Draycote Water weekly report week ending 9nd June 2019
Tel: 01788 812018
This week saw Draycote host its first ever Ladies International with teams of 12 from England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales all taking part hoping to take home the gold medals. We would like to thank all the teams who fished here over the course of the week. It was a pleasure to have you all fishing our water and hope you enjoyed your time with us. A special thank you must go to all the boatmen as well who gave up their time to help on Thursday. Without volunteers, these matches couldn’t go ahead. During the week a total of 288 anglers caught 1202 fish giving a rod average for the week of 4.1
With the official practice for the ladies international taking place Tuesday & Wednesday. Monday was the only day leading up to the match that pleasure anglers where able to get a boat. Season ticket holder Peter Fisher landed 18 fish on green size 16 nymphs fished on a long leader in Rainbow Corner. Pete commented on the quality of the fish and landed a cracking 4lb rainbow. Out on the rudder Rod Wilson landed 10 fish drifting from Y to X on a Di 5 sinking line and tubes with most of his fish taking 6ft down. Mr R Cook enjoyed a great half day session landing 7 fish all on black buzzer fishing tight to the shore down the Cornfield.
The international boats practicing on the Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday gave very little away on the methods and tactics but through taking to the anglers it was clear that good number where getting caught in fact after the match we learnt that on the practice days a total of 930 trout had been caught across the times in the practice. Much of the practice seemed to show that there was 3 or 4 main hotspots on the lake that held a good head of fish. Rainbow Corner drifting towards A Buoy seemed to be a popular area with several practice boats being seen taking trout from the area. Biggin Bay and along the tower bank was another area. Drifting along the Cornfield and then taking drifts around the Pontoon towards J Buoy.
The day of the matched gave near perfect conditions with a light south, south west wind with overcast conditions. It looked set to be a great match with all anglers in high spirits in anticipation of a great day out on the water. The match was to be fished to full International rules with all the fish being measured using the measuring troughs and returned alive to the water. The match started with a piper procession from the car park to the boats, from here a minute’s silence was then observed for a remembrance of the fallen Solders of D Day. With the piper then getting the match underway at 9.30 sharp. With such good numbers being reported in the practice we all expected a very tight close match with good numbers. However, this wasn’t quite the case as several anglers struggled with the tactics that worked on practice just not quite producing the same great results. At the end of the match it was clear that England had done well and that the practice had paid off as their method had remained consistent. The results for the match showed Wales in 4th with 17 fish, Scotland in 3rd with 18 fish, Ireland in Second with 28 fish & England in 1st with a fantastic 54 fish. The England team had found the winning tactic to be the Bung fished at 11ft, 7ft and 5ft with a mix of blobs and Diawl Bach’s on the line. The top areas on the match where very similar to the practice with Rainbow Corner producing the best catches. Other methods that worked on the day where pulling on a Di 3 sinking with a mix of blobs and nymphs, washing lining with Diawl Bach’s and a FAB on a midge tip and straight line nymphing. A huge congratulations must also go to Gwyneth Mooney of England on her 8 fish and winning the individual top honours. Once again, our congratulations go to all the teams on a great weeks fishing and our thanks for making the event such an enjoyable one to host.
After the excitement of the match, the weather took a turn for the wetter on Friday with Rain for most of the day with gusty winds keeping most anglers away. Out on the boats Michael Hanlon found the fish along the North Shore keen to take a fly landing 12 in a short half day session before the rain got the better of him. Michael found a Di 3 with an olive hot tailed Zonker. Drifting through Biggin Bay, into Lincroft point and then down the Cornfield. Once the rain had stopped later afternoon it gave way to near perfect conditions. Making the most of these conditions Alex Campbell landed 4 fish on size 14 crippled midge drifting around X & T Buoy as well as countless out dropped fish and missed fish.
With no boats out Saturday and very few on the bank due to the strong winds a driving rain only a handful of fish where caught from Rainbow Corner which is a credit to the hardy anglers who took to the bank in such awful conditions.
What a difference a day makes, the weather system of the previous day had blown through leaving light winds from the south west with a mix of overcast/ sunny conditions for Sunday. It was a tough day for the anglers after such stormy conditions, but fish were caught from all points on the water and on a wide variety of methods. Martin Moore caught 8 fish from a boat in toft on green buzzers. Andy Birkett and Brent Vinall had 12 fish to the boat on buzzers and CDC’s. Bank Angler Paul Walley reported that he saw fish feeding on pin fry on toft shallows. Mr D Baker caught 4 fish from a boat on lure patterns. Ed Douglas and Jim Smith caught 7 fish between them, mainly from rainbow corner on a Dries, nymphs and buzzers.
Disabled Anglers
Draycote has a wheelie boat for hire, which includes a ramp and hydraulic lift for wheelchair access. To book the wheelie boat call the lodge on 01788 812018.
Fishery Tackle Shop & Online Shop
Draycote has a tackle shop at the fishery stocking SAGE, RIO, VISION, REDINGTON, WYCHWOOD, GREYS, SNOWBEE, FULLING MILL, FARIO, LOON, FISHPOND and STREAMWORKS products with demo SAGE, Vision & Redington rods & RIO fly lines for you to take out and try.
We also have an online shop. For all you anglers who might not be aware www.flyfishstore.co.uk is the online store for Draycote and the whole of Fishery Management (UK) Ltd. During the 2019 season we will be looking at doing weekly specials offers on the website. The weeks special offer is the Guiding & Tuition teams’ best buzzers and how to fish them in the latest blog at www.flyfishtuition.co.uk by Tom Bird. To see the special offer please visit www.flyfishstore.co.uk/offers
COMPETITIONS During June
15th & 16th June Angling Trust Loch Style Championship
www.anglingtrustevents.net/e/222/loch-style-team-championship-2019
27th June 2019 – Alex Booth Fly Fishers Charity Match contact Roy Lewin via 07762 746825
Weekly Boat draw
Congratulations to Mr Jim Hall from Hinckley the winner of this week’s free boat draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 288 Number Trout Taken: 43 Number Trout Released: 1159
Total Catch: 1202 Rod Average: 4.1
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 22:00
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 22:00
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 15:00 PM 15:00 until 22:00
Last 4 Hours from: 18:00 until 22:00 (Ticket sales available from 17:45)
Gutting Room Closes – 21:30
All Anglers to be off site by: 22:15
Tight lines,
The Draycote Team
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