Draycote Water weekly report week ending Sunday 22nd June 2014
Telephone Number 01788 812018
Another extremely busy week at Draycote Water with both angler numbers & boat bookings reaching record levels. This past week has probably best been described as “Competition Week”.
We were pleased to welcome back for their third year here, the HMRC who assembled from all over England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. Many competitors made a week of the event and practise fished on three day packages before their match on Thursday. We also welcomed back the Association of Major Fly-fishing Clubs with six teams of six competing in Round 3 of their league on the Wednesday. At the weekend it was time for the Draycote Pairs on Saturday culminating in the Draycote Heat of the Scierra Pairs on Sunday.
On Monday Mike Hill & Roy Palmer were pleased to have driven up from London for what they later described as a “wonderful day”. They caught 20 + 12 rainbows respectively using Diawl Bachs & Red Buzzers fished “washing Line” style in Toft Shallows.
Ron Blackwell spent his usual morning with us on Tuesday & his 6 fish boat catch included a brownie of 4-11 & a rainbow of 4-10. Season ticket regulars John Dews & Tony Broadway continued to excel on the bank with a combined total of 27, mostly caught & released. They noted, as did others, how the trout were beginning to show a distinct interest in the large quantities of pin fry that are now to be found all around the fishery. Damsel & sedge together with daddies are also much in evidence.
Wednesday saw the first of the week’s matches – the AMFC. Chris Reeves was to later comment that “match day saw a huge bloom of daphnia and while the dries and nymphs took the odd fish, a two tone blob cleaned up. Only 5 out of 36 anglers didn’t finish early & again, there were many good grown on fish caught”. Bewl Bridge FC ‘A’ won the event with 115lbs actual weight. They were followed by Invicta FFC ‘A’ in second and Tunbridge Wells FFS in third spot. Individual winner Steve Collins from Bewl also caught the largest fish at 4-15. A total of 278 fish were caught in the event giving them a very creditable rod average of 7.72
On Thursday the HMRC/RCSL event concluded with the capture of 126 rainbows & 2 brown trout. Derek Knight’s eight fish 19-12 bag took top honours whilst Mick Toal, over from Northern Ireland, weighed in the best rainbow at 4-4.
Numerous anglers had success during the week on dries & the daddies, particularly the foam body patterns, have been featuring in many of the returns. Gary Turner enjoyed good sport from an afternoon boat on Thursday with an 8 fish total on a mix of Diawl Bachs & daddies. Our own Alan & John also used them to good effect when the sneaked a morning session afloat drifting over open water off the Hensborough Bank. The mystery fly of the week came to us from Mr C O’Mahony who boated 6 fish on Friday using a “Crested Yellow Flanger” (…..which I’m afraid we do not have in stock!).
Mr Severn takes credit for the best bag of fish this week. On Saturday he weighed in an 8 fish limit for 29-12. All his fish came to large lures fished extremely deep, over open water. His bag included a beautiful brownie of 7-12 (see photo on our Facebook page). Buzzers & nymphs nevertheless featured highly in the Saturday returns. Mr Sawyer also reported getting take after take to his small Cat’s Whisker fished on an intermediate from the bank in Rainbow Corner. He netted a total of 13 rainbows during his session.
The Higham Ferrers & District FF “Draycote Pairs” also took place on Saturday with 16 anglers taking a total of 88 fish. Honours went to the pairing of Stephen Ayres & John Water with a 16 fish bag totalling 39-2.
One of the finest catches of the week came to Lee Henfrey who fished solo from a boat on Sunday morning using deep tactics with lures. His eight fish rainbow limit looked like peas in a pod. All bright, full finned silver bars with a total weight of 25lbs 12oz.
Neil Berry’s day was also made on Sunday afternoon when, trying out a new pair of waders off the Cornfield, a grown on rainbow of 8lbs took his Diawl Bach. The perfect specimen was a personal best for Neil and the largest rainbow of the week. Congratulations Neil!
Finally, the Scierra Pairs on Sunday saw 18 anglers in 9 boats battling it out in extremely hot, bright conditions. Kieron Thomas + Craig Gimblet took a 16 fish pair limit for 36-12 together with a time bonus to win the event. A total of 91 fish were caught for a rod average of 5. Phil Burgess took the largest fish at 4lbs. Many caught using Midge Tip lines with extremely long leaders fishing buzzers deep in the bright conditions.
Once more it was a week during which weather conditions affected the fishing. At times the fishing has been very challenging indeed. It has been interesting to observe the reactions of the trout to changing weather systems & those anglers who are thinking, reacting & adapting appropriately to such changes are the ones being rewarded with the best of this week’s results
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 468 Number Trout Taken: 1160 Number Trout Released: 837
Total Catch: 1997 Weekly Rod Average: 4.3
Current Fishing Time:
Bank: 07:30 until 22:00
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 22:00
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until14:30 / PM 14:30 until 22:00
Last 4 Hours from: 18:00 (Ticket sales available from 17:45)
All Anglers to be off site by: 22:15
Weekend Breakfast available at Draycote, Anglers will be pleased to hear that the Waterside Restaurant above the lodge will be open from 08:30 on Saturday 28th June & Sunday 29th June for breakfasts, tea & coffee. This will hopefully continue next month, & possibly beyond, should sufficient numbers utilise the facility.
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.
Bank Anglers car passes should be, where possible, booked prior to coming fishing as we only have a limited number available.
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.
Tight lines,
Kevin Hart
Up & coming events
9th and 10th of August – Lexus individual qualifying heats – the last chance to reach the final at Chew Valley. visit www.lexusflyfishing.co.uk to book your place.
Rio Pairs is Cancelled
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