Draycote Water weekly report week ending 25th March 2018
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Report
A very cold start to the week with cold easterly winds remaining and blowing in excess of 20mph. That made for a slow start to the week. However, by Sunday spring was definitely in the air with temperatures up to 12°C combined with very welcome spring sunshine. This week we saw 228 anglers on the water with a combined total of 1134 trout to the net for their efforts. This represents a creditable rod average of 4.97 for the period.
Following the blizzards of the weekend, Monday arrived with persistent bitter 20-21mph winds from the North East. The weather meant that no boat anglers were brave enough to take to the water. Furthermore, ice and snow on the perimeter road led to a partial close down, with only Toft accessible until the afternoon following a thaw. Only two hardy anglers braved the winds but their efforts were rewarded with 4 fish each taken on midge tip lines using a hot head cat on the point and cormorants on the droppers.
A warmer day on Tuesday saw temperatures into double figures although the Northerly wind did make it feel cold on the hands still. On the bank John Hall fished the Cornfield to land 14 fish on a floating line and a Pitsford Pea. Also fishing along the Cornfield, but slightly lower down below car park number 3, was regular Jude Tuffs. She landed 17 fish using a bung with a combination of buzzers and a blob. Just up the bank season ticket holder Peter Elliott fished with a midge tip with a black and green lure to land 15. Out on the boats Guiding and Tuition manager Tom Bird took to the water with season ticket holder Ed Douglas. After a slow start they located the fish around the willows that divide the Cornfield and Toft about 70 yards off the bank. They fished with a RIO Intouch sink 3 line and 2 boobies for the morning followed by buzzers and a FAB on a midge tip later in the day. The pair enjoyed great sport finishing the day with 30 fish each. To book Tom for a guided session for this coming season please contact the lodge on 01788 812018 or visit http://www.flyfishtuition.co.uk/guiding/.
Wednesday proved to be a consistent day on both boat & bank with an overall rod average for the day of 5.7 from 26 rods. Whilst a variety of black & green flies, lures & boobies were still accounting for many fish, Paul Skelton bank fished with Pheasant Tail Nymphs & caught well, as did Keith Allison who fished Crisp Packet Black Buzzers & Diawl Bachs. Toft & The Cornfield continued to produce better than anywhere with best boat being that of Tony Parker, partnered with Tim Hooper who in a relatively short day, brought thirty to the net using small- black & green boobies. Thursday proved to be a tad harder again with bright, sunny conditions & just a light sou’westerly breeze making things difficult during the morning. Once it clouded over a bit things hotted up with bank anglers Alan Bettles & Peter Elliott catching & releasing eight each, Ed Douglas netted seven, as did Harry Dawson, who caught in Biggin Bay and up near the Valve Tower. Nice to report Eugene Hughes back in action too. He boat fished various tadpoles on a sink rate 5 line. Most of his fish came from Biggin Bay & he finished his session with more than 25 to the net.
Anglers found themselves contending with some very strong south westerly winds during Friday when most chose to stay on the banks. Vince Aronica took six on a combo of buzzer & booby in Rainbow Corner whilst over on The Cornfield Mr Peart presented a Cat’s Whisker on a midge tip to bring 13 to the net. Warren Langridge took to the boat & was rewarded with an eleven fish catch as did Mr Wallace who mixed black & green with white booby patterns very deep in Biggin Bay for a ten rainbow total.
On Saturday Draycote hosted its first tuition day of the 2018 season, the participants all had a fantastic day landing their first trout under the watchful eye of guiding and tuition manager Tom Bird. To learn more about the upcoming tuition dates at Draycote, Foremark and Eyebrook visit http://www.flyfishtuition.co.uk/prices/ for pictures of the newcomers and their first fish on the tuition day visit www.facebook.com/flyfishstore. Saturday also saw Ruth & Tony Kirk in action back on the bank landing 9 between them on Viva, Woolly Bugger & Cat’s Whisker. Season rod, Jim Hall did well on the bank too moving around frequently to stay in touch with fish. His total of 12 fish to the net included a fine looking blue. Interestingly, Jim & Tom three Marriott shared a boat & they both had a blue each as well. The pair netted 10 & 6 respectively with their best fish all over the 3lbs mark.
The overnight change into British Summertime seemed to bring with it glorious weather. Whilst the bright sunshine & blue skies made for hard fishing early on in the day, the afternoon saw bent rods all over the venue with 63 rods catching 372 trout for a daily rod average of 5.9 Andy Ball described his bank session as “brill” having netted 19 to a variety of nymphs & lures. Kieron Barnes fished both Cat’s Whisker & buzzer patterns for 10 to the net from the bank off the Cornfield. Jude Tuffs returned for more action & netted a further nine from Cornfield & Lin Croft. Russ Rabot & friends bank fished at Lin Croft enjoying classic action to black buzzer & landing 26 between the four of them with numerous fish over the three pound mark. No doubt caused by varying water temperatures, Nick Lant commented on how he found fish on buzzers in the shallows of Toft but deep on boobies off the with Hensborough Bank. Karl Harman & Matt Osbourne enjoyed tremendous afternoon sport on a Last Four-Hour Permit. They boat fished at the Swan’s Nest with intermediate lines & a small pink marabou lure catching fast & furiously for over twenty rainbows each. Sunday also saw the Greenwell Persuaders afloat for their “Secret Pairs Draw” event. Twelve anglers fished to a four-fish limit followed by catch & release. They netted 81 between them for a rod average of 6.75 Congratulations go to the winning pairing of Lee Patten & Alex Urquhart with 8 for 17lbs 13oz plus ten C&R. Hot on their heels were Dave Kennell partnered by Tim Burn with 18lbs 11oz but just seven C&R.
Weekly Boat draw
Congratulations to Brian Hall of Moreton In Marsh who is the winner of this week’s free boat draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 228 Number Trout Taken: 250 Number Trout Released: 884
Total Catch: 1134 Weekly Rod Average: 4.97
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until : 19:30
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 19:30
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 14:00 PM 14:00 until 19:30
Last 4 Hours from: 15:30 until 19:30 (Ticket sales available from 15:15)
Gutting Room Closes : 19:00
All Anglers to be off site by: 19:45
Fishery News
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:-
Competition Contact
Loch Style Team Championships- 30th June/1st July- Angling Trust- www.anglingtrustevents.net
Scierra Pairs- 29th July- Phil Dixon- www.scierrapairs.co.uk
10th/11th August- Anglers World Holidays- www.anglersworld.flyfishingchampionships.uk
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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