Draycote Report W/E 26th March 2023

Weekly Fishing Report: Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton

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Draycote Fishery Weekly Report – 01788 812018

Email:  draycote@flyfishstore.co.uk

2023 Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Draycote is explained on our website www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

2023 Membership Options visit our website www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/about-us-2/season-permits/

Week Ending:     26^th March 2023           Rod Av: 5.8      Water Temperature: 7°C

A mild start to the week with the temperatures hitting double figures with the wind coming from the Southwest which was a little gusty at times. On the bank Draycote member Tony Broadway fished for his first trip of the season. Landing 6 fish on size 12 black buzzers fished on a floating line from along the Cornfield. Fishing from Toft on the bank John Dickens landed a dozen fish on the morning using tadpoles and snakes before taking a boat for the afternoon and landing another 18. Mr J Cheeny fished from the bank on his first ever Draycote Bank visit and landed 6 fish. Using a black and green lure first thing and then buzzers in the afternoon, with Rainbow Corner being the best area. On the boats fishery guide and ranger Lee Henfrey took Mike Kennedy out for a 4 hour guided session. With the aim to show Mike how to catch more fish using sinking lines and understand how they fish. With Lee’s help this is exactly what happened. With Mike, landing 11 fish using sunk lines with Croft Shoal being the hotspot. If you’re interested in any guiding please contact Tom on guiding.tuition@flyfishsotre.co.uk All water member Lorenzo Serrano landed a good cricket score using lures down in Toft near the nature reserve buoy. With former fishery manager Kevin Hart using a Di 5 in the morning and buzzers in the afternoon to land 33 fish from Middle Shoal.

A windy day Tuesday coming from the Southwest again and even stronger than the previous day. As a result it made getting on the current hotspots a little uncomfortable. On the bank Draycote member Alan Grant fished in Toft with a blue flash damsel using an intermediate line to land 5 fish. All water member Jim Greasley also fished in Toft using a green pea to land 10 fish. On the boats Sam Smith fished with Albert Coales with he pair boating 18 fish, using a Di 8 sinking line and boobies with the hotspot being Croft Shoal. With some nice overwintered fish also making an appearance in their catch.

More strong winds Wednesday made it a difficult day for the anglers to be able to once again get on the hotspots. Fishery Ranger & Guide Lee Henfrey fished with Martin Rowson with the pair landing 8 before deciding to call it a day early due to the strong winds. First thing in the morning the took fish from Croft Shoal then once the wind picked up, fish came from Farborough Dam and Rainbow Corner. Using a Di 5 sweep with a mix of boobies and cormorants. Draycote member Graham Homer fished in Rainbow Corner out of the wind to land 8 fish on Diawl Bach’s & Buzzers. With All Water member Pete Eville also catching up there boating 8 fish taking advantage of the last four hour members boat.

The same as the previous days, Thursday was a windy day with heavy showers in the afternoon as well. Due to this only a few anglers headed out to brave the wind and the rain. Ian Spicer fished from a boat landing 4 fish from Rainbow corner using a washing line set up with buzzers and a FAB on the point. Draycote members Ian Richardson & Bob Smith landed 9 fish from Rainbow Corner including 2 cracking overwintered fish caught by Bob. The best method was to us a Di 5 sinking line with a humungus, however Ian did land one using the bung with buzzers.

Friday followed the same pattern as the previous few days, with winds set to abate on Sunday. Most rods once again headed for the shelter of the Draycote Dam and Rainbow Corner, and whilst these aren’t seen as current hotspots, they are producing. Rob and Craig Middleton headed out in a boat for a couple of hours to net half a dozen fish between them. Season permit holder David Stott had 7 fish to the boat using buzzers on the bung. Brendon Thomas and Gary Murray caught half a dozen fish using snakes fished on a DI3 around the Inlet in Rainbow Corner. Draycote regular Martin Ashby used buzzers on the bung in much the same area to net a total of 5 fish.

Saturday was once again a hard days fishing with heavy winds blowing in to Toft. Those who ventured out mainly spent their time in Rainbiow Corner,to with the odd drift through Biggin Bay when the wind allowed it. Phil Mee and John Kirk had 10 fish to the boat which was very good considering the conditions. Phil and John used a mixture of buzzers, nymphs and snakes  to tempt their fish to the boat. Mr T Long had 4 fish to the boat on buzzers, all from Rainbow Corner. Season permit holder Graham Homer netted half a dozen fish from a  boat using diawl bachs fished on a floating line.

A much better wind Sunday with it swinging to a Northeast with showers in the morning but thankfully these cleared up as the day progressed. While the Northeast wind meant the anglers where able to get on the hotspots of the previous weeks it was a very cold day. On the bank fishing for the afternoon season ticket holder Martyn Hancox landed 10 fish from along the Cornfield and Toft. Using a black and green tadpole on the point and buzzers on the droppers. The boats enjoyed good sport with Buzzers featuring well on the catch report. Ed Douglas landed 24 using buzzers on the bung from Biggin Bay. All water members Fraser Duffy Snr & Jnr landed 34 fish to the boat with buzzers also being their nest tactic. Steve Cullen fished with Tony Baldwin with he pair landing 35 to the boat using buzzers and boobies in Biggin Bay. The All Abilities Friendly Fly Fishers had their first club day, with 23 anglers landing 158 fish for a rod average of 6.87 with Buzzers proving to be the most popular and successful tactic. The main hotspot for the AAFFF was down in Toft near the nature reserve buoys.

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Eyebrook Fishery Weekly Report – 01536 770264

Email: eyebrook@flyfishstore.co.uk

Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Eyebrook is explained on our website

www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

2023 Prices & details on our pre-payment visit our website www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Week Ending: 26th March 23                    Rod Av: 4.2     Water Temperature: 8°C

Monday at Eyebrook saw the water clarity on the windward area of the Hawthorns & Sam’s Dyke improve to 4-5ft in some parts & consequently those areas fished well. Eyebrook member Roy Swinfield landed 12 from the Hawthorns fishing a floating line & 3 black Diawl Bachs & Mr Hawley landed 6 from the same area on small black Buzzers & a Iven’s Green & Brown. First time visitor Mateusz had a day to remember Fly Fishing for Pike, on only his 3^rd cast Mateusz hooked into one of Eyebrook’s many larger females. After a hard fight she came to the net & tipped the scales at 23lb. It just goes to show that the big girls are starting to move.

There was a blustery damp start to Tuesday which developed into very bright conditions & a strong south westerly wind. Strong winds & bright is never a good combination & made fishing somewhat challenging. The water clarity remained the same as the previous day, particularly around the margins & as a result the Hawthorns yet again fished well. There were 24 fish caught between 5 rods giving a bank rod average of 4.8, which is a great return given the conditions. Top rod on the day was All Water Member Norman Perkins who fished a Blob on the point & small black nymphs on the droppers & finished the day with 11 fish. The boats are finding it more challenging due to the water clarity with the clearer water being found close to the bank.

Wednesday’s morning damp, overcast, blustery conditions gave way to bright, warming spring sunshine in the afternoon. At 5-6ft, the water clarity had improved on the previous days & this was reflected in the catch returns as the reservoir fished well from both the banks & now the boats. The Hawthorns continued its fine form with some good bags coming from that area, especially for those fishing small black nymphs slow – static on Floating Lines. Letting your flies swing round naturally in breeze can be deadly method as the fish find them hard to resist. It was clearly apparent that those intent on fishing quick from the bank struggled. From the boats, All Water Members Clive & Ian found a lot of fish in front of Pens at the Chestnut area off the Leicester Bank. By the end of the day they had a high number of Fish from that area on a variety of methods & techniques. The fish were relatively high in the water column & the most productive lines proved to be Floating Lines & Short Tip Lines with dark nymphs being their most productive flies. It was great to see the boat anglers doing well & with the water clarity improving day by day, the prospects are looking great.

Thursday saw the reservoir continue to fish well, with fish still being caught along the Hawthorns on small dark natural patterns fished slow to static. Eyebrook member Dave Schofield had great short morning session landing 10 on bloodworm patterns fished on a floating line. Another Eyebrook member, Dave  Searson, landed 5 as to did Fishery Guide Mike Oliver. Both fished floating lines & nymphs to tempt their fish. First time visitor Karen Walker also had a productive day landing 4 fish, again from the Hawthorns area. Glad you enjoyed your visit, Karen; we hope to see you again soon.

Eyebrook fished very well on Friday yielding a daily rod average of 7.6. The Hawthorns to Sam’s Dyke area was yet again the most productive bank area where dark nymphs fished slow to static either straight lined or washing lined was the order of the day. Eyebrook member Roy Swinfield had a very productive day landing 22 fish straight lining Diawl Bachs & was closely followed by Max Woolnough & Mick Farrell who had 18 & 14 fish respectively. Max chose to fish Diawl Bachs & Crunchers on a washing line whilst Mick opted for black Muskins to tempt his fish.

Saturday started with a strong south westerly wind that brought with it periods of bright sunlight & isolated showers. The unsettled start to the day did not deter from the fishing as there were caught from the very start all the through the day to the end. Fish were caught on a variety of methods from both the boats & the bank. From the bank, the washing line featured very heavy on the catch returns with fish mainly falling to the nymphs; Crunchers, Diawl Bachs, Muskins & Buzzers. If they were dark & fished slow to static, the fish would find them hard to resist as they cruised up & down the banks. During the brighter spells it was noticeable that they would sit further out & move into the shallows when it was overcast. Eyebrook member Mick Farrell built an excellent bag of fish from Mucky Bay, catching 10 on the washing line. Mick also managed to tempt 4 of his fish on CDC’s later in the day as the wind subsided. Garry Mickley had 12 fish from the Hawthorns on Diawl Bachs & Keith Johnson had 10 from the same area on black Diawl Bachs & Muskins. From the boats, Sam Edmunds had a very productive day, landing 15 fish on a variety of methods from various areas. Sam caught on the washing line, pulling on a mid-glass & also on dries, with the most productive area being Sam’s Dyke. Covering a lot of water, fish were also caught up past the Chestnut & off the Island.

Sunday brought with it a wind change of 180° with the previously prolific Hawthorns Area being initially subjected to a still North Easterly. As the day progressed, the wind swing round to a Northerly which made this more accessible to bank anglers. Fish were caught throughout the day from various locations including a cracking Brown Trout from Stoke Dry for Luke Maylin. Luke fished a Black Snake in relatively shallow water to tempt the magnificent fish which wasn’t weighed & it returned strongly. Elsewhere, Eyebrook member Neil Shilton had a productive day out on his float tube. Neil concentrated his efforts at the northern end of the reservoir, landing 13 fish on a variety of methods. Off the banks, Sam’s Dyke & later in the day, the Hawthorns, continued to be productive. Fishery Members Dave Etty & Lynsay Bates fished small buzzers in Sam’s Dyke for the majority of the day & were rewarded landing 8 & 7 fish respectively.

Eyebrook also hosted it’s first tuition day of the season, where under the tutelage of Instructors Tom Bird & Mike Oliver, 3 participants were taken through the basics & taught how to cast a fly rod. Taking to the boats in the afternoon all 3 went on to catch their first ever trout on a fly rod. All of them had a great day, despite the very cold Northerly wind. Well done to all. For anyone interested in our Tuition Courses please follow this link: https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/?s=tuition&s_cs=true

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Thornton Fishery Weekly Report – 01530 230807

Email: thornton@flyfishstore.co.uk

2023 Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Thornton is explained on our website www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

Week Ending:26^th March 2023    Rod Av: 5.4    Water Temperature: 8c

Monday and a quiet start to the week with angler moving their bookings due to the forecast. Although we had some rain in the morning by lunchtime the wind had dropped and the sun was out. With the water clarity 18inch+ the trout have moved into the clearer water along the shallows. Bob Menhams caught 4 for his 3 hour visit with Andrew Wilson catching 16 for his full day visit. Both found fishing a floating line with a black & green tadpole or cats whisker on the point with a diawl bach on the dropper anchored 30 yards off the bank casting tight to the margins is where they found the fish with most hooked 10ft off the bank.

Tuesday, some overnight rain had reduced the clarity by a few inches but the shallows along the bank opposite the lodge in front of the wood to the corner of the wood was the area to fish. Again, a floating line with black & green tadpole with diawl bach on the dropper cast tight to the bank produced the fish. P Cox caught 9 on diawl bachs, P Wrigley caught his 7 on black & green with Pam Shuttleworth catching 3.

Wednesday and a brighter with a few showers. Visibility is still 18inch+ and we advised everyone to fish floating lines, black and green lures with yellow blob, diawl bach on the dropper and fish close into the margins opposite the lodge and wood. Jason Bishop and Carl Bond caught 6 with B Deeley catching 5 with the overall average for the 4.0

Thursday with the wind forecast as brisk south westerly the Thornton arm with the shallow bank opposite the lodge and in front of the wood offered the best fishing out of the wind. Water level keeps dropping and our clarity is around 2ft. All Water member Jim Greasley bank fished opposite the lodge catching 10 trout, Ian Leach and Mark Cowley caught 8 with L Serrano catching double figures. They all fished floating lines with various patterns working, black and green fritz, green pea, cormorant, black cruncher, diawl bach with most of the trout caught within 12ft of the bank.

Friday and another day with the brisk south westerly with boats fishing the calmer water opposite the lodge and concentrating their efforts close to the bank. Same method as the day before working with Dave Pritchard catching 8, J Bebbington caught 4 with some of his fish coming from the middle of the Thornton arm with L Serrano catching 17 close along the bank.

Saturday and the first of the summer visitors have arrived the sand martins, busily working across the main basin. Change to the wind direction with a strong colder north, north westerly greeting anglers. Certainly a more challenging day than earlier in the week with anglers picking up some fish in the middle of the Thornton arm. Sinking lines with green & black booby & small black snake on sink 3 & sink 7 lines.

Sunday with a poor forecast anglers moved their bookings to another day

With our water level dropping back to its normal level & our clarity improving it was good to see at long last the trout moving back into the margins especially on the milder days when we had the south westerly winds. Despite the weather an excellent rod average 5.4 for the week