Draycote Water weekly fishing report week ending Sunday 10th May 2015
Telephone Number 01788 812018
More battling with seemingly incessant high west & south-west winds again this week I’m afraid. When will we get some proper May weather? Yet again, we lost two full days to boat anglers whose days had to be cancelled with more winds well above our safety limits. The few who braved the banks as an alternative on Tuesday & Wednesday all but needed to be anchored down & only ten fish were landed for both days…
Nevertheless the week had started really well with 62 rods on Monday netting a total of 370 for a rod average of 5.97. Leading the way were the father & son team of Brendan & Bradley Thomas who enjoyed “Great buzzer fishing in Dunns Bay & Toft” from a boat. Between them they netted 35 rainbows including a perfect 4lbs overwintered fish. Terry & John Evans concentrated their efforts in Rainbow Corner. Having realised that small, skinny diawl bachs & buzzers were what the trout wanted, they proceeded to tempt a total of 25 into the net. Terry’s best was a magnificent rainbow weighing in at 7lbs 2oz. It was a day for the boats however as fish had clearly stayed offshore making things extremely difficult for the bank anglers.
Although still challenging, bank action improved greatly come Thursday & five of the local regulars collectively netted a total of 43 trout equating to an 8.6 rod average. Buzzers again were on the menu with black being the predominant colour. Unquestionably, those scaling down to size 14s are reaping the benefits – especially with the resident fish in what are extremely clear water conditions. The rod average for the day with 52 anglers on the water was 4.9
Friday saw good sport on boat & bank alike. In fact regular rod Geoff Allsop excelled on the bank in Dunns Bay catching 27 on a mix of bloodworm patterns, buzzer & damsel. With warmer temperatures fish reacted as expected & rose in the water column. Keith Jones & Gwyn Williams fishing emerger patterns from the boat netted 17. The rod average reflected improving weather conditions & rose to 6.3 for the day with 64 rods on the water.
On Saturday boat anglers had to be restricted to the western half of the reservoir during a brief return of extreme winds bringing with them an intense chill factor. Boat & bank anglers struggled as a result with the rod average dipping to 2.7 However, the week ended with a weather improvement for Sunday with the fish reacting favourably for all. A mix of buzzer, Diawl Bach, FAB Blob & damsel all appeared in the record sheets for the day which ended with 80 anglers netting 392 & a rod average of 4.9
Most locations are producing fish currently but daily hotspots have been dictated by the weather conditions. Some evening rises have occurred, particularly in Toft but there have been instances of tiny fly, including caenis hatches, which have led to large numbers of fish showing but angler’s frustrated by not being able to get them to take!
I like to keep an eye on their menu and gutted a large rainbow for a customer during Saturday. It was chock full of midge pupae together with some bloodworm. Two things were of real note: Firstly, most of the buzzer were still alive & wriggling and secondly the wing pads were extremely distinctive – highlighting why patterns such as the crisp packet buzzer etc are so successful.
Let’s hope that the rest of the month brings with it proper May weather. I’m sure the place is waiting to explode!
Weekly Free Boat Draw
This week’s free boat draw has been won by Mr Farrell from Coventry.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 357 Number Trout Taken: 569 Number Trout Released: 994
Total Catch: 1563 Weekly Rod Average: 4.37
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 20:45
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 20:45
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 14:30 PM 14:30 until 20:45
Last 4 Hours from: 16:45 until 20:45
All Anglers to be off site by: 21:00
!! Please Note: Due to Draycote hosting the Water Industry bank fishing competition on Saturday 16 May the bank will be closed that day to all anglers including members !!
In order to maintain the accuracy of our records could all anglers please ensure that they fill in the catch return sheet before leaving. If not in the lodge it will be found on the counter in the gutting room next door.
Boat anglers are also politely reminded of the ruling that there is no anchoring within 100 yards of any pontoon, The Tower or Aerators. This is especially relevant to the harbour pontoon as its own mooring chains & anchors extend out a considerable distance from the end of the harbour & are easily fouled.
Bank Anglers car passes should be, booked prior to coming fishing as we only have a limited number available.
Boat anglers may wish to note that we now have a rudder for hire at the daily rate of £7. It can be pre booked at the time you make your boat booking.
Tight lines
Kevin
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