Fishery News
Week ending 11May 2008
· Bob Church Classic comes of age at Rutland Water
It was Rutland Water’s turn to host this popular match as it celebrated 21 years with a classic result
· Be in it to win it ..… evening boat leagues start at Rutland and Grafham this Tuesday
Find out more - Call Rutland Water on 01780 686441 or Grafham Water on 01480 810531
· Dick’s delighted to land 9lb 2oz Ravensthorpe Rainbow
Dick Haynes of Ravensthorpe takes superb Rainbow
· great way to gain boat skills – 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
fish week 1902 (season 9361) returns 452 (2352) rod average 4.2 (3.98)
The highlight of the week at Rutland Water was the 21st Bob Church Classic, organised by angling personality, Bob Church. This popular invitation only match attracts top international anglers. 120 Anglers fished with many catching their six fish limit plus catch and release. The match rod average was 5.42. The best fish weighed 5lb and was taken by David Hoppe. Top lady rod was Martha Thompson with a total weight of 20lb 4oz. The match was won by Alex McEwan, from Scotland, who took 6 fish plus another 9 catch and release for a total of 33lb 8½oz. Dave Shipman from Whittlesey took second place.
1st Alex McEwan 33lb 8½oz
2nd Dave Shipman 28lb 8¼oz
3rd Fred Bainbridge 28lb 1oz
4th Peter Appleby 25lb 10oz
5th Leigh Pond 25lb 6oz
6th Andrew Green 24lb 6oz
7th David Hoppe 23lb 12oz
8th Chris Guthrie 23lb 7oz
9th Mark Andrews 23lb 3oz
10th Peter Kempton 23lb 2½oz
At the 2008 Water Industry Game Fishing Championships at Stocks in Lancashire Anglian Water fielded a very competitive team coming a very close sixth out of 17 teams. Paul Shaw was the highest placed AW team member, in second place overall out of 84 anglers with 8 fish for 16lb 2oz.
best methods
Buzzers fished deep are the best methods. Nymphs, black olives, claret buzzers, diawl bach (red and green holographic, pheasant tail, bloodworm. Lures – black green, cats whisker, two tone blobs, boobies.
best rainbow 5lb 4oz taken by Mr Restoueix of France
best brown 4lb taken by Neil Squires of Lincoln
best boat areas Main basin, Armley Wood to Carrot Creek. Yellowstone, Gibbets Gorse, East Creek
best bank areas Normanton, Whitwell, Stockie Bay, New Zealand Pointmid week boat winner W Fletcher of Barnard Castle
fish stocked 2,000
forthcoming events Tuesday evening boat league commences 13 May. Book in from 5.15pm, draw at 5.50, boat leave at 6pm. Light supper available
Hunt Service match 19 May
Fire Service 20 May
England FFA 31 May
Anglian Water Floating Line 7 June
beginners courses 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 1180 (season 4409) returns 332 (1175) rod average 3.55 (3.75)
The fishing is hotting up as well as the weather. Some very notable bags have been caught this week. Larry Swan and Paul Langley took 16 fish for 52lb 8oz from around the Dam Tower. Only to be bettered by regulars Rob Edmunds and Pat Sweeney who had 16 for 59lb 10oz, all taken deep on black boobies drifting from G to K Buoys. The famous Grafham over wintered fish are now being seen in a large number of bags. It is almost impossible to tell the early season stock fish apart thanks to the massive amount of daphnia in the water and with the fish gorging themselves on this soup. Fish in certain areas are now starting to feed on the ever increasing buzzer hatches so anglers wanting to use imitation methods can do so with floating lines and buzzers, either long lined or fished under a bung. The water is incredibly clear for the time of year and the fish have stayed deep with the visibility being almost 20 feet deep.
Competition news
On Sunday Grafham Water hosted the first round of the Anglia region eliminators for the English National. With reports that there were fish in most parts of the lake expectations were high. Following the start nearly 30 boats dispersed throughout the lake but with the majority heading for the open water towards the Dam. The first angler to catch his limit was Andy Taylor at noon from the Stumps area, all on midge tip and nymphs, closely followed by his boat partner Dave Hodgeson. Some of the anglers had travelled a long way to take part in this, the first part of a two leg match, with the second and final round held at Rutland on 22 June. Ashley Davies won, with the best bag, he also had the best fish of the match at 5lb 11oz.
England Eliminator results
1st Ashley Davies 8 fish for 26lb 9 3/8oz
2nd Ed Foster 8 fish for 26lb 1¾oz
3rd Mike Dixon 8 fish for 24lb 12 1/8oz
4th Roger Hurren 8 fish for 22lb 15 7/8oz
5th Mike Barratt 8 fish for 22lb 13 3/8oz
6th Phil Dixon 8 fish for 22lb 1½oz
7th Paul Haskey 8 fish for 21lb 10¼oz
8th Tim Leach 8 fish for 21lb 3¾oz
9th Mark Haycock 8 fish for 21lb 1 5/8oz
10th Robert Allen 8 fish for 21lb 11/8oz
best rainbow 6lb 10oz taken by Ian Heading
best brown 6lb 10oz taken by Steve McDonald
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 D Daniels of Haynes, Bedford
fish stocked 2,000
forthcoming events beginners courses 25 & 28 May; 8,22 & 25 June and other dates throughout the season
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 587 (season 5,098) returns 224(1,504) rod average 2.3(3.3)
On Wednesday Pitsford Water hosted the English Disabled Fly Fishers annual Pitsford outing. Despite hot weather 35 anglers caught 89 fish. They fished mainly in the small half where they caught on a variety of methods from sinking lines and lures to buzzers on the bung. Top bag on the day was Grafham angler Ken Dainty with 8 fish weighing 17lb 8oz, second was Trevor Ashby with 7 fish weighing 15lb 11oz, and third was Gordon Watson with 8 fish for 15lb-0. Pitsford Water hosted a new inter club league on Sunday called the Midland Counties which consists of two teams of six per match. Leicester Fly Fishers fished against the Mid Northants Trout Fishers. The MNTFA caught 36 fish weighing 77lb 2oz and Leicester caught 23 fish weighing 48lb15oz. Well done to MNTFA.
Brian Naylor of East Raynham Norfolk made the journey worthwhile he caught a 6lb 2oz rainbow and returned 4 other fish. Fish are feeding on a variety of things mainly Buzzers and daphnia, and some even on snails. Larger over wintered fish have woken up and are now being caught and seen on the move. It’s worth exploring the lake to find a quiet corner to pick up one or two of these. It will soon be time to put on a dry fly thanks to this recent warm weather. Charles Campion of Crowle, Worcester, fished with his son on Saturday. Charles boated, weighed, photographed and then released a Bream of 17lb in the small half. 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 rainbow 6lb 2oz
best boat areas Small Half, Dam
best bank areas Small Half, Gravels
fish stocked 1,000
mid week boat winner Dave Richardson of Dereham
forthcoming events beginners courses 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 1077 (season 5932) returns 160 (858) rod average 6.7(6.9)
The best fish of the week was a superb 9lb 2oz Rainbow taken by Dick Haynes of Ravensthorpe. Dick fished from a boat with a black buzzer. Buzzers and the bung have been the best method this week. However, olives are now hatching in good numbers so it is expected for the fish to come to dries and emergers soon. Damsel nymphs are active and prospects look good.
best rainbow 9lb 2oz Dick Haynes of Ravensthorpe
best boat areas All areas in about 16 feet of water
best bank areas Dam
mid week boat winner T Critch of Southam
fish stocked 350
Demand for boats often outstrips supply – pre-booking is essential.
For boat bookings and enquiries please call 01604 770875.