Draycote Water weekly report week ending 26th August 2018
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
A much cooler week overall, with heavy showers at times and overnight temperatures, down into single figures towards the back end of the week. As a result, the water temperature at the time of writing the report was holding at a more trout friendly 18°C. Causing the fish to move higher in the water column with dries and washing line on a floater accounting for good numbers of fish. Overall a total of 214 anglers visited the fishery for a rod average of 3.1 landing a total of 656 fish.
A sunny start to the week, however, by 11am the cloud arrived making for near perfect conditions. Season ticket holder Ian Reeve fished for the afternoon from a boat landing 6 fish. The most successful tactic for Ian was washing lined Diawl Bachs on a floating line with a FAB around X buoy, although, he did take 2 on a pink snake. Andy Birkett & Brent Vinall kicked off the first of their three day break in fine form boating 18 between them. The pair found the best tactics to be fishing a washing line with a mix of Diawl Bachs, buzzers and hares’ ears with either a FAB or Humongous booby on the point. The best drifts seemed to be around P buoy in the afternoon and then over the aerators. Fishing the last four hours Richard Pelly boated 6 fish all on a big red fishing in the scum lanes either side of the aerators.
Conditions Tuesdays where the complete opposite to the day before with a cloudy start that saw the sun break through towards the afternoon. With the arrival of the sun, the boat of Andy & Brent decided to drop down slightly in the water column and straight line the same nymphs as the previous day. This proved to be a good call as they boated 16 fish, again over the aerators, but drifts from the Draycote Dam to B buoy with a washing line proved affective in the morning. Tony Baldwin enjoyed a good day’s sport landing 15 fish from around J & N buoy. In the morning Tony landed 8 fishing dries, before a switch to washing lining in the afternoon. Tony’s washing line set up consisted of a claret hopper on the top dropper, two nymphs in the middle then a FAB on the point all fished on a midge tip.
Overcast with an increase in wind speeds on the Wednesday, promised to provide good sport. However, the fish had not read the rule book and proved to be slightly tricky. Andy & Brent finished their 3 day break by landing 11 fish, once again using nymphs fished static through the boils. Although the pair found success using a di 3 sinking line with crunchers drifting off the Draycote Dam. Season ticket holder Dave Atkins enjoyed good sport from the aerators landing 8 fish on a washing line set up with pheasant tail nymphs and a yellow FAB. Also, out on the water was Guiding & Tuition Manager Tom Bird who took 11 year old Finlay out to see if he could land his first fish on his brand new Redington Minnow outfit purchased for his birthday. After a short casting lesson, it wasn’t long before Fin had landed his first fish on his new rod and was beaming from ear to ear. To see the picture please visit www.facebook.com/flyfishstore to talk to Tom about an experience session for your child to get them hooked on Fly Fishing ring the lodge on 01788 812018.
Lucky the fish had read the rule book for the anglers when the great conditions arrived Thursday with light winds and overcast skies all day, resulting in the rod average shot up to 5.3. Peter Elliot fished around A & B Buoy to land 14 fish with 4 on dries before switching to washing lined crunchers to land the further 10. Season ticket holder Gordon Bramwell fished with boat partner Ken Cooke, enjoying great sport with over 30 fish to the boat. The pair found the fish around the aerators then drifting around A,B & C buoy with a mix of washing line and dries. John Dickens stuck to dries all day landing 15 fish with a size 12 red Bob’s Bits being his best pattern.
Gusty winds and rain showers mixed with sunny spells saw the fish slightly knock off the fed from the great rod average of Thursday. Mr D Nataly & Danny Lovegrove landed 11 fish on orange daddies, bloodworm and black & gold humongous fished round C buoy drifting on to the aerators. The boat of John Hurst & Peter Watson landed 14 fish on pink snakes and boobies fished near the surface on intermediate lines. The best boat on the day was that of William Riddick’s & Alastair Murphy with 18 fish to the boat. However, they were keeping the tactics tight to their chest ahead of the Fly Dressers Guild John Watts trophy the next day.
Saturday saw Draycote host the Fly Dressers Guild (FDG) for the John Watts competition. With 54 anglers taking part making up teams of 4 from FDG regions all around the country. A total of 156 fish were caught for a rod average of 2.9 The winning team was Newhaylie Fly Fishers who landed an impressive 26 fish. With the competition top rod Alastair Murphy with an impressive 9 fish, helping Newhaylie to the win. The team had found the fish drifting from the Draycote Dam wall to B buoy. Then out over the open water as well as all the way down the Draycote Dam drifting to the valve tower and C buoy. The method employed by the team was to fish a 3ft midge tip with 2 black or bibio hoppers and a tequila FAB on the point. Outside the competition rudder regulars Jim Dempsey & Ifor Jones landed 15 fish between them going down the boils with tubes and snakes on a di 3 sinking line.
A lovely start to Sunday with light winds and overcast conditions, this soon changed by 10am with the arrival of the rain and then the wind by lunch time turning the day into a wet and windy affair. The rain stayed all day and as a result at 3pm in the afternoon there was only one boat left on the water. George Leaton landed 3 in his short time on the water using a tequila FAB on a di 3 sinking line. The boat of Mick O’Farrell and Son Darren landed 3 fish between them on dries before the rain got the better of them. The best catch of the day went to Michael Hanlon who landed 5 fish in his morning session, fishing over the deep water near the Draycote Dam. Michael found the fish keen to take washing lines hoppers with a small FAB on the point on a floating line.
Looking ahead to next week the weather is set to remain cooler, with overnight temperatures hitting single figures. This has already helped to drop the water temperature by 2°C in two days. If the water temperature continues to drop should start to see the fish more and more on the top and catches to dry flies increase just in time for the return of the daddies.
Draycote is pleased to once again be hosting the English Youth National which will take place on Sunday 9th September. However, to help make the event as successful as possible we are looking for volunteer boatmen for the day. Their role is predominantly to ensure the young anglers have a safe & enjoyable day, fishing fairly and in a friendly spirit. Competitors will all be looking to fulfil their dream of competing for England in next year’s youth international. If you have an interest in assisting us with this event as a volunteer boatman, please contact the lodge on 01788 812018. All boatmen will receive a free boat voucher in appreciation of their assistance. These will be valid for use at any of our fisheries.
Weekly Boat draw
Congratulations to Ifor Jones from Perton the winner of this week’s free boat draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 215 Number Trout Taken: 214 Number Trout Released: 442
Total Catch: 656 Weekly Rod Average: 3.1
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 20:15
Boat All Day: 07:30 until 20:15
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 14:30 PM 14:30 until 20:15
Last 4 Hours from: 16:15 until 20:15 (Ticket sales available from 16:00)
Gutting Room Closes – 19:45
All Anglers to be off site by: 20:45
Guiding & Tuition.
New for the 2018 season the Guiding & Tuition team will running a blog. The idea of this blog is to provide hints and tips from your guides to help keep you catching depending on the conditions, tackle reviews and write up of guiding sessions. To have a look at the blog please visit http://www.flyfishtuition.co.uk/latest-report/
Dates for the Diary
English Youth National – ! Request for Boatmen!
Draycote is pleased to once again be hosting the English Youth National which will take place on Sunday 9th September. However, to help make the event as successful as possible we are looking for volunteer boatmen for the day. Their role is predominantly to ensure the young anglers have a safe & enjoyable day, fishing fairly and in a friendly spirit. Competitors will all be looking to fulfil their dream of competing for England in next year’s youth international. If you have an interest in assisting us with this event as a volunteer boatman, please contact the lodge on 01788 812018.
All boatmen will receive a free boat voucher in appreciation of their assistance. These will be valid for use at any of our fisheries.
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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