Draycote Water weekly report week ending Sunday 21st June 2015
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
This reporting period has best been described as challenging & yet again, it has been affected by the unsettled and unseasonal weather conditions. These have ensured that each day was different. Big winds have at times continued to hamper good sport. As always though there has been some terrific action & albeit spasmodic, increasing opportunities for fishing dries have been presenting themselves.
On Monday Andy Lunn caught four including a 3lbs 8oz rainbow on his dries & Richard Pelly followed on in his evening session with a further four large rainbows to the Big Red. Tuesday was a great day. Season rods Tony Broadway, John Dews & Gordon Slack took a combined total of 27 on the bank & it was great to see Kevin Rees in action with a dozen to his slimline size 14 buzzers. Ron Bevan took his usual morning boat & his catch included a 6lbs rainbow. Messrs Hallam & Nixon also excelled in their boat with 22 to the net on dries – the best brace weighing 4lbs 12 oz & 5lbs. Wednesday was partly hampered by the return of some windy conditions through most of the day followed by some pretty wet late afternoon rain. I was able to enjoy some time on the water with Dave & Chris- two newcomers to the world of fly fishing. After some early fun with some newly introduced brownies (hopefully an investment for the future), I was able to get them into some of the daphnia feeders out over open water. Things really switched on early evening when hot head damsels fished on floating lines proved to be the downfall of five stunning rainbows with the best weighed in at 4lbs 4oz, 4lbs & 3lbs 12oz.
We were pleased to welcome the HMRC back on Thursday for their annual event. However they found tough conditions to contend with for their match in which 42 rods could only manage a total of 68 trout. Flybird Flyfishers Ron Bann, Seamus O’Dare & Micky Toal took the team honours & the 12 fish caught by Seamus crowned him top individual. Congratulations to you all from the Draycote crew. Season rod & secretary of the Draycote Flyfishers, Graham Homer also took to the boat on Thursday finishing with 15 to the net. On the bank, Dave Steer had a surprise when he added a 1lb 8oz roach to his 6 fish bag!
Friday saw the return of Messrs Broadway, Dews & Slack on the bank. This time their joint buzzer caught tally increased slightly to 29. In the boat Mr Hawking netted a 6lbs rainbow. Ian Richardson enjoyed another fine bank session describing it as “fantastic”. He took a total of 17, mostly to the nymph. It was nice to listen to him describe his encounter the previous week with his magnificent double figure brown from the bank to a hot head diawl bach. Whilst he had been unable to photograph the fish, which was successfully returned to the water, he said he was happy that he would always hold the memory. Nevertheless, should any of you find yourself on your own on the water with no camera &”Moby Dick” in the net, please don’t hesitate to call us in the Lodge. We will always try to get to you by road or safety boat in the hope of getting you that special picture.
The Dempsey/Jones duo were back in action as usual on their Saturday boat & enjoyed great sport with Jim taking a fine 7lbs rainbow in his 4 fish limit for 19lbs. Melvin Severn followed suit with deep lure tactics for his fine 8 fish limit. On Sunday mornings George Leaton makes his weekly pilgrimage to Draycote Water all the way from Hounslow. This week, despite the high winds, his long drive was rewarded with a ten fish haul from the boat. On the bank top honours went to Mr D Harrison whose five fish tally included rainbows at 5 & 6lbs.
Overall a mixed week & if Mother Nature could grant us one wish right now, settled, more seasonal weather patterns would be at the top of the request list.Generally the bank v boat theme has been buzzer tactics, with small skinny patterns, for the bank anglers right now with daphnia feeding fish being taken by the boats anglers mainly on lures & blob type patterns. Location in the water column has been critical as the blooms of light sensitive daphnia rise & fall with the sunlight
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 381 Number Trout Taken: 401 Number Trout Released: 601
Total Catch: 1002 Weekly Rod Average: 2.62
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 22:00
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 22:00
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 15:45 PM 15:45 until 22:00
Last 4 Hours from: 18:00 until 22:00 (Ticket sales available from 17:45)
All Anglers to be off site by: 22:30
In order to maintain the accuracy of our records could all anglers please ensure that they fill in the catch return sheet before departure. 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 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.
Congratulations to Mr David Smith of Crick who is the winner of this week’s Free Boat Draw.
Tight lines
Kevin
Tuition:
There are still two places available for our Beginner’s Day Courses with Hywel Morgan on Saturday 27th June & Sunday 28th June. Cost is £65 per place with a maximum of six participants on each course. Contact the Lodge for details.
Follow Us on
facebook www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore
twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore