fishery news

week ending 30 March 2008

• 11lb Rainbow makes Dick’s day at Pitsford Water
 Kingsthorpe angler and season ticket holder Dick Osborn catches best Rainbow so far this season 

 
• great day at Grafham Water for Gerry and his grandsons
former GWFFA chairman Gerry Bailey took grandsons Jack and Joe Easton to Grafham last week.  Jack caught his best ever trout at 4lb 8oz and brother Joe his first ever trout

• April matches
 Rutland Water
 6 Alan West Memorial
 12 Anglian Water Spring Rudder match
 20 Lexus European Individual qualifier
 21 Lexus European Team Qualifier
 Grafham Water
 6 Bob Church Open for Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy
 27 EDFF & GWFFA 
 
• timely reminder for all anglers you must have a valid EA rod licence. 
Expect a fine if you can’t produce one – the max fine is £2,500

Rutland Water
fish week 345 returns 86  rod average 4.01

Rob Edmunds fished the bank last Friday and had Rainbows to 4lb.  He also returned two overwintered browns around 4lb 8oz and 6lb 8oz.  Boat anglers Ray Garrod and Mick Atkinson from Lincolnshire, recorded ten fish on Saturday despite the strong winds.  Also recording good bags were Oakham’s Rick Broome and Derby’s Des Welch with eight fish limits last Sunday whilst boat fishing the Main Basin.  They also returned approx six brownies.  Di 7 lines with pulled lures continue to be the best method.

Despite the cold unsettled conditions fish are being taken on a variety of methods and flies.  Stock fish are in excellent condition with many around the 2lb mark and up to 4lb.  Steady numbers of over wintered fish are showing again in superb condition, they are very silver and fighting hard.  Fish are feeding on a plentiful supply of daphnia and lots of early season small green, brown and black buzzer.

Best bank areas seem to be where the wind has been or is blowing on to the shore, with Normanton last Wednesday followed by Sykes Lane when the wind changed direction. Boat anglers fared best with drifting/anchored boats onto the windward shore.  However, last Tuesday anglers caught well out in the main basin in very deep water despite the bitter cold.

Prospects look good with fish feeding well.  Settled weather will see consistent sport with all areas being open for bank fishing and boats allowed past the sailing limits with winter restrictions being lifted on 1 April.  Brown trout will also be in season.

best methods bank – floating lines with weighted lures.  Black/green dawsons olive, orange, boobies on a sinking line, nymphs (black buzzer also working).  Boats – various sinking lines with similar lines and gold and silver sparklers

best rainbow 5lb 2oz taken by T Millar of Burgh Le Marsh, Lincs

best boat areas main basin, fishing lodge frontage, Church Bay

best bank areas Sykes Lane, Normanton, Whitwell, The Finches, the Dam, Carrot Creek, Yellowstone and Old Hall Bay

mid week boat winner Kate Royce of Rotherham

fish stocked to date 20500

forthcoming events 6 April  Alan West Memorial match
 12 April Anglian Water Spring Rudder Match
 20 April Lexus European Individual Qualifier 01761 490367
 21 April Lexus European Team Qualifier
   01761 490367
 beginners courses 6,13,20 & 27 April, 3,9,11,17 & 24 May and other dates throughout the season
 boat fishing for beginners 11 April, 13 June

Grafham Water
fish week 237 (season 517) returns 80 (143) rod average 2.96(3.61)

The fishing at Grafham Water this week has been very productive considering the unsettled weather that we have been experiencing.  Both bank and boat anglers have been enjoying some arm wrenching sport from mainly the north shore with Hill Farm, Hedge End and the G Buoy area being the best spots for the boat anglers.  Best boat methods have been mainly fast sunk lines with black and green or cat whisker boobies, or floaters with blood worm, buzzers and gold ribbed hares ears fished slowly.

Bank anglers have also been having some tremendous sport from mainly the north shore with the Stumps, Hill Farm, G Buoy and the south end of the Dam using floating or intermediate lines with Dawsons olive, buzzers, gold ribbed hares ears, damsel nymphs and Montanas.

Grafham Water Senior warden John Mees caught the best bag of the week with eight fish weighing 27lb 12oz whilst boat fishing at Hedge End.  John took this bag by fishing a cat whisker booby on a di 5 line fished with a very slow retrieve.

Former GWFFA chairman Gerry Bailey took his two Grandsons, Jack and Joe Easton from Hitchin, out for a day’s fishing this week.  Jack caught his best trout ever – a cracking over wintered rainbow of 4lb 8oz with two other rainbows of 2lb 8oz each.  His brother Joe caught his very first trout – a 2lb 10oz Rainbow.  The budding pair of young anglers took these trout from G buoy on an intermediate line with a gold head damsel nymph.

This week’s returns showed five 6lb rainbows – two recorded by Mr Nightingale and three by T Stannard.

best rainbow 6lb – three taken by T Stannard and two by Mr Nightingale

best boat areas Stumps, Hedge End, G Buoy, Hill Farm

best bank areas South end of Dam, Hill Farm, G buoy, the Seat

mid week boat winner Clive Morgan of Ilford, Essex
 
forthcoming events  6 April Bob Church Open  (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) telephone 01604 661133
 27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 30 March, 13,23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year

Pitsford Water
fish week 356 (season 1428) returns 84 (343) rod average 4.2(4.1)

A superb 11lb Rainbow made Dick Osborn’s day this week.  Dick, from Kingsthorpe, Northampton, caught this fantastic fish from Sermans on a floating line with a black and green Pitsford Pea. Anglers who have defied the early season weather have been rewarded with some very good sport, mainly to intermediate or sinking lines with small lures etc.

Black and green tadpole or viva patterns are accounting form many fish with cats whiskers also taking some good quality rainbows.

Bank anglers have reported plenty of fish from most areas of the reservoir with the usual hot spots being the Gravels, Stone Barn Bay, Bog Bay and the Gorse.  However, many areas have been neglected due to adverse winds but could produce a ‘surprise’ or two.  Few boats have been out but Stone Barn Bay to the Pines should produce some good catches.

Buzzers and nymphs (Diawl Bachs etc) fished on floating lines have also taken quite a few fish and this trend should continue as the water warms up.

best rainbow 11lb taken by Dick Osborn of Kingsthorpe

best boat areas Stone Barn Bay, Bog Bay , Causeway

best bank areas Stilton Point, Bag Bay, Gravels & Sermans

fish stocked 1000

mid week boat winner Terry Pancoust of Northampton

forthcoming events beginners courses 26 April, 10,14,25 May then alternate Saturdays until the first week of November.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
fish week 815(season 1982) returns 93 (268) rod average 8.76 (7.2)

Northampton Police fished the first of their mid-week matches and caught over 200 fish to their 6 boats last week.  Top spot went to Mark Matheson with 21 fish including and 8lb Rainbow.

Gary and David Turner recorded 45 Rainbows whilst boat fishing around the Island.  All were taken on buzzers.  Mr Bedford and his boat partner made the long trip from Rotherham and brought 41 fish up to 4lb to their boat.  Peter Dixon took ten trout from Platform 4 including a 7lb 8oz fish.

Chris Sellen caught the biggest fish this week an 8lb 4oz Rainbow from a boat on a size 12 black buzzer and floating line.

best methods floating lines with long leaders (18 feet) and nymph and buzzer teams are taking some big bags of fish from both boat and bank.  Best flies are bloodworm, size 12 black buzzer, diawls, GRHE, Montanas and black and green tadpoles.

best rainbow 8lb 4oz taken by Chris Sellen

best boat areas all areas fishing well

best bank areas platforms 4 to 12

fish stocked 315

forthcoming events Ravensthorpe Troutmaster fish off will be held on Wednesday 16 April starting at 10am.

Demand for boats often outstrips supply – pre-booking is essential. 
For boat bookings and enquiries please call 01604 770875.  

Coarse
Alton Water

The Wick Lane Lake is starting to come into its own now with the regular appearance of summer species and plenty of good mixed bags of fish being reported.  Danny Baker had 9 Bream to 6lb, Noel Woods also had some Bream to 5lb plus a few skimmers.  Mark Smith had a nice 4lb Tench while Paul Southgate had an 11lb Common.