• Anglian Water fisheries in fantastic form
stunning rod averages
Ravensthorpe reservoir  8.26
Rutland Water    4.27
Grafham Water    3.8
Pitsford Water    3.6
• Terrific rainbow for Terry Pancoust at
 Pitsford Water
 8lb plus Rainbow for Northampton angler 
• Long journey rewarded for John who wins Lexus individual qualifier at Rutland Water
 John Allen travels south from Gateshead to scoop qualifier 
• Great Ravensthorpe rainbow for Graham
9lb 7oz Rainbow taken by Graham Smith of Spratton

Rutland Water 01780 686441; Grafham Water 01480 810531;
Pitsford, Ravensthorpe & Hollowell 01604 781350,
Taverham Mills Fishery 01603 861014; Alton Water 01473 589105
Recreation Dept Anglian Water 01572 653021

Rutland Water
fish week 1575  (season 3731) returns 368 (966) rod average 4.27 (3.86)

Rutland Water is in excellent form with a stunning rod average of 4.27 in spite of the recent cold weather. North to North East winds meant different areas were fished.  Bank anglers caught well off Old Hall, Green bank, Dickensons Bay, the dam and Whitwell to the Mound.  Boat anglers continued to catch fish in the main basin but Yellowstones, Old Hall, Gibbets and  Dickensons Bay also produced fish.  Limits were common with yet again top quality stock fish and good numbers of overwintered fish showing.  April tactics have been typical across the board with lures, black and green, cats whisker, green/orange and various boobies scoring well.  Anglers opting for nymphs with black, green and brown buzzer and bloodworm are taking plenty of fish.  Prospects at Rutland Water look very good with lots of buzzers hatching, topped up by masses of daphnia.  Fish are in excellent condition and feeding hard.

Competition news
Frank Sumnall from Stoke on Trent won the Trout Masters fish off with 8 fish for 18lb 7½oz fishing in the Church Bay using a nymph and lure combination.  Frank, a season ticket holder, goes on to fish the final at Grafham Water.  Graham Pearson was second with 8 fish for 15lb 9½oz.  John Allen was third with two fish for 4lb 10oz.

John Allen was in fine form again on Sunday and won the Lexus Individual Qualifier.  John had travelled all the way from Gateshead and his winning bag included the best fish of the week – a 6lb Rainbow.
 1st John Allen 8 fish for 25lb 8oz
 2nd David Lang 8 fish for 23lb 10oz
 3rd Malc Randle 8 fish for 23lb 5oz best methods most methods working, especially lures and nymphs best rainbow 6lb taken by John Allen of Gateshead, whilst fishing in the Lexus individual competition best boat areas main basin, Church Bay, Yellowstone, Old Hall Dickensons Bay best bank areas Old Hall, Dickensons Bay, the Dam, Whitwell to the Mound, Church Bay, Yellowstone, Green Bank mid week boat winner Philip Cole of Oakham

fish stocked 2,500
forthcoming events 26 April Northern heat of Anglian Water Fulling Mill International
 7 May Bob Church Classic (by qualification)
 13 May Tuesday evening boat league commences.  Book in from 5.15pm, draw at 5.50, boat leave at 6pm.  Light supper available
 17 May Sportsman 4 man Team competition, Rutland Water Heat - to enter a team please contact Ron Ayers on 07976 668659
 beginners courses 27 April, 3,9,11,17 & 24 May and other dates throughout the season
 boat fishing for beginners 13 June
 Boats are heavily booked during May – phone fishing lodge for availability

Grafham Water
fish week 757 (season 2381) returns 199 (643) rod average 3.8(3.7)

The biggest fish of the week was caught by Suffolk angler Mark Bilner.  Mark caught a cracking 6lb 13oz over-wintered Rainbow whilst bank fishing at Perry Point on a black and green tadpole. Grafham Water has continued to fish well this week for both boat and bank anglers with the North shore producing the best of the sport for the boat anglers and the south shore being the best area for the bank anglers.  The most productive areas on the south shore for bank anglers have been Perry Point, the Seat, Plummer Park and the south dam.  G buoy, deep water point and Hill Farm are all still producing some excellent fishing with nymphs being the best patterns fished slowly. Boat anglers are still finding that points along the north shore are producing the best catch rates on either nymphs or black and green lures fished close to the bottom and slow.
best rainbow 6lb 13oz taken by Mark Bilner of Suffolk
best brown 4lb 3oz taken by Des Barker of Stevenage
best boat areas Hedge End, G buoy, Hill Farm, Deep Water Point, north dam
best bank areas south end of dam, Hill Farm, G Buoy, deep water point, Pylon Point, Perry Point, the Seat

mid week boat winner D Cormack of Cheshunt, Herts

fish stocked  2,000
 
forthcoming events 27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May

Pitsford Water
fish week 594 (season 2933) returns 162(878) rod average 3.6(3.3)

Pitsford Water has been on excellent form for both bank and boat fishing  with numerous bag limits being recorded and many fish released back into the water. Stuart East, one of Pitsford’s wardens, reported large numbers of fish in close to the banks from the Bog Bay area through to Brixworth Bay.  Bank anglers took advantage of this information throughout the week. Terry Pancoust, a season ticket holder from Northampton, had the best Rainbow from the bank – a fine fish of 8lb plus witnessed by Stuart East.  Terry’s fish took a yellow booby fished on a Di 7 shooting head from the Gorse bank.  Another season ticket holder, Victor Byrne from Leicester, had a fabulous afternoon taking his limit and releasing a further 12 fish all taken on black buzzers fished on a floating line between bog Bay and the Gorse Bank.  Richard Kesek, from Stevenage, caught a 5lb 8oz Rainbow on Sunday evening in the Small Half.  Greg Kemmitt took a 6lb 14oz fish, again from the Small Half.

Diawl bachs – damsel nymphs and GRHE’s have all been successful.  But when the buzzers are hatching they will take some beating.  The weather forecast is more favourable and with these improved conditions Pitsford should produce even greater fishing especially to buzzers and diawl bachs with the damsel nymph also doing well.

Competition news
The Trout Masters ‘Fish Off’ was held on Tuesday 15 April.
 1st Paul Longford 5 fish for 9lb
 2nd Don Moore  4 fish for 6lb 12oz
 3rd Bob Aves  2 fish for 3lb 6oz

Higham Ferrers Fly Fishers held their Wednesday Challenge match at Pitsford Water on 16 April.  All anglers took their 8 fish limit with the exception of one who took 6 fish.
 1st Bill Hails   8 fish for 15lb 10oz
 2nd Ken Plowright 8 fish for15lb
 3rd Paul Hillyard  8 fish for 14lb 14oz

The EFFA held a match at Pitsford Water on 17 April
 1st John Mees  18lb 1oz 
 2nd Ray Jenkins  12lb 15oz
 3rd Peter Proctor  11lb 10oz

best rainbow 8lb plus taken by Terry Pancoust of Northampton
best boat areas Causeway to Stone Barn and Bog Bay and Small Half
best bank areas Bog Bay – Gorse – Stone Barn and Gravels

fish stocked 750
 
mid week boat winner Mr John Gamen of Whitchurch

forthcoming events beginners courses 26 April, 10,14,25 May then alternate Saturdays until the first week of November.
 7 May David Brooks Trophy
 24 May Anglian Water Fulling Mill International Midland Heat
 25 June Scierra Pairs

Ravensthorpe Reservoir
fish week 562  (season 3,583) returns 68 (498) rod average 8.26 (7.19)

Some big fish have been taken at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this week with Graham Smith of Spratton taking a 9lb 7oz beauty from a boat whilst fishing the Island.  Graham used a weighted damsel.  Andrew Earland fished a green PTN from the dam wall for a 9lb fish and Julian Hubbard took a 9lb plus rainbow from near the draw off tower.  R Webster braved the wind and cold to float tube at the Coton End.  He was rewarded with a rainbow of 7lb 2oz and a brown of 6lb 6oz.  This superb brace of fish was taken on a floating line high in the water. Boat anglers are enjoying excellent bags with most in double figures.  One boat recorded 69 fish last week - all taken on buzzers. Fish are responding to almost static buzzer teams on 15 – 20 foot leaders with fish rising in the water at the height of the hatch.  Best flies are bloodworm, size 10 black buzzer, diawls, GRHE, PTN’s and damsel nymphs.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir’s Trout Masters finalist for this year is Mick Griffin who secured first place by 10z from Ian Gedney.
best rainbow 9lb 7oz taken by Graham Smith of Spratton
best brown 6lb 2oz taken by R Webster
best boat areas shallows of both banks
best bank areas dam wall

mid week boat winner J Brimley of Kempston

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

Anglian Water Fulling Mill International
South of England Heat Chew Valley, 19 April, 2008
Matthew Jones of the Celtic Casters caught the best fish of the match at 5lb 6oz with three of the fish in Matthew’s 7 fish bag weighing 14lb 10oz.  Gary Haskins of BRFFA Team Orvis had the best bag at 23lb 6oz. 27 Anglers (half those in the competition) caught their 8 fish limit.  This heat was fished on a cold, wet day with an easterly wind of 10-15 mph.  Most fish were caught between the North shore and Deny Island on nymphs and floating lines

The top five teams qualify for the south of England final on 14 July at Grafham Water are

 1st BRFFA Team Orivs  48 fish for 127lb 6oz
 2nd Team Tightlines  46 fish for 109lb 2oz
 3rd Blagdon FF Bristol Water 45 fish for 106lb 5oz
 4th Carbotec Kingfishers  40 fish for 92lb 3oz
 5th BRFFA Team Itchy Feet 41 fish for 87lb 3oz
 6th Team Snowbee  37 fish for 85lb 5oz
 7th Celtic Casters   32 fish for 82lb 2oz
 8th Team Woodford Greys
 Irleand    38 fish for 80lb 10oz
 9th Hereford Fly Fishers B 21 fish for 47lb 8oz