Rutland Water Paul Spalding of Willingham, Lincoln scored a double best this week

Rutland Water Paul Spalding of Willingham, Lincoln scored a double best this week. Paul took both the week’s best rainbow at 8lb 14oz and the best brown weighing 4lb. Phil Hall of Taplow, Maidenhead, took a superb 7lb 8oz rainbow whilst boat fishing. Phil used a Diawl Bach on a floating line with a 9?lb leader. A party of six anglers from Kinross in Scotland enjoyed 5 days of tremendous fishing, with 128 fish. Allan Smith who organised the holiday commented “it’s been fantastic. I have fished Rutland many times before, but for two of the party of six, it was their first time and they were over the moon with the quality of the fishing that they experienced.” Boat anglers have taken good fish down the bottom of both arms, with Manton Bay, down the south arm and the transformer in the north. Bank fishermen have had sport along Normanton, Stockie Bay, Sykes Lane, Armley Wood and New Zealand point. It’s been a great week for nymph fishermen with black buzzer, diawl bach, pheasant tail and hare’s ear fished on floating lines using a very slow retrieve. Dry fly have produced one or two fish with c.d.c’s and shipmans the flies to try. There are a few fish showing on this year’s pin fry up the top of the south arm.

Competition news Police North East Regional championships 2002 58 anglers caught 167 fish, giving a rod average of just under three fish per rod. 1st Northumbria A with 23 fish for 42lb 14oz 2nd Cleveland A with 20 fish for 35lb 15oz. Third position went to Gavin Breeze of Northumbria A with seven fish, weighing 13lb 6?oz. Weeks best rainbow 8lb 14oz taken by Paul Spalding of Willingham Lincoln. best boat areas bottom of either arm, Normanton, Sykes Lane, Barnsdale steep bank.best bank areas Normanton, Sykes Lane, Armley Wood, Transformer, New Zealand Point, Spud Bay, old Hall point.best methods bank anglers – floating lines with nymphs, black buzzer, diawl bach, hares ear, pheasant tail, dries. Boat anglers – similar methods but also try various density sinking lines, with orange, black, gold and silver lures. Boat bookings Please phone the lodge on 01780 686441 (8am to 4.45pm) for availability, as during the next few months the reservoir is very busy. Pitsford Water fish week 558 (season7266) returns218 (2510) rod average2.5(2.9) Highlight of the week was an 11?lb rainbow, the season’s best, caught by season ticket holder Bill McColl of Towcester using a pheasant tail nymph on a floating line. Prevailing southerly winds have kept a lot of fish on Pitsford’s north shores, where boat anglers have enjoyed good sport using a variety of methods from blobs pulled fast on sinking lines to buzzers and nymphs fished slowly on floating lines. Best bank areas have been Pitsford Creek, the Pines and North Farm Bay, with Damsel Nymphs fished slowly on floating lines. A good daytime bank method is a lightly weighted damsel on the point of a 15 foot leader, wth a hare’s ear on the dropper 6 feet away, fished slowly changing the damsel for a buzzer or diawl bach in the evening.Grafham Water fish week 1066 (season9870) returns248 (2627) rod average 4.29(3.75) This week has seen Grafham continue on top form with fish spread out all over the bottom half of the lake with all anglers reporting great catches on a variety of methods from floating lines and dries to fast sinkers with pink or orange blobs. The boats are fishing better during the day rather than the banks but regular bank anglers are reporting plenty of rising fish in range of the banks last thing at night in and around the Seat and Sludge area and the south end of the dam with the nymph approach working the best. Competition news Thursday and Friday saw the majority of the boats tied up with the RAF fishing in their English eliminator. Most of the anglers in these matches had heard of the powerful fish at Grafham but didn’t believe it until they managed to actually hook one and then their minds were changed forever. At the end of the final two days the 80 anglers each day managed a 6.24 rod average. The average fish over the two days weighed in at a staggering average weight of 2lb 12oz, proof that Grafham has never been so good. Even those anglers who can remember as far back as 1966 don’t recall a fishing season as good as this one. We wish all of the anglers who qualified from the Eliminator good luck in the Midlands final at Grafham on 30 June, we will try to provide another good day’s sport for all. forthcoming events boat course 23 June beginners course July 14 details from the lodge Ladies ‘have a go’ fly fishing Saturday 6 July – a day especially for the Ladies. This is your turn to have a go at fly fishing on your very own day. Learn to beat your partner at his own game. Don’t be shy book yourself a place – telephone Grafham Water Fishing Lodge on 01480 810531 Grafham Open 4 August. Great prizes to be won bookings now being taken. Ravensthorpe Reservoir fish week 228 (season7541) returns 64(1443) rod average3.59(5.23) Reg Bellham recorded the season’s best rainbow at Ravensthorpe this week. Breaking the fishery record for the second time this year. (It had previously stood for 100 years!) Recently retired Reg is in possession of his first season ticket. He struck into a 16lb 13?oz specimen to smash his personal best and the fishery record. Reg took his fish from a boat off Mongers Point. He fished a ‘Pitsford Pea’ on a fast sinking line. This magnificent fish was the last of the day which had opened with another big fish weighing 12lb 7?oz, 10 others coming in between. This week the reservoir played host to John Wilson and his team filming his latest ‘Go Fishing’ programme. With the new series being screened later this year. Highlights of the shoot included some superb fishing by John and boat partner Nathan Clayton and John’s first successful experience of ‘tubing’. Ravensthorpe’s fish were not ‘camera shy’ and one of the stars was Reg Bellham’s new record fish. Fish are now well spread and working the surface layers of the water searching out damsel nymphs, buzzer and pin fry. Floating lines fished from a drifting boat with thinly dressed damsel, GRHE, diawl bach and c.d.c. variants in the top few inches are the best methods. Morning seems to be the best time of day. The reservoir received a further stocking of quality fish this with nearly 20 giants weighing between 10 and 17lbs. These fish should quickly switch on to Ravensthorpe’s prolific food supply and provide fantastic sport in the coming months. best rainbow 16lb 13?oz taken by Reg Bellham of Duston, Northampton best methods floating lines with thinly dressed damsel, GRHE, Diawl Bach and c.d.c. variants best areas all areas for boat anglers and the platforms and natural bank for bank anglers. mid week boat winner C B Ungless of Walden, Herts.Coarse fishing Ardleigh On Saturday 29th June there will be a number of short ‘Introduction to Fishing’ sessions available to all. Everything will be provided, including tackle and bait, for just £5. Each session will last for two hours and be strictly limited to just 6 anglers. To book a place please leave a message on 01206 230642. Taverham River Wensum River fishing got off to a good start this weekend. Both weather and water levels produced perfect fishing conditions. The best catch was a brace of 9lb bream which fell to season permit holder Mark Steward from Sprouton. Several large barbel have been spotted cruising over the gravel in the shallow areas. Ardleigh Several good carp have shown over the last few days. Roger Shipley had a 17lb fish from Lodge Bank South and a 24lb specimen came from the same area two days later. The pike are also very prolific at the moment, especially from the boats. Kevin Reynolds and Phil Harper managed 18 pike in one day ranging from 11lb to 17lb. Several other boats have reported 10 or more fish. Bream fishing remains productive in the shallower water and roach and perch are now being caught regularly up the A12 end of the reservoir. Saturday 29th June is our beginners day when two hour coaching sessions will be available to all. The £5 fee covers all tackle, bait and tuition charges and represents excellent value for money. Names in advance please to 01206 230642 Taking safety seriously whilst wearing a lifejacket, be aware of where the manual pull handle is, even if it is ‘automatic’. believe it or not it is mid-summer and the sun’s rays are very strong. Always wear plenty of sun block and take plenty of fluids.