Week ending 20th July 2008

Fish week 861 (season 13,066) returns 248 (3,538) rod average 3.47(3.69)

Grafham Water is fishing steadily with a rod average of 3.47. Boat anglers continue to have their best success from the Eastern end of the reservoir with A,I,Q,D,C,K and G buoys all producing good catch rates mainly on floaters/Di 3’s with blobs, boobies, crunchers, diawl bachs, cormorants and sparklers.

Bank anglers are sill having some good sport mainly from Gaynes Cove and the Sludge Bank on floating lines with diawl bachs and crunchers fished slowly.

Competition news
AWFMI Southern final 14 July
Fifty-four top anglers from the South of England enjoyed ideal conditions at Grafham Water with overcast skies and a light westerly breeze. Fishing with floating lines and nymphs in the middle of the water between I buoy and the dam they took 313 fish, giving a rod average of 5.8.
Twenty-one anglers had their 8 fish limit long before the 6.00pm deadline with Mark Miles bagged up just before 1.00pm. Phil Cotton took both the biggest fish a lovely 5lb 5 3/8oz rainbow and best bag of the match, weighing in 8 fish for 24lb 10oz (including time bonus). As you can't win two prizes in this competition, the prize for best fish passed to Neil West of Carbotec Kingfishers for his 4lb 3 5/8oz rainbow.

The weigh-in was a real 'nail-biter' with only 1 fish and less than 3 ounces between first and second place. The first three teams qualified for a place at the International Final at Rutland Water on 30 September/1 October.

1st Blagdon FF Bristol Water 43 fish for 105lb 15oz
2nd Team Tightlines 44 fish for 105lb 12 3/8oz
3rd Team Grand Max 39 fish for 88lb 7 7/8oz
4th FDG London 36 fish for 86lb 10 ¼oz
5th BRFFA Team Itchy Feet 35 fish for 81lb 14 ½oz
6th BRFFA Team Orvis 35 fish for 76lb 12 7/8oz
7th Fish Hawks 'A' 28 fish for 65b ¼oz
8th The Friendly Fisherman 28 fish for 61lb 5 5/8oz
9th Carbotec Kingfishers 25 fish for 60lb 3 5/8oz

Invicta Presidents Cup
1st Mark Searle 5 fish for 10lb 11oz
2nd Ray Storer 5 fish for 10lb 7oz
3rd John Mees 4 fish for 8lb 10oz

Invicta Tuesday night boat league week 10
20 Anglers took part in this week’s round of the competition.

1st Chris Williams 8 fish
2nd = Tom Angel and Mark Searle 7 fish
4th Chris McLeod 5 fish

Best rainbow 7lb taken by P Harrap of Royston

Best boat areas G,I,A,Q,C,G and K buoys, Central Drifts, Sludge Bank, Gaynes Cove, Rectory Bay

Best bank areas Gaynes Cove, Sludge Bank, South Dam

Mid week boat winner Michael Love of Bedford

Fish stocked 2,000

Forthcoming events Beginners courses 3, 17, 27 & 31 August 14 & 24 September
Boat fishing for Beginners – 5 September
Tuesday Evening Boat League
AWFMI Midland Final – Monday 28 July
For more information on the above events please
telephone the fishing lodge on 01480 810531.

Week ending 14th July 2008

Fish week 872 (season 12,205) returns 164 (3290) rod average 5.3 (3.7)

Grafham Water has once again fished well for both boat and bank anglers with the vast majority of trout being caught in the top 4 feet of the surface on small lures or nymphs.
Bank anglers have once again been only able to fish the south shore due to brisk southerly winds, but this hasn’t stopped them catching with the south dam, Plummer park, Gaynes cove and the seat/ sludge bank areas all producing good catch rates and some really enjoyable sport on small nymphs, Diawl Bachs, crunchers, PTN, cats whiskers and sparklers on floating or intermediate lines.
Boat anglers have been having some superb sport with plenty or trout being caught from hot spots at A bouy, G bouy, and the mouth of Savages. But most other areas of the reservoir have also been catching well on di3s and 5s lines with boobies, blobs, Diawl Bachs, Crunchers, sparklers and tubes all producing good catch rates

Competition news
Floating Line
On Sunday 6 July we held the Inter-club Floating line match which produced some nice fish and a good rod average. 64 Anglers took part and caught 301 fish which works out at 4.5 a rod. Biggest fish went to Hilary Tomlinson which was a cracking 5lb 7oz rainbow and best bag went to Mark Haycock of Earls Barton at 23lb 13oz and his boat partner Ryan Worker’s fish weighed in at 16lb 12oz making 40lb 9 oz and that was the best boat of the day.
GWFFA 115lb 11oz
RWFF 100lb 1 oz
Mid Northants 92lb 13oz
Invicta 75lb 10oz
EDFF 75lb 10oz

Invicta Tuesday night boat league week 9
20 anglers fished this weeks boat league catching 76 trout giving a rod average of 3.8.
1st John Mees 8 fish
2nd Chris McCleod/Jim Wood 6 fish

Best rainbow 5lb 7oz taken by Hilary Tomlinson of Whissendine, Oakham

Best brown 4lb 5oz taken by Ryan Worker of Oakley, Bedford

Best boat areas G,I,A, Q and C buoys, Central Drifts, Sludge Bank, Gaynes Cove and Rectory Bay

Best bank areas Gaynes Cove, Sludge Bank, South dam

Fish stocked 2,000

forthcoming events Beginners courses 20 & 25 July; 3, 17, 27 & 31 August 14 & 24 September
Boat fishing for Beginners – 5 September
Tuesday Evening Boat League
AWFMI Midland Final – Monday 28 July

Week ending 6th July 2008

Fish week 1,000 (season 11,333) returns 237(3,126) rod average 4.21 (3.62)

Grafham Water has fished well again this week for boat and bank anglers with the vast majority of trout being caught in the top four feet of the surface on small lures or nymphs. The south shore was the best spot for bank anglers due to the brisk southerly winds. This hasn’t stopped them catching with the south dam, Plummer Park, Gaynes Cove and the Seat/Sludge bank areas all producing good catch rates and some really enjoyable sport on small nymphs, diawl bachs, crunchers, PTN, cats whiskers and sparklers on floating or intermediate lines.

Boat anglers have enjoyed some superb sport this week with plenty of trout being caught in most areas of the reservoir on di3’s and 5’s lines with boobies, blobs, diawl bachs, crunchers, sparklers and tubes all producing good catch rates. The best area for the boat anglers has been A, I, Q and C buoys, Gaynes Cove, central drifts and Rectory Bay.

Competition news
England Youth National 5 July
Anticipation was high amongst the best of England’s Youth Fly Fishers as they competed for a place amongst the top ten in the England Youth National at Grafham Water last Saturday. The 15 boats split fairly evenly between Plummers bank area to the south end of the Dam and to the left of the Harbour to the West bank.

The first hour and a half was windy and overcast and the fish were high in the water being caught on floaters and midge tip lines on crunchers – buzzers – very small orange blobs.

When the sun came out anglers had to change to di3 or di5 lines and pulling blobs and cats whiskers.

1st Tom Gott 6 fish for 14lb 9oz 1xcatch & release total 16lb 9oz
2nd Matthew Holroyd 6 fish for 10lb 3oz 3xcatch & release total 16lb 3oz
3rd Carl Malpass 6 fish for 14lb 3oz

The match fished to a rod average of 2.45 with Adam Worker taking the best fish at 4lb 5oz.

The following have qualified to represent England in next year’s Youth International at Lyn Brenig - Tom Gott, Matthew Holroyd, Carl Malpass, Matthew Kidd, Thomas Leslie, Tom Davies, Josh Fenton, Rob Thomas, Dominic Sherrate, Stephen Pringle with Adam Worker and Kieron Bonas as reserves.

Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League
18 Anglers fished Week 8 of this popular league catching 36 trout giving a rod average of 2.
1st Mark Searle and Chris McLeod 6 fish
2nd Lawson White 4 fish

Best rainbow 5lb 10oz taken by Ivor Fox of Shrewsbury

Best brown 4lb 10oz taken by John Timothy of Milton Keynes

Best boat areas G,I,A, Q and C buoys, Central Drifts, Sludge Bank, Gaynes Cove and Rectory Bay

Best bank areas Gaynes Cove, Sludge Bank, South dam

Mid Week boat winner D Daniels of Bedford

Fish stocked 2,000

Forthcoming events beginners courses 20 & 25 July and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League
14 July AWFMI Southern final
28 July AWFMI Midland final

Week ending 29th June 2008

Fish week1,000 (season 11,333) returns 237 (3,126) rod average 4.21(3.62)

Grafham Water is back in top form for both bank and boat anglers. The majority of trout being caught are being taken in the top 3-4 feet of the surface on small nymphs or small lures. Most trout taken have been feeding on pin fry from around the margins and the central areas of the reservoir.

The best bank areas have been Gaynes Cove, south dam and the sludge bank with anglers catching trout on small lures and nymphs (sparklers, boobies, appetisers and diawl bachs).

Boat anglers have had some superb fishing this week with many anglers reporting that they have been casting at rising fish all day long from a number of different areas around the reservoir, particularly, Rectory Bay, G,I,N,Q and A buoys, Sludge bank and Valley Creek. As with the bank anglers small lures or nymphs have been catching good bags of trout.

Competition news
Highlight of the week at Grafham Water was the Midland heat of the Anglian Water Fulling Mill International. Ten teams competed for five places in the Midlands final on 28 July. Team ACA Rio Masters put in a tremendous performance for a convincing win. Team members Graham Pearson, Rob Edmunds, Ron
Gent, Lee Henfrey, Rob Sosbe and Mark Haycock fished medium fast sinking lines with pink, sparkler and orange boobies taking 43 fish for 111lb 7oz (including time bonuses). Having practised the previous day most of the team chose the drift between K and G buoys with five of the team bagging their 8 fish before 4pm.
In second place the Welsh Cwmbran Drifters caught 35 fish for 94lb 3oz.
The Kent & Sussex Fly Fishers fished nymphs to catch their 38 fish for 85lb 12oz and land third spot. The Cormorants Fly Fishers took fourth place with 36 fish for
81lb 11oz with Mid Northants Team Loop UK taking the fifth and last
place in the Midlands Final with 33 fish for 78lb 6oz.

The biggest fish was caught by Andrew Banner from Cwmbran Fly Fishers a
cracking rainbow of 5lb 4oz. The best bag – a splendid catch of 26lb 13oz (including time bonus) went to Rob Sosbe fishing for Team ACA Rio Masters. A creditable 307 fish were caught totalling 742lb 15oz with an average weight of 2lb 6½ oz per fish and an average bag weight of 12lb 6oz all in all giving a fabulous rod average of 5.2.

1st ACA Rio Masters 43 fish for 111lb 7oz
2nd Cwmbran Drifters 35 fish for 94lb 3oz
3rd Kent & Sussex Fly Fishers 38 fish for 85lb 12oz
4th Cormorants Fly Fishers 36 fish for 81lb 11oz
5th Mid Northants Team Loop UK 33 fish for 78lb 6oz

Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

1st Ryan Worker 8 fish
2nd Mark Bowes 5 fish
3rd Steve Partridge and Gary Howel 4 fish

Best rainbow Andrew Banner 5lb 4oz

Best boat areas G,I.A,Q and N buoys, central drifts, sludge bank

Best bank areas Gaynes Cove

Mid Week boat winner Alan Prevost from Over

Fish stocked 2,000

Forthcoming events English Youth National 5 July
Floating Line Sunday 6 July
beginners courses 6,20 & 25 July and other dates throughout the season

Week ending 22nd June 2008

Fish week 620 (season 10,333) returns 228 (2,889) rod average 2.71(3.57)

The fishing at Grafham Water this week has become a little challenging for both bank and boat anglers. Bank anglers are still finding plenty of fish moving close into the margins around G buoy and the rest of the North shore but the strong southerly and westerly winds have made fishing these areas very difficult for even the very best of casters. There have been some trout caught along Gaynes Cove and the Sludge Bank area mainly to small nymphs on floating lines. Boat anglers have found the fishing quite challenging and frustrating with fish rising in almost every area of the reservoir and very willing to chase flies but actually hooking and catching them has been tricky. The best method for the boat anglers this week has been medium sunk lines with blobs, boobies, ptn and diawl bachs.

Competition news
Grafham Water hosted heats for both the Lexus Individual and the Lexus Team Championship last week. Leigh Pond was the top individual on Sunday 15th.
1st Leigh Pond 8 fish for 23lb 4oz
2nd Ed Foster 8 fish for 19lb 11oz
3rd Vince Howley 8 fish for 17lb 15oz

Rod average 4.75. Best fish 3lb 9oz taken by Robert Allan

The winning team on Monday 16th was ACA Rio Masters. Hanningfield’s Vince Howley took third spot on Sunday in the individual. However, he was the top rod in Monday’s Team competition, helping his team to second place. Mid Northants Team Loop UK took third place.
1st ACA Rio Masters 21 fish for 56lb 4oz
2nd Hanningfield 23 fish for 54lb 4oz
3rd Mid Northants Team Loop UK 15 fish for 40lb 4oz
rod average 2.7. Best fish Ed Foster 5lb 1oz Rainbow.

Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

This week’s winner was Mark Searle of Cambridge. Mark caught and released three Rainbows on a floating line with red holographic diawl bachs.

Best rainbow 5lb 11oz taken by Damon White of St Neots

Best brown Various at 3lb

Best boat areas G,I and D, B buoys, Central drifts, North Dam, Sludge bank

Best bank areas Hill Farm, G bank, Marlow Stones, Willows, Sludge bank, Gaynes Cove

Mid Week boat winner Chris Fleming Jones of Cambridge

Fish stocked 2,000

Forthcoming events AWFMI Midland heat 28 June
English Youth National 5 July
beginners courses 6,20 & 25 July and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League

Week ending 15th June 2008

Fish week 1,296 (season 9,713) returns 338 (2,661) rod average 3.83(3.65)

In June 2007 Anglian Water said goodbye to David Moore and wished him well for a long and happy retirement. David worked with Anglian Water for over 30 years and was involved at Rutland Water from the time it opened in 1977. 12 months on David fished for England Fly Fishers against the Professionals last week at Grafham and was top rod on the day with 8 fish for 16lb 10oz. He also caught the best fish of the match, a superb over wintered Rainbow of 4lb 13oz “The eight fish included my personal best trout of 4-11, largely thanks to a great practice day with Grafham Water Warden Ray and then a very skilful boat partner, Richard Slater who lead the way and I just copied but got the bigger fish.” Said David modestly.

D.Moore 4lbs 11ozs.

Grafham Water is continuing to fish well for both boat and bank anglers with the majority of fish being caught in the top five feet of water on a mixture of small nymphs or lures, buzzers, diawl bachs, damsel nymphs, crunchers, boobies and blobs.

Bank anglers are still having some tremendous sport along the north shore with G buoy, Willows and Hill farm the best areas, fishing floating lines with small nymphs fished almost static.

Boat anglers are still catching consistently throughout the day on midum sunk lines (di3’s and 5’s) with a blob on the top dropper, a booby on the point with a couple of small nymphs in between them using a varied retrieve.

Competition news
Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

Cambridgeshire angler Mark Searle won this week’s boat league. Mark caught six fish on a sink tip line with buzzers and diawl bachs fished static.

EFFA versus the Professionals.
Former Recreation and Access Manager David Moore was top rod on the day by catching 8 fish for 16lb 10oz. David also caught the best fish of the day a superb overwintered Rainbow of 4lb 13oz. David caught his fish with a booby on the point and a blob on the top dropper and a damsel nymph in between. Even with David’s mammoth effort the Amateurs (EFFA) could not manage to defeat the Professionals. 30 Anglers fished the match catching 143 fish for a rod average of 4.7.

Professionals 75 fish for 142lb 2oz
EFFA 68 fish for 125lb 3oz

Best rainbow 6lb 8oz taken by D Pollard of Cambridge

Best boat areas G,I,D,N and B buoys, Central Drifts, north dam

Best bank areas Hill Farm, G bank, Marlow Stones, Willows

Mid Week boat winner John Binge of Sawtry

Forthcoming events English Youth National 5 July
beginners courses 22 & 25 June; 6,20 & 25 July and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League

Week ending 8th June 2008

Fish week 817 (season 8,417) returns 206 (2,323) rod average 3.66(3.62)

Grafham Water has continued to fish well for both bank and boat anglers with the majority of the fish being caught in the top six feet of the water on either small nymphs or orange or black lures. Bank anglers have had their best results by fishing floating lines with olive or black buzzers with diawl bachs, PTN and crunchers from the north shore - Hill Farm, G bank, Marlow Stones and the Willows area. The best time of the day for the bank anglers has been the late afternoon/evening when the trout are moving very close into the margins. Boat anglers have been enjoying some excellent sport from mainly the eastern end of the reservoir - G,I,D,N and B buoys, fishing sink tip lines with buzzers, diawl bachs, PTN and crunchers or medium sunk lines with boobies and diawl bachs on the washing line.
Competition news
Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

Twelve hardy anglers braved the wet conditions to fish the boat league in torrential rain this week. A very soggy Chris McLeod overcame the conditions to win with four fish caught on a floating line with diawl bachs and crunchers.

Best rainbow 4lb 13oz taken by J Mckever

Best boat areas G,I,DN and B buoys, central drifts

Best bank areas Hill Farm, G bank, Marlow Stones, Willows

Fish stocked 3,000

Mid Week boat winner Duncan Tait of Cambridge

Forthcoming events Lexus European Individual qualifier 15 June
Lexus European Team qualifier 16 June
English Youth National 5 July
beginners courses 22 & 25 June; 6,20 & 25 July and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League

Week ending 1st 2008
Fish week 610 (season 7,600) returns 183(2,117) rod average 3.33 (3.58)

Grafham Water has continued to fish well this week with the majority of fish being caught in the top five feet of the surface on a mixture of flies from buzzers and diawl bachs to boobies and blobs. Bank anglers are still having some excellent fishing mainly along the north shore and the dam on floating lines with olive or black buzzers, diawl bachs, pheasant tail nymphs and damsels fished almost static. Boat anglers have also had plenty of success this week from most areas of the reservoir particularly G buoy, Willows, Hill Farm, Stumps, Central drifts and Valley Creek. The main methods have been intermediate lines with buzzers and diawl bachs, or medium sunk lines with boobies and blobs fished on the washing line.

Competition news
Invicta Tuesday Night Boat League

1st Lawson Wight & Alan Briggs 4 fish
2nd John Mees, Chris McLeod, Simon Llewellyn 3 fish

Best rainbow 8lb caught and released by John Gale of Cambridge

Best boat areas G buoy, Willows, Hill Farm, Stumps, Valley Creek, central drifts

Best bank areas North and South dam, Hill Farm, G bank

Fish stocked 2,000

Mid Week boat winner Darren White of Bedford

Forthcoming events Lexus European Individual qualifier 15 June
Lexus European Team qualifier 16 June
English Youth National 5 July
beginners courses 8,22 & 25 June; 6,20 & 25 July and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League

Week ending 25th May 2008

Fish week 1,348 (season 6,990) returns 371 (1,934) rod average 3.63(3.61)

The highlight of the week was the Troutmasters final and Grafham Water has continued to fish well from most areas of the reservoir for both bank and boat anglers. Bank anglers have had plenty of success all along the north shore and the dam, mainly by fishing black or olive buzzers on floating lines. Hill Farm, Deep Water Point, the Willows and the north and south ends of the dam have been giving the anglers some excellent, consistent sport. Boat anglers have been finding fish more or less everywhere and at most depths with G,D and I buoys being the hot spots. 20% of the trout taken weighed over 3lb. Successful methods include buzzers fished under the bung or medium sink lines with an orange blob, diawl bach and a cats whisker booby fished on the washing line. Central drifts, Perry Point to the Harbour and Valley Creek have also produced good catch rates for the anglers on the same methods.

Competition news
Troutmasters final

164 anglers fished the final of this prestigious competition at Grafham Water. Many of these anglers practised during the days leading up to the match and expectations were high. Competitors were not disappointed as Grafham played its part by continuing to fish even though practise had been heavy.

After the morning briefing the two groups of anglers split into two with half going off to the banks and the other half being paired up in the boats for the first 3 hour session from 9am till 12pm. The boats headed for the Willows and the Bowl of the Dam area, and the bank anglers headed for Hill Farm and the surrounding area as well as G-buoy. After the mid day weigh in some of the hot favourites had fallen by the way side as they had recorded a nil score card, and some other anglers came into strong contention. With the winner from each session taking one point and the second two points, at the end of the day it's all down to placings. After the mid day weigh in the boat anglers from the morning headed out onto the banks and vice versa. At the mid way point through the afternoon session no one could predict how close the final results were going to be.

After the afternoon weigh in the points were added up with a tie for first place with both Dave Johns and Campbell Baird tied on 6 points. As Dave had the greater overall weight by just 4oz he was declared as the winner with Campbell second. Dave qualified at Sibley Back Reservoir, Cornwall and he owns Innes Trout Fishery, St Austell. Dave fishes for Bristol Reservoirs FFA Team Itchy Feet.

In third place was Kevin Neri with 7 points. Fred Bainbridge was 4th with 8 points followed by Richard Lansbury with 9 points, Steven Lind 11 points, Graeme Bell 12 points, Ron Ewen 14 points, David Macintosh 15 points and in 10th place John Powell with 17 points. The prize for best fish went to David Cook with a 6lb 8oz rainbow. Considering competitors only fished two three hour sessions the rod average of 2.3 was outstanding.

Best rainbow 6lb 8oz taken by Dave Cook

Best boat areas G,D and I buoys, north and south dam, Central Drifts, Perry Point, Lodge frontage, Valley Creek

Best bank areas North and south dam, Hill Farm, Deep Water Point

Fish stocked 3,000

Mid Week boat winner Neil Cameron of Newmarket

Forthcoming events beginners courses 8,22 & 25 June and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League

Week ending 19th May 2008

Fish week 1233 (season 5642) returns 388 (1563) rod average 3.24 (3.61)

With the practice for the Trout Masters going well (match day 19May) anglers have reported fish in all areas of the lake and at all depths. The best method seems to be buzzers under the bung as well as boobies fished deep out in the open water. The hot spots are Hill Farm and the Willows for both bank and boat anglers. Full report on the Trout Masters next week.

best boat areas G buoy, Deep Water point, Bowl of Dam, South Dam, Seat/Sludge bank, Central drifts

best bank areas South end of Dam, G buoy, deep water point, Perry Point, the Seat

fish stocked 4000

forthcoming events beginners courses 25 & 28 May; 8,22 & 25 June and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May

Week ending 11th May 2008

Fish week 1180 (season 4409) returns 332 (1175) rod average 3.55 (3.75)

The fishing is hotting up as well as the weather. Some very notable bags have been caught this week. Larry Swan and Paul Langley took 16 fish for 52lb 8oz from around the Dam Tower. Only to be bettered by regulars Rob Edmunds and Pat Sweeney who had 16 for 59lb 10oz, all taken deep on black boobies drifting from G to K Buoys.

The famous Grafham over wintered fish are now being seen in a large number of bags. It is almost impossible to tell the early season stock fish apart thanks to the massive amount of daphnia in the water and with the fish gorging themselves on this soup. Fish in certain areas are now starting to feed on the ever increasing buzzer hatches so anglers wanting to use imitation methods can do so with floating lines and buzzers, either long lined or fished under a bung. The water is incredibly clear for the time of year and the fish have stayed deep with the visibility being almost 20 feet deep.

Competition news

On Sunday Grafham Water hosted the first round of the Anglia region eliminators for the English National. With reports that there were fish in most parts of the lake expectations were high. Following the start nearly 30 boats dispersed throughout the lake but with the majority heading for the open water towards the Dam. The first angler to catch his limit was Andy Taylor at noon from the Stumps area, all on midge tip and nymphs, closely followed by his boat partner Dave Hodgeson. Some of the anglers had travelled a long way to take part in this, the first part of a two leg match, with the second and final round held at Rutland on 22 June. Ashley Davies won, with the best bag, he also had the best fish of the match at 5lb 11oz.

England Eliminator results

1st Ashley Davies 8 fish for 26lb 9 3/8oz
2nd Ed Foster 8 fish for 26lb 1¾oz
3rd Mike Dixon 8 fish for 24lb 12 1/8oz
4th Roger Hurren 8 fish for 22lb 15 7/8oz
5th Mike Barratt 8 fish for 22lb 13 3/8oz
6th Phil Dixon 8 fish for 22lb 1½oz
7th Paul Haskey 8 fish for 21lb 10¼oz
8th Tim Leach 8 fish for 21lb 3¾oz
9th Mark Haycock 8 fish for 21lb 1 5/8oz
10th Robert Allen 8 fish for 21lb 1 1/8oz

best rainbow 6lb 10oz taken by Ian Heading

best brown 6lb 10oz taken by Steve McDonald

best boat areas G Buoy, Deep Water Point, bowl of Dam, South Dam, Seat/Sludge bank, Central Drifts.

best bank areas South end of Dam, G buoy, Deep Water Point, Perry point, the Seat

mid week boat winner D Daniels of Haynes, Bedford

fish stocked 2,000

forthcoming events beginners courses 25 & 28 May; 8,22 & 25 June and other dates throughout the season
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May
Trout Masters final 19 May (please note no bank or boat fishing available for non competitors). Bank fishing may commence from 5pm onwards

8th May 2008

Dear Ziggy

Your latest report on Grafham is glowing, but it is not all great. My daughter and I fished from 2 - 7pm last Friday (2 May). It was bright, very light to non existent breeze. we saw only 2 fish rise and we had only one pull each. One was hooked but lost. Otherwise the lake seemed dead. I saw a couple of fish caught from one boat, but all others in sight were not catching. We fished a variety of flies including green and black tadpoles (gold head), orange fritz lures, buzzers etc, and at a range of depths from floating lines to fast sinkers (booby tried with latter for a while). But that is fishing.

  cheers Tony

Week ending 4th May 2008

Fish week 599 (season 3,229) returns 135 (843) rod average 4.43 (3.83)

It has been another excellent week at Grafham Water with the fish now moving towards the middle of the lake and with more of the over wintered fish showing up in anglers’ bags. Following on from their good results in the annual GWFFA and EDFF match, Ray Crompton came back for another day out on the water in the new wheelie boat with George Todd. This time Ray, from Chorley, caught the biggest fish of the season so far, a superb 9lb 12oz Rainbow. This was taken just outside of the Harbour on his final drift, the monster took a red holographic cormorant fished on a wetcel 1.

The best bag of the week went to Bob Wallinger with 8 fish for 32lb 10oz, all taking a gold lure fished just under the surface out in the middle of the lake.

A few anglers have been returning browns of up to 8lb from various areas of the lake. The fish are still feeding mainly on the daphnia, with some now turning onto the vast hatches of buzzers that are now appearing on the warmer days.

The Ladies held their annual Mixed Paris match on Saturday with Rob Edmunds and Martha Thompson running out winners with 16 fish for 43lb 15oz and the best fish went to Sean Cutting with a Rainbow of 5lb 1oz.

1st Martha Thompson & Rob Edmunds 16 fish for 43lb 15oz
2nd Scarlett Hodgeson & James Hunt 14 fish for 29lb 11oz
3rd Joan Russell & Mark Andrews 10 fish for 22lb 11oz
4th Sue Sissons & Sean Cutting 6 fish for 21lb 8oz

best rainbow 9lb 12oz taken by Ray Crompton

best brown Various

best boat areas G buoy, Deep Water Point, Bowl of Dam, south Dam, Seat/Sludge Bank, Central Drifts

best bank areas South end of Dam, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Perry Point, the Seat

mid week boat winner L Cooper of Histon, Cambs

forthcoming events beginners courses 10,25 & 28 May; 8,22 & 25 June and other dates throughout the year
England Eliminator ‘Odds & Sods’ 11 May
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May
Trout Masters final 19 May (please note no bank or boat fishing available for non competitors). Bank fishing may commence from 5pm onwards

Week ending 27th April 2008

Fish week 848 (season 3229) returns 200 (843) rod average 4.24(3.83)

With the improving weather the fishing has continued to go from strength to strength at Grafham Water this week. The fish are spreading out from the North Shore and can now be found around the South Shore as well as in certain areas in the middle of the reservoir. The best methods are either boobies fished close to the bottom or long lined olive buzzers on a very long leader fished very slowly and deep. Also green and black lures fished on slow sinkers around the margins are catching. The fish in the middle of the lake seem to be the quality over wintered fish all around the 3lb mark with many of these fish well over 4lb.

The English Disabled FF match, now in its sixth year, hosted by GWFFA, ran on Sunday with help from the English Ladies, Invicta and EMTFA. They had 45 boats including the new Coulam Wheelie boat from Rutland. This new boat was only launched two weeks ago and was hailed a great success. All the local anglers partnered an EDFF member and this friendly match is fished as a pairs competition. With plenty of fish to be caught the boats split quickly throughout the reservoir, with G Buoy and the North Shore being favourites, as well as the south end of the Dam where the eventual winners were to be found fishing and also off the Sludge Bank where there is a lot of the larger over wintered fish feeding heavily on buzzers deep.

1st Harley Smith & Roy Palmer 16 fish for 43lb 3oz
2nd Peter Hartley & Rick Varley 15 fish for 36lb 10oz
3rd Dave Waters & Ray Crompton 12 fish for 36lb 7oz
4th Tony Dighton & Dia Evans 16 fish for 34lb 13oz
5th Andy Linwood & Jim Watts 12 fish for 32lb 9oz
6th Ron Lusardi & Danny Peet 14 fish for 31lb 8oz

Top rod on the day was Roy Palmer with 8 fish for 22lb 6oz and the best fish went to Dave Waters – a typical Grafham over wintered specimen of 5lb 5oz taken on an olive buzzer from the Sludge bank.

Photo taken at the English Disabled match at Grafham Water last weekend.  Mark Andrews is on the left and Chris McLeod on the right.  

Best methods see report

Best rainbow 5lb 8oz taken by Martha Thompson of Corby

Best brown 6lb 3oz taken by V Rogers of Northampton

Best boat areas G buoy, Deep Water Point, Bowl of Dam, south Dam, Seat/Sludge bank, Central Drifts

Best bank areas South end of Dam, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Perry Point, the Seat

Mid week boat winner Bob Saltmarsh of Newmarket

Fish stocked 4,000

Forthcoming events beginners courses 23 & 26 April; 10,14 & 25 May and other dates throughout the year
11 May England Eliminator (Odds & Sods)
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May
19 May Trout Masters final (please note no bank or boat fishing available for non competitors) bank fishing may commence from 5pm onwards

Guys,   Just wanted to let you know about an excellent and very enjoyable session I had at Grafham on Saturday 26 April. Limit. All on Floater. Bloodworm point and small buzzers on droppers. From anchored boat 70 yards off Hedge End point.

All rainbow

1 at 5lb 4ozs

2 at 4lb 8ozs

1 at 4lb

2 at 3 lbs

2 stockies around 2lb.   All the overwintered fish in really top condition - looked like fresh run salmon.   Great site by the way and much appreciated. We use it religiously for the fishing reports.  

David Littler

Week ending 20th April 2008
Fish week 757 (season 2381) returns 199 (643) rod average 3.8(3.7)

The biggest fish of the week was caught by Suffolk angler Mark Bilner. Mark caught a cracking 6lb 13oz over-wintered Rainbow whilst bank fishing at Perry Point on a black and green tadpole.

Grafham Water has continued to fish well this week for both boat and bank anglers with the North shore producing the best of the sport for the boat anglers and the south shore being the best area for the bank anglers. The most productive areas on the south shore for bank anglers have been Perry Point, the Seat, Plummer Park and the south dam. G buoy, deep water point and Hill Farm are all still producing some excellent fishing with nymphs being the best patterns fished slowly.

Boat anglers are still finding that points along the north shore are producing the best catch rates on either nymphs or black and green lures fished close to the bottom and slow.

best rainbow 6lb 13oz taken by Mark Bilner of Suffolk

best brown 4lb 3oz taken by Des Barker of Stevenage

best boat areas Hedge End, G buoy, Hill Farm, Deep Water Point, north dam

best bank areas south end of dam, Hill Farm, G Buoy, deep water point, Pylon Point, Perry Point, the Seat

mid week boat winner D Cormack of Cheshunt, Herts

fish stocked 2,000

forthcoming events 27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year
Tuesday Evening Boat League starts 13 May.

Week ending 13th April 2008

Fish week 534 (season1624) returns 153 (444) rod average 3.49(3.65)

Another excellent week at Grafham with both boat and bank anglers enjoying the great sport. The fish seem to have moved up in the water a bit more and are now taking buzzers freely. Crunchers and diawl bachs have also started to work.

Keith Morton, who manages the Harbour View Restaurant at Grafham Water, enjoyed his best ever day fly fishing at Grafham. Not only did Keith take his first ever limit of 8 fish, he topped it off with a personal best rainbow at 5lb 14oz.

GWFFA held its first bank match of the season on Sunday with club newcomer Chris Lane taking first place with 8 fish for over 31lb. Season ticket holder and local farmer Steve Ellerbeck was second with 29lb of fish.

Regular angler Mick Loy won this year’s Troutmasters fish off at Grafham, fishing from the Seat area on nymphs. Mick will go forward to represent Grafham Water on 19 May at the Troutmasters final, also held at Grafham.

best rainbow several over 5lb

best boat areas Hedge end, G buoy, Hill Farm, deep water point

best bank areas south end of dam, Hill Farm, G buoy, deep water point, pylon point

mid week boat winner Brian Collins of Hitchin

fish stocked 2,500

forthcoming events 27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year

Week ending 6th April 2008

Fish week 573 (season 1090) returns 148 (291) rod average 3.87(3.74)

On Sunday Grafham Water hosted the popular Bob Church Open for the Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy.

1st Mark Rooney of Southend on Sea 8 for 25lb 12oz
2nd Graham Pearson 8 for 21lb 14oz
3rd Paul Haskey 8 for 21lb 4oz.

Best fish weighed 6lb 1oz and was taken by Lawrie Taylor. Abigail Montgomery was top lady rod with 5 fish for 9lb 7oz

Anglers caught 212 fish for a match rod average of 2.72. The best areas were the North Shore, Hill Farm and G Buoy to the Willows.

Grafham Water has continued to fish well this week for both bank and boat anglers with the North shore producing the vast majority of trout being caught. Bank anglers have had some excellent fishing this week from the G bank, Hill Farm, the Stumps, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point and the south end of the dam, mainly on floating or intermediate lines with buzzers, blood worm, diawl bachs, crunchers and damsel nymphs fished slowly and close to the bottom. Father and son, Gary and Sam Edmonds from Ware in Hertfordshire, had an excellent day’s bank fishing this week. Between them they caught 15 trout from G Buoy and the south end of the Dam on floating lines with buzzers and cat whisker humungus. Sam caught the biggest trout of the day, a cracking Rainbow of 5lb 7oz and also released a brown of 4lb 12oz.

Boat anglers have also had a spectacular week’s fishing with the North shore being once again the most productive with Hill Farm, Hedge End, Deep Water Point and G Buoy being the best areas to fish on mainly fast sunk lines with black and green or cat whisker boobies, diawl bachs, cormorants and orange blobs being the best methods and once again these have been fished slow and close to the bottom.

best rainbow two at 6lb. One taken by Michael Benyon and the other by D Gotlieb (both from London)

best brown 4lb 12oz returned by Sam Edmonds from Ware

best boat areas Hedge End, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point

best bank areas south end of dam, Hill Farm, G Buoy, Deep Water Point, Pylon Point

mid week boat winner Chris Gosling from Huntingdon

fish stocked 2000

forthcoming events 27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 13,23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year

Week ending 30th March 2008

Fish week 237 (season 517) returns 80 (143) rod average 2.96(3.61)

The fishing at Grafham Water this week has been very productive considering the unsettled weather that we have been experiencing. Both bank and boat anglers have been enjoying some arm wrenching sport from mainly the north shore with Hill Farm, Hedge End and the G Buoy area being the best spots for the boat anglers. Best boat methods have been mainly fast sunk lines with black and green or cat whisker boobies, or floaters with blood worm, buzzers and gold ribbed hares ears fished slowly.

Bank anglers have also been having some tremendous sport from mainly the north shore with the Stumps, Hill Farm, G Buoy and the south end of the Dam using floating or intermediate lines with Dawsons olive, buzzers, gold ribbed hares ears, damsel nymphs and Montanas.

Grafham Water Senior warden John Mees caught the best bag of the week with eight fish weighing 27lb 12oz whilst boat fishing at Hedge End. John took this bag by fishing a cat whisker booby on a di 5 line fished with a very slow retrieve.

Former GWFFA chairman Gerry Bailey took his two Grandsons, Jack and Joe Easton from Hitchin, out for a day’s fishing this week. Jack caught his best trout ever – a cracking over wintered rainbow of 4lb 8oz with two other rainbows of 2lb 8oz each. His brother Joe caught his very first trout – a 2lb 10oz Rainbow. The budding pair of young anglers took these trout from G buoy on an intermediate line with a gold head damsel nymph.

This week’s returns showed five 6lb rainbows – two recorded by Mr Nightingale and three by T Stannard.

best rainbow 6lb – three taken by T Stannard and two by Mr Nightingale

best boat areas Stumps, Hedge End, G Buoy, Hill Farm

best bank areas South end of Dam, Hill Farm, G buoy, the Seat

mid week boat winner Clive Morgan of Ilford, Essex

forthcoming events 6 April Bob Church Open (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) telephone 01604 661133
27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 30 March, 13,23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year

Week ending 23rd March 2008
Fish week 113 (season281) returns 26 (63) rod average 4.34(4.46)

After a good opening day the weather was very testing at times with fish being caught along Plummers Bank up to the Dam. The following day anglers were forced on to the north shore because of the high winds. With the winds at times gusting up to 40 mph boat fishing has been limited. Grafham anglers are a hardy bunch and made the most of any opportunity. Tim Leech braved the cold and took a boat out and bagged 8 fish for 28lb, with one at 6lb and two around 4lb 8oz the best of a cracking bag. Steve Ellabeck had five fish for 21lb 14oz and a 5lb 1oz being the best, he caught these using a Dawsons Olive bank fishing at Plummers towards the Dam.
Some really nice over wintered fish have been caught with nine over 4lb.

The weather forecast is for milder conditions so anglers can put the Easter snow and high winds behind them and look forward to some good boat and bank fishing.

best rainbow 6lb taken by Tim Leech of Little Shefford

best boat areas Stumps, Hedge End, G Buoy

best bank areas North end of Dam, Hill Farm, G buoy

fish stocked 2000

forthcoming events 6 April Bob Church Open (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) telephone 01604 661133
27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 30 March, 13,23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year

Week ending 16th March 2008
The new season at Grafham Water started on Friday 14 March. Following a week of storms the weather was kind. The bank anglers who started early were rewarded with some quality fish from the G-Buoy area, mainly slow sinkers/intermediate lines, with the fish falling to mainly black and green nymphs or lures fished slowly in mid water. The boat anglers also did well in similar areas, with the same sort of flies but found the fish much deeper, so faster sinking lines were used.

The best fish came later in the day and was a fine rainbow of 6lb 2oz taken by J Elgar of Soham, who fished from the North End of the Dam with a Black and Green Booby.

The New Lodge Trophy for the biggest fish weighed in by 5pm on opening day was won by Tom Allen with a Rainbow of 4lb 6oz. Tom took his fish on a white fritz nymph on an Intermediate line from the Harbour. Tom won the first New Lodge Trophy way back in 1999 in the first year of the Trophy, that year Tom won with a 9lb12oz rainbow.

Mr Malone of Higham Ferrers on his first ever trip trout fishing managed 5 fish for the day, with his best being 4lb 5oz, all being taken from Marlow Bay on a Damsel Nymph fished on a floater.

The first is of Grafham regular Mo Foley. Mo made the long trip from Horbling in Lincolnshire to fish Grafham's opening day and was rewarded with some nice fish captured from the Stones at Hill Farm Bay. Fishing a sinking line, Mo caught his fish on damsels and boobies.

The second photo shows Nick Preston from Market Deeping. Nick was taught by Anglian Water instructor Dave Doherty in 2006 and now, two years later, is a season ticket holder and enjoys great success from Grafham's banks. This slim, overwintered fish was taken by Nick on Plummer's Bank.

The third pic is of Ricky Burt of Corby. Ricky enjoyed success from the bank at Marlow Bay.

photo of Bill Scott from Histon, Cambs. Bill is pictured with a nice overwintered fish taken from Marlow Bay.

best methods see report

best rainbow 6lb 2oz taken by J Elgar of Soham with a Di7 and black and green booby from the north end of the dam

best boat areas Hill Farm, Hedge End, G Buoy, and Stumps

best bank areas G Buoy, Hill Farm and North end of Dam

forthcoming events 6 April Bob Church Open (Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy) telephone 01604 661133
27 April EDFF & GWFFA
beginners courses 30 March, 13,23 & 26 April and other dates throughout the year

Week ending 9th March
Grafham Water is getting revved up for the start of the new season this Friday 14 March. The angler catching the best fish on Opening Day wins a prize and the New Lodge Trophy. The Bob Church Open for the Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy will be fished on 6 April. Anglers wishing to enter this match should call 01604 661133. Anglian Water’s popular Beginners courses will be held on 16, 19 & 30 March, 13,23 & 26 April and lots of dates throughout the year.

24th February 2008

Ravensthorpe Reservoir

The pre-season Pike Fishing at Ravensthorpe (18-22 February) produced three fish over thirty pounds.   The best fish of the week, a massive 37½lb Pike, was taken on Thursday by John Hart.  John, from Harpole, boat fished a half Mackerel off Monger's Point.  John's boat partner Mathew Woodruff, had a fish of 16½lb on the same day.  Steve Marshall of Wellingborough also used Mackerel to take a whopping 31½lb pike. Other fish were reported at 30½lb and three in the twenty pound bracket.  There were six in their teens and a number of single figure fish. 

Preview of 2008 season

We celebrated our first winner of 2008 before the season had even started. From the weekly returns submitted by our season ticket holders we hold an annual draw. Susan Noble, a familiar face behind the counter at Rutland Water Fishing Lodge, drew the winning return. The lucky winner was 2007 Economy season ticket holder Tim O’Brien. Tim wins a valuable Gold season ticket.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir opening day Saturday 1 March
The recent pre season pike fishing was a great success with plenty of trout spotted in the reservoir. The trout took little interest on Tuesday and Wednesday when the weather was bitterly cold, but they were back again in large numbers in the warmer conditions on Friday, boding well for the start of the new trout season on Saturday 1 March.

Demand for boats often outstrips supply – pre-booking is essential.
For boat bookings and enquiries please call 01604 770875.

Pitsford Water opening day Friday 7 March
The 2008 season promises to be a cracker. Senior warden Nathan Clayton recalls the start to 2007 “The 5.4 rod average and excellent weather meant that anglers had a terrific start and prospects for 2008 look just as good”.
Anglers are reminded that winter restrictions apply at Pitsford with no fishing in the ‘small half’ until 1 April.

Grafham Water opening day Friday 14 March
Grafham Water opens on Friday14 March. Anglers can fish for the New Lodge Trophy for the biggest fish caught on Opening Day.
The Bob Church Open is on 6 April for the Frank Cutler Memorial Trophy. For more information on this match call 01604 661133.

Rutland Water opens Good Friday 21 March
On Good Friday 21 March Rutland Water re-opens with the Independence Day Trophy for the biggest fish.

On Sunday 9 March anglers are invited to meet at Rutland Water Fishing Lodge, Normanton, to take part in Rutland Water’s litter pick. Organised by Rutland Water Fly Fishers and sponsored by Anglian Water this annual event starts at 9am with bacon sandwiches and coffee. The litter pick starts at 10 am (gloves and bags provided).

Dominating the headlines is a 16lb brown - the biggest at Grafham in nearly 11 years. This superb fish was one of a number of double figure fish caught at Grafham Water, especially browns with three double figure fish from the Harbour alone.

Last Saturday, Bob Wallinger, from Sharnford, Leicester, was persuaded by warden Simon Dance to try bank fishing the Harbour Wall following a fruitless boat session. All seemed quite normal to start with as Bob took 5 fish including two browns over 4lb (returned). Then, on almost the final cast of the evening, he saw a fish taking fry close to the boom. Matching the hatch and putting on a large deer hair floating fry he soon found himself hooked into the season’s best brown. This superb 16lb hen fish was the best for almost 11 years. This fish beats Bob’s personal best, caught in 1994, by over 2lb.

On Tuesday 91 year old pensioner and season ticket holder Don Pitts from Bedford took his personal best fish – a 9lb 13oz brown from the same arm of the Harbour on a black and green booby. On the following day Richard Sole took another double from the same place on a minkie, this brown weighed 10lb 1oz

Competition news
The England Youth Flyfishing Association held its national loch-style championships at Grafham Water on Sunday and Tom Cooper from Rutland regained the title he first won in 2005.

Conditions were perfect at the 1500 acre Cambridgeshire reservoir for the 25 competitors from all over England who fished this event to select next years International Team. Fish were near the surface early on but bright sunshine soon brought a change in tactics with sinking lines finding the fish.

Tom Cooper (17) caught the maximum eight trout limit weighing 19lb3oz, closely followed by Edward Field (16) from Gloucestershire who took seven trout for 12lb10oz and last year’s Champion Josh Fenton from Sunderland taking six trout for 10lb14oz. Oliver Gilman was fourth with five fish for 10lb 7oz. All three top rods were amongst the first three last year – but in a different order! Best fish of the day was 3lb 3oz , one of four trout caught by fifth placed Karl Manley.

The biggest fish of the season so far was caught on Monday 3 June by season ticket holder Bob Wallinger from Leicester. Bob took a superb conditioned brown trout of 10lb 7oz on a silver tube and di8 line from around K buoy. Bob said “I’ve been fishing Anglian Water Fisheries since 1966 and its my first double figured trout – it went like a steam train.” Well done Bob – now it’s your turn to catch a double figured rainbow

Week Ending 13th May 2007

Grafham Water was on fantastic form for the most prestigious individual fly-fishing event of the year The Bob Church Classic.
With a six fish limit and catch and release the anglers concentrated on the bigger fish and over half the 100 competitors caught at least one fish over 3lbs.
Winner was Scottish International Craig Cowan who caught 12 trout, the six he weighed in averaged 2lb-10oz followed by John Calvert of the Masterline Stocks team with 11 fish and Northumberland's Chris Guthrie with 8 fish including the bet of the day at 4lb-2oz.

 Bob Church (left) winner Craig Cowan (centre) and guest speaker Frank  
Riley.