Fishery News
Week ending 4 May 2008
· Seven year old Stamford lad takes 3lb 5oz Rainbow at Rutland Water
Joshua Clayton, son of Pitsford’s senior warden Nathan, shows Dad how it’s done
· Jim’s joy at 6lb 5¾oz Rutland Rainbow
Best fish of the week at Rutland Water goes to Ryhall angler Jim Watts
· Season’s best rainbow for Ray at Grafham Water
Ray Crompton takes 9lb 12oz Rainbow on final drift of the day from the new wheelie boat
· Pitsford Water Boat Buddies
The Pitsford Boat Buddy scheme gives novice boat anglers the chance to team up with a more experienced angler for a great evening’s boat fishing.
Call the fishing lodge on 01604 781350 to book a place
27 May, 24 June and 15 July
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 1996 (season 7459) returns 485 (1900) rod average 4.11(3.92)
“Outstanding fishing”, “Fantastic sport” – expressions used by anglers fishing Rutland Water to describe the quality of the fishing this season. The reservoir has been in tremendous form with quality stock fish and many overwintered fish amongst numerous daily limits. This season is one of the best ever.
The best fish of the week was a 6lb 5¾oz Rainbow taken by season ticket holder Jim Watts of Ryhall. Jim, a Rutland Water regular for a number of years, caught the fish whilst boat fishing off Barn Hill Creek. The fish was netted by his regular boat partner Ken Merriden of Uppingham. The pair had a good day with four other over wintered fish in their bag.
Joshua Clayton of Stamford may only be seven years old but he is proving to be a ‘chip off the old block’. Joshua is the son of Pitsford Senior Warden Nathan Clayton. The pair were bank fishing on Friday at Stockie Bay and New Zealand Point. Joshua caught his first ever Rutland trout - a 3lb 5oz Rainbow from New Zealand Point on a red holographic diawl bach and a 2lb 3oz Rainbow from Stockie bay. The best brown of the week was taken by Carlisle angler Michael McHugh, who netted a cracking 6lb 9oz fish that he took on a red buzzer fished on a midge tip line. Michael shared a boat with his good friend Pet Ivinson with the pair fishing on a three day boat package. Fish are being taken in many areas with nymph tactics working well, as buzzer hatches have been incredible so far this season. Many fish have been caught with their stomachs full to the brim. Some Hawthorn flies and Olives are also showing. Daphnia has shown in some fish, which in general, are still feeding deep. Prospects look very good with most areas fishing well with the bottom of both arms quiet. When they open up things will be even more interesting.
Competition news
Lexus European Team heat 21 April 2008
Ten teams fished this match with an excellent rod average of 5.02. Top rod was Dave Shipman with a total bag weight of 26lb 5oz including time bonus. The best fish was taken by Tim Leech and weighed in at 5lb 10oz. The top six teams go on to fish the England final with the chance of qualifying for the Lexus European Team Grand Final at Rutland Water 8-10 September.
1st Team Lochstyle 42 fish for 115lb 12oz
2nd Foremark Falcons 43 fish for 114lb 1oz
3rd Cormorant Flyfishers 36 fish for 101lb 5oz
4th Iain Barr Flyfishing Team 132 fish for 81lb 9oz
5th Guideline Rutland Raiders 31 fish for 72lb 9oz
6th Team Rio Draycote Flyers 27 fish for 66lb 7oz
7th Orvis Team Rutland 26 fish for 63lb 14oz
8th Team 1 Greenwell 23 fish for 59lb 9oz
9th Team 2 Greenwell 26 fish for 58lb 4oz
10th Iain Barr Flyfishing Team 2 15fish for 34lb 10oz
best methods Bank – floating line with nymphs.
Boats - as for bank anglers but various sinking lines with lures. Nymphs are black, green and claret, buzzers, Diawl bachs and crunchers. Lures – black/green, olive, orange boobies etc.
best rainbow 6lb 9oz taken by Michael McHugh of Carlisle
best boat areas Main basin, Barn Hill Creek, Yellowstone, Armley Wood, East Creek, Carrot Creek, Old Hall Bay
best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, Carrot Creek, Stockie Bay, Old Hall Bay
mid week boat winner B Rice of Oakham
fish stocked 3,000
forthcoming events Bob Church Classic 7 May (by qualification)
Tuesday evening boat league commences 13 May. Book in from 5.15pm, draw at 5.50, boat leave at 6pm. Light supper available
National Farmers Union 15 May
Hunt Service match 19 May
Fire Service 20 May
England FFA 31 May
Anglian Water Floating Line 7 June
beginners courses 9,11,17 & 24 May; 1,8,14,18,21 & 28 June and other dates throughout the season
boat fishing for beginners 13 June
Boats are heavily booked during May – please phone fishing lodge to check for availability
Grafham Water
fish week 599 (season 3,229) returns 135 (843) rod average 4.43 (3.83)
It has been another excellent week at Grafham Water with the fish now moving towards the middle of the lake and with more of the over wintered fish showing up in anglers’ bags. Following on from their good results in the annual GWFFA and EDFF match, Ray Crompton came back for another day out on the water in the new wheelie boat with George Todd. This time Ray, from Chorley, caught the biggest fish of the season so far, a superb 9lb 12oz Rainbow. This was taken just outside of the Harbour on his final drift, the monster took a red holographic cormorant fished on a wetcel 1. The best bag of the week went to Bob Wallinger with 8 fish for 32lb 10oz, all taking a gold lure fished just under the surface out in the middle of the lake. A few anglers have been returning browns of up to 8lb from various areas of the lake. The fish are still feeding mainly on the daphnia, with some now turning onto the vast hatches of buzzers that are now appearing on the warmer days. The Ladies held their annual Mixed Paris match on Saturday with Rob Edmunds and Martha Thompson running out winners with 16 fish for 43lb 15oz and the best fish went to Sean Cutting with a Rainbow of 5lb 1oz.
1st Martha Thompson & Rob Edmunds 16 fish for 43lb 15oz
2nd Scarlett Hodgeson & James Hunt 14 fish for 29lb 11oz
3rd Joan Russell & Mark Andrews 10 fish for 22lb 11oz
4th Sue Sissons & Sean Cutting 6 fish for 21lb 8oz
best rainbow 9lb 12oz taken by Ray Crompton
best brown Various
best boat areas G buoy, Deep Water Point, Bowl of Dam, south Dam, Seat/Sludge Bank, Central Drifts
best bank areas South end of Dam, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Perry Point, the Seat
mid week boat winner L Cooper of Histon, Cambs
forthcoming events beginners courses 10,25 & 28 May; 8,22 & 25 June and other dates throughout the year
England Eliminator ‘Odds & Sods’ 11 May
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May
Trout Masters final 19 May (please note no bank or boat fishing available for non competitors). Bank fishing may commence from 5pm onwards
Pitsford Water
fish week 945 (season 4,511) returns 270(1,280) rod average 3.5 (3.5)
Pitsford fished to a 3.5 rod average this week. Sport is good for both bank and boat anglers. Fish are feeding hard on buzzers so floating lines and nymphs are the way forward. Some good fish have been spotted on clam days rising in the evenings so it will not be long before dry flies will be put back into use. Pitsford has been stocked with some excellent quality brown trout - anglers are reminded that two browns per bag is the limit. Gordon Bramwell of Loughborough had two excellent days boat fishing this week with eight fish on each visit. Each of his bag limits weighed over 20lb. Gordon used buzzers on long leaders in perfect trout fishing conditions. He fished the small half and Bog Bay. Wilf Moran of Leicester boat fished and bagged 8 fish totalling 16lb 8oz. The best brown trout recorded this week was 6lb 4oz and caught by John McLellan of Northampton. Have you ever fished on a boat before? If not, Boat Buddies is designed to get you out with an experienced angler for an evening on a boat. Please contact the Pitsford Fishing Lodge to book a place on 01604 781350. Boat Buddies also requires experienced boat anglers to help out from time to time during the season. If you can help please leave your details at the Lodge. The next date for Boat Buddies is Tuesday 27 May.
best brown 6lb 4oz taken by John McLellan of Northampton
best boat areas Small Half, Bog Bay, the Gorse
best bank areas Gravels, Sermans
fish stocked 1,000
mid week boat winner R M Newson of Enstone, Oxon
forthcoming events beginners courses 10,14,25 May then alternate Saturdays until the first week of November.
Anglian Water Fulling Mill International
Midland Heat 24 May
Boat Buddies 27 May – see report for details
Scierra Pairs 25 June
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
fish week 667 (season 4855) returns 119(698) rod average 5.6 (6.9)
The best fish of the week was a superb 8lb 9oz Rainbow taken by Pat Flynn of Northampton. Pat boat fished and used buzzer and bung. Buzzers in black or olive fished under the bung are taking most fish. Olives are hatching at lunchtime so PTN’s, diawl bachs are working from drifting boats. The dam is fishing well again to buzzer and bung.
best rainbow 8lb 9oz taken by Pat Flynn of Northampton
best boat areas Island, cotton End, Willows - Mongers
best bank areas Dam
mid week boat winner S Thomas
fish stocked 350
Demand for boats often outstrips supply – pre-booking is essential.
For boat bookings and enquiries please call 01604 770875.