Game Fishing Reports March 28th 2006

Rivers Wye & Usk Both have been in full spate for some days now - just the early season conditions salmon anglers have been waiting for. The situation before the latest floods adds further to the keen sense of anticipation. The Wye below Monmouth had reported a number of fish over 20lb, despite the freezing weather. We believe this latest warm spate couple with the big spring tides earlier this week will empty the estuary and encourage fish to move upstream, bringing the middle and upper river beats into play. The Usk also reported its first salmon, a 16lber from MTAA’s Kemys Commander, just before this high water.

More rain is due over the next day or two, probably keeping both rivers too high to tackle over the weekend. The long-range forecast suggests that the time of reckoning should arrive with us at some point next week. Anyone who is able to escape for a day or two next week to get in touch with Wye and Usk Foundation – 01982 551 520. Your chances of a spring salmon from the upper reaches won’t have been better in recent years!

Before the recent floods, Wye & Usk trout fishing had been quite challenging in the bitter March conditions although some decent catches were made when the sun shone and a midday hatch occurred. Temperatures have been steadily rising - exactly what’s required with fish eager to regain condition. It’s at this time of year that many salmon anglers receive an unnecessary jolt of adrenalin as a greedy trout seizes their Usk Grub. The main river beats will probably be the place to be for the next 2 or 3 weeks as the tributaries are at their best when warmer spring weather has had time to take effect.

Grafham Water The best rainbow of the week was taken by Mark Firmin of Stetchworth, Cambs. Mark’s rainbow weighed 4lb 12oz and was taken back drifting at the north end of the dam with a silver tube on a di7.

The week at Grafham Water started off very well with the wind continuing to come from the north east giving bank anglers the best of the sport with the majority of fish being caught along the margins of the north shore, G buoy, Arthurs Cove, deep water point and Hill Farm all producing good bags of fish on floating lines with buzzers, cats whiskers, montanas and damsel nymphs.

The boat anglers were having their best sport at the Willows, G buoy and Hedge End on sinking lines with vivas, montanas, boobies, cats whiskers and GRHE. On Friday the wind swung round to the south west which coloured up the north shore. Gaynes Cove and the south end of the dam produced some excellent sport for both bank and boat anglers with the same methods as the beginning of the week producing the goods.

Best rainbow 4lb 12oz taken by Mark Firmin of Stetchworth, Cambs Best boat areas Hill Farm, Pig Bay, Rectory Bay, G Buoy, Gaynes Cove Best bank areas Hill Farm, Deep water Point, Pylon Point, G Buoy, North end of dam, south dam, Gaynes Cove Best methods floating lines, GRHE, damsel nymphs, montantas, cats whiskers and buzzers

Pitsford Water Both boat and bank anglers continue to enjoy
excellent sport at Pitsford. Season permit holder Graham
Wiseman on his first bank fishing trip to Pitsford caught his limit off the gravel bank in two hours with a floating line on an orange gold head lure. Graham was delighted with his first bag limit of the season.

Graham Prince had a good week fishing on his season permit. Not only did he bag up at Pitsford on Sunday on the bank, but he also caught a 9lb rainbow from Ravensthorpe! Graham used a di3 forty plus line and a short leader with a small booby to tempt these lovely fish from the corner of Stone Barn Bay. Fish are feeding now on daphnia but with warmer weather fish are now switching to buzzers. Top patterns are gold head orange lures, and black and green lures and nymphs on floating lines.

Boat anglers need to be close to the banks but must give priority to bank anglers. With the wind pushing the daphnia to the banks it is possible to fish a windward bank where no bank anglers are and cover new water in search of last year’s stock.

Best rainbow 4lb taken by Mr Jones of Coventry Best boat areas Stone Barn Bay, Pines Best bank areas Stone Barn Bay, Stilton Point, Gorse Best methods floating or intermediate lines, small black and green lures. Floating line and black buzzers

Ravensthorpe Reservoir A fantastic week’s sport at Ravensthorpe showing a 10.65 rod average and many double figure catches have been recorded. A party of anglers from Derby, Phil Harding, Maurice Margett and Garry Mann took 106 fish from a boat in a half day session. Most fish came to small green cormorants and fritz damsels on glass and wet cel lines.Dick Haynes and his boat partner Mick Griffin returned 70 fish on Saturday fishing the Coton shallows with diawl bachs and buzzer combinations on floating lines.

Rob Keeber caught 49 fish from the Guilsborough bank on Wednesday – small orange lures proving successful. Regular Wollaston angler Graham Prince took a 9lb rainbow from platform 14 on a small damsel whilst Steve Flint of Northampton caught a super 10lb cock brown from the dam wall which he returned safely to the water.

Best methods for boat anglers should be a size 10 black or green buzzer with diawls on the dropper. Bank anglers are doing best with montanas on the point and buzzers on the droppers Best rainbow 9lb taken by Graham Prince of Wollaston with a small damsel on a floating line from platform 14 Best brown10lb safely returned by Steve Flint of Northampton Best bank areas Mongers to domes.Platforms 13 & 14

Barnsford Water Chipping Lancashire Fishing picking up, much warmer, quite a few fish in the 6lb-8lb region have been caught and returned. Best bag Geoff Birch 15 fish up to 6lb Best fish Derrick Preston 10lb rainbow on black buzzer small lures fished slowly are the most killing patten but buzzers & G.R.H.E are beginning to be productive and will be more so as the water temperature rises. This is an excellent buzzer water when the water temperature rises a few degreees. Further details Frank Casson Tel 01995-61583

Rivers Ribble and Calder Trout fishing started on the 15th of March in unseasonal weather. Very few fish were taken. Malcolm Bullock fishing the Edisford Hall fishery had a brace of trout, Malcolm also had an out of season grayling of 18". Certainly a super fish. caught on a size 16 pheasant tail nymph. The Ribble today 28th March had a ten foot flood. There are still a few rod vacancies for the coming season, also some guest permits at £25-00 a day Tel 07779-473798
Fishing on the river Aire didn't start until March 24, with extra water only a handful of anglers were out on the river, with just the odd trout taken on weighted nymphs.

River Eden Cumbria Roddy Styles from Dumfries landed a fresh run and sea liced 8lb spring salmon from the River Eden downstream of Carlisle last Friday. Roddy was fishing with Cumbria Fly Fishing Instructor Glyn Freeman. Glyn a member of the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors also provided the successful fly a home made yellow and black creation that Roddy fished on a floating line to tempt his fish, the air temperature at the time of capture was 5 degrees centigrade with the water temp 4 degrees.
The Environment Agency fish counter at Great Corby on the river Eden had a total up count for February of just 37 fish, the cold weather and low flows obviously continued to have an impact on fish runs into March with just 24 up counts being recorded at the counter up to and including 21st March. Last weeks rise in water level saw anglers catch a few more salmon, the most in one week since the start of the season, it will be interesting to see if counter figures reflect this activity