Draycote Water: Weekly report ending Sunday 13th November 2016.
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
A very cold start to the week with hard frosts overnight on both Monday and Tuesday, as expected a number of fish could be seen hitting fry in the harbour as the cold weather spurs them on to pack on the weight before the winter. Wednesday saw the short cold snap break as overnight temperatures increased, however strong north Westley winds did make it cold on the hands for the anglers fishing. Thursday saw a slightly blowy day from about 10am onwards which limited some of the bank fishing, a complete change Friday with Flat calm conditions. Over the weekend a mixed bag with constant rain on Saturday, which then gave way to clear skies and sun on Sunday. Overall a very varied week weather wise with changeable conditions nearly every day. It would be expected that the fishing would dip however this was not the case with 155 anglers catching a total of 724 trout for a rod average of 4.6.
With the cold night and start to Monday, expectations for good bank fishing were high with the hardy anglers who took to the water. These hardy souls who braved the cold north wind and hard frost had the rewards though with good catches being reported from the bank and from the boats. Season ticket holder Ken Key landed 10 fish from the cornfield on Minkies. Mr D Brooks and P Hedges fished the same area as Ken catching well with Mr Brooks landing 16 and Mr Hedges banking 8. Further up the bank in Biggin Bay Kevin Rees fished the old water pipe with shrimp patterns fished on the washing line to land 15 fish. Fishing in the same area as Kevin was regular Ray cramp who used a small buzzer and a FAB to land 10 with Ray’s 8 fish bag tipping the scales at 22lbs. Out on the boats Mike Murphy landed 8 fish using Minkies on intermediate lines fished tight in along the North shore.
A very cold start Tuesday with overnight temperatures hitting minus 5, lots of warm clothing was needed for the anglers braving the artic conditions. The bank regulars dressed for the weather and enjoyed good sport throughout the day. Jude Tuffs landed 10 fish from Biggin Bay using Minkie teamed with small nymphs and wet on the droppers. Colin Granger also got into the fish landing 7 fish on a floating Minkie on the point with a small black cruncher on the dropper. Jim Hall landed 8 fish from the bank taking 5 home for the pot which weight 12lbs Jim used small wets to land his fish.
A calmer and warmer start to Wednesday with heavy overnight rain, while the morning started off wet and miserable it soon dried up leaving a good fishing day with over cast skies and light westerly winds. These good conditions only lasted about an hour as the wind picked up. These strong winds caused a drop in air temperature, despite this anglers enjoyed good sport. On the bank season ticket holder Brian Warwick landed 12 fish from the cornfield on small black spiders. On the boats Andy Lunn landed 10 fish in the last four hours using black humongous near croft shoal and drift past the sailing club. Gareth Jones and his boat partner Peter had a great days sport landing 30 plus fish up to 5lbs. Their tactics where to fish slow sinking intermediates teamed with Minkies and tadpoles using a figure of eight retrieve. They found fish all over the lake including the inlet, Biggin Bay, Toft, The Tower Bank, Farnborough Spit and Hensborough.
Thursday saw favourable fishing conditions with a steady westerly giving a good ripple in the morning, although the wind did pick up in the afternoon. Brian Warwick started off in Toft at the Swans nest fishing a floating line with a FAB on the point and then small black spiders and the droppers and had netted 7 before 10am. However at 10 the wind started to pick up and Brian opted to move to Biggin Bay to meet up with Tony Broadway who was on 4. The fish are very close in at Biggin and wading is not needed wellies will do just fine. Kevin Rees netted 21 fish from Biggin Bay using a washing line with shrimp patterns. While Tony fished with buzzers and spider washing line to land 17, Tony also changed during the day to a Hover line and a Minkie booby with a blob. John Clifford also fished Biggin bay with a washing line to land 7 fish. Out on the boats Dave smith and Stuart Dean had an unproductive morning however a move over to Croft shoal in the afternoon resulted in 7 fish boated in the last 3 hours. The pair used Minkies fished around Croft shoal buoy to land the fish.
A cold bright start to Friday, although not overnight frosts, a very calm day at Draycote with hardly any ripple to talk of in the morning, this continued throughout the day with the calm conditions making condition’s tricky as presentation had to be perfect. A busy day on the bank with anglers seeming to favour the hotspots of Biggin Bay and the Swans Nest. Over in Biggin Bay was Yousef Dar who landed 11 fish on mini lures. Along the bank from Yousef where Peter Elliot and Lee Pattern who had 8 and 9 fish the pair opted for a Minkie on the point and then buzzers up the line on a floater. Over in the Swans nest G Hunter landed 13 fish using a white lure and Minkies. Another angler doing well in Toft was Ian Richardson who landed 7 fish using a Minkie and a black Pennell on the dropper.
The lovely day on Friday gave way to a very miserable wet autumn day with heavy overnight rain and then constant drizzle for the majority of Saturday, certainly made the fishing a damp one for the anglers who ventured out. On the bank Brian Warwick used a small black spider from the swans nest to land 15 fish. Lee Richards also fished the swans nest in Toft to land 5 fish using Minkies. Out on the boats West Midlands Police took to the water with 6 boats. All the anglers in the party caught well and the 12 anglers catching 43 fish. The anglers found that the fish wanted Minkies fished tight into the banks with Biggin Bay and the Top dam wall being hotspots. Outside of the police boats Dave Summers and Bob Eaton took to the water landing 13 fish to the boat with Dave taking 9 of them. Dave wanted to experiment with a new Bung he had tied so used Buzzer to start caught 2 quick and decided to stay using the Bung all day.
The weather changed again for Sunday with a clear skies and sun all day with a slightly cool north westerly wind. These bright breezy conditions make the fishing challenging at times although good catches where still recorded. Mark Hunt took to the water fishing down the Farborough dam to land 6 fish including a Brown of 4lb 10oz (photo on our facebook page www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore ) and a Rainbow of 4lb 4oz, Marks key to success where a Minkie on the point and then a small hares ear on the dropper. Steve Gibson fished Duns Bay on a last four hour ticket to land 6 fish. Another angling catching well on the bank was season ticket holder Jim Hall who landed 12 good fish from Lincroft point. Stan Hillman also caught well posting a return of 9. Out on the boats regular Jim Smith fished down the Farborough Dam wall tight in with Minkies to land 12 fish including a fantastic 5lb brown. Another angler getting into good fish was Tony Plummer who landed 8 fish including 2 cracking Rainbows.
Looking ahead to next week a warmer week is forecasts with temperatures still remaining up towards double figures so hopefully the insect life that has been around the banks will continue Kevin Rees commented that last Monday a large hatch of flying ants was underway which may be why the small spider are working so well?
Closing Date
The closing date for our fishing season this year is 30th November 2016.
Season Permits
2017 Season Permits, We currently have a waiting list, however if you’re interested in receiving information on availability of season permits at Draycote we recommend your details are added to the list to avoid any future disappointment.
Catch Returns
Could all anglers please fill in the catch return sheet before departing. The sheets will either be located in the gutting room or in the lodge depending on time. It is very important to us for both the fishing report and stock levels.
Selling of Fish
Anglers are not allowed to sell or distribute fish to members of the public on site.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 155 Number Trout Taken: 254 Number Trout Released: 470
Total Catch: 724 Weekly Rod Average: 4.6
Current Fishing Time:
Bank: 07:30 until 16:15
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 16:15
First 4 Hours: 08:30 until 12:15
Last 4 Hours from: 12:15 until 16:15 (Tickets on sale from 12.00)
All Anglers to be off site by: 16:45
No gutting of fish after 15:30
Please note that because of the shorter days we have now split the day into the first 4, and last 4 hour permits, priced accordingly. A full day boat will still be priced as normal as will the 4 and 8 fish permits.
Weekly Free Boat Draw
Congratulations to Mr Tony Broadway from Coventrywho is the winner of this week’s Free Boat Draw.
Demo Tackle
New SAGE X rods in stock including a SAGE X 10ft 7wt Demo rod for you to take out and try. We now have a considerable amount of Sage & RIO demo tackle available to try at Draycote. The following link will take you to the website where you can check out the available items: We have added a 10ft 7wt SAGE ACCEL to our demo rods. The Sage One is currently in the process of being phased out. Very limited stock left. Contact the Lodge for details of special offers.
http://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/demo-tackle-3/
Forthcoming events:
The annual Fur and Feather match will be held this year on Sunday 27th November, and will be fished as a pair’s competition. The winning pair will receive a Christmas hamper each second paring will receive a bottle of spirit each and third will receive bottles of wine.The prize of the largest fish will win be a bottle of port. Please note there will be no raffle this year, no need to bring along a prize. Competition rate for this will be £68 per boat for a 16 fish limit to the boat (£34 per angler). Competition will be fished to fishery rules, NO RUDERS. Fishing times will be 9am-3pm.
Please call the lodge on 01788 812018 to book your place.
Disabled Parking Bays
Anglers need to ensure that whilst obtaining a fishing permit, they do not park in the disabled parking bays adjacent to the main car park, unless they are the holder of a duly displayed “blue badge”.
Gutting Room
Please be aware that the Gutting Room refurbishment has now been completed. We ask that you respect the facility and leave it in the same way in which you would wish to find it. Please also note that no fish are to be gutted after 15:30
Anchoring
Boat anglers are politely reminded of the ruling that there is no anchoring within 100 yards of any pontoon, aerators or the Tower. 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.
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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