• With a 10.5 rod average Ravensthorpe is an angler’s dream
• Mike proves he’s no April Fool!
Rutland’s Independence Day Trophy won by Mike Barrett of Sheffield
• Grafham hosts Bob Church Open – Sunday 30 April
Please call Grafham Lodge on 01480 810531 for more details
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 773 (season 2,154) Returns 104 (319)Rod average 7.43(6.75)
Rutland Water is fishing extremely well with lots of fish being reported from most areas. Fly hatches, with buzzers in particular, are coming off in massive numbers, although small in size there are bigger ones hatching off.
The bottom of both arms are now open and some boats are seeking out the bigger specimens. Oakham’s Toff Crowther is no stranger to catching big fish. Toff fished off the South Arm with his Granddad Tony Tibbert. Toff came up trumps again with a cracking 6lb 7¾oz Rainbow. The pair boated 16 fish for 46lb 9oz. Edith Weston’s ‘Big’ Dave Porter fished with Tony Ward and had a great day with 20 fish ‘on the buzzer’. Their best fish went 5lb. Top guide Al Owen’s boat did very well with 16 fish for 48lb. Bank angler and season ticket holder Rob Teesdale caught and returned a cracking brown of around 6lb.
Nigel Savage returned a Brown of around 5lb. Other Browns of a similar size have been returned. This season’s stock Browns are showing in some areas. On certain days there has been a substantial rise and fish have been moving on the dam when the easterly winds blow.
Competition news
The Independence Day Trophy was fished on Saturday 1 April. Awarded for the biggest fish on the day the trophy went to long term season ticket holder Mike Barrett from Sheffield. Mike won the trophy and a free mid week boat. His winning fish was a 5lb 4¼oz Brown. Steve Alcock came close to taking the trophy but fell just short with a Rainbow of 5lb 3¼oz.
At this time of year the reservoir is very popular so please check in advance for boat availability, particularly at the weekends.
Best Rainbow 6lb 7¾oz taken by Toff Crowther.
Best Brown 5lb 4½oz taken by Mike Barrett of Sheffield.
Best boat areas
Most areas are producing well.
Best bank areas See report.
Best methods Bank – Floating lines with nymphs, dries, lures.
Boat – As for bank plus various sinking lines.
Fish stocked 2,000.
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 5,15,22 & 27 April; 7,13, 19 & 26 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglers World Individual 8 April
Sport Fish Team Heat 9 April
Tuesday Night boat league commences 9 May
Dave Hodgson Memorial 7 May
Bob Church Classic 14 May
Anglian Water Rudder Match 20 May
Grafham Water
Fish 1,173 (season 3,235) Returns 150 (372)Rod average 7.8(9.29)
It’s been another wonderful week at Grafham Water, beautiful weather and the buzzers continuing to hatch have resulted in a decent rod average of 7.8 (not quite as good as last week’s 13.4, but still pretty good).
Many anglers have had 20 plus fish this week with J Lawrence and A Lucas taking 33 fish to their boat, including a nice big Brownie. Ripon Kahlique from the BBC’s ‘The Big Fish Off’ boat fished and took a lovely Grafham Brown. We had two Rainbows recorded at 4lb 6oz this week taken by Andy Linwood and R Shaile. R W Rees took a Rainbow estimated at 4-5lb. One of the best Browns went to Mr Spall who caught a fine specimen of 3-4lb.
The bank is still just out of reach of the bank anglers, though boat anglers are producing high numbers with many saying that they have had their best days’ fishing ever this week. One beginner angler, topped his previous best of four with a bag of six fish. This week saw the West Bank and Savages open again and many were out trying to catch some over wintered fish there. Browns are also now in season.
Boat angling is still the top method for producing vast quantities of fish. Anywhere along the north shore is the place to be. If you don’t find the fish after an hour or so keep moving along and you’ll come across them at some point. Floating lines fished near static, with buzzer in areas such as the Stumps, the Willows, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm and Pylon Point will produce fish, particularly using black, black and green, or black and white patterns. Black and red buzzers, blobs and PTN’s are also suggested and intermediate lines (Di5 and Di7) fished with lures in the same areas are still producing fish. Other successful flies include cats whisker, humungus, damsels and boobies.
Bank angling has been more of a challenge this week, with some days being a little quieter than the opening few weeks. The fish have moved from the shore to roughly 150 yards out and many bank anglers have taken to the boats. Early starts or evenings are providing the best results. Lures are fishing best from the bank, particularly in white, white and green, black, and black and green colouring with fish following right up to the draw, so keep those sunglasses handy. Good areas to try include the Willows, the Dam, Plumbers, the Seat, Marlow Arm, Deep Water Point and the Stumps.
This week we welcome another member to our volunteer bailiff team as Chris Maggs joins Balkrishna (Pat) Patel in helping with work on the fishery including carrying out bank checks and offering advice. Say ‘hello’ when you see them.
The Bob Church Open will be taking place on Sunday 30 April, please contact the Fishing Lodge to book a place.
Best Rainbow 4lb 6oz taken by R Shaile and A Linwood
Best boat areas Stumps, the Willows, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm and Pylon Point.
Best bank areas Willows, the Dam, Plumbers, the Seat, Marlow Arm, Deep Water Point and the Stumps.
Mid week boat winner David Morris of Bluntisham
Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 8,13, 23 & 30 April; 21 & 25 May and other dates throughout the season.
Anglian Water Rudder Match 8 April
England Eliminator 28 April
Bob Church Open 30 April.
Anglers World Individual 13 May
Pitsford Water
Fish 415 (season 1,449) Returns 101 (268) Rod average 4.1(5.4)
We have seen some of the biggest buzzer hatches in memory this week at Pitsford. At times the water surface has been a thick carpet of shucks. Needless to say the fish have been gorging on this plentiful food supply. Interestingly the bank fishing has been hit and miss with the fish sometimes seeming to be holding 50-75 yards off the shore. This has helped those who have ventured out in the boats and they have reaped the rewards with some awesome catches.
Richard Williams had his usual Sunday morning boat and had over 30 fish, fishing buzzers and diawls on a washing line. Gavin Layton and Graham Pearson had an equally good morning catching lots of fish around the 3-3½lb mark on diawls.
Edgar Slotins has enjoyed a good couple of days from the bank, catching and returning 32 fish in two trips. Graham Hutchings had one of his best ever evenings’ fishing on the Northfields shore, losing count of the fish he caught and released. Best areas for both bank and boat anglers have been Stone Barn, Gravels, Northfields Shore and Cliffs.
The East Midlands FlyFishers held a bank match on Sunday. This was well supported with 14 anglers catching 79 fish for a rod average of 5.6. Top rod was Aiden Graves. Aiden took 17 fish, weighing in 8 fish for 22lb 3oz – the best bag of the match. Aiden’s heaviest fish weighed 4lb 4oz and was the top fish of the match. Duncan Graves (Aiden’s father) took second place with 8 fish for 18lb 12oz.
Best boat areas See report.
Best bank areas See report.
Mid week boat winner Robert Garrett of Higham Ferrers
Forthcoming events
Anglian Water rudder match 6 May.
Beginners courses 9 & 21 April; 11,14 & 20 May and other dates throughout the season.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Anglers have enjoyed another superb week of sport at Ravensthorpe with a rod average of 10.5. Many anglers have achieved dream numbers of fish to the net. Kevin Daykin landed a fine Rainbow of 9lb 8oz from Platform 5 on the buzzer.
Boat anglers are catching a large number of fish. Charlie Watts and his boat partner caught 50 fish between them, all on the buzzer, including a 12lb Rainbow that was safely returned to the water. A buzzer accounted for a fine 9lb 8oz Rainbow caught by seasoned angler Trev Hall. Simon Hunt and Chris Skillen took 40 fish between them, returning Rainbows of 12lb and 10lb caught on green diawl bachs.
Mid week boat winner Terry Thomas of Daventry.
