Rod average of 12.8 as Grafham re-opens
Grafham re-opened with a bang and a rod average for the first few days of 12.8.
The enforced rest has done the Grafham trout no harm at all with the fish in fantastic nick – fully silvered up with tails like shovels and fighting well above their weight with even 2lb fish often taking you to the backing. Lots of the fish are in the 3.5lb to 4.5lb bracket with a sprinkling of 5lb to 6lb fish. It’s difficult to find an area without fish from either bank or boat. The rod average of 12.8 reported for the first few days is probably an under estimate of the fantastic sport on offer.
Best bank areas are all the points along the North Shore with Hedge End producing some bigger fish and Deep Water Point and G Point producing the bigger numbers. The harbour arms and the jetty at Marlow are all producing and the Dam fishes consistently well throughout the day with the occasional bigger fish (5lb plus) in amongst them. With the winds set firmly in the north all week we haven’t had any reports of fishing on the south shore.
Best boat areas are again all along the North Shore from the Stumps to the Willows, particularly all the headlands and casting in towards the stone Gabions. We have had some cricket scores reported from these areas with 30 to 40 fish not uncommon. For a quieter time try dries in the mouth of savages where one angler reported over 20 fish to a sedge pattern.
Best methods - pretty much whatever technique you prefer. One evening last week a row of anglers at G point all caught fish with various methods – some pulling on Di3, some twiddling nymphs and buzzer, some using the bung, all the way up to big daddies.
In short ‘get yourself to Grafham’ while the fishing is so exceptional…..
The Fly Predator anglers have been cashing in as well particularly for the Zander, anglers are reporting large numbers in the 6lb to 8lb range often with over 10 being caught in a session. We have had no reports of any large pike (they tend not to get reported to us) but a few 3lb plus Perch have been caught.
Best predator areas – L Buoy to Littless Creek, in front of the Lodge/ Harbour and at G mark, as well as the usual towers!