Grafham waters opening day today didnt produce the form the early birds were hoping for. Bank anglers arrived as early as 4am in anticipation for a great day.

There was twenty bank anglers from G buoy to Hedge End by 10am, with only 6 fish caught ! Grafham local, Robert Edmonds, partnered with Clive Morgan managed an 8 fish limit anchored from a boat off the dam. Robert was using a Di-7 line and a cats whisker booby.

Mark Haycock, another Grafham regular, managed 6 fish from a boat. Mark told UK Flyfisher's Craig Barr " The fishing was very hard, unusual for an opening day. The only concentration of fish we could find was at the dam wall. We fished with a Di-7 and cats whisker boobies. The prime location appeared to be between the numbered slabs 9 - 12 on the dam wall."

The day was greeted with blue skies and bright sunshine, with cloud moving in in the afternoon. Recent heavy rains had taken the edge off the waters temperature, and an increasing and cooling wind slowed things down in the afternoon. Tracey Rathbone, Grafhams tackle shop manager said " It has been a disappointing start, an anti-climax.Bank anglers were moving around a lot in search of fish. However the deteriorating weather didnt help. Things will bounce back!"

A healthy pre-season stocking of 9000 fish have been put in. Sounds like there is a few left for the anglers at the weeeknd !

Images courtesy of Cliff Waters

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