Draycote Water weekly report week ending Sunday 9th November 2014
Telephone Number 01788 812018
On reflection it has been a week of weather extremes here at Draycote Water. Following the warmest Halloween on record with a staggering high of twenty two degrees centigrade, Thursday into Friday saw torrential overnight rain and mighty SW winds sweeping down the reservoir. My windscreen first thing this morning was covered in frozen rain & the external temperature gauge hovered between 1 and 3 degrees all the way in. It was so misty for a while first thing that none of the North shore could be seen! So, for those who (quite rightly) have not yet hung up your rods for the season, remember to dress appropriately for the time of year with potentially wintery conditions to be faced. What is certain is that there are still many fine trout to be caught before we close the doors on the 2014 season on 30th November.
A slowish start to the beginning of the week saw the rod average at just under three for Monday & Tuesday. Tony & Ruth Kirk fished the bank at Toft on Monday &found fish to 3lbs+ on Minkie Boobies presented on floating lines. On Tuesday Tony Broadway ducked & dived around the willow cutters to take a dozen on buzzer patterns. Dave Malpas showed the way in the boat with a catch of ten whilst Brian Allwood took a brown of 4lbs+ in his four fish tally off the bank. Things started to pick up by Wednesday with a jump in the rod average when 27 anglers took 131fish for a rod average of 4.85
Boat & bank anglers alike enjoyed good sport although the bank clearly had the edge with lots of fish running close to the margins and drop offs. Tony Broadway was back again for more of the action – this time netting 16 on a buzzer & Minkie mix. Bank regular Dennis Jones once more had great sport coaxing ten to the net after resurrecting a classic pattern from the past – an Alexandra. Meanwhile, Mr Litherland & boat partner Mr Tressler went afloat using black & white Nomads to be rewarded with a 25 fish total.
Notwithstanding extremely strong SSW winds on Thursday the trout reacted with gusto & action was being experienced all across the venue. Mike Williams & friends in two boats found fry feeders in Toft and between them the four rods totalled 46! I got afloat with boat regular John Hoskins & it was great to enjoy almost non- stop action down the Farborough Bank dam & off Biggin Bay. All our fish came to floating lines & midge tips in a big wave, perhaps demonstrating that most fish are still feeding high in the water column. Kevin Rees (yet again!!) led the way on the bank fishing a FAB Blob and buzzer washing line in Toft for a total of 25. John Stanley went to the bottom of the Hensborough Bank and caught twelve on bloodworm patterns. Stan Hillman & Mick Cronin, who have both been very consistent in recent weeks, also netted a total of 25 between them from the bank. The rod average for Thursday, with 19 rods on the water, was an amazing 11.89
Mother Nature sadly decided to slow things down on Friday following torrential overnight rain & huge winds shifting into the west. By midday the reservoir looked like the North Sea in a winter storm. Disappointed boat anglers were all off the water by early afternoon. Twelve anglers braved the elements & despite the rod average dipping to 2.75 for the day, hats off to Gordon Slack whose perseverance on the bank was rewarded with eight fine rainbows caught & released. Many were also put off by the weather forecasts on Saturday which resulted in only five boats going afloat and not a solitary angler on the bank.
Sunday morning started flat & foggy but it was soon burnt off. Although the morning was really too bright some cloud eventually developed & sport picked up. Fish were bashing fry hard down the Farborough Bank dam & a couple of boats had fun on floating fry patterns. Meanwhile sport became manic in Toft where season rod Dave Adkins fished mainly green & black lures from the bank. He described his session as his best ever, stopping only after hitting a figure of forty fish to the net!
The winner of this weeks free boat draw is Mr Terry Tappenden from Studley, Warwickshire. .
Don’t forget that that the season ends here at Draycote on 30th November 2014 and we open again on 4th March 2015.
Season Tickets.
We are frequently asked about the availability of season tickets for next year. Current members have a renewal option so it is not yet known if any vacancies will arise. However, we have created a list of those interested in considering membership should the opportunity arise. If you would like to have your details added please contact the lodge.
Best flies. Crunchers, Buzzers, Diawl Bachs, especially fished as a “washing Line” –– Minkie Boobies & various floating fry patterns
Best bank areas. Biggin Bay, Lin Croft, The Cornfield & Toft (Lodge side).
Best boat areas Toft, Farborough Bank & Spit, Biggin Bay to Lin Croft Point and the Cornfield.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 153 Number Trout Taken: 189 Number Trout Released :708
Total Catch: 897 Weekly Rod Average: 5.8
Current Fishing Time:
Bank: 07:30 until 16:30
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 16:30
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until12:15 PM 12:15 until 16:30
Last 4 Hours from: 12:30 (Ticket sales available from 12:15)
All Anglers to be off site by: 16:45
Boat anglers are reminded that there is no anchoring within 100yds of the pontoons, aerators or Tower.
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 booked prior to coming fishing as we only have a limited number available.
Local Club
Draycote Fly Fishers Association is the local angling club to Draycote Water. During the season they organise various club competitions and during the winter they hold six club meetings at a venue in Dunchurch. For further information contact the club secretary Graham Homer 02476 402464
Tight Lines.
Kev
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