BRISTOL WATER FISHERY REPORTS
WEEK ENDING Monday 9th June 2008
TOTAL FISH TAKEN TO DATE 25,677
Weather: Another settled week of warm days and very light winds. Many days have been bright sunshine throughout and there has been no significant rainfall.
Water: Water quality is still mainly very good with just a little patchy algae in Chew Valley. Weed growth is now showing on most shallow areas but is not presenting a problem so far. The surface water temperature remains at 17C.
Although conditions have not been the best for trout fishing the results this week have again been very good with plenty of moving fish even in the bright sunshine. The evenings have at times been superb with big fly hatches most nights.
A hot and sunny week, ideal for holidays but not the best for trout fishing. Still, catches have remained very good with some superb evening fishing at all the lakes and very good 'top of the water' fishing at Chew. The quality fo fish remains very high, the average weight at the Orvis comp on Chew was 2lb 7oz, and there have been several big fish reported too.
The forecast is for slightly cooler weather over the next week. With high densities of fish at all the venues the great sport enjoyed so far this year is bound to continue. Boats availability is now a little easier on weekdays so afternoon and evening rods are well worth taking. Ring Woodford on the day after 11am to book
Chew : Moving fish and dry fly has been the order of the day again at Chew this week. Many anglers arriving at the water, greeted by flat calms and bright sunshine, have been a little daunted. But in the main body of the lake fish have been feeding well on the surface and have been taken on Hoppers and Bits Emergers by those who have persevered with the dry fly method. Floating lines with nymphs fished close to the top has also accounted for some good bags from Villice Bay, Walley Bank, The Dam and around the Island. The usual nymph and buzzer patterns in size 10 or 12 but lightly dressed and fished slowly seems to take more fish.
BRFFA held their ever-popular Orvis competition. This was the 26th consecutive year that Orvis UK has sponsored this contest. 70 anglers turned out for the floating line only event and winner on the day was GARY HASKINS, one of six competitors to complete a limit bag. Included in his was a wonderful 6.05 rainbow taking his weight for eight fish to over 23 pounds. Second was SIMON GURNEY followed by KEITH TANNER and MARTIN BURGESS. The bank section found the fish a little more elusive but MALCOLM FISHER winkled out 3 trout including a fine 7.03 rainbow to win the top prize.