Eyebrook Fishery Report for the week ending Sunday 12 Jun 22.

Weekly Fishing Report: Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton

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Eyebrook Fishery Weekly Report – 01536 770264

Email: eyebrook@flyfishstore.co.uk

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Week Ending: Sunday 12 Jun 22       Rod Av:  3.7       Water Temperature:  16-17°C

Monday brought it a stiff north westerly breeze which subsided during the day which resulted in a light ripple with periods of flat calm. The constant cloud cover meant that the fish would be very near the surface and there was an anticipation amongst those wanting to fish Dry Flies. One such angler was All Water Member Ed Douglas who had a very productive day which resulted in 18 fish to the boat; 10 of which came to the Dries. Another All-Water Member, Mark Hunt also had a good day on the dries, landing 9 fish in an afternoon session including a cracking Rainbow of 4lb +. Fish were caught from various locations around the reservoir; Sam’ Dyke & the Main Basin being amongst the most productive areas. Bank anglers have also been catching along the Leicester Bank where those who have maintained a mobile approach have benefited mostly. There has been a lot of fish showing across the reservoir throughout the day & It has paid to ring the changes until that successful pattern has been found. Patterns have been successful have been small emerging natural patterns; Yellow Owl, Shuttlecock CDC’s & Grunters. The fish are generally feeding on small emerging midges, damsel nymphs when they are present & jelly fry.

It was a very bright start to Tuesday with very little wind. What little wind there was, subsided as the day progressed leaving the reservoir covered in a flat calm for the majority of the day. This produced some very challenging conditions for the anglers, especially as moving fish could be seen all over the reservoir. Such conditions require a change of approach from the angler if they are to be successful. Those of which who opted for a stealthy approach; boat noise & disturbance kept to an absolute especially when approaching moving fish, were found to be more successful. Any disturbance will simply push the fish out of casting range. When targeting moving fish in such conditions, It is sometimes best to use a single fly with a leader that has been degreased so that it cuts through the surface tension allowing the fly to presented as it should be. It will also be a lot easier to ensure that a single fly turns over correctly. Remember to scale down your fly size to try to match what the fish are feeding & ring the changes until you find a successful pattern. When faced with a flat calm the fishing can be challenging & rewarding in equal measure. Another option when faced will such conditions is to simply ignore the fish as they feed on the surface but target them as the sit under the surface which is what All Water Member Paul Walker did. Fishing a washing lined floater with a FAB on the point & nymphs above it Paul landed 12 fish, which is great effort given the conditions.

Wednesday saw moderate westerly winds & changeable weather conditions; cloudy with sunny intervals interspersed with heavy showers.  As a result of the changeable weather conditions the fishing was a little challenging. Adrian Baggaley landed 5 fish from Mucky bay using nymphs fished on a floating line. Also in Mucky Bay Mr P Boulding landed 4 fish again on nymphs. Mr W Mathews fished in the afternoon to land 8 fish with an orange daddy being his pattern, taking his fish from near the Island. We also had the Fishing For Fun group who landed 17 between then, with washing lining and dries proving to be the best tactics.

There was a bright start to Thursday & despite the weather the reservoir fished well. There was fish caught from both the boat & bank from various locations. With the fish feeding on the Jelly Fry, Damsels & emerging olive midge the percentage methods remained either fishing Dries or washing lined floaters. Season ticket holder Mr Johnson had a very productive afternoon session from the bank landing 18 fish on Dries & day ticket anglers Duffy & Duffy landed went into double figures from the boat in what proved to be a very productive afternoon session. All water member Mark Hunt popped down for an evening session & was duly rewarded with 10 fish all taken on small dries. The most productive areas remain the Leicester Bank & out over the Main Basin, although fish can still be found from the Willows to Stoke Dry. The best fly patterns remain either small nymphs or dries with Diawl bachs, Damsels, Hares Ears & Yellow Owls, Grunters or F Fly’s proving to be the most successful.

Friday saw a blustery westerly throughout the day with intermittent cloud cover & sunny intervals. Eyebrook hosted a small party of the Romley Fly Fishers, who all had a good day, catching plenty of fish between them mainly from across the Main Basin. They targeted the upper layers of the water column with small natural patterns & in one case, in the form of a Mallard & Claret, traditional wets. Season Tickets holders Ian Steele & Bill Law had a very productive morning session, catching a high number of fish from the Mucky Bay area, targeting the Damsel feeders with small olive Damsel patterns. Out for a covert practice before their club competition the following day, Mark Searle & Gary How found fish in high numbers drifting out from the Leicester bank & across the Main Basin. The fish can be seen feeding hard in the upper layers across the reservoir where their current diet is consisting of Jelly Fry, Damsels & Emerging Midges. Local angler Max Woolnough showed his versatility venturing out to target Eyebrook’s larger predators after a previous visit, where Max saw a good number of sizable fish. His endeavours were duly rewarded landing 3 Pike, the largest of which was over 20lbs.

The strong & blustery westerly wind continued Saturday & brought with it changeable weather conditions. Cambridge Fly Fishing Club Invicta joined us for a club match which saw 32 of them take to the water catching 185 fish between them giving them a credible rod average of 5.7. Congratulations to Ray Storer who was top rod on the day with a great return of 18 fish, followed closely by Fraser Duffy jnr & Gary How who both had 15 fish. For his sterling effort Ray was a recipient of a free boat voucher donated by the Fishery Management UK team & we would like to thank Invicta for what was an extremely enjoyable day. It was great to see you all. The successful tactics for was long drifts across the main basin where they were picking up fish on washing lined floaters & tip lines in the upper layers of the water column. There was also plenty of fish being caught from the bank with Season Ticket holder Bob Margery landing 12 fish from the Bell area on Hot Head Diawl Bachs fished in the top 2 ft. Other productive bank areas were the south corner of the dam, the Hawthorns & Sam’s Dyke.

Sunday was yet another day of strong & blustery westerly winds that brought changeable weather with it. The reservoir continued to fish well yielding a daily rod average of 5.2 with fish caught consistently from both the boat & bank. Season Ticket holder Steve Lawrence had a very productive morning session from the bank landing 11 fish from the casting platforms between the Bell & the Hawthorns fishing nymphs high up in the water column. Whereas the boat anglers caught well drifting across the open water of the Main Basin either fishing dries or washing lined floaters with a 2 tone FAB on the point & small nymphs above it.  The more settled weather forecast next week will only enhance the surface feeding activity as the fish continue to feed on emerging midge across the open water. Additionally, there are still plenty of feeding fish around the margins where they are feeding on either the ever-increasing number of damsel nymphs or the jelly fry beginning to gather around the weedbeds.

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Thornton Fishery Weekly Report – 01530 230807

Email: thornton@flyfishstore.co.uk

Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Eyebrook is explained on our website www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

Can we remind members & day rods of our pre payment policy for 2022 details are on our website www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Week Ending:  12^th June      Rod Av: 4.1    Water Temperature: 17c

As we move ever closer to the longest day on the 21^st June the weather may not be great for BBQ but for the fishing its certainly on our side with the water temperature at 17c we should continue to see fish feeding especially when there’s cloud cover.

Monday a good start to the week with a rod average 5 with trout moving off & on all day especially down the Markfield arm. Although the dries & washing line method are taking the majority some fish are coming to damsel nymph & booby patterns. Greg Weatherdon caught 7 on a booby & damsel, Richard Price fished buzzer & blob to catch his 7 trout, L Ford shared a boat with I Leach catching 16 trout with Andrew Wilson catching 13 on washing line booby & buzzers with cdc patterns during the evening rise.

Tuesday and a rod average 4.5 with a variety methods taking fish. R Michalak caught a further 6 trout on a daddy muddler stripped as fast as he could through the surface. Barry Deeley fished damsel patterns on an intermediate & buzzer on a floater to catch his 8 trout, K Morrissey & P Flude caught 6 for their mornings visit with H Davies catching 26 on damsel with one of the trout he caught an overwintered trout had been feeding on perch fry. Horace Wood caught 6 for his visit with P Mee catching 8. Anglers fished opposite the lodge across the main basin in front of the dam although they reported good numbers feeding down the Markfield arm.

Wednesday & the weatherman got the forecast wrong, the rain & strong wind never came, but it did see a number of rods cancel or move their bookings to later. Russ Martin went down the Markfield arm had plenty of offers boating 2 trout. Pete Maguire fished the afternoon with a suspender damsel pattern had plenty of offers & boated 5 trout.

Thursday with the fresh south westerly winds still with us its helping to keep the water temperature at 17c and the trout in the top few feet. Good number trout down the Markfield arm willing to chase a small muddler stripped through the surface, but they are coming short to the fly. Damsel patterns featuring more and more with some anglers still catching on dries. Andre Russel fished a morning session from his float tube catching 10 trout on olive cormorant and damsel patterns fished along the dam. Ian Brearley caught 9 on daddies with Nigel Woolnough fished dries to catch his 8 trout, with Paddy Fitch catching 6 for his afternoon session.

Friday and again a mixture of flies taking fish, muddler, hopper, popper hopper, small daddies, damsel & booby. Chris Sayer caught 10 on an olive buzzer and olive booby, Mr & Mrs Warren fished a booby to catch 6 trout to 4lb8oz with Carl Bond fishing the evening session catching 5 on hopper and red diawl. Another day of fresh westerly winds with most anglers fishing along the shelter offered by the dam.

Saturday another breezy bright day with a touch of algae in the water. Most anglers fished out of the wind along the shelter offered in front of the main car park, dam wall & green bay onto the stones. Angler caught as the day before on a variety of lines from a floater to a midge tip, intermediate to a fast sinker. Martin Clay & B Sibley caught 17 on buzzers, cats whiskers, Jan Webber fished a fast sinker with a cats whisker booby & orange fab to catch his 8 trout with Mark Hunt catching the majority of his 14 trout on a 6ft midge tip with diawl bach & fab.

Sunday much brighter conditions although the fresh North Westerly breeze was a relief, most anglers fished in the sheltered water in front of the main car park, dam & green bay to the stones. Mr Butterworth & partner caught 6 for their mornings visit on a floating line with a small black lure, T Thompson fished an olive booby on an intermediate to catch his first fish before opting to a fast sinker & olive booby to catch his next two trout. Mr Dudley fished the morning session catching 3 trout on a buzzer with P Cook fishing the last 4 hour session, fish moved during the last 90minutes with Paul catching two on a muddler.

Water temperature has stayed steady at 17c due to the brisk & at times cool breeze, we do now have a hint of algae. General fishing conditions are good.
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Draycote Fishery Weekly Report – 01788 812018

Email:  draycote@flyfishstore.co.uk

Can we remind members & day rods of our pre payment policy for 2022. Details are on our website www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Draycote is explained on our website www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

2022 Prices & details on our pre-payment visit our website www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Week Ending:  Sunday 12^th June 2022              Rod Av:  5.3      Water Temperature:  15°C

A damp start to the week with rain first thing, however this soon cleared to give near perfect conditions with a light ripple and overcast skies. However, these perfect conditions meant it was perfect for the fish to gorge themselves on small midge and the first of the season Pin fry. As a results “comments of loads of fishing moving but couldn’t match the hatch” were reported on the catch return. On the bank Stan Hillman enjoyed a good day landing 7 fish using buzzers and small pearly pheasant tailed nymphs. On the boats John Dickens landed 8 fish on a mixture of dries and pulling casting at moving fish. Fellow season ticket holder Kevin Rees stuck to dries to land 9 fish with small patterns being his best tactic. Fishing around OL, J & N Buoy. Draycote managers Tom Bird & Alan fished together for a few hours in the afternoon landing a dozen fish. The pair both used dries with their best patterns being a small olive CDC, crippled midge and a Klinkhammer. They found the most productive areas to be drifting around J Buoy and then at Y Buoy. With the key being to watch the moving fish and make sure to get an accurate cast in front of them.

A bright start to the day with cloud forecast to arrive around lunchtime, however while it did arrive it remained sunny for much of the afternoon with very light winds. On the bank all water member Ken Key used a stick fly along the Cornfield to land a nice brace of fish during a morning session. C.J Day enjoyed a great day on the bank landing 6 fish. Colin took 2 fish from Biggin Bay, 2 from Toft and 1 at the Hensborough Bank all on Damsels. Before taking his final fish along the Cornfield on a silver buzzer. On the boats Bob Askew landed 7 fish on Muskins fishing from Rainbow Corner to A Buoy and Biggin Bay. Richard Pelly & Tim Sly enjoyed a good day using dries to tempt “tricky pin-fry fish” landing 10 fish to the boat. Another angler who used Pin Fry patterns to good effect was all water member Jamie Scott who landed 6 fish. However, the best catch of the day went to the boat of James Maplethorpe & Trevor Moore who fished in Biggin Bay using a straight line with Buzzers and Hot Head Diawl Bachs with size 14 black buzzers being the best patterns. The pair also commented that 10 of the fish were between 3-4lbs, if you are unsure on the term straight lining why not watch the video on the method over on our YouTube Channel. (40) Fly Fish Store – Fishing Straight Line Buzzers – YouTube

A calm but cloudy start to Wednesday morning, which brightened up as the day progressed. In good cloud cover, numerous fish are showing in the surface of the water all over the reservoir, with small dries (12 to14’s) being one of the best ways to target these surface feeders. However, once the sun starts to shine, it’s time to ring the changes. These fish obviously move down a few feet in the water column and are then  better fished for with a midge tip or floating line with a team of nymphs, either with a FAB on the point, or a heavy buzzer just to help the flies move deeper in the water. Michael Ravenscroft used dries, and a gold ribbed hares ear to boat 9 fish from various areas around the reservoir. Draycote regular Will Hunt caught 11 fish in the area around the Valve Tower and C buoy on black palmered lures. Ed Foster used a wide variety of patterns to boat 10 fish at the flat stones. Season permit holder Chris Discombe used buzzers to net 7 fish from Biggin Bay and the Hensborough Bank.

Overcast conditions on Thursday with winds from the Southwest. All water member Paul Havard enjoyed a good day on the boats landing 8 fish, Paul used a 3ft RIO Midge Tip with a biscuit booby on the point and crunchers on the droppers. With his best area being drifts from the Hensborough Bank to N Buoy over the open water. Ian Richardson & Bob Smith enjoyed “a good day” fishing in Rainbow Corner from the boats. They used CDC’s and a washing line with a booby on the point to land 12 to the boat with some “lovely fish” amongst there catch. Gordon Bramwell & Ken Cooke also fished around Rainbow Corner and the Hensborough Bank landing 20 fish to the boat fishing a washing line. Draycote member Kevin Rees enjoyed a good day landing 12 fish all of which took crippled midge. Mr N Masters & P Williams enjoyed a good day boating 19 with Mr Williams using dries with hoppers and shipman’s buzzers being his top flies. Wile Mr Masters used wets to land his fish.

It was a bright but blustery day here at Draycote on Friday, with a good amount of fish being caught in a lot of different areas of the reservoir. Draycote regulars Colin Grainger and Ian Reeve had 16 fish to the boat between them using a “Gordon Slack” special and snakes on intermediate lines. Mr Peter Harris used  buzzers on a washing line to net 5 fish from Rainbow Corner. Season permit holder Ray Rawlings had 4 fish to the boat, again up in Rainbow, using crunchers on a washing line with a FAB on the point. Dennis Tidmarsh caught 8 good fish using snakes on a sinking line along the Hensborough Bank and the School Slips.

Not the best forecast I’ve seen for Draycote with quite windy conditions for Saturday, and perhaps a spot of rain through the afternoon. An excellent days fishing overall with the rod average rising to 7.9, and fish falling to a wide variety of patterns and techniques. Season permit holder Mark Braun used a white booby snake on a DI 7 line, drifting from the Valve Tower to D buoy to net 24 fish. Jake Munroes party of 4 anglers visiting us from bonnie Scotland reported on having a great day out, netting over 40 fish between them. The lads fished mainly up in Rainbow Corner, using patterns such as white snakes on a sinking line, and the green sleeves diawl bach on a floater to make a success of the day. Rob and Sam Edmunds fished buzzers on a floater, as well as blobs on a sinking line to net nearly 30 fish between them. Rob and Sam fished in various areas around the reservoir, but had most of their success near the Dive Platforms and the Valve Tower. Keith Harding and his boat partner used buzzers as well as pin fry patterns to boat 17 fish from the area around Rainbow Corner and the Inlet. Season permit holder Mark Thistleton caught 20 fish from a drifting boat. Mark worked his way from P to E buoy using pink and olive snakes on a sinking line.

A windy yet warm day Sunday, with gusty westly winds making it choppy at times. Draycote member Steven Dewhurst fished from the bank at the Swan’s nest to land a brace with them falling to a blob fished on the point and pin fry patterns on the droppers. On the boats Jon Crowley fished over middle shoal using a 12ft slow tip with an orange blob on the point and 2 pearly cormorants on the droppers to land a dozen in half a day. Sunday also saw the, all abilities friendly fly fishers take to the water with the 13 members landing 64 fish for a 4.92 rod average. The best boat was Dave Davis & Horace Wood who landed 17 fish. The pairs best tactic was to fish small black buzzers on a floating line in Rainbow corner with the other anglers from the club also catching on black buzzers. Draycote member Jim Smith enjoyed a good day landing 29 fish using a Booby Basher sinking line with a friendly tube. Jim found the fish at C Buoy and along the Hensborough Bank. With he key being to leave the line to sink for 5-10 seconds before starting a roly-poly retrieve with the hang being a crucial element with a number of fish taking right at the boat.