This week has again seen some superb fishing at Draycote. The second biggest fish of the year so far has also been caught by Mr T Longstaff – a superb 8lb brownie. 25 fish over 4lb have also been recorded. The fish have at times been on, or very near to the surface, and anglers using dries or pulled wets have had some great sport. Buzzers and Diawl Bachs have led the way for the majority of fish, with floating lines and midge tips being the favoured lines. Some fish have however been feeding deeper, as they have been mopping up daphnia. Ron Wilson netted an 8 fish limit for 34lb, targeting the daphnia feeders by using a rudder to get the consistency with the depth.
Sunday 1st of July was the first competition for this year on Draycote, the Rio Challenge boat pairs match. 46 anglers caught 231 fish, giving a rod average of 5. A fresh SW wind sent most people into Rainbow Corner, sheltering from the breeze, with only two boats choosing to start towards Toft Shallows. Ben Bayliss and Alistair Beaumont stopped at the Farborough Spit and were soon into fish pulling orange blobs, with 7 in the boat just after the first hour of the match starting. Rainbow Corner got off to a slightly slower start, with Ed Foster and Ian Barr appearing to lead the way with 8 fish between them before lunch time. As the cloud appeared into the early afternoon, the catch rate appeared to increase, as many boats were now into double figures.
Match results, with the top 10 winning a prize.
- Ben Bayliss – Alistair Beaumont 16 fish 59lb 11oz
- Ed Foster – Iain Barr – 16 fish 57lb 10oz
- Sean Cutting – Guido Vinct 16 fish 55lb
- Lyndsey Barrie – Dave Doherty 54lb 1oz
- Joan Russell – Patrick -de- schutter 16 fish 51lb 3oz
- Paul Morris – Alun Williams 16 fish 49lb 13oz
- John & Julie Emerson 16 fish 49lb 8oz
- Garry Morris – Lloyd Pallet 16 fish 48lb 1oz
- Bill Pugh – Lee Williams 16 fish 46lb 15oz
- Graham Pearson & Julian Hubbard 13 fish 42lb 9oz
The winning tactics used was blobs pulled on a sinking line at Farborough Spit. The bung was the winning method for 2nd place in Rainbow Corner, with a mixture of the midge tip and floating lines and nymphs taking the vast majority of fish throughout the day.
Weeks total of fish caught 1168 fish released 485 Total number of rod 275 Rod average 4.2
The Lexus individual heat is our next event to be held on Draycote – this is fished to International rules and will be held on Friday 10th of August. To book please go to Lexus Fly Fishing Championships | The UK’s No.1 Friendly Fly Fishing Event
The next in-house is to be held on Sunday 19th of August. A boat pairs match, fished to fishery rules, with the winners walking away with £1000. To enter please call the fishing lodge on 01788812018. Entry fee is £25pp
If you are planning to bank fish Draycote please call the fishing lodge to book one of 30 bank car passes- these are available upon receipt of your permit at the fishing lodge.
Car Access is also available to the pontoon when fishing from a boat, however this is restricted up to 10am in the mornings and after 5pm in the evenings. The car park is only a short walk from the pontoon. Disable access is available at all times.
Tel 01788 812018
Tight Lines
Craig Barr