Rutland Water week ending 7 October

Rutland Water was in good form throughout the week with some fantastic specimen fish. Rob Edmunds netted a superb 10lb 3oz specimen Brown (the third this year from Rutland). A white rabbit proved to be the downfall for this memorable fish. We saw some excellent fishing this week with the Anglian Water Airflo International dominating the headlines and some superb specimens coming to the scales.

Anglian Water Airflo International final
The 2018 title went to Welsh Hawks A with an outstanding consistent performance. Weighing in 39 fish for 73lb 7oz saw them leading on day one and on day two they dominated again and secured gold with 41 fish for 79lb 3oz. Silver medals went to FNF Falcons with 74 fish for 140lb 12oz and bronze went to Northern Drifters with 67 fish for 133lb 12oz.

James Bews of FNF Falcons was top individual rod overall with 16 fish for 37lb 9oz closely followed by Russ Owen, captain of winning team Welsh Hawks A, who brought 16 fish to the scales for 35lb 14oz. Russ said fish were found all the way down from New Zealand Point to the blue pipes in the main basin and then from Yellowstone to the Sailing Club a mixture of fab (blobs) and hoppers fished as slow as possible in the big wave (wind) on the first day. And on the second day Sailing Club to East Creek produced fish and Yellowstones to P buoy. Russ managed the biggest Rainbow of the event which is also the biggest Rainbow caught so far this season. This superb 6lb 5oz specimen was taken off the harbour frontage area.

Autumn Pairs Rudder/non rudder
All 38 anglers fishing this match caught fish. Boats were well scattered from the top of both arms all the way through to the main basin. Not surprisingly big fish were caught; the best in the rudder section was taken by Martin Hearth with a 6lb 15½oz Brown. Martin and Jim Watts won the Rudder section. Adi Naylor had the biggest rainbow in the rudder section; a solid looking 5½oz beauty caught in the south arm.

In the non rudder section the biggest fish was a 6lb 1oz Rainbow caught by Mr Donald. Other notable fish included Dan Pitcher’s 5lb 9oz Brown and Graham Hayward’s 4lb 8oz Brown. Many methods are working from fry patterns, mini lures, wet flies etc with a good many fish also falling to dry fly. These are the tactics used by Toff Crowther and Graham Hayward who won the non rudder section.

Water clarity is excellent and is gin clear with lots of fish throughout the reservoir with the fish over deep water averaging 2lb. The big fish in general are closer in around the weedbeds in shallower water.

We have seen an increase in bank anglers with fish showing around Whitwell Creek, the Dam (when conditions permit), Green Bank, Yellowstones, Spud Bay etc. Spilsby’s Malcolm Janik reported taking four fish between Sykes Lane and Whitwell.

World Lure Championships 11-14 October

We have more excitement planned this coming weekend as Rutland Water hosts the World Lure Championships 11 – 14 October. The official title of this match is the 11th FIPS-ed Carnivorous Artificial Bait Boat Angling Championships. Teams from around the world will go head-to-head, with Pike (50cm+), Zander (40cm+) and Perch (25cm+) scoring. We look forward to welcoming teams from across Europe, the USA and South Africa.

On Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October the public are being invited to come and try fishing for the first time, get back into, or try a new form of the sport. There will be taster sessions in both lure and fly fishing which are being provided by Rutland Water Fly Fishers and the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain, in association with Anglian Water. There will also be the chance to catch a trout for free. So come and have a FREE coaching session, learn how to fish or brush up on your skills, with angling activities on offer designed to encourage adults, children and young people.

Best methods: Bank – Fry, dry and nymphs.
                        Boat – As for bank, but include mini lures, wet flies, tube flies etc.

Best Rainbow: 6lb 5oz – also the largest of the season to date taken by Russell Owen.

Best Brown: 8lb ½oz taken by Iain Earle.

Best boat areas: Many areas producing fish.

Best bank areas: Green bank, Spud Bay, the Dam, Whitwell to Barnhill Creek.

Midweek boat winner: G Ademaj

Fly fishing for Pike 16 May to 31 January 2019

Beginners courses: 14,20 & 27 October.

World Lure Fishing Championships 11-14 October

Fry Feeders match 21 October (by invitation)

George Moore Memorial Trophy (rudder) 27 October

Anglian Water Rudder match 17 November

Rutland Water Fur & Feather (bank) 2 December.