Anglian Waters Fishery Report

Rutland Water Anglers have enjoyed an excellent week with plenty of fish, limits taken and some good over wintered browns. There is a noticeable increase in numbers of fish in the 3-4lb bracket and anglers have sighted double figure rainbows, one in the south arm and the other in the main basin.
Best fish of the week fell to Philip Allison of Mansfield. Philip took a superb over wintered brown, weighing 6lb 12oz, on a silver march brown, fished on a floating line from a boat in the south arm. Match fisherman Graham Pearson used a claret dry to take another specimen brown of 5lb 11oz, this fish came from Manton Bay whilst Graham was practising for the Midland final of the Anglian Water Fulling Mill International.

Anglers from far and wide enjoy angling holidays at Rutland Water. This week Mr P Schutter from Belgium fished the last day of his holiday at Rutland and took a fine limit of eight rainbows up to 4lb. Using an intermediate with various lures and nymphs Mr Schutter said that at times he was getting a pull or follow on every drift, fishing out in front of the fishing lodge. Competitions dominated the boat fishing last week with Anglian Water Fulling Mill International northern and midland finals on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. Over 589 fish were taken in the two days by 150 anglers giving impressive rod averages of 3.49 and 4.49.

Most fish are keeping well out in the reservoir at the moment making bank fishing best either first thing in the morning, or more recently late evening, when there have been some good rises close into the shoreline. However, limits have been taken. Melton’s Ted Kuzniar, a long time season ticket holder, used nymphs fished under a bung to take five rainbows and a brown fished off the peninsular around Carrot Creek. Fish were also taken from Normanton, Fantasy island, fishing lodge frontage and the corner of Sykes Lane. best rainbow 5lb 3 1/8oz taken by Martin Watson best brown 6lb 12oz taken by Philip Allison of Mansfield
best boat areas fishing lodge frontage, yellowstones, Spud Bay, Armley Wood, Normanton, Manton Bay best bank areas Carrot Creek, Barnhill Creek, Normanton, fishing lodge frontage, fantasy island, Sykes Lane best methods Bank anglers – floating lines with nymphs and dries. Boat anglers similar, but include lures, orange and black blobs

Grafham Water The best fish of the week, a rainbow weighed 4lb 3oz, and was taken by G Allsop of Warsop, this formed part of the best bag of the week, 8 fish for 21lb 8oz. Mr Ball, from Northants took a 4lb brown trout, which he sportingly returned. Fry still seem to be the main food source. The trout seem to be feeding in the top layer of water (1-3feet). On warm, calm evenings the fish have been taken on dry flies at Gaynes Cove and the mouth of Savages Creek.
For bank fishing the dam produced fish in the early part of the week. Fish were caught using nymphs on a floating line. Fry imitations are still the main fish taker, the minkie being the ‘killer’ pattern.The most productive areas from the boat have been drifts from the mouth of Savages to Hedge End and around the north tower. This is where the clearer water was towards the end of last week. best rainbow 4lb 3oz taken by G Allsop from Warsop best brown 4lb taken by J Ball of Northampton best bank areas full length of the dam best boat areas mouth of savages to hedge end and around the north tower best methods floating line, diawl bachs, damsel nymphs, crunchers, cats, hoppers and bob’s bits. slime lines, tubes, boobies and minkies


Ravensthorpe Reservoir Another great week for Ravensthorpe’s anglers, with most fish being caught in the top two feet of water. Messrs Grave and Edgar from Ayr managed to return 40 fish between them. These were taken on diawl bachs and PTNs fished from a boat on the Coton End. Northampton’s Mark Flavin had 17 fish on dries and nymphs, again from the Coton End. Season ticket holder, and Ravensthorpe regular John Caldwell, took 24 fish again from the Coton end on dries. Northampton’s John Muddiman took the best fish of the week, a 7lb 8oz rainbow, (along with 14 others!). John boat fished with damsels.
Bank anglers are finding fish along the dam wall with the valve tower the hot spot. Damsel nymphs fished slowly on floating or intermediate lines are best from the bank.best rainbow 7lb 8oz taken by John Muddiman of Northampton from a boat with a damsel best boat areas Coton end best bank areas dam
best methods for bank anglers- damsel nymphs fished slowly on floating or intermediate lines are best. Boat anglers PTN’s, diawl bachs, dries and nymphs.


Pitsford Water New starter permit holder Austin Adey from Northampton has won his second Wednesday night boat league match so far this season. Austin only managed a brace but they went 4lb 6oz. His boat partner, Mark Fountain, reported that Austin was a lucky man as one of the fish pulled his rod out of the boat and he just caught it in time! The final match of the boat league is on 11 August. Boat partners Andre Sales and Brian Moore rudder fished on Sunday. They managed 16 fish that weighed just under 40lb. The pair used DI3 lines drifting in main bank. Andre took the best fish at 3lb 4oz.

Bank fishing is improving with early to late evening the best time. A small size 14 hares ear cdc fished close in to the bank has provided season permit holder Ian Ruff of Watford with some cracking 3-4lb fish. Ian said the trick is not to wade out and keep a low profile. best methods fish are still feeding on a diet of green daphnia and are in fighting fit pristine condition. Daphnia is like a high protein tonic for fish and when they feed on it they fight very hard. best boat areas Pines, Narrows best bank areas Cliffs, Holly Bush mid week boat winner Mark Seabrook of Tilbrook, Kimbolton



Coarse fishing Taverham Mill The Angling Times Nash Masters has now started and the leader board is as follows 1st Chris Pratt 21lb 12oz Common 2nd Peter Ingram 21lb Mirror 3rd Peter Ingram 20lb 14oz Common 4th Darren Hardy 18lb 8oz Common 5th Darren Hardy 17lb 10oz Mirror
There have been plenty of Carp over the weekend including the three 20lb plus fish on the leader board. The tench have been spawning all weekend so we expect these fish to be feeding well again this week.