Draycote Water weekly report week ending 12th March 2017
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
Yet another great week here at Draycote with both boat and bank anglers returning good catches from all across the reservoir. The weather has been kind to us considering the time of year, indeed on one or two afternoons the bank anglers could be seen fishing in shirt sleeves along the north shore, sheltered by the high ground and trees behind them. The only area that is not producing solid returns on a regular basis is Rainbow corner. But this is only due to the coloured water currently being pumped into the reservoir. The trout are well spread around the margins, allowing the anglers to keep on the move and perhaps try areas of the water that they are not familiar with. The best areas have been Dunns Bay and Biggin Bay, Lin Croft Point, the Cornfield, Grays Barn and Toft shallows, from the Swans nest down to the big willow tree by the nature reserve. This weeks rod average was 11.0
On Monday Mr Ian Shobbrook caught a total of 21 fish from the bank in Biggin Bay on size 14 Diawl Bachs. Mr G Tomkinson, also fishing from the bank had 20 fish. Season permit holder Mr John Dickens caught 8 good fish using Buzzers and a FAB on the point. It was good to see Mr John Pearson back on the water with fishing partner Mr Les Watson. They caught 11 good fish from the bank during an evening session and remarked on the quality of the stock.
Tuesday dawned with the arrival of the usual suspects of Tony Broadway, Gordon Slack, John Dews, Jude Tuffs and Brian Warwick. All excellent anglers who returned good numbers from the bank at the end of the day, using mainly small skinny black buzzers. Season Permit holder Mr Peter Elliott returned over 35 fish, caught using buzzers and a FAB on the point. Draycote regular Mr Tony Ward caught 14 + fish from the bank in Toft shallows using Diawl Bachs and Buzzers. Amongst these fish was an overwintered 6lb Rainbow which was safely returned to the water. Visiting for the day were Thornton Reservoir members Lord Richard Dayman and Mr Noman Perkins. They both chose to fish from the bank and netted 26+ fish between them. Mr T Cosford caught 23 fish from the bank. Draycote regular Mr Richard Lindsay had over 30 fish to the boat, while Mr L Tones and Mr M Harby caught 30 fish between them from a drifting boat using black and green lures off Lincroft point and in Biggin Bay.
Again on Wednesday good numbers of fish were caught with many anglers going well into double figures. Mr L White caught over 40 fish from the Cornfield using black buzzers. Mr A Marchant caught 15 fish, again from the bank. Season Permit holders Mr Kevin Rees and Mr Steve Robinson caught 22 and 14 fish respectively, from various points around the reservoir using buzzers. Draycote regulars Mr Les Watson and Mr Ken Rawlings had 25 fish between them during an evening session from the bank.
Thursday turned out to be a good day for fishing despite the weather forecasts, and again anglers seemed to be bending into fish everywhere we looked. Paul Beasley had 12 fish in a morning session on a blue flash damsel. Tony Broadway had over 30 fish on small black buzzers. Mr S Foulds caught 20 fish from the bank using a FAB and buzzers. Lord Richard Dayman and Mr Graham Herbert visiting from Thornton reservoir had at least 40 fish each from the bank. Mr Jason Sly had 14 fish from the bank. Season Permit holder Mr Dave Adkins had 18 fish from the boat using black and green lures fished on a DI3. Season Permit holders Mr Richard Walker and Mr Roger Kerrison caught 14 and 16 respectively from a boat. Season Permit holder Mr Graham Homer caught 11 fish during an afternoon session from a drifting boat.
After a soggy start, Friday saw the rod average top out at 14.9, with seasoned regulars and new visitors to the reservoir catching fish on a regular basis throughout the day. Season Permit holders Peter Elliott, Gordon Slack, Tony Broadway, John Dews, Ian Richardson, John Hall, Richard Hall, Steve Gibson, Dave Kennell and Eddie Mitchell all returned good numbers from the bank. The main feature from their comments seemed to be that they were all using buzzers and/or Diawl Bachs and Crunchers, teamed with a FAB on the point, which took it’s fair share of the catch. Mr John Pearson turned up for an afternoon session and caught a total of 10 fish, remarking on how good a condition they were in. Mr John Hurst did really well, catching 40+ fish from a drifting boat from all points of the reservoir using a wide variety of patterns such as buzzers, blood worm, Diawl Bachs and black and green lures.
Saturday saw the rod average drop off to a measly 13.2, with good returns coming in from the near side of Toft and all along the northern shore line. Mr R Roper caught 22 fish on buzzers from the bank, remarking on how high in the water the fish where. Mr J Burton, again fishing from the bank, caught over 40 fish on black and green lures, using an intermediate line in the morning, and a floating line in the afternoon. Boat angler Mr G Deterding had 30 fish to the boat using a black gold head cormorant. Season Permit holder Mr Mike Garner had 15+ fish from the bank using Pitsford Peas, Crunchers, Diawl Bachs and Montanas. Mike spent most of his time fishing by the overflow up on the Hensborough Bank. The father and son pairing of Mr John and Mr Sean Hanlon, had nearly 40 fish to the boat on tubes, remarking on the size and quality of the stock. Mr Rob Hepburn caught 19 fish from a boat on a white snake. Mr S Robins and Mr A Sheehan caught over 40 fish from the boat using Diawl bachs and buzzers. Draycote regulars Stan Hillman and Mick Cronin caught 25 fish from the bank. Another regular, Mr Tom Morris caught 20+ from the bank on a white and green lure. Mr L Serrano also did extremely well from the bank, catching 30+ fish, again on a white and green lure.
Sunday started with a light southerly breeze and looked like it would be ideal fishing conditions for the day. Again anglers where catching in all areas around the reservoir with the hottest spot of the day being the bottom of Toft shallows near the big willow tree. Mr Keiron Barnes caught 17 fish from the bank on buzzers. Mr D Hancox had 18 from the bank on damsels. Draycote regular Mr Andy Ball had “his best day ever” from the bank with a total of 54 fish . Mr John Mills caught 19 fish whilst bank fishing in Toft, all on buzzers. Mr K Harding and Mr M Clarke caught 50 fish between them from a boat on buzzers and diawl bachs. Mr J Ide had 40+ fish to the boat from various points around the reservoir. Mr Rob Hepburn made it a family outing with his wife and son, recording 11 fish to the boat. Mr Nigel Keeber brought 13 fish to the boat, whilst fishing alongside new staff member Lee Henfrey.
Weekly Boat Draw
Congratulations to Mr John Pearson of Coventry, who is the winner of this week’s Free Boat Draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 320 Number Trout Taken: 707 Number Trout Released: 2827
Total Catch: 3534 Weekly Rod Average: 11.0
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 17:45
Boat All Day: 8:30 until 17:45
Boat Part Day: 8:30 until 13:30 13:30 until 17:45
Last 4 Hours from: 13:45 until 17:45 (Ticket sales available from 13:30)
All Anglers to be off site by: 18:15
No Gutting of fish after 17:15
Fishery News
We are pleased to welcome Lee Henfrey to the Draycote team, Lee will be working here at Draycote and at our other waters.
Lee is well known on the competition scene with a number of England caps to his name. He is also a member of the RIO Masters fly fishing team. Lee is a very experienced angler who’s knowledge of reservoir fishing will make him an invaluable member of Fishery Management UK Ltd. He is looking forward to working here at Draycote and sharing his knowledge with visiting anglers in the coming season. In addition Lee will also be available for guiding throughout the season.
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.
Dates for your diary
England Ladies Mixed Pairs Match – Sunday 30th April
England Eliminator – 27th and 28th May
Scierra Pairs Match – 25th June
Alex Booth Memorial – 29th June
Angling World Holiday Heat 5th and 6th August
TEFF Fundraiser. Dry Fly Championship 16th September
Angling World Holiday Final – 23rd and 24th September
Troutmasters Final – 9th October.
Catch Returns
In order to maintain the accuracy of our records could all anglers please ensure that they fill in the catch return sheet before departure. If not in the lodge it will be found on the counter in the gutting room next door
Anchoring
Boat anglers are also politely reminded of the ruling that there is no anchoring within 100 yards of any pontoon or aerators. 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.
Car Passes
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
Follow Us on
facebook www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore