Fly hatches are still good, along with a plentiful supply of daphnia, shrimp etc. Another bonus is that this year’s coarse fry are hatching in good numbers with pin fry in the fishing lodge harbour and elsewhere. Expect to see more surface activity in the forthcoming weeks with numbers of fish moving into the shoreline to feed on the fry.

Competition news
Unfortunately high winds forced the cancellation of last week’s Tuesday Night Boat League. The forecast for this week looks excellent.
IBM Two Day match
Now in its 28th year it was a pleasure to welcome back several anglers who have fished this popular two day boat match from the early days. Anglers enjoyed a great match and commented on the quality and fighting ability of the fish. Across the two days 52 rods managed 244 fish, giving an excellent overall rod average of 4.69. Team Saltire of Scotland won the event with the best fish going to Dave Green who caught a specimen 4lb 3¾oz Brown on the first day.

Best Rainbow 4lb 4oz

Best Brown 6lb 8oz taken by Roger Oliver of
Eckington, Sheffield.

Best boat areas Many areas fishing well – Main Basin, Church Bay, Sailing Club, Yellowstones, bottom of the South Arm.

Best bank areas Sykes Lane, Stockie Bay, Yellowstones, Old Hall Bay Point, Green Bank, the Dam.

Best methods Bank – Floating line with nymphs, dries.
Boat – As for bank but including midge tips and various sinking lines with lures, large and small tube flies.

Mid week boat winner Ken Salmon of Loughborough.

Fish stocked 4,000.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 9,17 & 19 June; 2,10,17 & 23 July and other dates throughout the season.
Tuesday Night boat league
Fly fishing for Pike from 16 May (subject to boat availability)
Anglian Water Floating Line match 11 June
England Eliminator ‘Odds & Sods’ 26 June
AWAI North of England Final 11 July
Anglian Water Over 50’s Match 30 July

Grafham Water
Fish week 584 (Season 12,851) Returns 196 (2,166) Rod average 2.97 (5.93)
Grafham Water has continued to fish well over the past week considering the poor weather conditions. The rod average is 2.97 with mostly boat anglers taking the better fish as they start to move away from the bank.
Bank anglers have struggled with the strong winds; however fish are still showing off the north shore and tend to be on the dry fly in the evenings. The best method for the bank anglers has been to fish floating lines with black and green Tadpoles, Diawl Bachs, damsel nymphs, Hares Ear and Pheasant Tail nymphs. The best areas for the bank anglers over the past week have been Hill Farm, Hedge End, Pylon and Deep Water Points, Marlow Stones and the North Dam.

Boat anglers have had a good, yet tough week’s fishing, starting 100 yards off shore and drifting into the deeper water on the north shore and into the middle of the reservoir. The best methods for the boat anglers have been to fish intermediate or floating lines with Buzzers, Diawl Bachs, Damsel Nymphs, Pheasant Tail nymphs and lures. Fast sinking lines fished with Tubes, Snakes, Cats Whiskers and Pitsford Peas are also producing fish.

Competition news
Three matches were held at Grafham this week including the East Midlands Trout Association match, the Police match and the Mick O’Farrell charity match.

The East Midlands Charity match comprised of 25 anglers, with 70 fish for a rod average of 2.8 per angler.
Ray Jenkins took the best fish, a Rainbow of 3lb 9oz.
Best boat: Lloyd Chantrell and Neil Young, with 16 fish for 39lb 12oz

The Police match comprised of 18 anglers, with 38 fish caught to an average of 2.1 per angler. Best fish was caught weighing in at 4lb 9oz.

The Mick O’Farrell charity match comprised of 80 anglers; 40 of which were novices, returning 136 fish total. The average was 1.7 per angler.
Best boat: Paul Haskey and Daniel O’Farrell, with 25lb 1oz
Best Fish: David O’Farrell and Hugh O’Reilly shared the honours with fish of 3lb 12oz.

As part of Grafham Water’s 50th Birthday Celebrations we are hosting a pairs boat match with a terrific prize pot on Sunday 3 July
This pair’s boat match will celebrate 50 years of fly fishing at Grafham Water. There’s a fantastic prize pot with £1000* going to the winner plus many more prizes. *Subject to the number of entries.

This event will take place on Sunday 3rd July to coincide with the official 50th anniversary week of activities at Grafham Water. This friendly fly fishing competition is to be fished to relaxed international rules (no anchoring or back drifting, any size fly is acceptable) with an 8 fish limit plus time bonus (2lb per hour).
Best Rainbow 4lb 9oz.

Best Brown 5lb taken by Mr M Boues.

Best boat areas Hill Farm, Hedge End, Deep Water and Pylon Points, middle of the reservoir.

Best bank areas Deep Water and Pylon Points, Hill Farm, Marlow Stones, Hedge End, north Dam.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Chris McCully of Colchester.

Fish stocked 2,000.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 11,18 & 30 June; 3,9,22,29 & 31July and other dates throughout the season.
Fly fishing for Pike from 16 May (subject to boat availability)
EFFA ProAm 16 June
AWAI Midland Heat 18 June
Grafham 50th Birthday Pairs Boat Match 3rd July – terrific prize pot
Scierra Pairs 9 July
AWAI Southern Final 18 July
AWAI Midland Final 25 July

Pitsford Water
Fish week 944(Season 5,479) Returns 143(1,068) Rod average 6.6 (5.1)

Anglian Water Airflo International Midland heat 4 June
An amazing end to the week with 30 top, competitive anglers fishing in the Midland Heat of the Anglian Water Airflo International. And what a match this proved to be with a rod average of 9.77.

Craig Barr described the day as “perfect”, having enjoyed three great days fishing at Pitsford. A light wind, warm weather and cloud cover provided perfect conditions for all our anglers on Saturday with fish literally being caught everywhere. The fish were up in the water and most were taken on floating lines using diawl bach and buzzers.

1st Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs 69 fish for 160lb 7oz
2nd Mid Northants Saints 61 fish for 146lb 13oz
3rd Soldier Palmers 63 fish for 145lb 6oz

Mark Rooney fishing for Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs took the best fish at 4lb 2oz. Ashley Cooper fishing for Mid Northants Saints took the best bag at 31lb 6oz.

Anglers catching fish during the week included Alex Pearce of Northampton who reported a 5lb 9oz Rainbow and John Brownlow of Leicester who caught several Pike up to 9lb 15oz, all in good condition. There have been reports of a number of sizeable Browns being caught and released. The rod average for the week has been boosted by the results from the AWAI heat but nonetheless a large number of fish were caught and released.

Off the bank conditions have been a little more challenging this week with fish just out of reach, but plenty moving. Towards the end of the week conditions improved and bank anglers have again been catching, but not necessarily in large numbers.

Dates for your diary include Pitsford’s popular Evening Summer fishing club which runs every Tuesday up to 9 August. Unfortunately due to high winds last week’s fishing club had to be cancelled.

Mid Northants Trout Fishers Association meets at Pitsford Lodge on the second Saturday of the month with fly tying, casting tuition and friendly advice on all fishing matters.

Best Rainbow 5lb plus

Best Brown 6lb plus.

Best boat areas Dam, Brixworth Bay, Sailing Club Bay, Pitsford Creek, Stonebarn Bay, Grange Farm Creek.

Best bank areas Stilton, Brixworth Bay, Cliffs, NFP, Gravels.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner John Archer of London.

Forthcoming events
Evening Summer Fishing Club – Tuesday evening
Lure fishing and fly fishing for Pike from 16 May
Beginners courses 12 June; 1,16 & 30 July and other dates throughout the season.
Mid Northants Trout Fishers Beginners Day 11 June
Mid Northants Trout Fishers Pairs Match 26 June and 23 July

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 150 (Season 8,067) Returns 39(910) Rod average 3.8(8.86)
Due to the changeable weather conditions Ravensthorpe is struggling to keep its rod average up. Dry fly and lure fishing have been the best methods. The best boat sport is to be had off the Island and the Boils. The dam wall is the best place for bank anglers.

Ravensthorpe’s Thursday Evening Boat Club runs weekly until August. This friendly boat club was really popular in 2015 and is open to all anglers, 6pm start.

Best boat areas Island, Boils.

Best bank areas Dam.

Best methods See report.

Mid week boat winner Mick Foster.

Fish stocked 448.