Hanningfield
Tel:  01268 712815 

Essex and Suffolk Water Go Fishing

Ranger’s Weekly Fishing Review

Fishery:   Hanningfield             Size:  600 acres (243h), Max Depth 55 feet (17m)

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Weekending:    19/05/13

Fishery Headline:                              Shore for more!

Bright sunshine and cold, windy conditions gave a mixture of challenging conditions during the week. However, this did not deter fish from feeding and helped maintain a very high rod average throughout the week, especially from the bank. Great sport continued in Middlemead Bay and more recently off the Inlet Dam Wall around to the Peninsula with many of the weeks best catches recorded from this area. Ledgered PowerBait is still as successful as ever for bait anglers with Yellow or Pink PowerBait Eggs proving to be a favoured choice over spinners. Mr Alan Maskell captured a specimen trout weighing 8lb 6oz on Friday whilst boat fishing with a Black Booby off the Peninsula. An additional 3,000 rainbows were introduced on Wednesday with these fish already active close to shore taking traditional nymphs, buzzers or tadpoles on either floating or intermediate fly lines. Water levels remain high and clear with prospects looking very good this year as fish continue to appear in prime condition.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 20.45 Bank closing: 21.00 Water temp: 12oC

Best flies: Tadpoles, Cats Whisker, Black Cormorants and Buzzers   

Best Bait /Lures: Yellow and Salmon Egg PowerBait, Worm.

Best areas:

Bank:    Main Dam Wall, Middlemead, Inlet.

Boat:     Middlemead Bay, Inlet, Peninsula.

From the lodge:

Weekending:    12/05/13

Fishery Headline:                              Hooked on Fishing.

Despite windy conditions for most of the week many of our visitors have enjoyed quality sport from both the boats and bank. Buzzers continue to emerge in healthy numbers as water temperatures rise, triggering better results for floating fly lines and traditional nymph tactics. After the introduction of 3,000 fish on Thursday, rainbows have been caught using most methods, with Sunshine Yellow or Chartreuse PowerBait proving to be a good choice of bait in Middlemead Bay. Mr Michael Braden netted a prime over wintered fish weighing 7lb 4oz from the bank on Monday. May and June are normally two of the best months on the reservoir and we expect great sport from around the bubble lines as we move into the summer period.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 20.30 Bank closing: 20.45 Water temp: 12oC

Best flies: Tadpoles, Cats Whisker, Black Cormorants and various buzzers   

Best Bait /Lures: Yellow and Chartreuse PowerBait, worm.

Best areas:

Bank:    Main Dam Wall, Middlemead, Saltmarsh Point.

Boat:     Middlemead Bay, Atlantis, Peninsula.

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    05/05/13

Fishery Headline:                              Quality sport for all!

Some tremendous sport is now available at Hanningfield as the fine weather attracted fish into the margins and onto the feed. Vast numbers of buzzers continue to hatch on the reservoir and fly fisherman are finding good sport with floating lines between School Bay around to Hall Point. Boat anglers are locating fish in Boundary Bay and a number of limit catches were reported using the “bung” with small nymphs and buzzers. A quality trout weighing 6lb 12oz was netted by David Brown on a Black and Yellow Booby as well as five additional fish. Worms and Yellow PowerBait are proving to be very successful for bank fisherman along the Inlet Dam Wall, but Rapala and Salmo type lures should also give positive results. The best return during the week included three rainbows of just over 6lb each. Catch rates are expected to increase with warmer conditions resulting in increasingly aggressive and active fish. 

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 20.15 Bank closing: 20.30 Water temp: 9oC

Best flies: Black, White and Yellow Boobies, Black Cormorants and Black Buzzers   

Best Bait /Lures: Yellow and Chartreuse PowerBait, worm.

Best areas:

Bank:    Main Dam Wall and Inlet Wall 

Boat:     Atlantis, Hall Point and the Inlet

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    28/04/13

Fishery Headline:                              Keene to fish

A productive week at Hanningfield reservoir was emphasised by the number of large of rainbows beginning to show as the weather improves and buzzers start to hatch in very large numbers. Don McColl fished Middlemead Bay during the week and netted a specimen trout of 8lb 14oz. This over wintered fish was taken on fly with a Black Fritz using an intermediate line and was one of an eight fish catch. Another cracking fish of 8lb 12oz was landed by Colin Keenes using ledgered PowerBait and demonstrates the willingness of these over wintered fish to take a range of baits, lures and flies. A further 3000 rainbows were introduced on Monday and many of these are being caught using small Silver Mepps and Toby spinners. Floating lines are only just beginning to be effective on the fly, but Black Boobies fished on intermediate or sinking line remain the most popular method from the boats.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 20.15              Bank closing: 20.30              Water temp: 8oC

Best flies: Cat’s Whisker, Black Fritz, Black Buzzer, Black or White Boobies   

Best Bait /Lures: Chartreuse PowerBait, Silver Mepps

Best areas:

Bank: Main Dam Wall and Inlet Wall 

Boat: Peninsular, Inlet

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    21/04/13

Fishery Headline:                              The Wright Way!

A mixed week of weather ended with much better conditions as we begin to see buzzers hatching in very large numbers across the reservoir. The water temperature remains low for the time of year and rainbows continue to move close to the bottom and near to the shore line. Fly anglers are having some success with best results using boobies and sinking lines or a floating line and a line of buzzers fished under a bung. Bait anglers are finding ledgered tactics most successful with Chartreuse PowerBait tipped with worm proving successful for some anglers. Chris Wright netted a fine trout from the bank weighing in at 8lb 8oz and holds the accolade of biggest trout of the season so far. This specimen was one of the best fish Chris had ever caught from Hanningfield with all the trade marks of a pristine overwintered fish.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 20.00                          Bank closing: 20.15              Water temp: 6oC

Best flies: Cat’s Whisker, Fry Patterns, Black Boobies   

Best Bait /Lures: Chartreuse PowerBait

Best areas:

Bank: Main Dam Wall and Inlet Wall 

Boat: Peninsular, Lodge Bay and the Inlet

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    14/04/13

Fishery Headline:                              Sun shines on Hanningfield.

A complete change air mass during the week saw cold easterly winds replaced by a warmer south westerly. This improvement has given a boost for most visitors and a greater number of rainbows are being taken from both bank and boats. Trout have remained close to the bottom so sinking fly lines continue to produce good catches using boobies and lures. Yellow PowerBait from the bank is proving to be a successful bait with higher returns found from the Inlet Wall or the Peninsula. Spinning has not yet been very productive, but a good specimen trout of 7lb fell to this method over the weekend. Sunday produced the best fish of the season weighing in at 8lb 6oz with anglers reminded to use heavier tackle for specimen over wintered rainbows.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 19.45 Bank closing: 20.00 Water temp: 5oC

Best flies: Various boobies, Cat’s Whisker and Fry Patterns   

Best Bait /Lures: Yellow and Chartreuse PowerBait

Best areas:

Bank:    Main Dam Wall and Inlet Wall 

Boat:   Peninsular, Lodge Bay and the Inlet

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    07/04/13

Fishery Headline:                              Rooney scores nine!!

Some of the coldest weather on record saw areas such as Lodge Bay freeze over on some of the coldest nights hampering access to some of the favoured areas. This was coupled with strong easterly winds for most of the week making fishing challenging for all anglers. However, fly anglers continue to record some respectable returns, especially for those willing to persevere and keep on the move.  On the fly, slow fished sinking lines and lures or static dark coloured booby tactics have been most successful with a slow retrieve essential. Mr. Mark Rooney proved that fish can be caught in wintery conditions by netting nine cracking rainbows from the boat. Bait anglers have seen ledgered tactics most successful and in any warmer conditions fish should be much more willing to feed in the margins as water temperatures begin to rise.

Hanningfield Fly Fishers Association held their first match on Sunday and after dodging icebergs 12 anglers netted 40 fish for a respectable rod average considering the conditions of 3.33.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 19.30 Bank closing: 19.45 Water temp: 3oC

Best flies: Various Boobies, Black Fritz, Gold Head Damsel Nymph.

Best Bait /Lures: Spring Green and Yellow PowerBait.

Best areas:

Bank:              Dam Wall and Inlet wall 

Boat:               Peninsular and the Goldfish Bowl

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    31/03/13

Weekending:    24/03/13

Fishery Headline:   Fins can only get better!!

For the second week running the fishery was closed again for two days due to heavy snow ice and strong arctic winds. Needless to say those brave anglers who ventured out earlier in the week were rewarded with fish using both bait and fly fishing methods. Salmon Egg and Spring Green PowerBait are producing better results on ledgered pop-up tactics around the Inlet. Fly anglers continue to use fast sinking lines in these cold temperatures, with Booby or Minky patterns remaining the best lures fished deep and slow.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 18.15 Bank closing: 18.30 Water temp: 4oC

Best flies: Various Boobies, Minkies and Fry Patterns   

Best Bait /Lures: Spring Green and Salomon egg PowerBait

Best areas:

Bank:    Main Dam Wall, Peninsula and Inlet wall 

Boat:   Peninsular, Lodge Bay and the Inlet

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    17/03/13

Fishery Headline:   Fingers crossed for spring weather

It has been a mixed week with strong cold winds and freezing temperatures forcing us to close until midweek. Fishing resumed on Wednesday with the majority of catches taken from the bank using ledgered pop-up PowerBait. This modern attractive paste is a favourite choice for many bait anglers and is extremely productive all year round. This week the heaviest recorded 8 fish catch weighing 24lb 1oz was taken on fluorescent red PowerBait the from the Inlet Wall. Lure anglers using a variety of heavy spinners and spoons are finding a dead slow near the bottom retrieve to be the most effective method. Fly anglers are having their best success using sinking line tactics with Boobies presented close to the bottom. From the boats back drifting around the Peninsula and Inlet area should give better results whilst Lodge Bay a traditional early season hot spot is also worth a try.

Catch return cards:

Please note it is extremely important that anglers complete their return cards.

This will ensure that we have the information required to help manage our fishery and maintain the level of sport we provide for you.

Boats in time: 18.00 Bank closing: 18.15 Water temp: 5oC

Best flies: Various Boobies, Minkies and Fry Patterns   

Best Bait /Lures: Fluorescent red and Salomon egg PowerBait

Best areas:

Bank:    Main Dam Wall, Peninsula and Inlet wall 

Boat:   Peninsular, Lodge Bay and the Inlet

From the lodge:

David Brown

Weekending:    10 March 2013

Fishery Headline:      Off to a flyer

Despite wintry conditions anglers attending our opening weekend enjoyed some fantastic sport with boat and bank anglers recording excellent catches on a variety of methods. The most productive areas have been Middlemead Bay, the Peninsula, the Inlet and Lodge Bay. On the fly the best tactic was to use fast sinking lines with Booby and Minky patterns in black and green or plain white.

Any method anglers also recorded their best catches to deep fished lures and baits.

The best method was to use ledgered PowerBait Eggs fished as pop ups whilst those choosing to spin recorded some fine limit catches on deep spun Mepps Aglia lures. The reservoir is currently full with excellent water clarity and prospects for early season anglers remain very good.

If you are thinking of taking up the sport or know someone who would like to learn then our popular fly fishing beginner’s courses come highly recommended.

Our first course this season is on Saturday 23 March, to book or for more information for what we promise will be a memorable days instruction please call our team at the fishing lodge on 01268 712 180.       

Boats in time: 17.45 Bank closing: 18.00 Water temp: 4oC

Best flies: Various Boobies, Minkies and Fry Patterns   

Best any method: Spring Green and Salmon PowerBait Eggs

Best areas:

Bank:    As above

Boats:   As above

From the lodge:

David Brown

Visiting anglers this week have experienced typical April conditions as welcome showers and longer spells of rain helped increase water levels in the reservoir to 93% full. The clarity of the water is very good giving ideal clear conditions. Good buzzer hatches continue and spooned fish reveal they are enjoying a diet of buzzers and daphnia. Many of the recently stocked fish are providing good sport from the Peninsula out towards the Inlet area. The trout are now feeding higher in the water as demonstrated by the results from a boat on Monday skippered by Mr Tim Joyce and Mr Cecil. The pair enjoyed a fantastic day taking 12 trout on fly and returning a further 19 to finish a memorable visit. Our bank anglers have netted some heavy rainbows with Mr Brookes taking fish of 5lb and 5lb 4oz from Middlemead Bay as well as 3 other rainbows.

 PowerBait is becoming the favoured bait by many more visitors and steady numbers of trout are falling to this paste either float fished or ledgered. Mr Rasius landed a fine 6lb 4oz trout on a lobworm by Boundary Bay

whilst on Sunday Mr Bushby took a fin perfect grown on rainbow weighing 6lb on a Diawl Bach over Atlantis.

The consistent warm summery weather has increased buzzer hatches to overwhelming and near plague numbers this week. This is excellent news for both the trout and the angler as the fish move higher in the water to gorge on this fruitful harvest. In the current conditions fly anglers using imitation patterns are enjoying the best sport floating lines and small nymphs are a must at present. Mr. D. Sanwell had a great day on Buzzers, taking 8 fine fish including specimen rainbows of 7lb and 5lb13oz.(picture supplied)

Bait anglers continue to catch well on float fished worm whilst those spinning have their best results using traditional silver Mepps. Many 8 fish limits have been recorded from the Mole and Lodge Bay areas; with the water clarity very good prospects remain excellent for the Easter period.

Fishery Headline:  David lands a beauty

The calmer weather conditions have made both boat and bank angling more comfortable this week. Anglers continue to record steady catches that once again have featured some excellent conditioned overwintered fish. Fly anglers have had the best success using heavy sunk lines drifting from the deeper water onto the shallows along the west bank and towards the tower. The top catching fly patterns at present are Boobies, Blobs and Minkies in orange black and green. Our Very own David Brown landed the largest fish of the week a pristine 7lb fine perfect rainbow from Hall Point.

Another notable specimen of 6lb 2oz was landed by Brian Keyte who was using a DI3 line with a Cats Whisker.

This week visiting anglers have experienced typical early season weather conditions with cold gale force winds alternating to warm calm conditions. The changeable conditions have had an impact on sport and coupled with the minor irritation of a seasonal brown algae bloom angling has been challenging. A calm settled spell of weather and the clearing of the temporary bloom should see catch rates dramatically improve. Despite the challenges some fine conditioned overwintered fish have featured in the returns this week. The heaviest fish of the a week a fine overwintered specimen weighing 6lb 14oz was taken by Mr Marius on Mepps spinner from the boat.

In a productive session Mr. Darlius and Mr Alfas sharing a boat both caught overwintered fish weighing 5lb 4oz. The drop off at the Bird Hide is providing good sport for the boat fly angler with small white lures and in general a fast sinking line has given the best results. Any method anglers are catching on a variety of spinners and lures with worms which are now available in the tackle shop being the top bait. Bank anglers have had the best success fishing the main dam wall and towards Middlemead Bay.        

 .  

“10lb 12oz beauty for Harry”

Weatherwise, a very mixed week all round, with calm conditions most days, finishing with very strong winds and much needed heavy rain.

The water quality is still good and rising, providing good sport around the Inlet down to Hall Point. Boats taking good catches on lures from the top layers with Boobies on a D.I.7 recommended as a second option. Mr Harry Hammond landed a brilliant specimen rainbow of 10lb 12oz on a white Minky Booby drifting past the cage – making this fish one of the heaviest of the season.