Fish 1,128 (Season 4,066) Returns 138 (733) Rod average 8.17 (5.54)
Rutland Water has been in tremendous form this week with the South Arm providing anglers with exceptional sport on the boats. There are vast numbers of fish in many areas in the South from Sailing Club Bay across to Spud Bay, Yellowstone, New Zealand Point, Gibbets Gorse, Manton bay, Cattle trough bay and in open water round Browns Island.
Dries have produced plenty of fish this week on those days with light winds resulting in spectacular sport. Patterns wise, sugar cube, hares ear, shipmans, midas and big red have all taken a lot of fish. It is a good idea to fish long drifts as there are a lot of fish in open water and although you might not see fish ‘moving’ they are high in the water and will often engulf a well presented dry seemingly out of nowhere. With the fish in general being high in the water a simple washing line set up has also accounted for large bags of fish. A FAB on the point, GRHE, red holo, diawl bach or black nymphs are as good a starting point as any, with a couple of sharp pulls to create some disturbance before settling into a steady figure of eight retrieve. Shrimp, pin fry and snails are all featuring heavily on the menu for the trout at the moment, showing why patterns such as GRHE are working so well.
The overall stamp of fish is tremendous with a high proportion in the 3 - 4lb class with numerous rainbows over 5lb recorded and giving a great account of themselves. Plenty of backing has seen the light of day for many anglers this week!
As we move into July it is no surprise that fish are holding in open water and ‘off the banks’ with a good starting point being 80 – 100 yards off the bank whichever area you decide to target.
The main basin has also produced for anglers fishing long drifts in the slicks created by the boils; again a washing line set up has been a good choice or di3 for pulling tactics with blobs/boobies. There are also plenty of fish on the boils, with di3 and snake patterns a good starting point. Rudder anglers have recorded numerous limits on those days with more breeze, di3/5 the most consistent lines with tube and snake patterns. Good numbers of browns in the 5 – 8lb class have fallen to those anglers fishing fry patterns such as humungus this week, generally on sinking lines such as di5.
Early and late sessions are the way to go if fishing the bank, there have been good hatches of sedge of an evening with rainbows venturing in range late in the evening. Ernies point, Sailing Club Bay, New Zealand Point and Old Hall Bay have seen fish taken from the bank. Hares ear, diawl bach and dries would be the go-to patterns.
Don’t forget our sunset ticket option for an evening on the bank - £12 (1fish+c&r) from 6pm. Available from the ranger’s office (cash only).
Please remember that all catch returns must be submitted at the end of the day (Day ticket holders) or week (season ticket holders - freepost address in your season book to post returns including "did not fish weeks), or email to fishing@anglianwater.co.uk It’s important to record which fishery you visited as well as details of fish caught.
Beginners Courses: 11,14 & 26 July; 1,16,22 & 30 August and other dates throughout the season. Please call lodge on 01780 686441.