Fishing Lodge, Brixworth Road,

Holcot, Northants, NN6 9SJ

01604 781350

Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6TA

01603 861014

Grafham Fishing Lodge, West Perry,

Huntingdon, PE28 0BX

01480 810531

Recreation Site Manager, 

Alton WTW,

Stutton, Ipswich, IP9 2RY

01473 589105

Normanton Fishing Lodge

Edith Weston, Oakham, LE15 8HD

01780 686441

Recreation Dept. Anglian Water

Wing WTW, Oakham, LE15 8SA

01572 653021

e-mail: fishing@anglianwater.co.uk

Lincolnshire angler Ken Rayner held a twelve man match last Thursday.  44 fish were taken with two limits and the winner was John Tattersfield with Martin Laing taking second place.  Organiser Ken Rayner came third with seven fish.  James Cousin took the best fish of the match – a 3lb 2oz rainbow.  Rudder anglers Brian Moore and John Dean had 16 fish in quick succession last Sunday from the main basin.  The pair had fish up to 3lb in around 3½ hours.

Fish are feeding on daphnia, various sized buzzers, sedge and fry. This year’s fry are of good size with perch and bream to nearly 4” and roach averaging around 2-3”.

There are only a few anglers on the banks.  At this time of year an early start can be beneficial.  Season ticket holder John Jones, from Ryhall, caught and released three browns around the Normanton church area last Wednesday.

Boat anglers were reporting a good number of fish on the top last Saturday, especially in the wind lanes.  With this and last year’s fry and possibly the inclusion of ‘daddies’ prospects look good.  Boat anglers are catching especially well with the main basin, Yellowstone and Old Hall Bay the best areas.

Numerous methods are working with floating line/midge tips with long leaders and nymphs to slow sink intermediate lines with lure/lure nymph combinations also taking plenty of fish.  One or two anglers have reported lines broken by fish.  Best tip is to fish 8lb leaders with nymphs etc to 10lb plus with lures.  Daddy Long Legs are hatching but only in steady numbers with no reports to date of fish taking them.

Best brown: 6lb 7oz

Best boat areas: The main basin, in front of the fishing lodge, Old Hall Bay, Yellowstone

Best bank areas: Old Hall point, Sykes Lane, Normanton, East Creek, fishing lodge wall

Boat – as above including sinking lines with mini boobies and wet flies.

Fish stocked: 2000

Beginners courses 16,19 and 30 September & other dates throughout the season

Anglian Water Autumn Pairs sections for rudder & non rudder, excellent prizes 15 September

Rutland Water Flyfishers Loch Style Pairs (members only) 16 September 

Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain Charity Day 24 September

Anglian Water Rudder Match (George Moore Memorial Trophy) 20 October

call the fishing lodge on 01780 686441 to book

Another week dominated by large fish at Grafham Water with the harbour arms and surrounding area producing quality fish regularly over 6lb.

Best bag of the week goes again to Bob Wallinger with 8 fish for 32lb 9oz.  All were from the harbour on a large deer hair floating fry fished close to the boom.  Anglian Water staff are getting in on the act with our own Alan Taylor taking six fish for 27lb 10oz on a grey minkie whilst fishing next to Bob.  Whilst talking to regular angler John Seras, Ray Jenkins was asked if he liked his new rod.  Ray had a quick go and the result was a 7lb 4oz brown.

Fry feeding is starting in other parts of the lake with fish now in the mouth of Savages Creek and around both Towers hitting the fry.

There are still plenty of fish out in the central areas of the water.  All are well up in the water.  On calmer days fish have been taken on dries, but normally a slow sinker with a booby and nymphs fished as the washing line.

Best brown 7lb 4oz taken by Ray Jenkins

Best boat areas I,Q,J,X,B and G buoys, central drifts and Valley Creek

Best bank areas The Seat, sludge bank, the Harbour Arms, Savages

Beginners courses 23 & 26 September, 6 & 21 October, 4 November

English National 21 & 22 September

Anglian Water Rudder match 7 October

Fur and Feather match (bank) 28 October

Last Thursday Pitsford Water hosted a match between the EFFA versus the Army/Navy.  Conditions were cloudy and warm but it fished to a 4.5 rod average with no blanks from either team.  The EFFA caught 69 fish weighing 127lb 2oz with the Army/Navy catching 62 fish for 107lb 10oz.

John Mees, Senior Warden from Grafham, was top individual with 7 fish for 18lb 10oz.

In general drifting boats are best at present in the narrows, with traditional wet flies doing best.  Ashley Davies and partner Tom caught over 30 fish on Saturday whilst on the drift.  Rob Layton and boat partner Brian Moore both had their limits drifting the narrows with small wet flies on Saturday.  Richard Hunt recorded a brown trout of 6lb 8oz on Wednesday on a minky on a boat with a floating line.

Best rainbow: 4lb taken by John Mees in EFFA versus Army/Navy match

Best brown: 4lb taken by John Mees

Best boat areas: Cliffs, narrows

Best bank areas: Grange Farm Creek, Cliffs, Gorse

Best methods: Floating lines, dries or daddies just under the surface

Mid week boat winner: G King of Comberton, Cambridge

Fish stocked: 525

Beginners courses  13,15 & 29 September and other dates throughout the season

Pitsford Individual Rudder match Wednesday 12 September 9am to 5pm. 8 Fish limit best brace wins. To include barbecue and refreshments. Call Lodge on 01604 781350 to book

Beginners club Sunday 16 September. A morning’s bank fishing for beginners with experienced anglers to help.

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

Top spot at Ravensthorpe this week went to John Martin from Kirkaldy with 21 nice rainbows.  The best weighed 7lb 5oz.  All were taken from a drifting boat on small dry flies.  John was on holiday with three friends and they all enjoyed excellent sport recording 61 fish between them. 

On Sunday 24 anglers fished for the Mick Griffin Phoenix Shield weighing 79 fish with many more returned.

1st = Dick Haynes 11lb

Mick Griffin 11lb

3rd Simon Johnson 10lb 14oz

4th Ian Footman 10lb 4oz

With fish surface feeding on ginger buzzers and small pond olives size 16 dry spiders, hot spot buzzers, diawls and hoppers have all taken fish right in the surface on the drift.

Best rainbow: 7lb 5oz taken by John Martin of Kirkaldy with a diawl bach from a drifting boat

Best brown: 5lb 2oz

Best boat areas: All areas

Best bank areas: Dam wall

Mid week boat winner: D Moss of Thame