Rutland Water
fish for week 1759 (12985) returns 594 (3465) rod average 2.96(3.74)
Last week’s strong winds and heavy rain made for some challenging conditions at Rutland. However 16 anglers from Scotland made the long trip to Rutland very worthwhile. Alan Smith and his party enjoyed some very good fishing off Sykes Lane on Wednesday when the winds were light, all caught on nymphs. Alan also reported taking fish near Armley Wood using the same method of floating lines and nymphs. The second party, Last Cast Angling Club, caught well in the better conditions catching and releasing 173 fish in two days of fishing.
Rick Broome of Whissendine reported an 8lb 12oz rainbow whilst rudder fishing near Fantasy Island using a slime line and a black and green lure.
Competition news
(full report on WaterAid flyfishing Team Challenge next week)
Rutland Water hosted The Midlands eliminator for the England Fly Fishing Championships on 20 May. 66 anglers fished to an impressive rod average of 5.79. Iain Barr took his 8 fish limit within an hour of the start of the competition. 16 anglers took fish of 3lb and over. Top weights (including time bonus).
1st Martin Watson 8 fish for 24lb 8½oz
2nd Rob Sosbe 8 fish for 24lb 4 5/8oz
3rd Mark Haycock 8 fish for 23lb 13 1/8oz
4th Iain Barr 8 fish for 23lb 11oz
The Tuesday Night Boat League finally got under way this week, following last week’s postponement due to bad weather. Despite a thunderstorm this week, which halted fishing for 20 minutes, 15 anglers caught 26 fish.
1st Si Gaines 5 fish for 13lb 1oz, including a 3lb 2oz rainbow.
2nd Paul Shaw 6 fish for 12lb 8oz
3rd Richard Cooper 3 fish for 8lb including the best fish of the night, weighing 3lb 5oz
best rainbow 8lb 12oz reported by Rick Broome of Whissendine
best brown 6lb 7oz taken by M Petri
best boat areas Normanton harbour down to blue pipes, east creek, stockie bay to the dam.
best bank areas Whitwell Creek, Ernies Point, Normanton Park Hotel to blue pipes.
best methods bank anglers - Nymphs, pheasant tails, buzzers (black and green) and diawl bachs
boat anglers - Floating lines with nymphs, buzzers and diawl bachs.
mid week boat winner Jane Booth of Sleaford
Rutland Water continued
fish stocked 2000
forthcoming events May is a busy month – please call the lodge for boat availability – 01780 686441
Beginners courses 26 May, 3,10,16, 20 & 30 June and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Night Boat league
AWFMI Midland heat 25 May
Spring International 30 May – 1 June (all boats booked 1 June)
Anglian Water Floating Line Competition 9 June
English Ladies National 24 June
Scierra UK Pairs Heat 27-28 June
Grafham Water
fish for week 447 (7755) returns 343(1726) rod average1.69 (4.49)
Season ticket holders Ian Heading (Great Staughton) and Bob Wallinger (Sharnford, Leicester) have both had cracking bag limits this week by fishing tube flies on very fast sink lines in the middle of the reservoir. Bob had 8 fish for 28lb10oz and Ian 8 for 28lb 4oz. Both Ian and Bob were catching their fish around 30 feet down. These fish contained hundreds of tiny green buzzers.
Last Tuesday was the first match of Invicta’s evening boat league. It was flat calm disturbed only by the rain beating the surface to a foam! Despite this anglers battled on and caught a few fish. Chris McLeod of Invicta Fly Fishing Club said “ Thanks to Anglian Water’s John Mees, Paul Jones and Ray. The new arrangement whereby we all repair to the Wheatsheaf afterwards worked very well. We had an excellent spread, thanks mainly to the generosity of Anglian Water. And it certainly justified the slightly increased evening fee of £7. We have 13 more Tuesday nights to look forward to - and they can only get better. So we look forward to seeing you over the summer.”
The fishing at Grafham Water this week has been challenging for both bank and boat anglers with high changeable winds and torrential rain making the fishing awkward and uncomfortable to even the most accomplished angler. The best areas for the bank anglers have been the seat area and deep-water point when the wind has allowed them to fish these areas. Floating / intermediate lines with green or black buzzers fished static or Montanas and diawl bachs fished slowly has been the most successful methods generally throughout the whole day.
Boat anglers have generally had the best of the fishing around the seat and sludge bank or G, K, and B buoys on fast sink lines with orange lures and cat whisker boobies, however some anglers have had some excellent sport by fishing sink tip lines with small green buzzers in the central areas of the reservoir.
Grafham Water continued
Competition News
On Monday 14 May Grafham Water hosted the 24th Annual Troutmasters Final. After a weekend of strong winds disturbing practice, the day started promisingly with 156 competitors turning out to a gentler northerly breeze. Unfortunately this soon changed at the briefing as the wind increased to a strong northerly again. However, the boats did manage to get out and found shelter along the north shore where it was a different world. The match is fished over 2 halves with half the anglers on the bank to start with then swapping over at lunch after 3 hours to fish the boats.
The name of the game with this match is consistency with anglers trying to catch in both sessions of the day, and score as few points as possible.
The weather in the afternoon improved slightly as did the catches. It was obvious at the final weigh in that there was very little margin between the top placed anglers. Could 2006 and 2005 winner Campbell Baird from Ireland retain the trophy and win it for the third time in 4 years? The final outcome saw the title going to Bob Forsythe who had qualified at Ellerdine in Shropshire, with Campbell Baird taking second place. Pete Andrews of Oasby, Grantham came fifth representing Rutland Water. Best fish went to Steve Mannion a fine rainbow of 4lb 2oz.
1st Bob Forsythe 4 points
2nd Campbell Baird 5 points
3rd Mike Laycock 6 points
4th Andy Cooper 11 points
5th Pete Andrews 15 points
6th Findlay Meechan 18 points
7th Alex Weir 18 points
8th David Mordue 21 points
9th Blythe Palmer 22 points
10th Justin Thorne 22 points
best rainbow 6lb 6½oz - Eddie Spencer of Higham Ferrers
best brown 3lb 10oz
best boat areas Seat, sludge bank, G,K,B buoys, central drifts
best bank areas Seat, Sludge Bank, deep water point, Stumps
best methods see report
mid week boat winner C Bowers of Surrey
fish stocked 4200
forthcoming events Beginners courses 30 May, 2 &17 June
boat course 27 June
Tuesday evening boat league
Ladies International 31 May (all boats booked)
Lexus European Individual Qualifier 24 June
Lexus European Team Qualifier 25 June
England Youth National Sunday 8 July
Boat volunteers required please email Stuart Young on s.young@telinco.co.uk
Pitsford Water
fish for week 823 (6546) returns278 (2086) rod average 2.9(3.1)
Scottish holiday package angler Billy Burns of Falkirk caught the best fish of the week late on Sunday evening. Billy fished with fellow holiday package anglers in the current hot spot – the small half. He caught a 10lb 6oz rainbow on a damsel on a floating line close to the fishing limits near the Holcot arm. Billy also returned 8 other fish. Billy, on his second visit to Pitsford, said he really enjoyed fishing Pitsford and he would soon be back.
On Sunday Pitsford hosted the Bruce Richardson Trophy for the Nid Northants Club. 16 anglers fished the match. Ex club chairman Grant Gibson was the top rod on the day with 6 fish for 15lb 4oz. Grant’s largest fish weighed 4lb 8oz. Paul Gayton was in second place with 6 fish for a total bag weight of 14lb 12oz. Third place went to Mike Jeyes, who took 3 fish for an impressive 10lb 15oz including the biggest fish on the day – a rainbow of 4lb 12oz.
Beginners Club success - The club met for the first time on Sunday 20 May. Keith Watson a new Starter permit holder was the first member to join. Seasoned anglers Adrian Brewer and Darren Palmer helped Keith in bankside techniques. With their help Keith came very close to landing his first fish! They were able to show Keith the top spots and gave him lots of confidence for his next trip to Pitsford. The next Beginners Club session is planned for 24 June, followed by 22 July. To book a place please phone the fishing lodge on 01604 781350 (open to all new Starter permit holders).
Boat Buddies – starts Tuesday 29 May. We are looking for beginners who have never been out in a boat before and seasoned anglers to take them out. Please contact Pitsford Fishing Lodge to book a place (limited space available). These evenings will start at 6pm and are free. Other Boat Buddies dates are Tuesdays 26 June & 17 July.
best rainbow 10lb 6oz taken by Billy Burns of Falkirk
best brown 6lb 8oz taken by Bill Ferguson
best boat areas small half, sailing club, Gorse
best bank areas Stilton Point, Farm Bay
best methods see report
mid week boat winner John Fletcher of Desborough
fish stocked 2000
forthcoming events boat buddies Tuesdays 29 May, 26 June & 17 July. Book in at the Fishing Lodge
beginners club 24 June, 22 July
Please book in at the Fishing Lodge
beginners courses 27 May, 9,13 & 23 June and other dates throughout the season
Scierra UK Pairs Heat 23-24 May www.scierra.com
AWFMI Midlands heat 26 May
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
fish for week 422(season6735) returns 114 (1217) rod average 3.7 (5.53)
Broughton Astley angler Andrew Cooper described his beginners course, taken by Peter Hartley, on Wednesday at Pitsford as ‘inspiring’. Fired with enthusiasm Andrew went to Ravensthorpe on Thursday armed with a damsel and floating line. Within minutes he was down to his backing as a hard fighting Ravensthorpe Rainbow tested his new found skills. Andrew was rewarded with a Ravo Rainbow to remember at 12lb 6oz.
best rainbow 12lb 8oz reported by Kevin Daykin of Guilsborough
best bank areas Platforms 1-9 and dam wall
mid week boat winner John Parker of Northampton
best methods trout are moving in the top 2-3 feet . All traditional methods with floating lines will take fish. Size 12/14 nymphs and dries are best. Top flies are green buzzer, cruncher, GRHE, small parachutes and emergers.
fish stocked 310