Draycote Water weekly report week ending 10th June 2018
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
Another good week with some fabulous catches. We experienced better weather conditions generally this period and there were times when boat anglers were really “having a field day”. Still harder for the bank anglers – especially on the hot, bright days when fish understandably dropped offshore & out over deeper water. A total of 429 anglers visited the fishery with a total catch for the week of 1875 trout recorded. This represents an increase in the weekly rod average up from 3.82 to 4.37
We had a complete weather change overnight with rain through the night, winds switched into the North East together with a significant temperature drop. This helped Derek Brookes & Phil Hedges who fished their usual Monday slot on the bank and netted seven between them. Gary Turner boat fished with his father & the pair stuck to dries throughout, mainly in Biggin Bay. Their efforts were well rewarded with 16 rainbows to the boat. Kevin Rees was also out with his dries & light outfit. Exploring the deeper water with his home tied Bob’s Bits he netted nine. James Maplethorpe stuck to the Overflow in his boat & persevered with buzzers presented at depth to end with a fine total of 18. Jude Tuffs stayed on the bank on Tuesday & was quick to spot fry feeding fish off Lin Croft. Having started with a washing line set up she soon switched to small lures pulled on a floating line. A mix of Pitsford Pea & Mini Cat’s saw her land a total of ten rainbows, all coming from Lin Croft. Mick Cronin also bank fished and targeted pin fry feeders. He concentrated on the Tower bank with a bespoke home tied pattern based on pearl holographic which also accounted for a ten fish tally. Out on the water Chad Critchley teamed up with Tony Parker for the day & had a memorable session with totals of 25 & 15 respectively. They fished buzzers deep in Biggin Bay first thing, then onwards to Rainbow Corner where they caught on straight lined buzzers presented 3-4 feet subsurface. During the afternoon they targeted fish moving hard on the huge quantities of pin fry which we have been seeing. They found that fish were happy to rise to dry flies which they stuck to for the duration of their stint. Dave Kennell & Eddie Mitchel were afloat again having fine sport with quality fish down the Hensborough bank. Their 14 fish tally was topped by a 4lbs 12oz rainbow to Dave’s rod which took a diawl bach which he had presented on a washing line fished with a midge tip line. Peter Fisher also did well with a 15 fish total but he stuck to gold head damsel patterns teamed with green buzzers in size 14. Ian Morris & boat partner Brian Hall were ten fish apiece too -fishing Silver Invicta & diawl bach to pin fry feeders. They too landed a couple of fish to dries towards the end of their day.
We were pleased to be playing host to the Police National Finals on Thursday. Wednesday was booked out as their formal practise day and, although many were keeping their tactics & catch locations very close to their chests, it was a day of extremely good sport for most. In total 450 trout were recorded caught & released on the day. Although much sport was being had from the Sailing Club right down the Hensborough & into Rainbow Corner, anglers were also exploring secondary, alternative locations with Biggin, Lin Croft, Cornfield & Toft found to be holding feeding fish. Season rod Mark Edwards was the exception on what proved to be a very hard day for the bank anglers. He chose to fish The Cornfield in the evening where fry feeding activity was apparent. His Silver Invicta accounted for four rainbows up to 3lbs.
Police match day on Thursday saw 34 boats out on the water battling for both individual & regional titles. Competitors deployed a range of differing tactics from buzzer to dries & washing lines to pulling with blobs. Action was fast & furious throughout the venue. The event was fished to a first three fish kill followed by catch & release of a further nine fish and then a time bonus for any rods reaching their limit. In total a staggering 489 rainbows came to the net with an overall rod average for those competing of 7.64. The PSNI team had Martin Allen & Kenny Balfour over on a short break prior to the match & their homework, practise & research clearly paid off as their team took top honours with all four members achieving limit catches. Their total weight with nominal weight for returned fish + time bonuses, was 115lbs 10oz. They split team tactics to great effect between targeting fry feeding fish down the Hensborough & buzzer feeders in & around Toft. In the individual event congratulations go to Mick Cartlidge whose total weight, (again with nominal weight C&R fish + time bonuses), was 31lbs 8oz. Mick spent most of the match pulling with blobs. There were too many great catches to record all although a special mention for Gary Haskins who fished to great effect catching his 12 fish limit by lunchtime. Although stuffed with small fry, all his fish came to dries over the deep water down towards Rainbow. The best fish of the event was a rainbow of 4lbs 9oz.The competition was extremely well organised and our collective “Draycote Team” sincere thanks go out to Steve Owen & Callum Frazer for all their hard work during four days when 154 of their colleagues fished. Thanks similarly for the team’s invitation to the post-match dinner & presentation.
Friday was a little quieter on the water. However, the pressures of the previous days activity had not dampened down sport. Martyn Moore was back to fish his deep buzzers off Lin Croft and caught 12. John Clifford back drifted deep water & netted 7 fine grown on rainbows to 4lbs. Jim & Richard Hall also shared a boat & fished CDC dries for 12 & 7 respectively & also caught 4lbs+ fish. Whilst Stephen Conway had great fun netting 6 on dries, with three over 3lbs, he came back somewhat frustrated having “missed more than 40!!”. James Cavanagh fished an evening last 4 hours on the bank & his brace of buzzer caught rainbows included a 4½ pounder.
The weekend saw the wind still coming out of the north east, but Saturday in particular was very hot & the fishing for many proved hard. Nevertheless, Jim Dempsey & Ifor Jones fished their usual rudder tactics over deep water & found fish consistently. They ended with 9 & 12 rainbows respectively and their catch included fish over 4lbs. It was also good to see the England Youth on the water for a training weekend. Tom Finney & Ollie Jenkinson spent time honing their skills on the dries & did well with 10 & 8 to Big Reds & crippled midges. Alan Masters & boat partner fished Biggin Bay & the Hensborough Bank with damsels, diawl bachs & Fraser nymphs to great effect landing a joint total of 18. Bob & Nick Ring fished both Toft & Rainbow catching at both locations. Their joint tally of 12 came to orange buzzer & blue flash damsel. Tony Parker was back too & accounted for a further 14 rainbows to his own fiery brown dries. Ian Reeve has been enjoying some great sport since opening day & he spent Saturday drifting the Hensborough, mainly with dries, to catch & release 11. The extremely hot & bright conditions on Sunday really took its toll on prospects for the bank anglers although Mr Ashwell caught a brace including a 2½ rainbow for the pot on emergers. He also caught a large perch – many of which have been recorded lately as they are also predating heavily on this year’s fry. Chris Discombe & Jim Brennan also had a good day afloat with 7 & 6 netted to gold ribbed hare’s ear nymphs. They commented on the fact that the fish they took for the pot were absolutely stuffed with these small fry.
With forecasts looking good & the venue brimming with actively feeding trout, it looks like fine sport is set to continue.
Weekly Boat draw
Congratulations to Brian Moore of Coventry the winner of this week’s free boat draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 429 Number Trout Taken: 416 Number Trout Released: 1459
Total Catch: 1875 Weekly Rod Average: 4.37
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 21:45
Boat All Day: 07:30 until 21:45
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 15:00 PM 15:00 until 21:45
Last 4 Hours from: 17:45 until 21:45 Ticket sales available from 17:30)
Gutting Room Closes – 21:15
All Anglers to be off site by: 22:00
Dates for the Diary
Alex Booth Annual Charity Match – Thursday 28thJune
A few places remain for this prestigious event. Please contact organiser Roy LEWIN on 07762 746 825 to reserve your spot.
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!
Troutmasters Final – Monday 8th October – See Fishery staff. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FISHERY WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE DAY FOR THIS BOAT & BANK EVENT
Tight lines,
The Draycote Team
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