Fishing reports

Rutland Water Season ticket holder Frank Mace from Stretton, caught a personal best fish with a 6lb 4oz Brown. This was also the best fish of the week. Frank fished off the bank at Stockie Bay and said “I arrived at lunchtime and was surprised to see fish feeding hard on this year’s fry, despite the very hot weather conditions. The fish moved in front of me and took a white lure straight away.” Elsewhere Gordon Anthony, a good friend of Tommy Wood, had a spectacular day on Saturday. Anchoring up in 25 feet of water the pair fished two size 6 buzzers and a diawl bach to take 16 fish with over half of them over 3lb. Other anglers recording fish during difficult, hot conditions, were Paul Friend and Barry Thompson and Jim Watts (Ryhall) and Ken Merriden (Uppingham). Both boats recorded 14 fish apiece with tube flies fished very deep. Weather conditions made fishing very challenging with temperatures staying in the 80’s for most of the week. 5,000 fish (4,500 rainbows and 500 browns) were stocked last week. However, they didn’t stir the resident fish into feeding.


Grafham Water Clive Morgan of Ilford had the best bag of the week, weighing almost 20lb for 8 fish taken on deep fished boobies using a constant retrieve. His boat partners, both beginners, were successful using the same methods. The prevailing hot weather conditions during the week made fishing challenging. In spite of this, large shoals of coarse fish fry are showing in many locations, attracting the attentions of good sized trout. The fishing for these predators has been very exciting but not always productive. Boats drifting over the middle of the lake have at times had sport on dry flies such as hoppers, bob bits, Klinkhammers and cul de canard. On occasions, particularly the end of the day, prolific rises have occurred, but only mostly briefly. Although bank fishing has been generally slow an early morning session for Warden Paul Jones produced two excellent rainbows and a 3lb brown, along with several perch. All of these fish came to fry patterns on a floating line. Similar tactics on the north shore at the mouth of savages creek produced several rainbows to 4lb plus to two other bank anglers.



Pitsford Water In spite of the recent hot weather anglers have mainly boat fished and have reported fish are not feeding particularly deep. They have been taking fish on small lures on a di 3 line, whilst drifting in the main bowl. Although some fish have been caught on fast sink lines, more fish have been caught on intermediate lines. All of the main bowl is proving to be the top boat area, with orange blobs and damsels.The best time for bank anglers has been either very early or very late in the evening. Top bank spot has been the cliffs to blue gates.



Ravensthorpe Reservoir Rowan Gillies of Milton Keynes enjoyed a profitable morning this week taking six nice fish off the dam wall. His best fish weighed 9lb 6oz on a damsel pattern on a floating line. David Adams of Hardingstone returned 16 fish to a black and green lure from an anchored boat in the main basin. With fish feeding heavily on damsels sport has been brisk in the morning with fish prepared to take surface fished flies in ripple conditions – invicta variations. Hoppers, daddies and small dries are all taking fish mainly from drifting boats – later in the day try buzzers, ptn’s, diawls and damsels down in the water in brighter conditions. Black and green lures, cats whiskers and blobs on Di lines are accounting for some weighty rainbows in the deeper water off the dam.




Coarse fishing Ardleigh Our season permit holders are again pulling out the big fish. Steve Taylor had 7 carp from the Lodge Bank, the largest being 24lb. Dave Jordison had a 23lb mirror, also from Lodge Bank, while Paul Southgate had a mirror of 20lb 10oz from the Western Arm. Although Connan Soanes was disappointed not to land any carp in his session he did manage to bag a lovely tench, estimated to be about 10lb. The bream have been a little more difficult to find but we recommend fishing the slightly deeper water towards the Dam. Fishing next to the sailing club Clive Baldwin with Dave and Andy Rollings had well over 100lb of fish in the 4 - 6 lb size range.



Taverham Mill The last two weeks have been excellent at Taverham. Simon Wrigglesworth was over the moon - taking his first ever barbel at 6lb 12oz. “The conditions on the river looked spot on so after work I decided to have a few hours leading up to dark to see if I could wangle another one out. Never in my wildest expectations did I expect to get what followed in the shape of a 14lb 2oz Barbel! So two Barbel in two days and my personal best well and truly smashed…” Just as Simon was leaving he took a call from season ticket holder Simon Francis who had just landed a 12lb Barbel, which is his third double of the season!



The river has been fishing very well this last week with season ticket and holiday anglers in the lodge reporting good captures of fish. Season ticket holder Simon Francis had another exceptional week, managing to bank five barbel at 11lb 8oz, 13lb 4oz, 6lb 8oz, 10lb 12oz and 11lb 4oz. Truly a memorable week for Simon, who also witnessed the barbel spawning on our stretch of the river on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning. Simon Wrigglesworth also managed to bank chub this week to 5lb from the river over two evening sessions. Lee Brown had a 25lb 14oz Mirror from Taverham Lake which was the biggest of the week. Season ticket holder Chris Ansel had Mirrors up to 22lb. Lots of good quality bream are being banked from Costessey number two (ski pit).

River Kennet Wasing Syndicate Fishery Chub and barbel are being caught on boilies pellets and bread, boilies seem to be the top bait. Paul Smythe fishing downstream of the black hut had a good catch of roach and dace with pound plus roach in his catch. Despite the bright sunshine and no rain fishing is good. Further information Telephone Kevin Rolls fishery manager 07769-653496