Fish killed & released 32, Returns - 18, Rod average - 1.7
Trout:
As expected the weather and particularly the wind direction and strength have a massive influence on how your day may go. With rather a lot of cold windy days fishing has been unpleasant and difficult at times however there have still been good fish caught.
Fishing from a boat has been somewhat slow but fairly steady with fish being constantly caught but given the weather it has been tough. Bank fishing has been good with some spectacular fish caught, though at times fairly similar to recent weeks with strong winds impacting things, if the wind is calm enough the fishing has been good as the muddy waters hold shrimp but if the wind is unfavourable, it’s obviously a bit more tricky.
As it stands the weather for the upcoming week looks more promising with the strong winds holding off until later in the week, this should encourage the fish to move back in and feed confidently close to the shore. Later in the week, if the wind picks back up, this may not be the case.
The biggest fish recorded for the week was a wonderful rainbow weighing in at 8lb 5oz caught by Alan Briggs at approximately 8:30am on the south side of the dam. It was caught on a #12 fiery brown shrimp. Other successful methods at the moment include hare’s ear, daddys and snakes, generally on a floating line. We’re also pleased to say that we have had a few reports of fish being taken on the south shore again.
Predator:
The Perch fishing continues to do well in and around the Marlow Jetty and ‘G’ Mark, however it is still worth trying to find one of the smaller shoals stretched along the north shore or in the main basin near the Dam.
There have been a few nice zander to low doubles reported this week but little information about where they were caught, some have come out from the north tower but we have nothing more specific than that. Same goes for the pike, but again little information as to where it was caught.
** Grafham Fur & Feather Bank Match **
Come and fish the fur and feather at Grafham on Sunday the 26th November 2023 all welcome!
9am - 3pm (registration from 8am, scales close at 3.30pm)
6 fish limit – no C&R.
£10 entry fee plus £29 for a 6 fish ticket per person.
Season ticket holders on a 'sporting' Season ticket will also need a permit.
Anglers can also enter the 'Shrimpmasters' round that day and fish both competitions simultaneously
Prizes for at least first 4 anglers and biggest fish
Please call the lodge in advance on 01480 810531 to register.
Additional info:
We recently had an incident at Grafham whereby an angler slipped over on the dam, fortunately he was not seriously hurt. Please be aware the area above the waterline on the dam can often become very slippy, so caution is advised.
In addition here is a recap of our safety rules when fishing the banks on our waters:
When backcasting be aware of your surroundings and do not cast unless you are sure it is clear behind to do so.
Nonslip, felt or studded boots are advised when fishing on slippery, wet surfaces.
Look out for uneven ground, tree roots, algae, or debris.
Do not wade from the dam or in water above thigh height (No fishing permitted from Pitsford, Grafham or Alton dams). Tread carefully when wading and be cautious of hazards under the water. Use a bank stick to identify hazards and soft silt. Wearing a lifejacket is recommended when wading or bank fishing.
If driving on the access tracks stick to the 10mph speed limit, put on your hazard lights, and give way to walkers and cyclists. Always park your vehicle in designated areas.
Online boat booking – We are pleased to announce our online boat booking system is now live!
Please be aware, from November the 13th onwards all boats bookings at Rutland, Grafham, Pitsford and Ravensthorpe will need to be paid for at the point of booking. The easiest and best way to book a boat is online at www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk
We strongly advise creating an account on our website (you will need an email address to do this). If you register an account, this will mean:
a) It will speed up any future boat bookings,
b) you can self-amend your booking up to 2 days before your trip – so a boat booked for Saturday can be self-amended up to Midnight Thursday.
c) staff can book a boat for you in the lodge (if you wanted to pay in cash for example)
d) Season ticket holders can keep tabs on how many fish they have taken for the season
You won’t need an account if you are a ‘walk-in’ and pay on the day without having pre-booked, however please note, from November the 13th we will no longer be able to process split boat payments in the lodge for walk-ins.
If you have any questions, please email our Retail and online manager Neil at: natkins2@anglianwater.co.uk
AW fisheries team