Rutland Water

fish for week 207 (season 3379) returns 125 (10955)  rod average 1.65 (3.04)

                                 John's 5lbs 12oz Rainbow.

The best fish of the week was taken by John Allen of Gateshead.  John netted a stunning 5lb 12oz rainbow whilst boat fishing the south arm around Browns Island.  He used a fast glass line and minkies.

The best brown (5lb plus) was caught and released by season ticket holder Des Welch of Derby.  Des fished from a boat off New Zealand Point and his fish fell to a floating fry in only inches of water.  Top rod of the week was Mr Jiri from Czechoslavakia who caught ten fish on a catch and release ticket using lures and sinking lines.

Bank fishing is steady.  Season ticket holder Rob Waddington recorded a 5lb 8oz rainbow with anglers also catching fish around Old Hall.

Fish are still feeding heavily on daphnia out in the open water.  One or two are on corixa and isolated fish are feeding on fry/sticklebacks.  Nearly 2,000 rainbows will be stocked this coming week, averaging 1lb 12oz.

Competition news

In a two day match hosted by Rutland Water for the Army Angling Federation 22 anglers caught 66 fish.  Top rod was Mark Jones who took 11 fish over the two days for 22lb

best rainbow                           5lb 12oz taken by John Allen of Gateshead.

best brown                             5lb plus taken by Des Welch of Derby

best boat areas                      fishing lodge frontage, middle of south arm.  Manton, Lax Hill, Browns Island and main basin

best bank areas                     Old Hall, Yellowstone, East Creek, Barnsdale

best methods                         nymphs, diawl bach, pheasant tail, hares ear.  Fry patterns – minkies (various colours), floating fry.  Lures – gold/silver, black/green cats whisker.  Boobies/cormorants

mid week boat winner            Graham Willis of Glendon, Northants

fish stocked                            800

forthcoming events                Beginners courses 11 & 24 November

                                               Pike boat fishing with lures and dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes Lamprey) 8 October – 31 October

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

                                               call the fishing lodge on 01780 686441 to book

                                               Fry Bashers match Sunday 21 October all boats booked try for cancellations

Grafham Water

fish for week 585 (season 19070) returns 221 (5213) rod average 2.64 (3.65)

The biggest bag of the week was caught by M Burnside from Co Durham whilst boat fishing at Savages Creek.  He fished an intermediate liner with a team of minkies to take 8 trout for a total weight of 21lb 2oz.

Grafham Water has continued to fish well this week with the majority of trout being caught on fry imitations of small nymphs.  Boat anglers have had the best of the sport by fishing intermediate lines with minkies, boobies and diawl bachs from most areas of the reservoir with Savages Creek, lodge frontage, inlet and A buoy at the south end of the dam producing the best catch rates.

Bank anglers are having some superb sport from the Harbour Arms, Marlow car park frontage and the south end of the dam by fishing the same methods as boat anglers.

best rainbow        7lb 12oz taken by P Roland of Godmanchester

best brown           5lb 10oz taken by Charles Bowers of Spalding

best boat areas    lodge frontage, Savages Creek, south end of dam and inlet.

best bank areas                     the Harbour arms, south dam

best methods                         see report

mid week boat winner            John Bretherick of Perry

forthcoming events                Beginners courses 21 October, 4 November

                                               Pike boat fishing with lures and dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes Lamprey) 15 October – 25 November

                                               Fur and Feather match (bank) 28 October

Pitsford Water

fish for week 343 (season 14183) returns 150 (5209) rod average 2.2(2.7)

This week Pitsford Water hosted the annual match between employees from Anglian Water and the Environment Agency.  40 anglers fished, but with 26 anglers from AW and only 14 representing the EA, Anglian Water won by a 50lb plus weight margin.  Top rod on the day was Robbie Winram, of Anglian Water’s Rutland Water tackle shop.  Robbie won with 6 fish for 16lb 13oz - he also caught the best fish of the match a 6lb 14oz brown.  Paul Jones from Grafham Water took second place with 7 fish for 15lb 4oz and third place went to Tracey Rathbone from Grafham Water with 4 fish for 11lb 8oz.  Tracey also took second best fish of the day a 6lb 10oz brown.

Browns are still on the feed with good quality fish being caught every day, mainly falling to fry patterns as Stu Lawdron from Desborough found out with a 7lb 4oz specimen.

Boat anglers are enjoying good sport with fish out in the middle and drifting is best with patterns like dry flies to minkies on floating lines.  Fish are gorging on daphnia at variable depths.

Bank anglers continue to catch with good access in most areas.  The most productive conditions are cloudy days with wind blowing onto the banks.

best methods                         floating lines, minkies or booby minkies (floating fry)

best rainbow                           4lb

best brown                             7lb 4oz taken by Stu Lawdron of Desborough

best boat areas                      main bowl, narrows

best bank areas                     Gorse, Pines

mid week boat winner            D Lawrence of Market Harborough

fish stocked                            500

forthcoming events                beginners courses  27 October & 10 November

                                               Pike - boat fishing with lures and dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes lamprey) 1 October – 25 November. Call 01604 781350 for details

                                               Fur & Feather (bank) 25 November

Ravensthorpe Reservoir

fish for week 308 (season 13318)  returns 66 (2662) rod average 4.6(5.0)

Fish are now on buzzers again and also late olives.  Some are taking dry daddies.  Anglers are enjoying good sport from the dam to nymphs or lures.  One or two fish are looking at fry.  Boat anglers are enjoying the best sport whilst drifting.

best bank areas                     dam

mid week boat winner            T Evans of Slough

forthcoming events                Pike - boat fishing with lures and dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes lamprey) 29 October – 25 November.        

Coarse fishing

Ardleigh

The pike fishing season is now well under way with plenty of fish being reported.  Nigel Berryman, Adam Hutchings and Terry Hattley all had three fish each, (mainly low double figure fish).  Robert Petty and Wayne Gayner both had 6 each.  Most of these fish have been caught on lures.  Clive Baldwin was fishing from the bank at Pine Point and had 4 pike as well as some bream and roach.

The Wick Lane Lake remains weed free and several good mixed bags of roach, rudd, bream, perch and gudgeon have been reported.  Harrold Griffith had a typical bag of 30 fish.

The main reservoir remains affected by the weed but clear swims are available at Pine Point, Noah’s Ark and Lodge Lane Point. Keith Jowers had a nice 6lb tench and Lee Jarvis a magnificent 28½lb fully scaled mirror carp.