Monster rainbow landed!
There were some absolutely cracking fish caught last week at Packington Trout Fishery, near Coventry, with the biggest being this incredible 13lb rainbow trout caught by Ade Taylor, from Atherstone in Warwickshire.
He was fishing the bank of Cocks Close Lake when the fish fell to a Cat’s Whisker lure fished on an intermediate line.
Scaling Dam trout is 'best ever'!
The biggest fish of the week at Northumbrian Water’s prolific Scaling Dam fishery was this stunning 9lb 1oz rainbow.
It was caught from the west end of the dam wall by Colin Rushforth, from Stockton-on-Tees.
Colin used two chartreuse PowerBait Eggs to tempt this fish and after landing it claimed it was the best looking trout he had ever seen!
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
Brothers' big trout joy!
Brothers Ken and Dave Allen, from North Shields, had a great free day’s fishing at Chatton Lakes using their full loyalty cards.
Ken caught his 6lb 2oz rainbow on a black lure from Dunnydeer Lake while Dave weighed in with his two rainbows weighing in at 7lb on a White Zonker, also from Dunnydeer Lake.
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!
Big rainbow makes for perfect supper!
When Helen Jones’ husband decided to go cycling for the day she took herself off to Graiglwyd Springs trout fishery in Penmaenmawr to catch supper.
It proved a wise decision, because after just 20 minutes she hooked into this massive 15lb rainbow!
It took Helen, from South Wales, 15 minutes to land the fish - which must have taken some eating that night!
Paste hookbaits used for fine six-fish catch
Brian Kelly, from Killingworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, had a good day’s sport at Fontburn Reservoir, where he took a cracking six-fish bag which pulled the scales down to 15lb 8oz.
His best fish weighed in at 5lb and, like the other five trou, fell to Magic Dust in a swimfeeder fished alongside a PowerBait paste hookbait.
Huge trout runs angler ragged!
Graiglwyd Springs trout fishery, North Wales, produced this 12lb 8oz rainbow for Stuart Noble, from Warrington.
He caught it using a White Fritz and the fish took just over 10 minutes to land during which it took him down to the backing on his reel twice.
Stuart finished the day with a further 13 fish to his credit.
Cat Booby tempts big Eyebrook rainbow
Simon Fogg made the journey from his Cambridge home to Eyebrook Reservoir more than worthwhile after banking this sparkling 7lb 11oz rainbow.
He hit the jackpot while drifting the Main Basin on the 400-acre venue with a Cat Booby pattern.
For more info about Eyebrook, which nestles on the border between Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland, log on to www.eyebrook.com
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.
Youngster bags first trout on first ever trip
Harvey John Richmond, aged five, from Cramlington, caught this 4lb rainbow on his first ever fishing trip.
He was fishing on the south shore near the disabled platform at Derwent Reservoir, Northumberland, and tempted the fish on a spinner.
Harvey had a wonderful time with his granddad John Richmond, who has been passing on his angling experience to the youngster.
Esthwaite continues to reward visitors
Season rod John Gardner has found consistent sport at Cumbria’s Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery. In three visits he recorded 17 rainbows and browns to 4lb 8oz using a combination of fly and worm tactics fished from the boats.
Best areas on the lake continue to be the weather buoys in the North basin and the cages area in the South basin. Best bank fishing is still from the point opposite the ticket office and the boathouse stretch on the Eastern bank.
Tavistock fishery continues in red hot form
Devon’s Tavistock Trout Fishery has continued its rich vein of form, but it’s not all big rainbows making the headlines, as local Plymouth angler Dave Truscott discovered during a recent visit when he landed a cracking 8lb 4oz brown trout.
The successful fly was a Minkie pattern.
20lb rainbow lured on a floating line set-up
Rainbow trout don’t come much bigger than this sensational 20lb 7oz giant, taken by Paul Bailey during a visit to Tree Meadow Trout Fishery, near St Ives in Cornwall.
Holiday-maker Paul, who hails from Stoke-on-Trent, tempted his new personal best fish on a Hare’s Ear pattern, which he presented on a 6lb leader and floating line set-up.
Sinking line and lure attarcts new personal best rainbow
The biggest trout of the week at Rutland Water was also a personal best for its captor Richard Cooper, from Empingham, Rutland.
Having spent some time fishing earlier in the day with his boat partner Keith Jones, Richard decided to go back out on his own in search of a ‘big fish’ and was rewarded with his personal best 6lb 2oz rainbow.
Richard took the fish in the main basin on a sinking line with a lure.
Buzzers doing the business for Chris
County Durham youngster Chris Coates only took up flyfishing at Witton Castle Lakes a couple of weeks ago and, after starting off by catching fish of around a pound, he soon moved on to the two-pounders.
Now, however, the Stanhope-based lad's personal best has been smashed once again with this rainbow of almost double that!
It's been a week of top of the water sport at the Co Durham venue, with free-rising fish taking even during the hot bright parts of the day.
CdC Shuttlecock Buzzers and Shipman’s have been producing the better bags.
Father and son enjoy hectic action at Fontburn
Fourteen-year-old Adam Munday, from Morpeth, Northumberland, enjoyed a fantastic first trip to Fontburn Reservoir in his home county.
Fishing with dad Gary, the pair took a limit catch between them totalling just under 24lb including three fish over 4lb.
Adam finished off their triumphant visit with this cracking fully-finned 4lb 12oz rainbow caught on chartreuse PowerBait.
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.
Angler battles wind and rain to land big prize
A cold and rainy day didn't stop Tim Dyer from venturing out for a fly fishing session, and he was rewarded for his perseverance with this fine 13lb 10oz rainbow trout.
Tim, from Ruthin in Denbighshire, took his prize from his local Llandegla Trout Fishery after he fished a Purple Zonker on a 6lb leader and a floating line.
For venue info, log on to www.llandeglatroutandcoarsefishery.com
