Draycote Water weekly report week ending 19th March 2017
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
The weather once again has played a big part in the fishing here at Draycote this week. The warmer conditions at the start of the week combined with light breezes allowed anglers to fish every part of the water, resulting in some excellent catch returns. Boat and Bank anglers have been exploring every part of the reservoir with the hottest spots being the Tower Bank, Dunns Bay, Biggin Bay, Toft Shallows and the overflow on the Hensborough Bank. Some boat anglers have been big fish hunting up on the Draycote Dam, and whilst a lot of patience is required, overwintered fish of up to 8lb have been caught using heavy sinking lines and Humungus Boobies. The weather from Thursday onwards was a bit erratic at times and so put paid to some of the better fishing spots however, those who did brave the conditions were rewarded for their efforts. The rod average this week came in at 8.3.
On Monday season ticket holder Ed Douglas fished the bank in Duns Bay to land 16 fighting fit rainbows. Ed fished a floating line with 2 buzzers a FAB on the point. Out on the boats Rod Wilson enjoyed good sport utilising the rudder to land 17 fish. Mr D Hastie and Mr K Simms had 20 &16 fish to the boat fishing in Toft with Buzzers. Mr J Wood had a fantastic day on the boat landing 37 fish, using a fast intermediate line with Diawl bachs and a booby fished on the washing line. Mr Osbourne and Mr Macham enjoyed great sport on the last 4 hour ticket to land 37 trout between then using Buzzer down in Toft. Also out on the water was Draycote Fishery ranger Tom Bird who targeted the large overwinter fish using a Di 7 line and boobies, fishing the drop off near the flat stones. Tom was rewarded for his persistence with a number of great overwintered fish, see our Facebook page for pictures (www.facebook.com/flyfishstore.
Tuesday saw a slight increase in the wind speeds, the Draycote regulars were out in force on the bank fishing in Duns Bay, they commented that the fishing wasn’t as easy as it had been the previous week but they were still managing to catch into double figures. Tony Broadway landed 14 fish using two size 12 buzzers and a FAB on the point. Ms Jude Tuffs fishing alongside Tony, landed 10 fish using buzzers under the bung. Ed Douglas was again out on the water this time fishing in Biggin Bay near the old pipe and landed 2 more than the day before, meaning in two days he had landed 34 fish. Mike Oliver enjoyed some of the best sport from the bank using pheasant tail nymphs and black buzzers fished on a floater. Out on the boats Mr G Jones landed 31 fish. Eugene Hughes took the train up from London for the first time this season and was rewarded with great sport landing well over 40 fish using a Di 7 sinking line and snake boobies. Season ticket holder Tony Parker and Mr Hooper enjoyed great sport landing over 40 fish to the boat using buzzers and nymphs in toft and in Biggin Bay.
The anglers where yet again greeted with fantastic fishing conditions on Wednesday with light winds and overcast warm conditions. This meant good buzzer hatches where seen out on the water and as a result the anglers were really able to cash in on a rod average of 10.03, with the majority of the returns being posted coming to buzzers. On the bank Mr Williams landed 16 fish in a short morning session fishing in Toft. Out on the boats Rodger Kerrison and Dave Robins landed 48 fish to the boat using a floating line and a team of buzzers. Richard Ellis and John Hurst also used buzzer in toft to record a catch of 69 fish to the boat. Ian Gaskell and son Liam where another boat enjoying good sport landing 23 and 28 fish each with Ian using buzzers fished under the Bung and Liam opting for straight lined buzzer on a floater.
Thursday saw the wind speeds increase and blow as a westerly. The hotspot in Toft coloured up quickly and presentation became difficult. As a result the better fishing spots seemed to be in Biggin Bay, Rainbow corner and Duns. Andy Birkett and Brent Vinall fished the final day of their three day package here at Draycote and enjoyed great sport in Biggin Bay fishing buzzer on a floater and a Midge Tip.Over the three days the pair landed 138 fish, this made the long drive from the West Country well worth it and the pair have vowed to return for hopefully more of the same later in the year. Out on the bank season ticket holder Rob Keeber enjoyed good sport again fishing in Biggin to land 16 fish with a brace going over 3lb.
Another windy day on Friday again made the presentation difficult from Toft, which meant the fishing from the bank was again restricted mainly to Biggin Bay. However this did not mean a drop in the number of fish caught. Season Ticket holder Peter Elliot landed 35 fish fishing in Duns bay, Peter used a floating line with a FAB and buzzer to land his fish. Fishing just up the bank from Peter was Lee Patten who landed 15 fish utilising the same tactics. John Dews also enjoyed good sport from Duns on the FAB & buzzer to land 14 fish. Gordon Slack fished in Rainbow corner and the Hensborough bank to landed 12 fish all on black and green lures. On the boats Jamie Scott landed 17 fish drifting down the Cornfield, Biggin Bay and the Hensborough bank using blobs, boobies and buzzers.
The wind dropped slightly for Saturday meaning that the boat anglers as well as a few bank anglers where able to get fishing in Toft. Jim Dempsey and Ifor Jones fished on the rudder on sinking lines and lures to land 30 fish to the boat starting off in the morning down in Toft. When the wind picked up in the afternoon the pair opted for Biggin Bay. Mr T Marriott & Mr J Marriott fished in Toft using intermediate lines with black and green lures to land 22 and 20 fish the boat. Rob Hepburn fished in Biggin Bay using a clear intermediate and a cats whisker with a roly poly retrieve to land 20 fish. Fishery Ranger Tom Bird and Jim Smith enjoyed good sport in Biggin Bay fishing buzzers on midge tip lines to land over 40 fish to the boat, with Jim opting for a small FAB on the point while Tom straight lined. Out on the bank was David Hoppe who fished the old pipe in Biggin Bay to land over 25 fish using buzzer and a small damsel on the point.
Sunday saw a difficult day for the anglers with strong winds. This meant that Toft Shallows had to be closed for safety reasons. Rodger Kerrison and Steve Cullen fished in Biggin bay using buzzers and also boobies on fast sinking lines to land 19 fish the boat. Another boat catching in the difficult conditions was Mr Harding & Mr Clarke who had 13 fish to the boat using buzzers and Diawl bachs fished on a floater.
Sunday was also the first Tuition Day of the season. The day was run by fishery staff members Kevin Hart and Tom Bird. Five beginners took part in the course, learning all about the different lines and tactics, and how to cast. Despite the adverse weather conditions it didn’t take long for Kevin and Tom to get all the students into to some hard fighting rainbows and all went away well and truly hooked.
Weekly Boat Draw
Congratulations to Mr Lee Patten of Tenbury Wells who is the winner of this week’s Free Boat Draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 280 Number Trout Taken: 533 Number Trout Released: 1796
Total Catch: 2329 Weekly Rod Average: 8.3
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 18:00
Boat All Day: 07:30 until 18:00
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 13:45 PM 13:45 until 18:00
Last 4 Hours from: 14:00 until 18:00 (Ticket sales available from 13:45)
Gutting Room Closes – 17:30
All Anglers to be off site by: 18:30
Fishery News
We are pleased to welcome Lee Henfrey to the Draycote team, Lee will be working here at Draycote and at our other waters.
Lee is well known on the competition scene with a number of England caps to his name. He is also a member of the RIO Masters fly fishing team. Lee is a very experienced angler who’s knowledge of reservoir fishing will make him an invaluable member of Fishery Management UK Ltd. He is looking forward to working here at Draycote and sharing his knowledge with visiting anglers in the coming season. In addition Lee will also be available for guiding throughout the season.
Trout Masters
Draycote has joined the Troutmasters Competition. Entry forms can be found next to the booking out sheets. You will need a member of staff to countersign your entry. Good luck.
Dates for your diary
Competition Contact
England Ladies Mixed Pairs Match – Sunday 30th April – Ms Hilary Thompson – 01664 474268
England Eliminator – 27th and 28th May – Ian Colclough – 01543 689117
Scierra Pairs Match – 25th June – Visit website.
Alex Booth Memorial – 29th June – Roy Lewin – 07762 746825
Angling World Holiday Heat 5th and 6th August – Visit website
TEFF Fundraiser. Dry Fly Championship 16th September – Ian Colclough – 01543 689117
Angling World Holiday Final – 23rd and 24th September
Troutmasters Final – 9th October. – See Fishery staff.
Catch Returns
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
Anchoring
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.
Car Passes
Bank Anglers car passes should be, booked prior to coming fishing as we only have a limited number available.
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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