EYEBROOK weekly report week ending 9th June 2019
Telephone Number: 01536 770264
A very changeable week weather wise with some difficult days towards the weekend. Stormy showers also blew through the reservoir on occasions which although uncomfortable at the time were fortunately not too persistent. However, Friday and Saturday saw prolonged heavy rain, but the water clarity remains excellent with visibility in excess of 10 foot with the water temperature most of the week averaging 13 degrees This week we have again seen some massive damsels’ hatches and we are now seeing the first pin fry of the season. As the week progressed, the fish have been feeding hard on the abundance of natural food and this has at times, had a detrimental effect on the catches. although the daily rod average has increased as the week went on. Further stockings took place during the week with details listed on our Facebook page. The total number of fish stocked this season is now over 14,000
The resident fish are dropping down from the Stoke Dry area and we are seeing rising fish in the main basin as well as in Mucky Bay, the Willows, Watsons cabin and dam wall area. Given the large damsel hatches this week, it is no surprise that damsel patterns have at times worked well, although dark brown has again seemed to be more productive than the normal olive coloured patterns. Very small buzzers, crunchers and diawl bachs fished in conjunction with a small FAB have at times been effective as have dries during the evenings with sedge, hoppers, damsels, and Crippled Midge Patterns proving popular. This last week has seen the first sightings of pin fry with large accumulations in the shallows along the Leicestershire bank as well as around the pontoons.
Monday was very hard, with the fish being totally preoccupied with pin fry and damsels. Only 5 fish were recorded for a daily average of less than 0.5. Tuesday was a better day with light winds although it rained during the afternoon., Although the fish were still on the pin fry and damsels, there were some moving on top and other feeding in the margins. Jarl Isaksen was on a three-day ticket in preparation for the Anglers World competition at the weekend and landed over 20 fish whilst searching the various area of the reservoir. Season ticket holder Ed Douglas landed 9 fish whilst Rob Inglis landed over 20 in his afternoon session.
On Wednesday the reservoir hosted the English Disabled Fly Fishers floating line match. This was a boat only match and the 23 EDFF members took good advantage of the noticeably dryer, calmer conditions to land 49 fish. John Thompson was top rod with his 3 weighed fish totalling 7 pounds 10 ounces John also landed the heaviest fish of the day, a 3lb4oz rainbow whilst Mick Hill caught the most fish with 6. Wednesday also saw several anglers practicing for the Anglers World matches. Jarl Isaksen was again amongst the fish, landing over 20 whist season ticket holder Alec Urqhart landed 5. Dave Shaer landed 7 on buzzers and damsels as did Clive Moore whilst Mr Hopkins had a couple of hours on the bank during the evening and had 4 on crunchers.
Thursday saw several visiting anglers from across the channel as well as various parts of the UK practicing for the weekend matches and it proved to be a more difficult day than Wednesday. All water member Neil Shilton took to his float tube and took 16 fish from various areas of the reservoir, Roy Swinfield took 10 fish from the bank from Mucky Bay, whilst Mr Whitfield had two brownies (safely returned) and a two pound perch amongst the seven fish that he landed.
On Friday and Saturday, the reservoir hosted two heats of the Anglers World Individual fly-fishing championship. Friday saw 19 anglers take to the water and despite the heavy rain, all the anglers caught with 86 fish being recorded for a match average of 4.5. Top rod was Fabrice Dockier with 10 fish for a weight of 19lb 15 ounces (included a 7 fish weight bonus). Heaviest fish was recorded by David Auld with a 2-pound 14 ounce rainbow. Saturday saw the floating line heat with 18 anglers taking to the water in even more difficult conditions with strong westerly winds combining with the heavy rain that fell throughout the day. Despite the conditions most people caught with 67 fish being recorded for a match average of 3.72. Top rod was Andrew Elspin whose 8 fish recorded a total weight of 15pound 13 ounces (including a 5 fish weight bonus) whilst Bill McIlroy’s four-pound rainbow was best fish of the day. We look forward to seeing you at the final being held at our other fishery Draycote Water
Sunday was a much nicer day with light westerly winds and intermittent overcast conditions which tempted the fish to rise to the abundant hatching fly life. The rod average for the Saturday and Sunday was 3 fish with a lot of fish falling to damsel patterns, the dam has also started to fish well for the anglers who have tried it. Season ticket holders Steve Laurence & Dave Chadwick fished from the bell with Damsels & Diawl Bachs to land 10 & 3 fish each. On the boats Mr R Guise fished with his father with the pair enjoying great sport landing 30 fish from Harrison Corner and the far end of the Dam. James Brittain & Pete Line also fished from a boat landing 22 on Diawl Bachs around Mucky Bay and then around the Dam Wall.
Pike Fishing
This coming Sunday, the 16th of June, sees the reservoir reopen for pike fishing, which will continue (water temperatures permitting) until we close the fishery on the 3st October. Pike fishing is fly only, is limited to a maximum of 5 boats per day and it is recommended that visiting pike anglers check the specific pike fishing regulations which can be found on the fishery website. This year we will also be offering guided pike fishing with our in-house guides. Further details are available on our guiding and Tuition website ( http://www.flyfishtuition.co.uk) or by contacting our guiding manager Tom Bird on 01788 812018..
Access
The “Alec Lane” ‘gate now has a combination lock on. Please remember to check the code with the rangers as it will change regularly.
Thinking of booking a match? We offer discounted rates for group boat bookings and competition permit prices call the lodge for more details: 01536 770264
Eyebrook has joined the Troutmasters competition, entry forms to be found next to the booking in & out sheet you will need a member of staff to countersign your entry, good luck!!
Guiding & Tuition.
Our guiding and Tuition website ( http://www.flyfishtuition.co.uk) provides details of our beginners Tuition days at Eyebrook. We run a number of tuition days at the reservoir which are an ideal experience for any angler looking to take up the sport. This site will also provide details of this year’s boat handling courses as well as two courses aimed at anglers wishing to learn about the excellent sport provided by pike on the fly,
Guiding and tuition manager, Tom, and our in- house guide Lee, are both available for guiding. Full details can be found on our tuition face book page or by contacting our guiding and competition manager Tom Bird on 01788 812018. For the 2019 season the Guiding & Tuition team will be running a blog. The idea of this blog is to provide hints and tips from your guides to help keep you catching depending on the conditions, tackle reviews and write up of guiding sessions. To have a look at the blog please visit http://www.flyfishtuition.co.uk/latest-report/. The latest blog concerns CDC floatant.
Competition 2019
For a full listing of competitions at Eyebrook and for bookings please visit our website www.flyfisheyebroook.co.uk
Don’t forget to pick up your loyalty card from the lodge, once you have purchased 10 of the same permits, your next visit of that permit option is FREE valid at all three fisheries, Thornton, Draycote and Eyebrook
Weekly Stats:
Number Rods: 220 Number Trout Taken: 203 Number Trout Released; 376
Total Catch: 579 Weekly Rod Average: 2.6
Current Fishing Time:
Bank: 07:30 am till 22.00pm, Boat All Day: 08:30 to 22.00pm
Morning Boats: 08:30 until 15.00pm, Afternoon Boats: 15:00pm until 22:00pm
Last 4 Hours from: 18:00pm until 22:400m (Tickets on sale from 17.45pm)
All anglers to be off site by: 22:15pm
In order to maintain the accuracy of our records and for sire security reasons. We would respectfully request that all anglers please ensure that they sign in on arrival & out on departure on the catch return sheet located by the main lodge entrance door.
Tight lines
The Eyebrook Fishery team
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