Draycote Water weekly report week ending 14th April 2019
A hard week for most at Draycote caused by prolonged cold easterly winds and chilled conditions most days. First thing yesterday saw an air temperature of -3°C resulting in icy boats & pontoon. During this reporting period 263 anglers visited the fishery, landing a total of 688 trout which represents a rod average. of 2.61
Monday saw successes on both boat & bank with Alan Bettles recording a good morning’s fun with 7 rainbows to the net. He fished blue flash damsels from Lin Croft. Just along the bank from Alan, C J Day was also in action with three to Pheasant Tail Nymphs before moving along to the Cornfield due to changing winds. This, and a switch to slightly deeper tactics with a slow retrieved snake pattern, saw him rewarded with rainbows of 3½ & 4lbs.Out in the boat Mark Francis enjoyed sport in Rainbow Corner where he netted 7 on buzzers with a further two coming to a Klinkhammer pattern. On Tuesday fish dropped off the margins into deeper water & things got really tough for bank anglers, as evidenced by numerous blank rods and just one landed for bank regular & member Tony Broadway. Out on the water though, Biggin Bay proved to be a productive area for the boats with Ged O’Donoghue & boat partner Steve fishing blobs on intermediate lines. Between them they landed a total of 23 rainbows. Keith Coley & boat partner Bob Taft enjoyed similar action with a joint tally of 25 to the boat. Wednesday saw Alan Grant as top rod on the bank with a 5 fish session but once more, it was the boat anglers enjoying the best of the sport. Of particular note was a 15 fish catch by Lee Patten on drifts along the Farborough Dam fishing buzzers really deep on a 10’ Midge Tip. He took three for the pot, all of which were in the 4lbs+ bracket – best 4lbs 12oz. Eugene Hughes’ trip up from London was also rewarded as he found fish deep off the Sailing Club. Using Di5 & 7 sinking lines in conjunction with blobs & lures he enjoyed hectic sport with over 30 to the net. Bitter, windy conditions made Thursday the hardest day of the week with a rod average plunging to 1.5. Season rod Ian Richardson recorded the only fish caught on the bank and most of the boat anglers’ returns were noughts, ones or twos. John Dickens however, bucked the trend in style with a 13 rainbows to the net on buzzer patterns. Friday was a bright & cold day, but Tony Broadway was back on the bank where he caught & released four. All Water member Ian Jobe ended his boat session with an 8 fish tally as did John Hoskins who anchored in Dunn’s Bay to take all his fish on black glass buzzers presented at depth.
The weekend saw Mark Braun as top rod on the bank with a 7 rainbow catch all on blue flash damsels, a pattern that has been extremely productive for both boat & bank anglers so far this season. Graeme Bell’s “Draycote Annual Meet” group spent the weekend with us &, despite experiencing some patchy sport in cold, windy conditions, the 26 anglers in the group managed to land a collective total of 73 with Dave Morris & Andrew Cooper managing ten apiece. Good sport was also had by regular rudder boys Ifor Jones & Jim Dempsey with 22 rainbows up to 4lbs to the net. Mr Featherstone boat fished in Biggin Bay and caught 13 rainbows, all on blue flash damsels!
Notwithstanding very cold, blustery weather, our annual RIO & Sage Day was held on Sunday and was well attended. Our thanks are extended to their team comprising Chris Andersen from Sage, RIO’s Simon Gawesworth and Jim Fearn Sage/Guide Fly Fishing for all their hard work & support. Chris & Simon has travelled over from the USA and despite their busy schedule were also able to find a little time to catch a few Draycote fish themselves. Anglers enjoyed the opportunity to experience their products & glean expert technical advice & casting tuition from all three. Many were also able to experience the tackle in guided boat sessions throughout the day with our thanks therefore also extended to the hardworking guides, Lee Henfrey, Andy Miller, David Hoppe & Rob Sosbie. Despite the cold many came back reporting on the numbers of trout seen rising yet few were able to convert sightings into hook ups. Most of the Sunday sport was found along the Farborough Dam & down into Toft with regular George Leaton landing 8 to black & green lures & a red damsel pattern by the Swan’s Nest. Martyn Moore netted 6 on deep buzzers whilst Tim Burn & Paul Mitchell hooked & lost numerous fish at the bottom of the Hensborough Bank before going over to Biggin Bay where they boated 11 between them – fishing straight lined buzzer teams. The second day of the Graeme Bell group visit resulted in another 83 to the net with Andy Campbell & Andrew Cooper both recording 10 apiece & Dave Morris close behind with 8.
The winds are forecast to be shifting more into the south as the coming week progresses, bringing increased temperatures which will hopefully see a return of the prolific buzzer hatches of a fortnight ago
Fishery Tackle Shop & Online Shop
Draycote has a tackle shop at the fishery stocking SAGE, RIO, VISION, REDINGTON, WYCHWOOD, GREYS, SNOWBEE, FULLING MILL, FARIO, LOON, FISHPOND and STREAMWORKS products with demo SAGE, Vision & Redington rods & RIO fly lines for you to take out and try.
We also have an online shop. For all you anglers who might not be aware www.flyfishstore.co.uk is the online store for Draycote and the whole of Fishery Management (UK) Ltd. During the 2019 season we will be looking at doing weekly specials offers on the website. This weeks offer is an amazing deal on the Sigma Fly Boxes with a 20% saving to take advantage of this offer please Visit the shop at https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/offers/
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Weekly Boat draw
Congratulations to George Leaton from Ashford the winner of this week’s free boat draw.
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 263 Number Trout Taken: 150 Number Trout Released: 538
Total Catch: 688 Rod Average: 2.61
Current Fishing Times:
Bank: 07:30 until 20:00
Boat All Day: 08:30 until 20:00
Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 14:00 PM 14:00 until 20:00
Last 4 Hours from: 16:00 until 20:00 (Ticket sales available from 15.45)
Gutting Room Closes – 19:30
All Anglers to be off site by: 20:15
Tight lines,
The Draycote Team
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