Big double for holidaying angler

Colin Brayson, from Birmingham, stayed in one of the holiday cottages at Devon’s Tavistock Trout Fishery and had a fantastic week of sport.

He made a number of notable catches throughout the duration of his stay, including this lovely brown trout weighing 13lb 1oz, taken on a Klinkhammer, plus another specimen brown of 7lb 14oz, tempted on an emerger and a 6lb leader.

For venue info, log on to: www.tavistocktroutfishery.co.uk

 


Arsonists hit top pike water!

The country’s premier pike venue was hit by arsonists last week in a shocking incident that saw the owners left facing a £25,000 repair bill.

Six boats were deliberately set ablaze at Somerset’s Chew Valley Reservoir by as yet unidentified individuals who entered the marina next to the lodge under the cover of darkness and used petrol to start the fire.

Although police investigations are still at an early stage, Chew’s long-serving fishery manager Bob Handford believes the crime could have been carried out by local vandals.

The 60-year-old told Angling Times “Whoever it was poured petrol into the boats and set light to them before making their escape.”

For the full story and exclusive pictures of the carnage – see tomorrow’s Angling Times!


Ronnie scoops the Scottish title

Ronnie Glass of Kelso AA won the 2011 Scottish National Trout Fishing Championships at the Lake of Menteith, taking 12 fish for 27lb 10oz.

Ronnie who is fishing manager for Orvis Tackle Shop Kelso, figure-of-eighted a midge tip line with a Hare’s Ear Suspender on the point (seven fish), a Damsel in the middle (four fish) and a Blob on the top dropper (one fish).

All his fish were taken in the Hotel Bay and Shear Point drifts.

In second place was Allan Smith of Stormont Field AC who also landed 12 fish.


Big doubles all the rage at Avington

There have been some tremendous catches at Avington Trout Fishery, near Winchester, over the past month, with plenty of double-figure fish landed.

The best fish of the month was a 14lb 12oz rainbow from lake 3 caught by Brian Porter on a Daddy. This was closely followed by a very big brown trout from lake 1 weighing in at a whopping 14lb 9oz, taken by Chris Belton.

Numerous other heavyweight trout have been caught, with Stalking Bugs and various damsel patterns doing the damage.

For venue info, log on to www.avingtontrout.com


Rutland produces best rainbow of the season

Rutland Water has produced a season’s best rainbow of 6lb 9oz for Bury St Edmunds angler John Harper.

John fished the South Arm with boat partner Adrian Coor, using a floating line and one of Adrian’s small Damsel Nymphs on a 9.5lb leader and a floating line.

Brown trout have been elusive recently but match angler Frank Sumnall, from Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, managed a fine 5lb 6oz specimen from Manton using a Di-3 line and small Sparkler fly.

The Manton area produced fish to dry fly for one or two anglers, the first time this area has fished for a couple of weeks with the west wind pushing on a lot of the loose weed that was making things difficult.

Mike Burnside and John Heslop managed a bag of seven rainbows for 20lb 8oz, the best going 4lb.

Lures accounted for most of the fish with fast sinking lines the order of the day although one or two boats persisted with intermediate lines and Diawl Bach and were eventually rewarded with limits apiece.


Anglers having to work hard at Grafham

Anglers have had their skills well tested, but rewards have been good for those with the right tactics. Chris Bobby fished Sanctuary Bay during the Wychwood Mixed Pairs event and landed rainbows of 5lb 14oz and 5lb 4oz, one to a Hopper and one to a Booby.

Elsewhere, Phil Cotton took eight fish for 24lb 7oz while fishing for Team Airflo in the southern final of the Anglian Water Airflo International.

Fish have been feeding on a variety of items including snails, pinfry, various nymphs and dry flies in addition to shrimps. The water surface has often been littered with ants, spiders, sedges and some buzzers, perhaps explaining why shoals of fish have regularly been seen at the surface, even in bright, sunny conditions.

Various methods have been successful and have included teams of nymphs, wet flies and mini lures on anything from floating lines to midge tips, slow sinkers and Di-5s. The washing-line method has been the most popular.

In general boat fishing has been most productive, but banks have fished best early in the morning or in the evening.


It's a trout bonanza at Bewl Water!

Fly anglers at Bewl Water in East Sussex are continuing to enjoy a hugely productive season, with a fish-per-rod average of more than 7 being enjoyed by visitors in July!

The management at the venue claim that the 'extraordinary success of those opting for catch and release' as the main reason behind the unprecedented productivity, which they have said would be remarkable for any part of the season, never mind for July.

At less than 18C, the water temperature has so far remained low for the time of the year, which has led to the trout staying close to the surface.

Best areas for boats are the Main Bowl, the area near the cages, Belgrano Bay, Canoe Club Corner and Seven Pound Creek. Successful flies are Boobies, Floating Fry, Hare's Ears, Diawl Bachs, Hoppers and Buzzers.

Most anglers have been catching using floating lines and as long a leader as can be managed. The dam wall and Chingley have once again been the best places for bank fishing.

Places are still available for Bewl's cash prize floating line competition on Sunday August 14.

There is a £1000 cash first prize and other cash prizes totalling £3000 in value - contact Fishing Lodge for details on 01892 890352.

 


Big brownie falls to buzzer

Bloodworm buzzers and similar patterns are still accounting for numbers of big brown trout at the nation’s stillwater trout fisheries, but very few have come close to beating this superb 15lb 6oz specimen, caught by Tony Meredith.

The Wrexham-based angler was targeting Graiglwyd Springs fishery, located at Penmaenmawr, North Wales, when he hit the jackpot.

For more information about the venue, log on to www.graiglwydsprings.co.uk


Big browns fall to Wooly Buggers!

There can be few better-looking game fish than this spectacular 11lb brown trout, taken by Anke Kondla.

The German tourist, who hails from Frankfurt, took the fine specimen on a fly from Lough Inagh, in Connemara, Ireland, after it fell for a Black Wooly Bugger fished on a sinking line.

The same fly accounted for two more brown trout in the boat, with 12-year-old Eric Rauschmann taking a 2lb fish and his father Marc catching a four-pounder.

For more information about fishing on the venue, log on to www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie


Rutland rainbow joy for Rob

Rob Keeber, of Leicester, landed a number of quality fish during a recent day trip to Rutland Water, topped by this cracking 6lb 2oz rainbow.

He found the most success using dry flies in the Manton Bay area of the venue, with bites increasing once the cloud cover arrived.

However, it was a move to the main basin later in the afternoon which saw Rob land his biggest fish.

He fished the slicks around the boils with a Di-5 line and a size 12 black and green variant.

Elsewhere on the fishery, the best brown trout of the week weighing 4lb 8oz was taken by John Machin from Nottingham.


First trout for Chris!

Season ticket holder Kim Lewington, of Sutton Bassett, introduced his son Christopher to the art of flyfishing for trout, and the pair enjoyed a profitable evening boat session at Eyebrook Trout Fishery, Caldecott.

It was not long before Chris had caught his first rainbow trout, in fact two trout, both taken on an Orange Daddy Longlegs.

Elsewhere on the fishery, the heaviest recorded brown trout of the season at 7lb 8oz was caught and safely returned by Mr Gladding, who boat fished off the Island.

The fish was taken on a GRHE.


Will salmon and trout return to Wye tributary?

An important River Wye tributary which once was an important spawning ground for salmon and trout is set to be restored to its former glories.

The Wellington Brook, which flows into the River Lugg near the Herefordshire village of Marden, has suffered over the past few decades from the dredging of gravels to improve land drainage, which has drastically reduced the waterway’s ability to support fish species and other wildlife.

Now a joint endeavour between quarrying company Tarmac and the Wye and Usk Foundation will begin to restore the brook to its more natural state. Tarmac will supply machinery and gravel with WUF contributing other materials and environmental expertise.

The work will be part of WUF’s successful Lugg and River Arrow (LARA) Project, which is restoring biodiversity - species richness and variety - in rivers within 10 miles of Leominster.

Focussing on fish, the 3-year project is funded by the SITA Trust’s Enriching Nature Programme and is due to be completed this year. So far 11km of river habitat have been restored and two fish passes have been built.

Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith, Director of WUF said: “Work on this lower Lugg tributary offers the chance to re-create salmon and trout spawning sites at an important point in the Wye catchment.”


Pupils warming to fishing lessons

AN initiative to increase angling awareness and recruitment in schools is going from strength to strength.

Fishing For Schools was set up by the Countryside Alliance Foundation and is headed up by global fly fishing star Charles Jardine.

“I love running this course,” said Charles. “The programme now reaches 30 schools within the UK and aims to place angling as part of the National Curriculum, while also offering the young people a fulfilling pastime.”

This year, the series of short courses – aimed at youngsters between 14 and 16 – is planning a ‘Young Fisher of the Year’ award.

More details and a short film about the project can be found at www.countryside-alliance.org/


Grandad caught stealing fish at Grassholme Reservoir

A grandfather has been caught red handed stealing fish from a Northumbrian Water reservoir.

David Hopper of Eden Road, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, pleaded guilty by post before Darlington magistrates after being caught with 12 trout in his bag on the banks of Grassholme Reservoir, Teesdale, four fish over the legal limit.

He was fined £115 for theft and ordered to pay £75 costs.

Northumbrian Water also banned him for a year from fishing its reservoirs and Hopper told the court in his letter that his biggest disappointment was having to tell his nine-year-old grandson that he can no longer take him fishing.

Paul Kelly, prosecuting for Northumbrian Water said: "The continued success of the fishery is dependent upon anglers complying with the fishing rules. Theft of fish is a serious problem as it reduces the number of stocked fish and thereby spoils the enjoyment of law-abiding anglers."


Cheap salmon fishing on Wye and Usk

Salmon anglers looking for a bit of extra value in their fishing over the next few months need look no further than the Wye and Usk Foundation, who are offering a range of cut price tickets over the coming months.

The conservation charity, which has a huge portfolio of waters under its control, is offering three days salmon fishing for the price of two on many of its beats, and three rods for the price of two on others.

For bookings and availability, log on to www.wyeuskfoundation.org, or call 01982 560788.


Big brownies hit the bank in Wiltshire

A flurry of big brown trout and grayling were Matthew Delahaye's reward for making the long trip from his London home to the bang in-form Avon Springs Fishing Lakes in rural Wiltshire.

After putting his faith in a Grannom Sedge pattern, he took five big browns, with this powerful-looking fish weighing 6lb proving the pick of the bunch.

Matthew then switched his attention to the venue's running-water stretch on the river behind to bag himself a couple of big grayling, just for good measure!