Rutland Water

fish for week 1204 (24890) returns 353 (7389) rod average 3.41 (3.36)

Empingham’s Tom Cooper (17) is in excellent form.  Hot on the heels of winning the England Youth Flyfishing Association Lochstyle crown at Grafham Water last week, Tom took first place in this week’s Tuesday Night Boat league at Rutland Water. On Saturday season ticket holders, Jim Watts of Ryhall and Stuart Hume of County Durham retained their Over 50’s title on a wind swept Rutland. (Full report in competition news)

The constant changes in wind direction have made fishing unpredictable – veering from south to west then to an easterly in the space of three days.

The main basin area of the reservoir is still the place to be for both bank and boat anglers, where there have been fish feeding hard on pin fry, daphnia, small buzzers, sedge and one or two olives.

Boat anglers have tried down the arms where there have been decent hatches of olives but very few fish showing.  Bank anglers have had a few fish from the Old Hall, Barn Hill Creek and New Zealand Point and East Creek.

Competition news

Tuesday Night Boat League week 9

Empingham’s Tom Cooper won week nine and this has put pressure on his brother Richard, who is in the lead with a 4 point margin over Si Gaines. Keith Jones came second this week and moves up the leader board into third place overall.

     1^st        Tom Cooper    6 fish for 11lb 5½oz

     2^nd       Keith Jones     6 fish for 11lb 1½oz

     3^rd        Ryan Worker   3 fish for 7lb 14½oz

Leader board

     1^st        Richard Cooper          35 points

     2^nd       Si Gaines                    31 points

     3^rd        Keith Jones                 24 points

     4^th =     Paul Shaw                   21 points

     4^th =     Tom Cooper                21 points

Over 50’s boat competition

Season ticket holders Jim Watts and Stuart Hume retained the Over 50’s title on a wind swept Rutland last Saturday.  The pair managed eight fish between them for a bag weight of 16lb 6oz.  Jim, from Ryhall, and Stuart, who travels all the way from County Durham, won £50 from the pool money.  Second placed Mike Barratt and Carl Peers won £35, with Carl also winning a £10 tackle voucher for the best brown.  Tim Williams won a £10 tackle voucher for the best rainbow at 3lb 9oz.

Rutland Water continued

Most of the seventeen competitors found conditions difficult. However, everyone had the comfort of enjoying an excellent two course meal of roast pork with all the trimmings followed by apple pie and custard served at the Waters Edge Restaurant following the competition.

     1^st        Stuart Hume & Jim Watts                   8 fish for 16lb 6oz

     2^nd       Mike Barratt & Carl Peers                   6 fish for 14lb

     3^rd        Tim Williams & Gary Edwards           2 fish for 5lb 3oz

best rainbow                           4lb 4 7/8 oz taken by Carl Nixon

best brown                             4lb 4oz taken by Carl Peers

best boat areas                      the Main Basin

best bank areas                     Normanton, Whitwell, Armley Wood, Barnhill Creek, East Creek

best methods                         bank – floating line with nymphs, diawl bach, hares ear, pheasant tail, dries – orange, red hares ear

                                               boats – as for bank but include lures, orange, black blobs and various mini boobies

mid week boat winner            M Chambers of Blandford Forum, Dorset

fish stocked                            2000

forthcoming events                Friday, Saturday and Sunday are very busy please phone the lodge for boat availability

Tuesday night boat league

Beginners courses 28 July, 5 & 22 August and other dates throughout the season

National fishing week 21-28 July, 45 minute casting sessions, daily 10am & 11am and 1pm, 2pm and 3 pm.  Please call 01780 686441 to book.

Grafham Water

fish for week 507 (13426) returns 177 (3604) rod average 2.86 (3.72)

The biggest bag of fish this week was caught by A Asplin of Bedford who took 8 fish for 21lb 2oz, his best fish weighed 4lb 8oz.

Grafham Water has continued to fish well for both bank and boat anglers with the majority of the trout being caught on small nymphs with floating or intermediate lines.

Bank anglers have had some excellent sport from the south end of the dam and the seat area on either small nymphs, diawl bachs, crunchers, pheasant tail nymphs which are producing the majority of the trout being caught.  But minkies and fry patterns are taking the better quality fish mainly from the Seat.  Boat anglers have had the best sport this week with the washing line method being the most productive, booby on the point with a couple of nymphs on the droppers.  Diawl bachs and crunchers have seemd to be the most productive for anglers.  The main areas for the boat anglers have been B,K,P and G buoys.

Competition news

Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

This week’s boat league saw 24 anglers taking part and catching 56 trout.  Senior Warden John Mees took the top spot by catching and releasing 11 trout from K buoy.  John caught his trout on diawl bachs and crunchers on a slow glass.  It was good to see David Moore, recently retired from his Anglian Water role as Recreation and Access Manager, taking part.  David took 5 trout to share third place.

     1^st        John Mees

     2^nd       Peter Harman

     3=        Chris McLeod, Keith Gilchrist and David Moore.

best rainbow                           5lb 7oz taken by I Baldock of Waterbeach

best brown                             various at 2lb

best boat areas                      P,K,B and G buoys, central drifts

best bank areas                     Plummer park, south dam, the seat

mid week boat winner            Tim Golby from London

fish stocked                            2000

forthcoming events                Beginners courses 19 & 22 August & other dates throughout the season     

                                               Tuesday evening boat league

National Fishing Week 21-28 July 4 daily 45 minute tuition sessions pre –booking essential on 01480 810531

Pitsford Water

fish for week 629 (10346) returns 230 (3693) rod average 2.7(2.8)

There have been some good hatches of sedge late in the evening so invictas and silver invictas should be worth a try.  Bank sport continues to have the edge over boat fishing at present.  Anglers fishing early and late have had good results fishing various nymph patterns on floating lines. The high water level is obviously keeping the fish interested close to the banks and in most areas weed is not a problem.

Rudder fishing has produced some nice fish to gold and silver tubes but the better boat sport has come to those who choose to anchor close in (bank anglers permitting) and fishing hares ear, buzzers and diawl bachs.

Pike - boat fishing with lures over 18cm only at Pitsford alternate weeks Monday to Friday commencing Monday 18 June.  Call Pitsford Fishing lodge on 01604 781350 for details.

best rainbow                           3lb 8oz

best brown                             3lb 6oz

best boat areas                      main bowl, Farm Bay

best bank areas                     Gravels, Farm Bay, Grange Farm creek

best methods                         see report

mid week boat winner            J Coleman of Salisbury

forthcoming events                Wednesday night boat league

                                               beginners club 22 July -Please book in at the Fishing Lodge.  Bank fishing for beginners with help from experienced anglers

beginners courses  21 July, 4 & 23 August and other dates throughout the season

National fishing week 23-27 July, 45 minute casting sessions, daily 10am, 11am and noon, 2pm and 3 pm.  Please book on 01604 781350

Ravensthorpe Reservoir

fish for week 294 (season9122)  returns 64 (1817)  rod average 4.61(502)

The biggest fish of the week went to Ian Adamson from Somersham.  This superb 14lb rainbow was taken on a floating line and dry fly from a drifting boat. Rick Barlow caught 22 rainbows on Bob’s bits and claret hoppers short lining from a drifting boat.

Fish are feeding hard on hatching damsel nymphs – floating lines with dry flies and emergers are taking some nice bags from drifting boats.

best rainbow                           14lb taken by Ian Adamson of Somersham

best boat areas                      all areas

best bank areas                     dam

mid week boat winner            G leach of Salthouse

coarse fishing

Ardleigh

Wick Lane continues to fish very well for mixed bags. Chris Anton had over 40 fish in his bag of perch, rudd, roach and gudgeon, Stephen Bennett had both bream and tench to 6lb. Nick Thompson had a small carp amongst his bag of bream and roach and Martin Brewer had a 3lb eel. There are still a few clear areas to fish on the main reservoir from Noahs Ark to Pine Point and a few at Wick Lane. Anglers are advised to contact the Lodge for the latest information. On the carp front Spencer Joyce landed 'Lumpy' who weighed in at 32lb.