Draycote Water weekly fishing report: week ending Sunday 10th August 2014
Telephone Number: 01788 812018
The hot, bright conditions so frequent in July & August have traditionally made this period one of the hardest of the season everywhere. Nevertheless, the fishery has continued to perform with a combined bank & boat rod average for the week recorded as 3.4. This was down from its peak at the beginning of the week – an impressive 6 on the Monday.
It has actually been a week of extremes with many anglers reporting excellent results whilst others have struggled. The bank fishing can be especially hard in August. However, some notable catches from the shore this week include six rainbows to the nymph team fished by Ivor Bullock in Dunn’s Bay together with three good rainbows taken on beetle patterns by visitor from the Isle of Man, Graham Norman. Interestingly, he caught his fish in Toft during a mid-day period almost under his rod tip. Alastair Gavin is to be congratulated. He spotted, stalked & eventually caught a beautifully marked 5lbs brown which took a foam bodied daddy pattern along the Tower Bank.
Whilst there are still many fish roaming open water, many have also remained in the vicinity of the aerators. Yet again, Ed Douglas, with his cormorant & cruncher combination, managed a catch well into double figures. Similarly, Peter Elliott’s rod was seen to be in an almost continuous fighting arc when he fished small nymphs through the bubbles during his mid-week visit. His best fish was a rainbow of 5lbs 9oz. Dries have also continued to be a major feature of the week. Tom Morris caught 15 on dries during an evening session as did Kevin Rees – continuing his almost unbroken run of hard earned success with a method he has been striving to perfect! Regular angler Jude Tuffs also found herself amongst the action but chose a combination of dries & small buzzers for her 13 fish total.
At the weekend we welcomed John Horsey who ran two heats of the Lexus European Fly-fishing Championship on the water. Attention was sharply focussed on ever changing weather forecasts as the approaching aftermath of Hurricane Bertha was being tracked crossing the Atlantic. Fortunately we were able to stage the event, which was fished to International Rules a four fish bag followed by catch & release. Twenty eight anglers competed on Saturday in very bright, windy conditions catching a total of 90 fish for a rod average of 3.21. Top rod, & our congratulations go to, Draycote member Tony Parker whose 9 fish total (21lbs 7oz) were all taken on dries. His winning catch was a clear 5lbs ahead of second & third competitors Richard Slater & Ben Dobson both of whom are ex-champions of this event.
It was a different kettle of fish on Sunday – the floating line heat – which started in torrential rain prior to the aftermath of Bertha. This led to an extremely windy & gusty afternoon. Thirty four competed and, despite the extreme weather, caught a total of 87 fish. Ben Dobson excelled once more taking first place with a 15lbs 6oz bag that included a 4lbs 11oz brown. He was followed by Bart Farmer & Derek Moore in second & third spots respectively. Euros Jones caught the best fish at 5lbs. Congratulation to all, with final mention for another Draycote member – Pete Walsh- who finished in ninth place to qualify through to the final.
As expected, signs of fry feeding fish have been constantly in evidence with activity in margins, over the tops of weed growth & also in open water. Sedge are still coming off in the evenings & a good hatch of olive buzzer occurred at the end of the week & into the week-end. Water temperatures are now dropping following the recent weather events so prospects for the coming weeks are looking good.
Best flies. – Dries: Bob’s Bits, Shipman’s Buzzer, CDC shuttlecocks, Hoppers & Daddies.
Nymphs: Diawl Bachs, Crunchers, Cormorants
Best bank areas. – Rainbow Corner, Tower Bank, Dunns & Biggin Bay.
Best boat areas. – Rainbow to Hensborough, Drifts off Draycote Water dam, Aerators and Tower Bank down to Alberts Bottom.
Boat anglers are reminded that there is no anchoring within 100yards of the aerators or the pontoons.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 293 Number Trout Taken: 416 Number Trout Released: 592
Total Catch: 1008 Weekly Rod Average: 3.44
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 21:00
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 21:00
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until14:30 PM 14:30 until 21:00
Last 4 Hours from: 17:00 (Ticket sales available from 16:45)
All Anglers to be off site by: 21:15
In order to maintain the accuracy of our records would 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.
Bank Anglers car passes should be, where possible, booked prior to coming fishing as we only have a limited number available.
Rudder Hire: Boat anglers will 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,
Kevin
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