Anglian Water Trout Report

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Anglian Water Trout Report Week ending 14 April 2013

Fishery News

• School boy Joshua Clayton lands best fish of the week at Ravensthorpe
Superb 11lb Rainbow is best fish of the week for Stamford angler Josh

• Norwegian angler takes Bob Church victory at Grafham Water
Johny Lunsden travels from north of Oslo to win popular Bob Church match

• Al Owen lands best fish of the season to date at Rutland Water
Superb conditioned 10lb 5oz Rainbow for Lincolnshire angler

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 2,296 (3,462 season) Returns 386 (543) Rod average 5.94 (6.37)
Al Owen from Cranwell, Lincs, took the best fish of the season to date while boat fishing with Graham Pearson near Fantasy Island last Wednesday. The superbly conditioned Rainbow weighed in at 10lb 5oz and took a black buzzer fished on a floating line. It’s been another good week for both bank and boat anglers with plenty of big fish showing. Lots of anglers have reported good catches on buzzers and nymphs fished slowly on floating and midge tip lines.

Gordon Anthony from Whittlesey, Cambs, landed a 7lb 7½oz Rainbow whilst bank fishing on the Normanton shore. The fish took a black pheasant tail fished on a floating line. Season ticket holder Rex Curtis also had a 6lb Rainbow from the Normanton bank on the same day as Gordon, perhaps the main basin is the new hotspot for Rainbows?

Several limits were also recorded in this area all the way along the Normanton bank to Fantasy Island. Following in the footsteps of his ’pap’ Graham Pearson, was six year old James Pearson who had his first session on the bank at Rutland Water under instruction and was rewarded with three Rainbows, the best weighed 3lb. Young James commented to the wardens that he “will be better than Grandad at fishing”. Watch out Graham!

The popular Tuesday Night Boat League commences on 7 May and runs for 15 weeks. Meet at the Lodge and book in from 5pm for a 6pm start. Open to all with a valid day/evening permit and season ticket holders. Relax with a drink afterwards and the option to purchase food delivered from Sid’s Fish and Chips, Stamford.

Competition News
Lexus European Individual qualifier
The Lexus European Individual qualifier was fished on Sunday 7 April. Participants were greeted by a bitterly cold morning at Rutland. Ice had formed overnight in some areas with ice 5-6mm thick in the harbour! Three places were up for grabs in the final and after a good match Mark Thomas came out on top with his 8 fish bag weighing 27lb 13oz including time bonus. He was closely followed by Craig Smith in second place (26lb 6oz, 8 fish including time bonus). The third qualifying place on the day went to Malcolm Sargeant, his 3lb 10 1/4 oz rainbow was the largest fish taken on the day and earned him a place at the final in September.

Lexus European Team qualifier
What a result – all the boats bagged up! Well done to Rio Masters who won in very cold conditions. The temperature certainly didn’t suit the anglers but it suited the fish. Only once before, at Grafham Water, has there been an 8 fish rod average recorded.

The anglers favoured lures such as blobs and boobies on fast sinking lines. The popular areas were from the church towards the dam and the Sailing Club.

Rutland Water continued
1st Rio Masters 48 fish for 152lb 2oz
2nd Vision 48 fish for 147lb 8oz
3rd Seighford Sharks 48 fish for 144lb 3oz
4th Sonik Pirates 48 fish for 142lb 9oz
5th Second String 48 fish for 141lb 7oz
6th Orvis Team Rutland 48 fish for 133lb 0oz

Martin Introna’s Open Spring Pairs Match 13 April
46 anglers supported this match to raise funds for the England Youth Fly Fishing Team. A good rod average was achieved with most anglers recording their limits of 8 fish per boat for around the 20lb mark. Once limits were recorded then pairs could fish to a 12 fish catch and release limit before weighing in.

First place went to two of the youth anglers, Ryan Worker from Oakley, Bedford and local rod Graham Hayward from Empingham. Their combined weight was 22lb 7oz for their 8 fish limit.

Second place went to Dave Summers and Mark Mathieson with 8 fish for 21lb 14oz. Dave also netted the best fish of the match weighing 7lb 1½oz – a very nice well conditioned Rainbow. Phil Longstaff and Gary Owen also weighed in at 21lb 14oz but were just pushed into third place as Dave Summers’ fish was the heaviest of the match. Fourth spot went to Ashley Davis and his son Tom who weighed in for 20lb 12oz.

Best Rainbow 10lb 5oz taken by Al Owen of Cranwell.

Best methods Boat anglers – various sinking lines with lures. Calmer conditions saw good numbers of fish caught on floating lines with nymphs.
Bank anglers – floating lines with lures/nymphs.

Best boat areas The Main Basin, Church Bay, Old Hall, Dickinsons Bay, Barnsdale.

Best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, Old Hall, Armley Wood to Carrot Creek.

Fish stocked 3,000.

Mid week boat winner Dave Summers of Southampton.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses 21 & 27 April; 4,11 and 25 May and throughout the season.
Anglian Water Spring Rudder Match 20 April (leg one of five). Match time 9am to 5pm – call the fishing lodge to book on 01780 686441.
Army Spring Match 21 April (22 boats booked).
Airflo North of England Heat 28 April (25 boats booked).
Tuesday Night Boat League starts 7 May and runs for 15 weeks.
Dave Hodgson Memorial 5 May.
Grafham Water
Fish week 616 (2077 season) Returns 131 (419) Rod average 4.7 (4.95)
Regular Grafham angler and blue season ticket holder Kevin Donovan had a red letter week from the bank around Plummers and the South end of the Dam returning 54 fish up to almost 5lb, all on size 14 black Diawl Bachs. Dave Cheesley of Girton took the best bag of the week with 8 cracking Rainbows for 26lb 12oz from a boat from the Deep Water Point area.

With warmer weather conditions the fish are slowly moving onto the ever increasing number of buzzers hatching off in the more sheltered areas.

The main method still seems to be fishing deep with black and green lures or boobies.

Competition news
The Bob Church Open Sunday 14 April
This was the first big open match of the season at Grafham Water. Nearly 50 anglers competed in this charity fund raiser. The high winds on the day restricted the boat fleet to the South shore. With the expectation that most of the fish would be on the North shore it was potentially both frustrating and challenging. Despite all this there were fish to be caught on the South shore and the match fished to a 3.66 rod average. The best fish of the match – a 4lb
5 3/8oz Brown went to Ian Donaldson of Hemingford Grey.

The winner, Johny Lunsden, had travelled the furthest – some 3½hours north of Oslo in Norway. Johny practiced with fellow Norwegian Peter Eggleton on Saturday, neither having fished Grafham since last May. Johny used his new Di7 with black and green lures/boobies along the front of the West Bank to take all his fish by 11.45 am. Johny and Peter are looking forward to returning to Grafham for a week in May.

1st Johny Lunsden 8 fish for 31lb 2¾oz
2nd Jim Wright 8 fish for 26lb 13oz
3rd Kevin Appleton 8 fish for 24lb 7oz
4th Graham Willis 8 fish for 23lb 9¾oz
5th Peter Eggleton 8 fish for 21lb 15oz
6th Mark Haycock 8 fish for 21lb 13¾oz

Best Rainbow 8lb 8oz taken by Peter Nightingale of Huntingdon.

Best Brown 4lb 10oz taken by John Timothy of Milton Keynes.

Best methods See report.

Best boat areas G Buoy, Willows, Seat and Q Buoy.

Best bank areas Willows, G Buoy, Deep Water Point and Pylon Point, Plummers.

Fish stocked 2,000

Mid week boat winner Colin Brett of Barr Hill, Cambs.
Grafham Water continued

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 28 April; 5,19,26 and 30 May and throughout the year.
Lexus European Indivudal Qualifier 26 April.
Lexus European Team Qualifier 27 April.
GWFFA vs EDFA 28 April.
Tuesday Night Boat League organised by Invicta commences 14 May and runs to 13 August.
Anglian Water Airflo International Individual Final 11 May
GWFFA Inter Club Floating Line match 12 May

Pitsford Water
Fish week 208 (782 season) Returns 75 (278) Rod average 2.7 (2.8)
The improved weather conditions have contributed to some good fishing at Pitsford Water. Invicta Fly Fishers had a boat match and Messrs Mees and McLeod had 14 fish to the boat whilst fishing in Stone Barn Bay. Messrs Varley and Peat had a very enjoyable day boat fishing, reporting taking 20 plus fish including a Rainbow estimated at 8lb which was returned.

The change in wind direction to Southerly has brought some much needed relief from the cold Northerlies. Right on cue the fish started to respond to more imitative tactics with the first reports of fish coming to buzzer/nymph tactics. With a few more mild days the fish will really turn on to this method.

Best Rainbow 6lb taken by T Hall of Northampton.

Best methods Intermediate lines and lures. Floating lines and buzzers.

Best boat areas Stone Barn, Causeway, Cliffs.

Best bank areas Stilton, Gorse, Rigbys and Cliffs.

Mid week boat winner Trevor Hall of Northampton.

Forthcoming events
Beginners courses: 20 & 26 April; 8,12,18 & 31 May and throughout the season.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Fish week 493 (827 season) Returns 58 (191) Rod average 8.5(4.3)
Anglers have enjoyed outstanding sport at Ravensthorpe this week both from the bank and from boats. All areas of the reservoir are fishing well.

Many anglers had catches of 20 plus fish in a session with the weekly rod average up to 8.5 for the period. The best fish of the week was taken by schoolboy Joshua Clayton. Joshua, who lives in Stamford, boat fished with a black and green lure to take his 11lb Rainbow.

Graham Hutchins fished from the bank at Coton End using an intermediate line with an orange tinhead to take 28 fish. With him was Mick Foster. Mick fished an orange pea on an intermediate line to take 20 plus fish – the biggest was 7lb 1oz.

Mick Griffin took a novice out on a boat for the morning buzzer fishing. The pair had 20 plus fish to the boat and Mick’s boat partner is hooked!

Best Rainbow 11lb taken by Joshua Clayton.

Best methods See Report.

Best boat areas Coton Car Park, Island.

Best bank areas Dam, Coton End.

Mid week boat winner Adrian Greeno of Althorp.

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