Draycote Weekly Fishing Report.

Tel: 01788 812018   email: lodge@flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Web Site www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Our COVID-19 Guidelines

We would like to remind all anglers that under the current guidelines the shop at Draycote is closed. Fishing at Draycote is on a pre booking and pre payment basis only. Please call the lodge on 01788 812018 to make your booking. Full details of our updated guidelines can be found on our website @ www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk. Any tackle required can be purchased from our website on a click and collect basis.

If you are calling the fisheries after 6.00pm the staff during the evening session have extra disinfecting duties to carry out on boats, pontoon & life jackets.

The staff will always try to do the best they can for you but due to the extra workload currently involved with disinfecting, they may not be in the position to deal with your enquiry straight away. They may ask you to call back later or they will take your details to call you back.

We value your custom & appreciate your cooperation as we continue to work to the required guidelines to deal with coronavirus

Fishery Report: Week ending Sunday 14^th June 2020

The good fishing weather that we saw Sunday continued into the new week with light winds in the East and overcast skies, it was in fact near perfect conditions. On the bank season ticket holder Bob Smith landed 8 fish. Landing 3 from Lincroft point in the morning fishing a washing line with crunchers on the droppers and a booby on the point. Later in the day Bob then moved to the bottom end of Toft near the Willow tree to land his other 5. Another season ticket holder who found the fish from the bank was Ian Richardson who took 2 from the far side of Toft before moving round up the bank from Bob to also land 5. On the boats fish were caught from all over the reservoir, fishing in Rainbow Corner Jeff Ide landed 17 fish all on Diawl Bach’s fished on a floating line. The highlight of Jeffs day was when he landed a 6lb brown which he returned to the water to fight another day. Another 2 boats who found the fish around A & B buoy were that of Neil Cohen & Andrew Nowak. The pair landed over 20 fish each, their best tactic was to fish a slow intermediate with FABs on the point and top dropper and then 2 nymphs on the droppers. Ian Spicer enjoyed a great day’s sport landing 18 fish all on dries from Rainbow Corner, with his best fly pattern being crippled midge.

More cloud for the most part Tuesday with some sun for the middle section of the day, again we were pleased with light winds giving a lovely ripple. On the bank season ticket holder Mike Garner landed 5 fish from the outlet on Diawl Bach’s. Fishing in Biggin Bay Brian Warwick landed 5 fish all on crunchers fished on a floating line. Mr Wilson also fished at the overflow to land 4 fish all on hot head Diawl Bach’s and commented on the excellent fish quality. Mr English fished off the Cornfield to take 8 fish on Diawl Bach’s and a Whiskey Fly. On the boats Mr I Morris enjoyed a great day’s sport landing 23 fish all on nymphs. Mr Morris found the fish at Lincroft Point, Toft and also over the Aerators. Mr Mahon landed 17 fish from the boats but didn’t’ leave any comments on how he caught his fish. Andy Lunn landed 10 fish all on either dries or a washing line. Mr Alex Campbell found a lot of fish in the afternoon drifting just to the righthand side of Croft shoal in the channel to land 12 fish. Alex caught the fish on a variety of method fishing in the top couple of feet. Either CDC culs or fishing one of the new Airflo 12ft slow midge tips with a mix of buzzers, Diawl Bach’s and boobies.

Yet another good fishing day here at Draycote on Wednesday, with overcast skies and light breezes, interspersed with the odd light shower. Draycote really seems to be “on form” at the moment With the cloudy conditions we are experiencing, good numbers of fish are being caught by bank anglers, mostly from the northern shoreline. The boat anglers are catching fish in a lot of different areas at the moment, and generally on Nymphs and Buzzers in the top few feet of the water, and of course dries. Bob Smith caught 7 fish from the bank by the willow tree using Crunchers. Season permit holder Ian Richardson caught 16 fish from the bank in Toft using a washing line, with a Booby on the point and Crunchers. Out on the boats Ed Douglas caught 26 fish drifting through open water on dries. Season permit holder Tony Parker had a good number of fish to the boat using a washing line and Diawl Bachs, fished through the top few feet of the water.

A blustery north easterly greeted us on Thursday morning and blew most of the day. Luckily the better fishing was along the north shore where anglers were able to gain a little bit of respite from the conditions.

The bank fishing continued in reasonable form with Brain Warwick managing 9 from the Cornfield. Mike Garner managed two from the bank on a Pitsford Pea off Lincroft Point. Out on the boats Dave Smith netted 10 fish using a DI5 sweep and Snakes. Jim Brennan and Chris Discombe had over 20 fish to the boat using snakes at G buoy. Chris Bobby and Leanne Frost had 28 fish between them in Toft shallows on intermediate lines, Blobs and Boobies.

More cloud Friday, teamed with the odd shower in the afternoon, it was another blustery day with the win coming from the East before swinging into the south East later in the day. On the bank Bob Barfoot landed 4 fish from Toft using nymphs on a washing line. At the other end of the lake Stan Hillman fished in Rainbow Corner from the land to 8 fish on nymphs. Mr A Dawson fished in Toft using a washing line with a FAB on the point landing 14 fish. On the boats Steve Owen fished in Toft using a team if nymphs fished on a floater to land 14 fish. In another boat also in Toft Chris Howkins landed 16 fish Chris found the fish using a floating line buzzers fished under the bung. Fishery ranger Lee Henfrey also went out first using the new Airflo Superflo 12ft tip to catch in Toft. Fishing the washing line, before moving to Rainbow corner using an olive snake on a fast glass. On Friday evening Draycote Fly Fishers Association (DFFA) held their first evening match of year fished under the Angling Trust guidelines for competitions. The enjoyed great sport with the competitors landing over 20 fish. Winning the evening was Paul Farrell who landed 5 hard fighting Rainbows with other anglers landing 3 or 4 fish. For information on joining DFFA please visit there website http://www.draycote-fly-fishers-assoc.co.uk/

A brighter day than had been seen during the week, on Saturday, as a result the fishing was slightly tricky. On the bank M Grainger landed 8 fish from Toft down near the willow tree in Toft. Mr Grainger used a blue flash Damsel and a blob to catch his 8. On the boats the rudder boats of Ifor Jones and Jim Dempsey landed 11 and 12 fish each. The pair caught all over the lake and found the fish willing to take snakes fished on a Di 3 sinking line. Also, out on the boats Ian Gaskell fished with son Liam, while Shaun Gaskell fished in another boat. Between the 3 of them they landed 22 fish, they caught first in Toft washing lining before it started to go a bit harder and the fish dropped with the son. At this point Ian changed to the Bung and started to catch in Toft at 10ft down on a size 8 black buzzer. Ian then moved to Rainbow Corner using the same tactic to land a cracking 5lb Rainbow. While Ian got the bung working Liam and Shaun found a di 5 sweep with a mix of cormorants caught a number of fish with them taking on the hang at 15ft. However, rain quite literally stopped play at around 6.30 when a massive storm including thunder and lighting rolled in.

A mixed day with regards to the weather Sunday, the wind swung around every variation of East it could think of and we had a couple of heavy showers with then sun for the rest of the day. Overall the water fished very well from the boats but the bank found it a struggle due to the changing winds and bright conditions for the most part. Kirby Fly Fishers had a social day out with all the club’s members enjoying single boats. The club all caught well on nymphs and FABs fished on a washing line either on a midge tip or a slow sinking intermediate. They found the fish on the Aerators very willing to take a fly with nearly all of the anglers taking there 6 fish limits and returning a number of others. Frank Sumnall enjoyed a good days sport landing 23 on a mix of washing line nymphs over the open water. Season ticket holder Tony Parker used a range of midge tip mines to boat 18 on crunchers again fished on a washing line to catch in the top 5 feet of the water column. All water season ticket holder Ian Reeve & Matt Pittaway fished with a mix of FABs and crunchers over the Aerators to land 33 fish between them including some fantastic perfect tailed rainbows around the 4lb mark. Jim Smith & Ed Douglas enjoyed a great day landing cricket score catches which finished with a fantastic evening rise with the pair catching all around the slick sans wind lanes on bobs bits and big reds.

Our Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Visit our online shop we currently have sale & discontinued items with discounts up to 50% on selected items. https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/

Competition

All competitions cancelled until further notice

Tuition & Guided Sessions

Tuition & Guided sessions are currently cancelled, they will resume when government guidelines allow.

Opening Hours & Boat Session

Lodge & Bank Open – 7.30am – 22:00

Full Day Boat – 8.30am – 22:00

Morning Boat – 8.30am – 15.00

Afternoon Boat – 15.00pm – 22:00

Last 4 Hr – 18:00pm – 22:00pm

All Anglers Off Site – 22.15pm

Follow Us on social media

Facebookwww.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore

Instagram www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/

Local Angling Club is Draycote Fly Fishers www.draycote-fly-fishers-assoc.co.uk/

Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton Covid-19 Update 13th June 2020

With the government easing lock down restrictions further we will from Monday 15th June be able to have our lodges / shops open again, although restricted access, details below:-

Shop Guidelines

• To prevent queuing at the lodge we will continue to ask anglers to pre book & prepay for their bank & boat visits via debit /credit cards with permits & your receipt posted outside the lodge next to where you book in. Hand sanitiser provided.
• Maximum 2 customers in the shop
• Shop customers will be required to observe government social distancing guidelines
• Everyone entering the shop will use the hand sanitiser provided
• Shop access restricted if possible, to tackle purchases
• Credit or Debit card payment for purchases preferred
• Staff working the lodges / shop will be wearing face shield or masks when dealing with customers.
• Gutting Room will remain closed

Boats
No changes currently to our guidelines relating to boats, we are due to review them again next week, any changes we will issue a further update.

Draycote 01788 812018
Eyebrook 01536 770264
Thornton 01530 230807

Draycote Weekly Fishing Report.

Tel: 01788 812018   email: lodge@flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Web Site www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Our COVID-19 Guidelines

We would like to remind all anglers that under the current guidelines the shop at Draycote is closed. Fishing at Draycote is on a pre booking and pre payment basis only. Please call the lodge on 01788 812018 to make your booking. Full details of our updated guidelines can be found on our website @ www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk. Any tackle required can be purchased from our website on a click and collect basis.

If you are calling the fisheries after 6.00pm the staff during the evening session have extra disinfecting duties to carry out on boats, pontoon & life jackets.

The staff will always try to do the best they can for you but due to the extra workload currently involved with disinfecting, they may not be in the position to deal with your enquiry straight away. They may ask you to call back later or they will take your details to call you back.

We value your custom & appreciate your cooperation as we continue to work to the required guidelines to deal with coronavirus

Fishery Report: Week ending Sunday 7^th June 2020

Another fantastic week here at Draycote with cooler weather for the majority of the week. The fishing has exploded with amazing catches coming from both the bank and the boats. Overall a total of 270 anglers have fished landing an impressive 1,856 trout for a rod average of 6.8 for the week.

The warm weather Monday meant it was a tough day on the bank as the fished moved out to the deeper water. Season ticket holder Ian Richardson fished at the Swan’s Nest to land 3 fish all on buzzers fished under the bung. Fishing over in Biggin Bay using buzzers on a floating line was fellow season ticket holder Dave Atkins who tempted 5 fish to the net. Due to the bright sun the boats caught well in a variety of methods. Fishing buzzers, Diawl Bach’s & crunchers on a floating line with a long leader, Trevor Moore & James Mapplethorpe fishing in separate boats landed. 17 & 16 fish each fishing in Toft Shallows. Draycote regular rudder angler Jim Dempsey enjoyed a great day over the open water to land 22 fish on di 3 and di sinking lines with a mix of snakes and tubes. Kevin Rees fished dries all day and despite the sun landed 12 fish. Derek Hessett enjoyed another good day on the water using a long midge tip with nymphs and a FAB before changing to the bung in the afternoon and then finally finishing on dries. Derek, found the majority of his fish of the Farborough Dam and then around J buoy as the like the previous day.

Some cloud around Tuesday but in the most part the sun once again, however this did not seem to worry the fish with a 9.18 rod average for the day. On the bank Phil Mee fished buzzers in Biggin Bay to land 12 fish including a cracking 1lb 8oz Perch. Season ticket holder Pete Allan fished on the tower bank to land 10 fishing including some cracking fish up to 4lb. On the boats Brian Moore landed 25 fish all on buzzers fishing in Biggin Bay and Dunns. Out in the boats Mr R Hankins and son L Hankins landed 29 fish all on nymphs fished on floating and midge tip lines drifting over the open water around J Buoy. Jamie Scott landed a 26 fish all on buzzers and crunchers with fish up to 5lb and commented on how hard fighting the fish are at the moment. Neil Cohen fished on nymphs once again on midge tip, but, found the fish in Toft very willing to take a fly landing 20 fish and said he never had fish under 3lb.

A much better day weather wise for fishing with a cool North East wind and overcast conditions, as a result we saw more fish coming out to the bank anglers. Ian Richardson landed 14 fish taking one first at the Swan’s Nest before landing the rest in Biggin Bay. Ian found the fish very keen to take nymphs fished on a floating line with a booby on the point. Mike Garner fished in Toft from the bank to land 8 fish on Pitsford Peas, crunchers, and Diawl Bach’s. Brian Warwick landed 5 fish along the Cornfield all taken on crunchers. Out on the boats all water season ticket holder Paul Havard landed 9 cracking fish from around P Buoy all taken on a black and green snake fished on a Di 3 sinking line. Husband & Wife team of Tony & Maggie Curtis enjoyed a great day landing 31 between them, fishing over the open water using a mix of nymphs on a washing line. All water season ticket holders Chris Booby & Lianne Frost also enjoyed a great days sport down in Toft taking 30 in booby, crunchers and Diawl Bach’s

Thursday was a beautiful day out on the water with mostly gentle breezes interspersed by the odd light shower of rain. Both boat and bank anglers seemed to be catching well under a sullen looking sky and rising fish could be seen all over the reservoir. Draycote regular Mike Oliver caught half a dozen fish from the Tower Ban using various Buzzer patterns. The bank pairing of Phil Mee and Andy Lilley had a 9 fish bag from various spots along the north shoreline. The bank fishing was going well as Mr A Dawson, Mr H Dawson and Mr I Bradley had a bakers dozen between them. Season permit holders Bob Smith, Brian Allwood and James Kelly all caught really well from the bank on a mixture of Buzzers and Damsels around Lincroft Point. Tony Broadway caught 10 from the bank using size 14 spiders. Season permit holder Dave Smith netted 14 fish from a boat on Buzzers in Biggin Bay. Kevin Hart had 10 fish to the boat on dries and nymphs across the middle. Mr P Bailey took advantage of our last 4 hour permit, netting 10 fish from a boat using Diawl Bachs.

The wind blew hard over Draycote on Friday and did not ease up until late into the evening. Boat and bank anglers tucked themselves in where they could find both shelter and fish, along the northern shoreline and under the Draycote dam. The reservoir fished surprisingly well considering the conditions with some good numbers showing up on the catch return. All water season permit holder Andy Lilley netted 4 fish from the bank using Black Buzzers on a midge tip line. Mr I Stevens and Mr A Atkinson had a brace each from the bank on Buzzers. Peter Elliott and Lee Patten caught a bakers dozen between them on nymphs in various areas around the reservoir. Season permit holder Yousef Dar had 9 fish to the boat on Buzzers. Mr Lee Killen had 19 fish to the boat using a washing line with Buzzers and Hares Ears, on a slow intermediate line. Season permit holder Dennis Tidmarsh had over 20 fish to the boat using a DI 5 and Boobies. Mark Hunt caught 15 fish on a variety of methods. Mark used a 12 ft midge tip and Diawl Bachs to start with, and then changed onto a DI 3 and olive Snakes.

The winds from the previous day continued with stormy showers at various points. The strong winds meant that a lot of the productive areas of earlier in the week had become unfishable. However, this did mean that some of the other areas got fished for possibly the first time since reopening. Frank Sumnall fished in Rainbow Corner with FABs and Blobs on a DI 3 sinking line to land 24 cracking fish. Another angler who used this tactic was Mike Laycock who landed 21 fish. Mike commented the fish up in Rainbow had been feeding hard on Daphnia and also Jelly fry which means we are not far away from Pin fry time. On the bank Mr S Proffitt landed 5 fish all on Diawl Bach’s and cruncher taking 2 in Rainbow Corner in the morning before the wind got up and causes a move to the Tower Bank.

The wind dropped on Sunday giving much more pleasant conditions, although heavy rain at times did make the day a little damp. Thankfully, the fish really played ball with all corners of the lake fishing really well. John Jones enjoyed a great mornings sport landing 13 fish, John fished N Buoy to Hensborough bank using a fast glass. The best flies John found where a Woofta booby on the point and a pink blob on the dropper. George Leaton fished around Hensborough and also Rainbow Corner to land 15 fish again in just a morning session, the majority of George’s fish all took nymphs in the form of Diawl Bach’s and crunchers. Rob Middleton enjoyed a great day landing 30 fish all on dries and washing lined nymphs, Rob also landed a cracking 5lb 6oz Rainbow with one of the best tails I have ever seen. For pictures of this fish head to www.facebook.com/flyfishstore. All water season ticket holder Ed Douglas also found dries was the way to tempt the fish taking 24 of his 30 fish, Ed found a lot of fish around Rainbow Corner and the Hensborough bank. Draycote season ticket holder Tony Parker used Diawl Bach’s and crunchers fished on a washing line to land 31 fish. Tony found the fish all over the lake around Farborough Dam, around J buoy and then towards Rainbow Corner and the Hensborough bank.

Our Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Visit our online shop we currently have sale & discontinued items with discounts up to 50% on selected items. https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/

Competition

All competitions cancelled until further notice

Tuition & Guided Sessions

Tuition & Guided sessions are currently cancelled, they will resume when government guidelines allow.

Opening Hours & Boat Session

Lodge & Bank Open – 7.30am – 21.45

Full Day Boat – 8.30am – 21.45

Morning Boat – 8.30am – 15.00

Afternoon Boat – 15.00pm – 21.45

Last 4 Hr – 17.45pm – 21.45pm

All Anglers Off Site – 22.00pm

Follow Us on social media

Facebookwww.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore

Instagram www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/

Local Angling Club is Draycote Fly Fishers www.draycote-fly-fishers-assoc.co.uk/

Preparing for the opening of the lodges 15th June  

The government guidelines allow us to have the tackle shops & lodges open at Draycote, Eyebrook & Thornton from June 15th as long as we can manage social distancing. 

To give you advance notice on how we will operate from the 15th June onwards ensuring social distance and to ensure as we move forward our operating procedures for this next period run as smoothly as they did for the first, I have outlined below our next steps.

From June 15th Lodges Open 

1. Access to the tackle shops will be limited to 2 people at any one time

2. Shops will only be open for tackle sales

3. Hand Sanitiser will be available from a dispenser by the door, you will be required to use it on entry to the lodge/shop

4. Door handles, counters, demo tackle, tills, phones etc will be regularly disinfected

5. To prevent any queuing outside the lodge as were restricting shop customer numbers to 2 at any one time:

• Fishing permits & boats will be pre booked & pre-paid
• Your receipt will as it is currently be posted in an envelope on the lodge window
• Lodges open from 7.30am Do Not congregate outside the lodge door before 7.30am staff when they are ready will call you forward
• Social distancing guidelines will be observed

5. Boat usage will remain the same, with restricted availability of boats,

• Single person occupancy unless your fishing with a person from the same household or two members fishing together

• Once you have picked up your envelope off the window with your receipt & permit the staff on the pontoon will control numbers ensuring social distancing on the pontoon, they will call you forward when they will allocate you your boat number

• Boat availability currently at
• Draycote 18 boats,
• Eyebrook 16 boats
• Thornton 11 boats
• We are operating Full Day, Part Day & Last 4hr boats
• Boats & life jackets are disinfected after every session

5. Gutting Room remains closed

   Although we have hand sanitiser at the lodge and on the pontoon, we recommend you bring your own as well and use it during the day as required

Draycote 01788812018   Eyebrook 01536 770264   Thornton 01530 230807

Draycote Weekly Fishing Report.

Tel: 01788 812018   email: lodge@flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Web Site www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Our COVID-19 Guidelines

We would like to remind all anglers that under the current guidelines the shop at Draycote is closed. Fishing at Draycote is on a pre booking and pre payment basis only. Please call the lodge on 01788 812018 to make your booking. Full details of our updated guidelines can be found on our website @ www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk. Any tackle required can be purchased from our website on a click and collect basis.

Fishery Report: Week ending Sunday 31^st May 2020

The much anticipated re opening of Draycote water did not disappoint. Despite the bright sunny and calm conditions, good numbers of fish are being caught in most areas of the reservoir. Whilst boat anglers are having the best of the sport throughout the day, bank anglers are catching early morning and from late afternoon onwards, with the bright conditions moving the fish into deeper water in the middle part of the day. Diawl Bachs and Hares Ears are a constant throughout the catch return. Perhaps because the fish are feeding hard on shrimp along the north shore from Lincroft Point and down through the Cornfield. The odd fish has fallen to a dry fly, but through the brighter part of the day most boat anglers are pulling snakes on a DI3 or a DI5, especially in the aerators.

On Thursday Eddie Mitchell and Dave Kennel got off to a flying start on Thursday fishing a 12ft slow tip, with a FAB on the point and nymphs on the droppers. Eddie and Dave fished over open water landing 20 and 14 fish respectively. All water season permit holder Jamie Scott had over 40 fish to the boat using snakes on a sinking line over the aerators.

Again, the bright conditions on Friday did not deter the fish as they continued to feed just under the surface in open water and along the north shore for most of the morning. Brian Warwick landed a very respectable 6 fish from the bank using Diawl Bachs. John Kirk used a Hot Head Damsel and Snakes to land over 30 fish from a boat . Mr M Cartlidge had 24 fish to the boat near J buoy, one of which weighed over 4lbs.

Another hot day Saturday with the wind alternation between a straight  East and North East. Paul Davison took to the water for his first session after lock down using a 10ft midge tip with 3 epoxy buzzers and a FAB on the point to catch well around J buoy in the morning. In the afternoon Paul decided to give his much loved dries a go, and despite the sun found the fish very willing to come and take a Ginger Midas off the surface. Fishery Manager Tom Bird took the opportunity on a day off to get out on the water, catching first on a long midge tip with 3 Diawl Bach’s and a FAB around S buoy and Croft Shoal. Before deciding to try the tactic Fishery Ranger Lloyd had used the day before. This was taking drifts from the Farborough Dam towards J Buoy using a Di 5 Sweep with cormorants and a Smelly Booby. A key point from Tom’s session was over half Tom’s fish took on the hang at 15ft from the boat. It really is worth giving “the hang” a go at the moment. Keep an eye out for a Blog on this from Tom in the next few days. Yousef Dar also used buzzers around S buoy to catch well before changing to mini lures on sinking lines, and commented on how “hard fighting and fin perfect the fish are”

Once again on Sunday the sun was in appearance, with the wind again remaining in the North East. Jim Smith enjoyed a great days sport, using a number of methods to land fin perfect fish all day long. Amongst Jim’s fish were a couple of 6lb bars of silver. The most successful tactic for Jim was a Di 5 Forty Plus with a Barred Olive Snake on the point and an abortion sparkler booby on the dropper. The key was to leave the line to sink for 20 seconds before starting a steady roly-poly retrieve with the Hang once again being key. Jim found fish all over the lake with a hotspot being J buoy and T buoy. Ed Douglas enjoyed a good day using similar tactics to Jim. However, in the morning Ed caught well on a 12ft Fast Tip with 3 nymphs and a FAB drifting from the bottom off Toft to G buoy. Derek Hessett from Cumbria was lucky enough to be working in the local area this coming week and enjoyed a great day Sunday. Derek found the fish all over the open water with Buzzers and FABs on a range of long midge tips. Before switching to buzzers fished under the Bung, which proved to be very successful. Then finally later in the day Derek switched to Midas drifting around the Sailing Club to enjoy a fantastic evenings sport.

Overall in the first 4 days of being open, a total of 127 anglers visited landing a total of 1,081 fish for a rod average of 8.5.

Our Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Visit our online shop we currently have sale & discontinued items with discounts up to 50% on selected items. https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/

Competition

All competitions cancelled until further notice

Tuition & Guided Sessions

Tuition & Guided sessions are currently cancelled, they will resume when government guidelines allow.

Opening Hours & Boat Session

Lodge & Bank Open – 7.30am – 21.45

Full Day Boat – 8.30am – 21.45

Morning Boat – 8.30am – 15.00

Afternoon Boat – 15.00pm – 21.45

Last 4 Hr – 17.45pm – 21.45pm

All Anglers Off Site – 22.00pm

Follow Us on social media

Facebookwww.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore

Instagram www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/

Local Angling Club is Draycote Fly Fishers www.draycote-fly-fishers-assoc.co.uk/

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Draycote will reopen for fly fishing on Thursday 28 May 2020.

Severn Trent will be controlling the overall numbers of visitors onsite by reducing the available car parking area, once the available car park spaces are full, THEY WILL CLOSE THE SITE, no more vehicles will be allowed onsite. You will be able to leave whenever you want

Initially we will only be offering Full Day Boat Bookings, I advise bank & boat anglers to be onsite no later than 10.30am or you may find the site closed and you will not be allowed on.

Severn Trent along with the tenants will be reviewing the current site arrangement daily & hopefully if social distancing is observed by everyone who visits we will be able to offer in the near future, Full Day, Part Day & Last 4 Hour permits.

Follow our reports & latest updates at our fishery website FlyFishDraycote & our social media pages at Flyfishstore

The fishery will have hand sanitiser at the lodge & on the pontoon for you to use, we advise you also bring your own & use it especially if you have used a keypad or gone through a gate.

The main toilets at the lodge will not be open, Severn Trent advise us that the toilets at their ranger base / country park entrance will be.

Draycote Fishery Specific Guidelines for Anglers

To ensure we comply with social distancing & government guidelines I have produced new operating guidelines for everyone to follow which are highlighted below.

I would ask during these difficult times & to ensure we keep within the COVID-19 guidelines which could change at any time, you comply with any daily instructions issued by fishery staff & our landlord’s representatives Severn Trent Rangers.

Staff working the pontoon will be wearing Face Shield, masks & disposable gloves with all touching points on the pontoon regularly disinfected. All boats & life jackets will be disinfected after every session.

Staff in the lodge will be wearing Face Shield when interacting with customers and have access to hand sanitiser. At all other times, the recommended outside social distancing will be observed.

All customers will have access to hand sanitiser at the lodge & on the pontoon

All touching points at the lodge, doors, handles, desk, phone, till, PDQ machine etc will be disinfected at least once every hour & more often if required.

Anglers Are Required:

1. Pre-Booking: All Bank & Boat anglers, including season permit holders will be required to call the lodge & pre book your visit. We will only accept anglers who have pre-booked
2. Pre-payment will be required at your time of booking, this will reduce the necessity for you to enter the lodge, and for the staff to handle cash & visit banks.
3. Pre-payment will be made once your booking for the Boat or Bank is confirmed with payment made by credit / debit card.
4. Confirmation of your Boat Booking along with your receipt, allocated boat number & confirmation of the booked bank anglers will be posted on the outside of lodge window for you to pick up.
5. LOYALTY CARDS: You will need to keep hold of any receipts issued by the Draycote lodge from May 28th 2020 to claim your boat & permit loyalty stamp at a later date to be announced, when normality returns to the fisheries & we once again start issuing permits across the lodge desk
6. To comply with COVID-19 guidelines you should travel to the fishery by yourself unless you are travelling with a family member & you live at the same address.
7. You will be required to meet social distancing rules.
8. The Booking in & out sheet will be placed outside the lodge door; hand sanitiser will be provided.
9. Lodge & Tackle shop: will remain closed until further notice, we will operate a click & collect for pre-paid tackle items which will be available for you to pick up outside the lodge door, you can also visit our online shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk
10. Boats: New operating procedure to ensure we comply with COVID-19 guidelines

• Maximum 1 person per boat.
• Husband & Wife / partner, parent & child who live at the same house may share a boat.
• Boats & lifejackets will be fully disinfected after every session.
• Draycote Boat availability is reduced to 16 boats & 1 wheely boat to allow staff adequate time to disinfect & rotate boat usage.
• By reducing the available boats, it allows us to use every other boat on the pontoon, limits the number of people on the pontoon & it will ensure we meet social distancing requirements while you get in and out of the boats.
• Fishery Ranger staff will control the number of anglers on the pontoon.
• To speed up the angler usage of the pontoon, DO NOT sit in your boat tied to the pontoon to tackle up or take your tackle down. Once in your boat we expect you to leave the pontoon area as soon as possible. On your return have your tackle ready to vacate the boat and pontoon as soon as possible.

11. Bank Anglers are to ensure they observe social distancing and while fishing keep a minimum of    15 meters apart. Maximum 30 angler`s vehicles around the perimeter road.
12. Life jackets worn by bank anglers will be disinfected after every session
13. The gutting room remains closed

Draycote, Eyebrook & Thornton Coronavirus Update 30^th March 2020

It’s a week since the trout fisheries closed in line with the government directive, and I will be the first to admit it’s been a bit of a stressful time as we quickly had to prepare the fisheries for the closure.

Anglers were lucky that social media is flooded with fly tying, fishing video & blogs to help us while away the enforced home time.

We will be posting items on our website & social media, if you have any photos or video of your fishing trips to any of our fisheries, if you can share them it would be great, if you can forward them to shop@flyfishstore.co.uk we can add them to our library and post them during the next few weeks

Members, once I know the duration of the lockdown, I will be looking at some form of compensation for the period were closed.

Vouchers purchased will be valid to be used when we reopen later this year & will be valid to be used during 2021 for those who can’t use them this year

Tom Bird is currently preparing one of his excellent blogs with Martin Blakeston putting together a piece on the history of the Blackston buzzer

When up at the fisheries its noticeable that the buzzer hatches are improving with increasing numbers of martins travelling through each day. Spring is here

Thank you for your well wishes, everyone keep safe

Ifor

Coronavirus

Today & to comply with Severn Trent Water our Landlord decision we are closing the fly fishing at  Draycote until further notice

Draycote water will also be closed to the general public.

Its been a great season so far & I’m sure once these temporary lockdowns are lifted the fishing will be excellent again

We will keep you all informed via this website & social media pages.

See you all when the country gets better

Ifor & the Draycote staff

Draycote Coronavirus Update 21st March 2020

Eyebrook, Draycote & Thornton currently remain open for fishing, we are working to the latest government advice to ensure our fisheries are as safe as possible for staff to work & our anglers to enjoy the outdoors.

We therefore ask you comply with any fishery staff or our landlord’s representatives’ requests

As previously posted Staff will wear gloves while on the pontoon & if necessary, in the lodge. They will continue with their overall rigorous disinfecting and cleaning

New operating standard since 7.00am 21st March 2020

1.

To reduce person to person contact you can Pay for your visit over the phone via a debit or credit card or BACS payment, each fisheries contact details and BACS detail will be listed below

2.

Prepaid customers, Boat numbers etc, will have their booking on a sheet stuck to the lodge window to prevent you having to come into the lodge.

3.

Staff will book you in on arrival & book you out, returns can be made by email or via the phone

4.

ONE CUSTOMER at a time allowed in the lodge

5.

Boats:-

Maximum 2 persons in a boat.

Boats will be fully disinfected after every session.

Boat availability may be reduced to allow staff adequate time to disinfect & rotate boat usage.

We will let alternate boats on the pontoon, which will increase your own personal area you have while you get in and out of the boats.

Ranger staff may at times need to control the number of anglers on the pontoon

To speed up the anglers usage of the pontoon, DO NOT sit in your boat tied to the pontoon to tackle up or take your tackle down. Once your in your boat we expect you to leave the pontoon area as soon as possible. On your return have your tackle ready to vacate the boat and pontoon as soon as possible

6.

Life jackets will be disinfected after every session with life jacket usage to be rotated

7.

Bank anglers are to ensure they keep their distance from each other

8.

No tea making facilities will be available at Eyebrook, no area for anglers to sit indoors to eat their lunch will be provided

Payment Details

Draycote 01788 812018     Mobile 07834 581 423

BACS Sort Code 60 – 15 – 48 Account 71310274

Ifor Jones

Draycote Weekly Fishing Report.

Tel: 01788 812018 email: lodge@flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Web Site www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Fishery Report: Week Ending 15th March 2020

BANK ANGLERS; we would like to remind all Draycote bank anglers that your not allowed to fish from any of the dam walls.

Coronavirus.  All of our fisheries remain open, with our staff following the advice from the authorities to regularly during the day clean the vulnerable areas, doors, counters, tills, credit card machines, phones etc

A fairly windy start to the week, however, worse was forecast for Tuesday and Thursday. With such gusty conditions the boats struggled to present the flies correctly, due to either very quick drifts or swinging on the anchor. Season ticket holder Bob Smith fished the bank enjoying good sport to land 15 hard fighting rainbows. All of Bob’s fish came from Dougie’s Gap using a Damsel and a Green Pea fished on a floating line. Fishing along side Bob, was Ian Richardson who landed 9 fish again on a Damsel. Which was a great catch considering the awful gusty South West wind that was blowing along the bank. Another angler braving the wind and doing well along the North Shore was Mr Joyce who took a dozen fish using a black and green lure. Mr Joyce found the fish in Biggin & Dunn’s Bay as well as Lincroft point. Out on the boats Ian Conyers landed 8 fish from Rainbow Corner on a mixture of lures fished on a Di 3 sinking line.

A wind day Tuesday, with the wind coming from the South West resulting in the majority of the anglers opting to fish in Rainbow Corner. One angler who decided to face the wind was Paul Walker who fished the top end of the Cornfield to land 10 fish on buzzers and black and green lures. All water season ticket holder Ken Key fished in the corner of the Hensborough Bank using a mixture of Buzzers and black and green lures to lake 5 hard fighting rainbows. Out on the boats Michael Burnside & boat partner John Heslop landed 11 fish to the boat back drifting around near A Buoy in Rainbow Corner.

Wednesday saw the winds drop slightly than the previous day but still remain gusty. All water season ticket holder Neil Shilton braved the wind on the North Shore to land 11 fish. Another all water season ticket holder fishing along the North Shore was Ed Douglas who landed 9. Mike Oliver moved all around the Reservoir to take 8 all taken on Buzzers and Pheasant Tail Nymphs fished on a floating line. Also going down the more imitative approach season ticket holder John Dickens landed 11 fish from Biggin Bay on Diawl Bach’s Out on the boats the majority of the sport came from fishing over middle shoal. Season ticket holder Dave Atkins landed 22 cracking fish with the majority being overwintered on a Di 5 and a green snake. Jamie Scott also found fish at middle shoal but also fishing over at Y buoy landing 11 fish using a Booby Basher and a black booby.

Due to the high wind speeds on Thursday the boats remained firmly fixed to the pontoon all day. A few brave souls ventured out on to the banks here at Draycote but the strong gusty conditions made for very difficult casting. Alas the rod average took a bit of a pounding, with the best bag of the day falling to Mr Dave Bennett with 4 fish to the net.

A drop in wind speeds on Friday allowed for both boat and bank anglers to have a field day out on the water, pushing the rod average up to 7.7. Mr Bob Smith caught a total of 16 fish from the bank in Dougies Gap and the Cornfield using Damsels. Ian Richardson remarked on “an excellent day”, after netting 12 fish from the bank along the northern shoreline. Tony Broadway also netted a dozen good fish from the bank using buzzers. Out on the boats Martin Rowson and Lee Henfrey had over 30 fish between them using sinking lines and lures. Kevin Hart ventured out in a boat to net 18 fish from Biggin Bay on Olive Snakes.

Again on Saturday a lot of anglers visited Draycote and again the rod average jumped, this time to 9.0. Regular bank angler Mike Oliver netted over 25 fish on PTN’s and Buzzers. Season Permit holder Mr A Hart took 6 fish in toft using buzzers. Mike Garner netted 10 fish from the bank in Toft using a Green Pea.
Boat anglers Mr S Peart and Mr S Robins netted 17 fish using a midge tip line and cormorants, and a floating line with a team of Buzzers. All water season permit holder Mr J Kirk had 16 fish to the boat using Black Snakes and Black buzzers. Draycote regular Andy Lane also caught 16 fish from a boat using Snakes whilst drifting over Musborough Shoal. Mr J Gayle had 22 fish to the boat using Olive and White Snakes and Hot Headed Damsels.

Sunday started wet and windy with the wind easing off a bit as we went through the middle of the day. Unfortunately, heavy persistent rain then set in making for some uncomfortable conditions through until late afternoon. The fishing however, made up for this in part, as anglers coming off the water reported good catches from both boat and bank from nearly all corners of the reservoir. Mr K Harding and Mr M Clarke had over 40 fish to the boat using DI 8’s and Snake Boobies. They commented that they had taken fish from “all over the lake”. Season permit holders Dave Hancox and Martin Price had 37 fish to the boat around Croft Shoal on green and black lures.

This week 230 anglers visited Draycote catching a total of 1501 fish, giving us a weekly rod average of 6.5.

Our Online Shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk
Visit our online shop we currently have sale & discontinued items with discounts up to 50% on selected items. https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/

Competition
Next Draycote competition will be the Angling Trust Tri Masters, 3 Man Team Event
Details of the 2020 competitions at Draycote with organisers details are on our website http://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/competitions/

RIO & SAGE Day CANCELLED due to travel concerns for Simon Gawesworth & Chris Anderson of SAGE & RIO who were travelling to the UK from the USA
If you want to try a particular SAGE rod or RIO fly line contact Tom Bird 01788812018 & he will arrange to that for you

Tuition & Guided Sessions
Fly casting tuition, beginner days & guiding available with our in-house guides & instructors who work at our Draycote, Thornton & Eyebrook fisheries. Contact our guiding & tuition manager Tom Bird for detail 01788 812018 or his works mobile 07834 581 423. Details of our beginner course date & information on guiding along with Tom Bird advice blogs are on our Tuition & Guided website www.flyfishtuition.co.uk

Next Draycote Tuition Day. Draycote Beginner Course Sunday 22nd March cost £75.00 includes all tackle & fishing permit contact Tom Bird to book 01788 812018 or 07834 581 423

Opening Hours & Boat Session
Lodge & Bank Open – 7.30am – 18.15
Full Day Boat – 8.30am – 18.15
Morning Boat – 8.30am – 13.00
Afternoon Boat – 13.00pm – 18.15
Last 4 Hr – 14.15pm – 18.15
All Anglers Off Site – 18.45

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Local Angling Club is Draycote Fly Fishers www.draycote-fly-fishers-assoc.co.uk/