Draycote Water: Weekly report week ending Sunday 7th August 2016.
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
As predicted, the fishing continued to show fine form this week, although at times towards the end of the period the winds became quite dramatic. Once more the cream of the fishing was enjoyed by the boat anglers. However there was also some good sport to be had on the banks but this was sporadic. Monday started well with a rod average of 6. Vince Aronica had a great day out on the boat fishing Hare’s Ear Nymphs on a floating line to bring 17 to the net whilst season rod Mike Garner remained on the bank in Rainbow Corner to take a brace of fine rainbows on dries. He also tempted a further fish to a Diawl Bach. Dries fished over the front of a drifting boat over open water was nevertheless the clear way to go. This was admirably demonstrated by three boat anglers fishing such tactics individually. They set the tone for the remainder of the week by netting 62 rainbows between them!
Tuesday was tough on the banks but regulars Brian Allwood, Gordon Slack, Keith Hughes, Ken Key & Steve Robinson fished hard and all managed three apiece. Again though, the cooler water offshore was where the best of the sport was enjoyed. Top rod for the day was Eugene Hughes who fished washing line tactics to end with a 40+ fish total. Lee Henfrey & Nigel Keeber chose to have a day on the rudder & between them, using tube flies on Di 5 sink rate lines, also brought forty rainbows to the net. During his evening session, Richard Pelly deployed his usual tactic of Big Red on a lightweight outfit to land a total of nine. Wednesday saw a welcome spike in bankside action with Dennis Jones netting a dozen to his team of size 14 nymphs. Meanwhile Jim Hall fished the Lin Croft end of Biggin Bay with son Richard to end a six fish session with a buttery gold spotted brownie in the four & a half pound bracket. The beauty, which was returned to the water, took a small close copy damsel in shallow water right at the end of his retrieve. Whilst a few good bags were recorded from the boats, especially Yusuf Dar who netted sixteen & Mr Perris with a dozen, the day was generally much harder for most. Similarly Thursday proved to be challenging generally with a dip in the daily rod average to 3.6 That said, Mark Brace went afloat for a couple of very hectic evening hours fishing dries & buzzer for a ten fish tally. Friday saw some great all round action with bank anglers Jude Tuffs taking 10 – just pipped by Tony Broadway & Ian Richardson who recorded 11 apiece. As he did the previous week, Ian “matched the hatch” and found his fish with a mix of shrimp & snail patterns together with dries & hoppers. Boat fishing for many on Friday was fantastic with Dave Adams leading the way with a 31 fish total. Peter Elliott was also 20+ with Alex Urquhart finding 14. Will Hunt delivered, posting a return of nine to the net including a fine rainbow at 5lbs! Andrew Flitcroft was also in the middle of the action with fifteen to the net on a dry fly mix of Big Red & Amber Shipman’s.
Saturday & Sunday saw the venue hosting a regional heat of Anglers World Holidays Fly Fishing Championships. Sport proved to be fast & furious for most competitors. On Saturday, thirty six anglers went afloat fishing to a three fish limit followed by catch & release. Top of the water tactics, mainly washing lines with small crunchers & diawl bachs or dries, proved to be the order of the day. A total of 295 trout were netted for a staggering competition rod average of 8.19! Top honours went to Ian Gaskell with 21 fish & a combined fish + bonus weight of 44lbs 3oz. He was followed by Pete Scholes in second place with 20 to the net and Vince Howley in third with 19. David Holroyd took the largest rainbow at 4lbs 5oz. The Sunday heat was a floating line event with 44 anglers competing. Once more, despite extremely high winds, sport was hectic with eleven anglers getting into double figures. A total of 290 were caught representing a competition rod average of 6.59 . Leigh Pond headed the leader board with a 17 fish total for a combined fish + bonus weight of 39lbs 3oz. Local rod Peter Elliott followed up in second place with a fourteen fish tally with Christian Jadouille taking third place, also with a fourteen fish total. Event organiser John Horsey commented on how incredibly well Draycote had fished during the bright, warm and windy August conditions experienced over the two day event.
For full results visit John’s Facebook page: “John Horsey Fly Fishing”
Whilst there is still a good spread of fish throughout the venue, the western end of the reservoir continues to be the most productive – probably with fish taking advantage of slightly cooler water temperatures. Drifts from the vicinity of the Overflow towards “A” buoy, the Inlet/Flat Stones towards “B” buoy & drifts over & around the aerators have been the most productive.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 371 Number Trout Taken: 636 Number Trout Released: 1214
Total Catch: 1850 Weekly Rod Average: 4.98
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 (Ticket sales available from 16:30)
No Gutting of Fish after 20:30
All Anglers to be off site by: 21:00
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.
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 Steve Radcliffe of Staines, Middlesex who is the winner of this week’s Free Boat Draw.
Demo Tackle
We now have a considerable amount of Sage & Rio demo tackle available to try at Draycote. The following link will take you to the website where you can check out the available items: We have added a 10ft 7wt SAGE ACCEL to our demo rods. The Sage One is currently in the process of being phased out. Very limited stock left. Contact the Lodge for details of special offers.
http://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/demo-tackle-3/
Forthcoming events:
Beginners Tuition Day on Saturday 17th September hosted in house by our own Kevin Hart & Tom Bird. Contact the lodge to secure a place or book online via www.flyfishstore.co.uk
Bank Angler Car Park
Angler Car Park number 7 will remain partially closed while Severn Trent repair a footpath and will be using the car park to store stones for the repairs. Anglers wishing to fish in the areas below car park number 7 will have to park in either car parks 6 or 8 and walk to the area.
Selling of Fish
Anglers are not allowed to sell fish to members of the public on site.
Disabled Parking Bays
Anglers need to ensure that even for short periods whilst obtaining a fishing permit, they only use the disabled parking bays adjacent to the main car park, if they are the holder of a duly displayed “blue badge”.
Gutting Room
Please be aware that the Gutting Room refurbishment has now been completed. Much work has taken place & we would ask that you respect the facility and leave it in the same way in which you would wish to find it. Please also note that no fish are to be gutted after 20:30
Returns
Many anglers have been failing to book out at the end of their fishing. In order to maintain the accuracy of our records could all anglers please ensure that they fill in the catch return sheet before departure. Too many anglers have been failing to do this of late & this distorts the figures leading to potential fishery management issues.
Anchoring
Boat anglers are also politely reminded of the ruling that there is no anchoring within 100 yards of any pontoon, aerators or the Tower. 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. Some anglers came close to being disappointed this week when almost all of the available passes were used.
Rudder Hire
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
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