Draycote Fishing Report w/e Sunday 30th July 2017
Telephone 01788 812018
A mixed week with regards to weather, with days of heavy rain and blustery conditions followed by near flat calms and bright sun. These changeable weather conditions did mean that the methods kept altering. Overall it has been a good fishing week, with creditable catches being reported every day. The rod average for the week worked out at 3·54 with 263 anglers catching a total of 933 trout.
Overcast conditions with a north westerly wind kicked off the week on Monday. Season ticket holder Kevin Rees drifted around the Tower using dries to catch 19 fish. Crippled midge and Bob’s Bits being his best patterns, even having to go down as small at size 16 on the crippled midge when the lighter winds arrived towards the back end of the day. James Maplethorpe enjoyed a half-day session with Jim Smith with the pair landing 18 fish to the boat. James had the majority of the sport using orange hoppers. The pair found the fish around the Tower and down along the Flat Stones going into Rainbow Corner. Another notable catch was that of Jan Salter who landed 4 fish and lost another 3 while out fishing for the first time with in-house guide Tom. Jan used dries to catch all of her fish, presenting them on various drifts from P buoy to X, and out from the Flat Stones.
A very different day on Tuesday, with virtually no wind to speak of for the whole day. Although good cloud cover could be seen in the morning, the sun made a very warm appearance around mid-day. As a result, an algae bloom popped up making the conditions in many areas of the lake challenging. The best location on the day was the boils, with good catches being recorded there. Jude Tuffs used a weighted lure on a floating line around the boils to land 9 cracking fish. Jamie Scott also chose the boils landing 14. Jamie used a variety of sinking lines but found a 7 inch a second sink rate to be the best. His top “flies” were snakes in olive, white and black. Also out on the water was John O’Hara being guided by Tom Bird. John landed 17 fish on a variety of methods. While the cloud was over in the morning dries were the best method with red midas and daddies being the top patterns. However, when the sun came out a change to a di 7 and tubes kept John in the action. He landed some beautiful specimens with his 8 fish limit weighing in at 22lb 6oz.
A complete change in weather on Wednesday with persistent rain for most of the day up until about 5pm combined with a breezy southerly wind. These wet and slightly blustery conditions did keep some anglers away, although those that did come enjoyed some great sport. Russ Logan and Henryk Pyez enjoyed good sport drifting over the boils towards the Tower Bank and Duns, landing well into double figures on dries as well as small lures fished high in the water on intermediates. Graham Pearson and son Gareth enjoyed good sport using a di 5 sweep and tubes to land 16 cracking fish. Graham commented that the fish came up in the afternoon and were hitting the tubes close to the surface. John O’Hara returned for the second day out guiding with Tom Bird. They found the fishing slight trickier with lots of lost fish on the boils in the morning. However, it wasn’t till a change to dries and a move toward A buoy in the afternoon John really started catching well finishing the day with 9 cracking fish – with red Harry Potters being the top pattern. Scott Graham and Lucas Van Geest enjoyed some fantastic dry fly sport in Rainbow corner landing 20 fish between them on an afternoon boat. Gary Turner and his father enjoyed a good session utilising our ever-popular last four-hour ticket. They landed 11 fish with their best pattern being a Black Midas.
Another good fishing day Thursday with overcast conditions for most of the day and winds coming from the South West. Season ticket holder Peter Elliott fished dries all day all over the lake catching well to end with a total of 21 to the net. Peter’s best patterns on the day were Bob’s Bits and Crippled Midge. Terry Bayes and Ash Cooper landed 13 fish to the boat drifting from Rainbow corner and the Outlet past A buoy. The pair used a mixture of nymphs and mini lures. Also, out on the boat was Gareth Jones with two Airflo guests. Between them they used a mixture of dries, blobs and snakes to land 34 fish. They found the fish from the Flat Stones going towards B buoy and Rainbow Corner towards A buoy. Mr Barnaby & Mr Ball made use of their rudder on an afternoon boat to land 20 between them. All fell to tubes fished at various marks around the venue, with the Boils being the hotspot.
Mr C.J. Day fished the bank Friday from the corner of the Hensbrough Bank to land 4 rainbows on snail patterns. Fishing from a boat, Sean and Michael Hanlon landed 23 using a variety of methods with dries using Crippled Midge being Sean’s top pattern whereas Mick favoured a sparkler booby fished as part of a washing line to land his fish. The pair found the fish around the Outlet, Inlet, Flat Stones, A buoy and B buoy. Also fishing in the same areas as Sean and Mick were Mr B Jones and Mr G Wood who landed 22 fish to the boat all on dries. Mr Glantz and Mr Evans used small dries to land 10 fish drifting from Rainbow Corner.
Saturday again saw very favourable for conditions for fishing with a south westerly wind and overcast for much of the day. As a result, top of the water tactics proved the most effect method. Richard Copper landed 19 fish all on dries with Big Reds as well as a red CDC being his top patterns. Richard found the fish well spread across the lake catching from the Flat Stones, the Outlet, Inlet and as well as Toft Shallows. Matt Nuttall also used dries to land 11 cracking fish. Frank Sumnall used both washing line tactics and dries to land 13 fish with his boat partner also catching 9. Tom Finney used washing line with Jelly FABS and Crunchers to net 12 fish, with Tom commenting that static was the key to positive takes as a lot of fish could come and show interest but not take if the flies where moved. Lee Patten and Charlies Abrahams fished out from Rainbow Corner out into the deep water of the middle using dries to land 21 fish including some fantastic full tailed specimens. Keith Harding & Mike Clarke fished dries all day to bring a 23 fish total to the boat with the best patterns being red Bob’s Bits, Midas and Crippled Midge. Lester Booth and Nigel Nixon once again fished dries to land 14 fish to the boat with CDCs, black and red hoppers being their best patterns.
Sunday started off with overcast conditions with wind from the south west, however sharp showers and intermittent sun provided the backdrop for the rest of the afternoon. John & Mick Hanlon shared a morning session on the bank and found feeding fish off Lin Croft Point. Nymphs & caddis patterns accounted for six to John’s rod with four for Mick. Although regular & season ticket holder Richard Walker managed nine to the net, it proved to be a challenging day on the water for the boat anglers with the rod average for the day dropping to 2·5. The venue hosted the gathering of the Mid Northants Fly Fishing Association competing for their Chairman’s Trophy. Thirty two competitors fished to a six fish limit and our congratulations go to Pip Jeffs who won the event with a six fish bag weighing in at 13lbs 6oz.
Water temperatures have continued to fall to more acceptable levels with today’s morning reading showing 17°C. This in turn has brought many fish properly back on the feed & also better spread once more around the venue & not so heavily concentrated in the aerators. Showery conditions are forecast for much of the coming week though, so remember to ensure that your wet weather gear is packed!
Congratulations to Mr J Powell of Brecon, who is the winner of this week’s free boat draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 263 Number Trout Taken: 339 Number Trout Released: 594 Total Catch: 933 Weekly Rod Average: 3·54
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 21:15
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 21:15
Boat Part Day: 08:30 until 15:00 – 15:00 until 21:15
Last 4 Hours from: 17:15 until 21:15 (Ticket sales available from 17:00)
Gutting Room Closes: 20:45
All Anglers to be off site by: 21.30
Fishery News
Reservoir Dry Fly Masterclass
On Thursday 24th August 2017 Draycote Ranger and Fishery Guide Tom Bird will give a presentation on reservoir dry fly tactics. The presentation will include tackle set up, fish spotting, fly selection and presentation. During the presentation Tom will reveal the secrets that have led to his remarkable success, both as a member of the England squad and the Five Nations Team. The presentation will take place in the Sailing club. Doors open at 18.30hrs. The presentation will start at 19.00 to 20.00hrs. Ticket are priced at £5.50 each. A bar and refreshments are available.
Call the Draycote lodge 01788 812018 to reserve your place. NB: Demand has been high & there are only ten tickets remaining. Find more information on www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore
Tuition Days- Beginners Courses
Saturday 14th October Hosted by Kevin Hart and Tom Bird. Currently four places available
Call the lodge on 01788 812018 to book or for further information
Trout Masters
Draycote has joined the Troutmasters Competition. Entry forms can be found next to the booking out sheets. You will need a member of staff to countersign your entry. Good luck!
Dates for your diary:-
Competition Contact
Angling World Holiday Heat 5th and 6th August – Visit website
TEFF Fundraiser. Dry Fly Championship 16th September – Ian Colclough – 01543 689117
Angling World Holiday Final – 23rd and 24th September
Troutmasters Final – 9th October. – See Fishery staff.
Boat manners & etiquette:
As is so often the way at this time of the year, many fish tend to gravitate towards the aerators as a comfort zone & naturally many anglers wish to get in amongst the action there. Please be aware that the area is a strictly no anchoring zone.
We also respectfully ask that all anglers demonstrate good boat manners & etiquette when fishing in close proximity to other vessels there & elsewhere in general. Incidents have been occurring where anglers have rudely reversed back up their drift into oncoming boats or have cut straight into the path of a drifting boat instead of taking their turn returning to the top of the drift. This is unsporting, spoils the action & enjoyment of others & understandably leads to frayed tempers. Should you find yourself at the receiving end of repeated displays of such poor boatmanship & bad etiquette, we ask that you phone the lodge in order that we can come out to rectify the situation ourselves as deemed appropriate.
Boat Cleanliness:
Our hard pressed team strive to maintain the boats to a high standard of cleanliness. Anglers are kindly requested to respect their endeavours by keeping their vessels shipshape & litter free. Particular attention should be paid to avoiding the unnecessary practise of pulling muddy anchors on board. These should be shaken clean before being lifted into the boat. Your assistance in this regard will be most appreciated.
Guiding & Tuition:
Why not take your own fishing further with a day out on the water with England Internationals and fishery staff Lee Henfrey or Tom Bird? Whether you wish to get to know the water better or hone a particular skill, our guides can help to improve your catch rates. Visit the website www.flyfishguiding.co.uk for more information or book a slot by calling the lodge on 01788 812018.
Keep up to date with the latest catches and fishing posts from our in-house fishery ranger and guide Tom Bird, by following him on Facebook. Tom has been catching some great fish this season and posting pictures of the fish as well as a light write up on how he has been catching them.
Tight lines,
The Draycote Team
Follow Us on
facebookwww.facebook.com/FlyFishStore twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore