Eyebrook, Draycote & Thornton Fisheries

YouTube Channel

We have our own YouTube channel, we will be posting short instructional videos, fishery advice videos, product reviews & filming competitions & their results held at our waters. Our aim is to produce a video per week.

To promote our YouTube channel if you follow the link below & leave a comment on the Eyebrook Fishery video you will be entered into the draw to win one of RIO new floating lines. The draw will take place on the 25^th April.

Click on here  Flyfishstore – YouTube

Or copy & paste this link into your browser:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4yilqitfPHhsmKAzkffVPg

Evening Boat League Draycote & Eyebrook

Tom at Draycote & Jim at Eyebrook will be running an evening boat league.

Evening Boat League.

Fishery Management (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce it will be running an evening league. There will be Leagues ran at both Draycote & Eyebrook with a total of 7 heats running at each fishery. The idea behind the league is to offer a friendly competition, introducing new anglers to competition fishing, & enjoying some great evening sport at both waters.

The format of the league is as follows.

• 7 Heats with your best 4 results counting towards the overall league standing. You will receive 1 point for 1st, 2 points for the second, and so on. If you do not fish a round you will be rewarded the maximum points for that heat. Overall the lowest combined score over 4 rounds wins the overall league. However, there are prizes for each weeks winner
• There is a £5 League entry fee this is a one off payment and goes straight into the prize pot.
• After this 10% of all the fishing fees for the evening go into the prize pot for the end of the league. This will then be split between 1st,2nd & 3rd. The winner of each round will win a boat voucher for a full day boat.
• The league will be fished to full Catch & Release with score cards being produced for each boat. Your partner will be responsible for recording your catch. It will go on the number of fish released with the time of the first 2 fish being recorded in the case of a draw.
• To enter into a round you will have needed to register before 4pm the day before. A draw will then be published for that evening on arrival you will collect your score cards and head out on the water, on returning to the dock the cards will be handed in to fishery staff.
• The first round for Draycote will be Monday 31st May & Eyebrook Wednesday 9th June and will be running bi-weekly.
• They will start at 5.30pm until the last boats in this will alter with the daylight.
• The results will then be published the next day on social media.

Draycote Evening League Dates.

Round 1- Monday 31st May

Round 2- Monday 14th June

Round 3- Monday 28th June

Round 4- Monday 12th July

Round 5- Monday 26th July

Round 6- Monday 9th August

Round 7- Monday 23rd August

Eyebrook Evening League Dates.

Round 1- Wednesday 9th June

Round 2- Wednesday 23rd June

Round 3- Wednesday 7th July

Round 4- Wednesday 21st July

Round 5- Wednesday 4th August

Round 6- Wednesday 18th August

Round 7- Wednesday 1st September

To book yourself into the league please call the lodges Draycote on 01788 812018 or Eyebrook on 01536 770264

Weekly Fishing Report: Eyebrook, Draycote, Thornton

Visit our Fisheries Websites: www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk   www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk  www.flyfishthornton.co.uk

Online Shop: www.flyfishstore.co.uk      Tuition & Guiding: www.flyfishtuition.co.uk

Fishery YouTube Channel: YouTube Flyfishstore

Eyebrook Fishery Weekly Report – 01536 770264

Weekly Rod Average: 12.6     Water Temp: 9c
Easter Monday started us off with strong cold Northerly winds sweeping down the lake. Obviously, the strong cold winds were keeping the anglers at home. Those that ventured out needed to wrap up warm and head for sheltered areas. Eyebrook Season ticket holder Mick Farrell ventured out with his son and found shelter down by Sam’s dyke and had a pleasant day’s fishing bringing well into double figures to the boat on small Crunchers fished straight through on a floating line. All water ticket holder Neil Shilton took Ethan Morrissey out on his first fishing adventure on a boat. Despite the strong winds Neil and Ethan managed to bring double figures of fish to the boat just off the nature reserve boundary fishing a similar method to Mick and his son. Eyebrook regular and all water ticket holder Mark Hunt broke with tradition and fished flies that were sub surface. In 2 and a half hours, Mark managed to whittle out an impressive 16 to the bank. It just goes to show that Mark is just as proficient with Nymphs as he is with Big red’s and Shuttlecocks.

The next morning started off bitterly cold with temperatures hitting -3C on the way to the lodge. The wind is still extremely cold and strong coming from the North East. The Anglers out in boats struggled to catch fish today but David Wall managed a bumper day from the bank catching well in excess of double figures up by the Island.

Temperatures are holding at a steady -3C again today. Early reports are showing that the bank anglers are picking fish up from close in by the Hawthorne’s and the casting platforms. Even with such cold conditions, the fish are steadily taking small buzzers and the occasional blob, FAB or booby. Our anglers had some top sport today with a Rod Average of 16 at the end of the day. Lots of big smiles passing through the lodge on their way to book out and plenty of good stories from our visitors who are reporting good catches from all over the Leicestershire bank. Bill Stewart had a spring in his step after getting well I to double figures even though he had to jump in to his car to thaw out a couple of times.

Thursday saw a shift in wind direction. Now coming from a West south west direction and holding at 16MPH the conditions are more favourable from the Leicestershire bank. But even with the change in wind direction, the fishing keeps on improving.

Friday continued on just like the day before. Lots of happy anglers coming back to the lodge after an amazing day of sport. The Rod average has held at 20 for the past 2 days and the fish are feeding voraciously on buzzers all over the lake. Some anglers have actually been able to fish small emergers and had fish readily take them. Others have opted for fishing a single fly to avoid multiple takes that were leading to breakages.

The weekend saw the Eyebrook hosting the Scierra Pairs competition with several anglers fishing the Saturday in preparation for the competition on Sunday. Despite the cold weather, the excellent sport of the last few days was maintained with several anglers catching well into double figures. Good sport was also had from the bank with Eyebrook members Steve Lawrence and Bob Margerey taking lots of fish from the Leicester bank. Buzzers, Diawl Bach and crunchers were the most successful flies as the fish feasted on the abundant natural  hatches.

40 anglers fished the Scierra pairs competition, which was fished to a 6 fish limit and time bonus, followed by catch and release. The competition started at 09.45 and the first boat weighed in their 12 fish at 11.00. All anglers caught fish, with 17 of the 20 boats recording their 12 fish limit. Given the weather conditions with cold winds and snow flurries, this was an excellent result. Although not the first boat weighing in, Paul and Pat Sharman were top rods with 34lb and 13 ounces. Second pair were Glen Moody and Ian Buckley whilst Jeff Crowden and Toff Crowther were third and go forward to the final at Rutland in September. Full details of the match, together with results and photos are on our social media pages. Several of the Eyebrook members fished from the bank on Sunday and all caught with Malcolm Thompson recording a double figure catch on Damsels and Hares Ears.

With the weather forecast starting to improve this week, prospects look good for an excellent weeks fishing, both from the bank and from the boats.

Draycote Fishery Weekly Report – 01788 812018

Weekly Rod Average 7.9                Water Temp. 8’c.

What a difference a day makes after a lovely Easter Sunday, Monday could not have been more different a cold North West wind with low air temperatures not getting over 5 degrees. The fishery even experienced snow in the morning, as a result most anglers opted to have bank holiday Monday indoors. The bank fished well over in Dunn’s Bay with a combination of a FAB on the point and buzzers on the droppers with season ticket holders Andy Lillie and Phil Mee catching on these tactics. In Dunn’s & Biggin Bay. Ian Shobbrook landed 8 using Diawl Bachs at the Old Pipe. While on the boat Ian Reeve & Matt Pittaway landed 15 fish in bunny leaches and buzzers in Dunn’s & Biggin Bay.

The wind on Tuesday did not quite have the same bite as Monday, and thankfully the hard overnight frosts forecast did not happen. However, it was still a day to wrapped up warm, although thankfully the fish did not seem to mind. On the bank Andy Lane used buzzers to land over 23 fish, from the Tower Bank, with 3 buzzer fished on a floating line. On the boats Gordon Bramwell & Eddie Mitchell enjoyed a good day landing 27 fish to the boat again all on Buzzers. Taking these from the Dunn’s Bay, Biggin Bay and The Cornfield. Father and son duo Gary and David Turner landed 23 on buzzers fished near the willow trees in Toft just at the end of the Cornfield.

A very frosty start Wednesday with the pontoon being completely white first thing, with the boats not able to go out until bang on 8.30. The winds started light, however, did increase as the day wore on making for another cold day out on the water. Dunn’s Bay and the Tower Bank produced well for the bank anglers with Bob Smith taking 15 on Buzzers from Dunn’s. Paul Walker took 15 from the Tower Bank on Buzzers and Diawl Bachs. On the boats season ticket holder Richard Walker had his best ever day landing 32 in a morning, using various different Damsel patterns at Lincroft Point and then Croft Shoal. Ed Douglas stuck to Buzzers all day to land 42 from Middle Shoal and also the outlet. With Ian Morris opting from Toft and the Swans nest on the boat to land 21 on Buzzers & Diawl Bachs.

A warmer start Thursday with the wind coming from the South West, as a result buzzers featured well on the catch return. Season ticket holders Gordon Bramwell & Eddie Mitchell used Buzzers all day to take over 60 fish to the boat fishing in Biggin Bay & Dunn’s. Fishery guide Lee Henfrey fished with former Manager Kevin Hart taking over 50 to the boat with the vast majority being over wintered fish again on buzzers fishing the Farborough Dam wall. However, other tactics did work in the boats Richard Hanlon & Dave Atkins took 19 fish to the boat using Di 5 sinking lines and snakes. On the bank Dave Parkes took over 30 fish from Toft using a variety of different lures. John Woodcock enjoyed a great last 4 hours permit on the bank taking 17 fish all on Green Pea.

Great conditions Friday with light north west winds, once again the fishery saw a great buzzer hatch. Gaz Roberts fished a half day taking over 50 fish on an olive barred snake fished a Di 5 sinking line from the Hensborough bank. Gaz was smiling ear to  ear when he came off “after he best day ever”. On the bank the Old Pipe in Biggin Bay produced for season ticket holder Peter Elliot & Lee Patten who had over 50 fish on buzzers fished on a floating line. All Water season ticket holder Norman Perkins fished on the Cornfield with Static Buzzers to take 18 on buzzers. Alec Urquhart fished with Johnathan Wood with the pair fishing buzzers all days to take over 50 fish to the boat.

The current spell of cold weather continued through Saturday with a northerly wind blowing interspersed with the odd shower in the morning. Even through this cold spell buzzers can still be seen hatching off, indeed anglers have reported fishing whilst the snow was falling this week and trout rising to buzzers right in front of them. The bank fished well for Mr G Wadsworth on Saturday who netted 16 fish from various points along the northern shoreline. All water season permit holder Andy Lilley caught 10 fish from the tower bank using just buzzers on a floating line. Mr C Wilkins used damsels from the bank to good effect netting a dozen fish from the cornfield. Mr M Cope netted 14 fish from the bank in much the same spot, also on damsels. Out on the boats staff member Lee Henfrey netted quite a few fish during a morning session on straight through buzzers on a floating line. Lee used a 15 foot leader and 4 buzzers fished static, in front of the pontoon and down the Farborough dam. Mr A Biggs and Mr M Govan used a DI5 with blobs and boobies to net 8 fish from various points around the reservoir.

A cold but light north westerly blew through Draycote on Sunday, turning a bit colder in the afternoon with some snow showers here and there. Despite this, both the bank and the boats continue to produce some catches mainly on buzzers and damsels, with lures following very closely behind. Season permit holder Paul Walley caught 14 fish from the bank using buzzers and FAB’S. Paul caught most of his fish from Lincroft point and the Tower bank. A slightly damp Mr Andrew Wheildon had 9 from the bank in total using buzzers and blobs, again from Lincroft point and the Tower bank. The boat pairing of Jim Smith and Ed Douglas had over 20 fish a piece using buzzers. Jim and Ed fish the Farborough Dam, Toft Shallows, Croft Shoal and the Hensborough bank. Mr J Mcelligott netted 10 fish from a boat using damsels in Toft shallows and Biggin Bay.

Thornton Fishery Weekly Report – 01530 230807

Week Ending 11^th April    Rod Av: 10.01   Water Temp: 9.5

An incredible start to the 2021 season with another excellent week fishing. We should remember when fishing catch and release,  fish barbless or squash the barb down on your hook, if possible unhook the trout in the net, handle the trout as little as possible, allow the trout to recover before releasing.

A quiet Easter Monday with a bitterly cold northerly wind the anglers that did venture out were all gone by midday having caught on buzzers returning a rod av 3.5

Tuesday a cold day with snow shower, however the rods who did venture out were rewarded with excellent fishing resulting in a rod average of 14.6 for the day. Same areas still producing the shallows opposite the lodge and wood bank with floaters and intermediate with buzzers producing best. Phil Mee, Pete Cox, Arthur Olding, Keith Coley and Bob Taft all recorded double figure catches, well deserved for fishing in those cold conditions. Nice range of fish being caught from 1lb8oz to 3lb+

Wednesday and another cold frosty morning with our water temperature at 9c not surprising therefore that the early morning sport was slow. By mid morning the fish were on the feed with buzzers on the washing line, fished static or under the bung taking the majority of fish with Alan Withers & S Gullen enjoying an excellent day with All Water member Steve Jordan having enjoyed the best early season sport he has had.

Another cold frosty start to the day and it seems the drop in temperature as moved the trout off the bank with boats enjoying the lion share of the sport, new members Ian Leach, M Ravenscroft and L Serrano all caught good numbers with long term member Clive Holt also enjoying a good day

Friday, Saturday and Sunday weather were a lot colder with the Northerly wind having a real bite to it. Mid morning onwards fished best and despite the cold condition’s buzzer were once again the top patterns with the area opposite the lodge and wood bank producing best. We welcomed a reduced number of the All Abilities club back to Thornton for their first 2021 visit and they enjoyed a group rod average of 9 fish. Member Andrew Wilson had a great mornings sport catching 15 trout on epoxy buzzers. Keith Cowen took his 6 fish limits in quick time on Saturday with members Brian Sibley & Alison Toon catching 20 fish between them for their mornings visit.

We would remind boat & float tube anglers that they need to keep 40yards from fellow boat & bank anglers. When boats are moving from one spot to another be considerate to other anglers always pass them on the open water side.

Weekly Fishing Report: Eyebrook, Draycote, Thornton

Visit our Fisheries Websites: www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk   www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk  www.flyfishthornton.co.uk

Online Shop: www.flyfishstore.co.uk      Tuition & Guiding: www.flyfishtuition.co.uk

Fishery YouTube Channel: YouTube Flyfishstore

Eyebrook Fishery Weekly Report – 01536 770264

Weekly Rod Average: 7.1     Water Temp: 9c
Our opening week started off with South westerly winds which saw our anglers favouring the Leicestershire bank. Most of the bank anglers set up along from the Casting platforms to Sam’s dyke area where a lot of anglers had good bag numbers. Those that ventured further up to The Island and the Chestnut tree found fish in good numbers. The fish were readily taking Crunchers, Diawl Bach’s and buzzers as well as damsel nymphs, boobies, blobs and Pitsford Pea patterns. The Leicestershire bank was producing well for the boat anglers as well.

As the week progressed, the wind changed through to a North Easterly and brought a bit of a temperature drop. This moved the Anglers attention to the Rutland bank. Our anglers quickly found that there was a good stamp of fish just off the fence end at Stoke dry. Fish have also been showing in good numbers all the way to the Willows and to Robbo’s cabin. Moving around is key to locating the fish at the moment and the anglers that are covering large areas are finding fish in good numbers from all over the lake, but anglers have opted for the more sheltered areas on the lake to get out of the biting cold wind.

This week has seen some small cohorts from a few local fishing clubs gather for outings in COVID conscious groups and have done well to adhere to guidelines. It was good to see the guys from the Forrester fly boys, who visited on Friday. The Foremark Fly Fishers joined us on Sunday, both groups managed good bag limits and had good days out on the water. Steve Rainbow had a pleasant surprise when he hooked and landed an 18lbs Pike on a green and black fritz lure while fishing for trout.

The opening week has been a good one, even with the changing conditions. Temperatures raising and then dropping rapidly, as well as the wind completely changing direction has not adversely affected the fish and good sport can be found for the angler that’s ready to mix it up with the elements.

Draycote Fishery Weekly Report – 01788 812018

An absolutely fantastic opening week with 452 anglers visiting the fishery, landing a total of 5,353 fish for a weekly rod average of 11.84 fish per angler. With both the bank and boats catching well on a variety of methods from lures, buzzers and even on dry flies.

It was a fantastic on Monday being able to welcome all the anglers back on the banks at Draycote. With all the boats out on the water along with a fully booked back. Unfortunately, the forecast was not the kindest for the anglers with strong winds from the South West. However, this did not stop the 87 anglers catching a total of 1,064 fish for a rod average of 13.5 fish per angler. Both the boat and bank anglers enjoyed some great sport, on the bank it a Blue Flash Damsel that proved to be the killing pattern with catches into the 20s on the fly with the best areas being the Tower Bank, Dunn’s Bay and The Hensborough Bank producing good catches. On the boats the best tactic was sinking lines with various snakes and boobies, fished at the Hensborough Bank, Inlet, Rainbow Corner. However other good catches came to buzzers in these areas. With some anglers braving the rough weather to land fish in Biggin Bay.

Tuesday provided some fantastic spring weather with temperatures reaching nearly 20 degrees, this teamed with light winds provided some fantastic sport with the rod average for the day being 16.4. Once again, the best area from the bank was the Tower bank with the best fly being a blue flash damsel and buzzers being the best tactics. Utilising this tactic to good effect was Andy Lillie & Colin Day wh0 had 15 and 22 each. On the boats it was really a fantastic day with some scores, the England cricket team could do with. With the warm weather buzzers really came into their own, however blue flash damsels and boobies also featured heavily. The best areas were Toft, Croft Shoal, Biggin Bay & The Cornfield. Later in the day there was also fish seen moving and the first fish of the year reported on dries.

Another glorious day Wednesday with the temperatures getting over 20 degrees. As a result of the warmer weather the buzzer fishing was fantastic. On the bank Phil Mee landed 12 fish including 2 fish at 6lb all on buzzers from the Tower Bank. Draycote season ticket holder Ian Richardson landed 17 fish from the Tower bank on washing lined buzzers with a FAB on the point. Ian Gaskell fished with Bob Cooper who had not fished in 18 months with the pair boating over 40 fish using a floating lines and a team of buzzers. The pair found the fish in Toft, along the Cornfield and also Farborough Dam. Other good catches came on Buzzers from Croft Shoal, Farborough Dam, Biggin Bay & Toft. With lures also working on Di 3 & Di 5 sinking lines from the same areas.

What a difference a day makes from the lovely spring conditions of the previous 2 days Thursday felt like we had gone back into Winter with the North East wind really carrying a chill. With the more overcast conditions the bank sport was outstanding. All Water season ticket holder Michael Ravenscroft landed 16 fish in 4 hours on the Cornfield on a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear. With Dennis Tidmarsh & Alan Bettles landing 18 and 19 fish, Dennis used snatchers on an intermediate while Alan opted for black and green & white and green tadpoles. On the boats the hotspots for the day were Toft, Biggin Bay and along the Cornfield with good catches also coming from the area around the Valve Tower. Gordon Bramwell netted over 20 fish on Buzzers, as did Ed Douglas. Mr M Schofield netted 8 good fish on lures fish very deep, whilst Ian Reeve caught fish in good numbers using Bunny Leeches on a DI 3 in Biggin Bay. Mr L Tones and Mr S Farmer had 50 fish to the boat between them on a fast glass with black and green boobies in Biggin Bay.

It’s just as well the north shore of Draycote is the best place to fish at the moment, as that cold north easterly breeze means that the bank anglers can at least get some shelter. Lee Patten and Peter Elliott had at least 50 fish between them on buzzers from Lincroft Point and Biggin Bay. Mr M and Mr W Hollingshead caught 20 fish from the bank in Biggin Bay on buzzers and blobs, the best of which was about 3lbs. Mr T Cosford caught nearly 40 fish using static buzzers off a floating line fished along the north shore. Andy Lane caught nearly 50 fish using a silver owl, and neon and olive  buzzers. Andy started at Grays Barn on the north shore and just worked his way along into Biggin Bay. Alan Masters had a dozen fish off the bank on buzzers, diawl bachs and FAB’s, remarking on a “lovely days fishing”. Out on the boats the fishing was also first rate with Mr J Carr and Mr S Cochrane netting over 70 fish between them on buzzers and boobies. Brendan Thomas caught 20 fish using a DI3 and a Humungus off the Farborough Dam. Staff Members Lee Henfrey and Michael Hanlon had a great days sport netting over 40 fish between them down in the bottom of Toft Shallows long lining on buzzers.

Yet another cold day on Draycote with a very persistent north easterly. Still a good day for the bank anglers with the north shore producing some good catches once again. Clive Wilkins netted 11 fish on green buzzers, the best of which weighed 5lbs. Season permit holder Mike Garner caught half a dozen fish from the bank using hares ears, cormorants, crunchers and butchers from the cornfield. Ian Western had 10 fish during an afternoon session. Ian caught all his fish from the north shore using black buzzers. Out on the boats Les and Karl Lerigo netted 34 fish between them, all on black and green snakes. It was buzzers fished on a midge tip that did it for Roger Pearce and Paul Burchall. The pair netted their 17 fish down in toft shallows. Fishery Manager Tom Bird and his boat partner Ryan Feber, took to the water and had a fantastic day, netting over 80 fish between them. Tom and Ryan used boobies and cormorants on sinkers and midge tip lines and caught their fish in toft, biggin bay, rainbow corner and along the Hensborough bank. Season permit holder Chris Pallot and his boat partner Carl Holland had 7 fish to the boat down in toft using black and green snake boobies.

After 2 days of cold North East winds its was nice to be greeted with a warmer Westerly wind on Sunday. A frosty start however by the afternoon the sun had really warmed up with temperatures hitting 16 degrees. As a result of the warmer temperatures the fishery experienced an amazing buzzer hatch with clouds of buzzer being seen over the dams. On the bank, the bright sun and crystal clear water made the fishing challenging with the fish holding further off the bank and a little deeper. Draycote member Mark Johnson- Jones landed 3 from the Tower Bank in the afternoon on a green pea. However it was the boats who really enjoyed the lion share of the sport. With the majority of the great catches coming to buzzers, with Paul Mitchell & Tim Burn landing 53 fish to the boat all on Buzzers from Biggin Bay. Ed Douglas took 52 fish from the Outlet on Buzzer fished deep on a midge tip.

Thornton Fishery Weekly Report – 01530 230807

Weekly Rod Average: 11.2     Water Temp: 10c

The long awaited opening of the 2021 season finally arrived on the 29^th March, with good weather greeting the anglers. As we expected the shallows opposite the lodge and down in front of the wood fished best with boat and bank anglers enjoying the good sport. With our water temperature at 10c buzzers, diawls, damsel, Montana & cats whisker fished on a floater down to a sink 3 helped achieve an opening day rod average 10+

Another good day on the second day with the rod average climbing to 16+ with anglers catching along the same areas using the same flies. Adam Brooks having caught well into double figures on day one did even better on day 2. As we locked up there was a number of fish moving across the main basin to a good hatch of buzzer

Wednesday and another warm day with good hatches of buzzer. Anglers were still finding plenty of fish along the shallows of the Thornton arm and wood with anglers fishing the bung and buzzers catching well, it’s great to see our lady members Pam, Carolyn, Christine and Elizabeth out on the water and recording good numbers.

Weather change on Thursday with a cold easterly. Bank and boat anglers fished the shelter of the Thornton arm and wood bank. Chip bank fished opposite the lodge catching 20+ in three hours on a traditional wet fly the march brown. As the last few days buzzers, diawls, damsel flies caught best with a cats whisker and booby also working.

Friday a cold but productive day with the rod average 13+ with bank and boat anglers enjoying the good sport. Buzzer fished static or under a bung was the most productive method with a cats whisker, green pea and orange blob also working. Floater, Intermediate & DI3 best. Lots of buzzer coming off.

The weekend continued to produce for boat & bank anglers with the Thornton arm & wood bank still the best areas. Black Buzzer patterns fished static or under the bung was by far the most successful method over the weekend.

Great opening weeks fishing, with our covid guidelines working well, you can check our Covid guidelines COVID-19 Update | Fly Fish Thornton – Leicestershire Fly Fishery

Have you entered our prize draw for a new RIO Slickcast Fly Line, visit our Facebook     www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore page and follow Tom Birds posting regarding our YouTube Channel

Weekly Fishing Report: Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton

Visit our Fisheries Websites: www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk   www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk  www.flyfishthornton.co.uk

Online Shop: www.flyfishstore.co.uk      Tuition & Guiding: www.flyfishtuition.co.uk

Eyebrook Fishery Weekly Report – 01536 770264

Eyebrook opens on the 29^th March for boat & Bank Fishing

Pre booking & pre payment required, for track and trace we will require your contact number. The Shop & lodge will need to remain closed, their not expected to be allowed to open until 12^th April I have taken the decision to suspend loyalty card, if you have full loyalty cards they can still be used, I’m currently working on a solution for your part filled cards.

Eyebrook COVID-19 Update | Fly Fish Eyebrook – Leicestershire Trout Fishery

The New Eyebrook tackle shop will be reopening, stocking SAGE, RIO, VISION, Redington, Airflo, Greys, Shakespeare, Snowbee, Fulling Mill, Fario, Wychwood, Leeda tackle.

Draycote Fishery Weekly Report – 01788 812018

Draycote opens on the 29^th March for boat & Bank Fishing

The lodges / shops are not expected to open before the 12^th April we fully expect the 2m rule & social distancing to be a requirement of the shops opening.

Pre booking & pre payment required, for track and trace we will require your contact number. I have taken the decision to suspend loyalty card, if you have full loyalty cards they can still be used, I’m currently working on a solution for your part filled cards.

Draycote  COVID-19 Update | Fly Fish Draycote Water – Stillwater Fishery

Thornton Fishery Weekly Report – 01530 230804

Thornton opens on the 29^th March for boat & Bank Fishing

The lodges / shops are not expected to open before the 12^th April we fully expect the 2m rule & social distancing to be a requirement of the shops opening.

Pre booking & pre payment required, for track and trace we will require your contact number. I have taken the decision to suspend loyalty card, if you have full loyalty cards they can still be used, I’m currently working on a solution for your part filled cards.

Thornton   COVID-19 Update | Fly Fish Thornton – Leicestershire Fly Fishery

Fisheries Update 1^st March 2021

Following the government’s road map out of lock down announcement I can confirm we will be:

Opening Thornton, Draycote & Eyebrook on Monday the 29^th March 2021.

Thornton 01530 230807     Draycote 01788 812018    Eyebrook 01536 770264

Staff are at the lodges from 9.00am to accept bookings, you will be required to prebook your boat or bank fishing, we will require a telephone contact number. Pre-payment will be required at the time of booking

As the lodges / shops have to remain closed until 12^th April earliest & the 2m social distancing rule will still be in place for some time we will operate the same system as last year, payment via debit or credit card at the time of booking.

We expect the phone to be busy, have your credit or debit card to hand, the staff will during the transaction be asking for your:

Card Number – Use by Date – 3 digit number on the back of your card – your Post Code – House Number

With the lodges closed booking in & out area will be outside the lodge with your boat permit & receipt also outside the lodge for you to pick up.

Please use the hand sanitiser provide & wear a face covering in line with government guidelines.

I have taken the decision to suspend loyalty cards its one less interaction between staff & yourselves. If you have any full loyalty cards you can still use them.

Pontoon guidelines will be the same as we were operating during last year. Staff will allocate your boat number, restrict angler numbers on the pontoon to ensure social distancing. We will continue to disinfect boats & life jacket after every session & provide hand sanitiser

Click the fishery name for their covid guidelines: – DRAYCOTE        EYEBROOK       THORNTON

With the lodges / shop closed we can offer a Click & Collect service call the fishery lodges to arrange your tackle purchases or order via our online shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk

Preseason stocking has started with photos & video of the stockings posted on our social media pages

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There is hope for a good season, vaccination roll out is going well, thankfully, hospital admissions, infection rates & deaths are currently going down, let’s hope that continues & we get similar spring weather as last year, warm with light winds and great hatches.

Ifor

Eyebrook, Thornton & Draycote  Fishery News

Hope you are all well, some of you will have received your vaccination.

We are understandably receiving an increasing number of calls asking when we’re going to open at Draycote, Thornton & Eyebrook.

Thornton should have opened on the 1^st February which we postponed. 1^st March Draycote & the 5^th March Eyebrook are the dates we published for their opening.

Will we open on those dates?

The government has set out a timeline that the whole country is currently working towards during this lockdown, which is based on vaccinations, hospital admissions, new case numbers & sadly deaths.

Government Lockdown Timeline

Monday 15^th February Government reviews the current lockdown

Monday 22^nd February Government informs parliament of any changes & in their words “roadmap out of lockdown”

By Tuesday 23^rd – 24^th February, it should be becoming clearer what guidelines or restrictions we will all be working under.

Our current plans

Staff continues to prepare the fisheries, Thornton, Draycote & Eyebrook for an early March opening.

We have confirmed with our fish suppliers that preseason stocking will start as planned during late February, we have also confirmed with our petrol engine supplier that they will be fitted as planned to the Draycote & Eyebrook boats.

By February 23^rd – 24^th, we should be in a position to confirm with our customers of the opening dates & any guidelines/restrictions we will be working under.

It is likely the phone lines will be busy as anglers call for confirmation, we have updated the fisheries website www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk     www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk    www.flyfishthornton.co.uk which will be updated with the latest news, you can also join our fisheries email group and receive the latest news & reports by adding you details to the “join our fly fishing community” box located on the fisheries website home page.

You can also follow us on our various social media pages

Facebookwww.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Instagram www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/

Twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore

The good news There are no price increases for 2021 we have introduced due to demand a new 2 fish kill + catch & release permit @ £21.50.

Extra fish will be stocked into Eyebrook & Thornton with the 2lb average sized trout for Draycote maintained. On each of the fisheries website, we have added a “Stocking Policy Page” which helps to explain our stocking policy decisions based largely around the warmer summer water temperatures were seeing and catch & release.

6^th January 2021 Fisheries Update

The Angling Trust has confirmed following consultation with government that fishing will not be allowed during the current lockdown you can read the statement here https://anglingtrust.net/covid-19/

The next government review date for the lockdown rules will be on February 15^th 2021 hopefully by then the vaccine rollout & the impact of the lockdown will see a reduction in the infection rate.

Currently the lockdown rules prevents Thornton from opening on the 1^st February 2021 as yet I don’t have a definite date for Thornton`s opening, that will depend on information we will receive following the government’s review on the 15^th February.

It makes sense therefore not to take any bookings for Thornton until we see the outcome of the review. Any one booked at Thornton up to the 15^th February will be contacted.

With Draycote & Eyebrook not due to open for another 8 weeks which takes us to 1^st March for Draycote & 5^th March for Eyebrook we will continue to take bookings for those two fisheries and continually review and work within the guidelines.

During these difficult times its important for us to remain positive, we will be fishing again when the guidelines indicate we can safely.

To summarise,

Thornton will be able to open within a few days of any relaxation of the current guidelines.

Draycote & Eyebrook, the fishery staff are preparing them to open in early March in line with any government guidelines at that time.

When we do open, we will be operating to the same fishery guidelines as we were at the end of last season, staff will be disinfecting boats, life jackets after every session, hand sanitiser provided on the pontoon / booking in & out areas / at the lodge door, staff ensuring social distancing on the pontoon and the vicinity of the lodges.

Call Thornton 01530230807, Eyebrook 01536770264, Draycote 01788812018

Happy New Year to you all, keep healthy and we look forward to welcoming you back to our fisheries

Ifor Jones

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Angling Trust – My Personnel View

The trout fisheries industry no longer has their own industry representative body.

Fisheries large & small have relied on the Angling Trust to ensure we were able to open & fish within government guidelines.

The new CEO Jamie Cook & his team & especially within the Stillwater scene the work done by Andy Taylor has kept us fishing, day permit, season member & competition angler from early May to December, longer than any other outdoor pastime.

The Angling Trust, their not perfect, we can always find fault, I have found fault with them in the past, but during 2020 without the Angling Trust & the proactive work by Jamie Cook we wouldn’t have enjoyed the excellent fishing during 2020.

If there was ever a reason to spend £29.00 as a thank you & ensure they work to keep us fishing then this is the year https://anglingtrust.net/memberships/individual/

Draycote, Eyebrook & Thornton Christmas Gift Vouchers

Draycote & Eyebrook lodges are open this weekend 19th & 20th December from 10.00am – 2.00pm for you to pick up your Christmas Gift Vouchers

Vouchers can be exchanged at the Draycote, Eyebrook & Thornton fisheries during 2021 to purchase Fishing Permits, Fly Fishing Tackle, Fly Fishing Tuition or Guided Fly Fishing Trips

If your unable to visit the Draycote or Eyebrook lodge this weekend the Last posting day for 1st class mail is Monday 21st December visit our online shop for details https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/

This weekend is also an opportunity for you to discuss our membership option for the 2021 Season

Call
Tom Bird Draycote Lodge 01788812018 www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk
Jim Wright Eyebrook Lodge 01536770264 www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk
Ifor Jones Thornton Lodge 01530230807 www.flyfishthornton.co.uk

Merry Christmas to all our customers

Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton

Tom will be at the Draycote Lodge with Jim at the Eyebrook lodge on Saturday 19^th & Sunday 20^th December from 10.00am – 2pm for you to call & pick up your Christmas gift vouchers, pick up a last minute gift from the Draycote tackle shop or discuss our 2021 membership options.

Last Royal Mail posting for gift vouchers is Monday 21^st December you can buy them online https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/s=christmas+voucher&s_cs=true

Online Shop & Sales
We also have an online shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk during the next few weeks we will be adding items to or sales page keep checking to make sure you don’t miss out on a bargain!  https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/
With the upturn in angling reported by the EA we have a number of tuition days & casting lessons which can be purchased as a Christmas gift voucher https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/s=christmas+voucher&s_cs=true last posting date for Christmas vouchers 21^st December

Membership
We also offer membership for individual fishery & our increasingly popular All water Membership for details, members receive discounted boat rates & 20% reduction on the RRP of any item of fishing tackle we stock
Draycote http://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/prices/season-permits/  

Call Draycote 01788 812018 email shop@flyfishstore.co.uk

Eyebrook http://www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/prices/season-permits/

Call Eyebrook 01536 770264 email shop@flyfishstore.co.uk

Thornton http://www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/season-permits/

Call Thornton 01530 230807 email shop@flyfishstore.co.uk

We look forward to welcoming you back in 2021
Thornton 1^st February, Draycote 1^st March & the Eyebrook 5^th March

Wishing you all a safe Christmas & Happy New Year
Ifor & the fisheries team

Eyebrook, Draycote,  Thornton

2020 End of Season News

That’s the 2020 season completed, boats & engines are off the water for a deep clean & maintenance, staff will be enjoying a well earned rest as in 8 short weeks we start all over again at Thornton on 1^st February 2021
This was my 38^th year managing trout fisheries, during those years I have dealt with a number of events from heat waves, flooding, foot & mouth etc but none of those years threw up the difficulties & challenges that the Coronavirus Pandemic presented us with.
Looking back on the year I need to thank the Angling Trust for ensuring fishing was one of the first outdoor activities allowed to reopen after the first lock down & through their continued work with Sports England & Government kept us fishing from May onwards. I also need to thank the fisheries staff who adapted to work within the new Covid working guidelines, deep cleaning and disinfecting boats, life jackets and equipment daily, keeping themselves & our customers safe, our suppliers within the tackle & fish farms industry & you our customers who followed our new fishery working procedures / guidelines & John Horsey for having the confidence in us to run a safe Anglers World Final at Draycote during August.
During the first lock down fishing was suspended from March 23^rd to the end of May, unfortunately it coincided with one of the best spring weather conditions we have enjoyed for a number of years, excellent weather & good hatches saw our resident fish feed freely undisturbed for those 10 weeks, it did however provide the fisheries with superb fishing when we did reopen.

Thornton at 70 acres the smaller of the three reservoir we manage returned a seasons rod average of 2.8 similar to the previous year, however this year the fishing remained consistent especially during the summer months & into the Autumn through to our last day on November 30^th providing the most consistent fishing weave enjoyed in years.

During the latter part of the season, it was good to see grown on rainbows being caught with fish that were taken & spooned found to be feeding heavily on bloodworm, snails, buzzer & fry.
With Thornton being an old shallow reservoir built in 1853, its maximum depth at the dam of 30ft & fed by two streams with restricted summer flows we trialled a different stocking policy for 2020, stocking with smaller 1lb10oz to 2lb+ trout, with 1lb8oz – 1lb12oz trout during the warmer & traditionally our most difficult fishing months late June to August. I wanted to see if smaller stocked triploid rainbows would react better to the warmer summer conditions than our traditionally stocked 1lb12oz to 2lb+ rainbows

The trial worked with better consistent fishing returns despite the heatwave, I`ll be honest I received a few negative comments regarding the 1lb8oz to 1lb12oz, but our rod average increased, visiting rods caught and our visiting rod numbers during the summer increased. We should remember the word quality should reflect the condition of the trout we catch, full finned good condition, not their size

If you believe in global warming or not, one thing is certain were seeing different weather patterns to what we experienced 20 years ago, we as fishery managers constantly need to adapt to ensure we can provide as consistent seasons sport.

For 2021 we aim to stock with trout from 1lb8oz to 2lb+ this size range should ensure consistent fishing during the year

www.flyfishthornton.co.uk

Eyebrook at 400+ acres is a popular midland reservoir, located on the private Eyebrook estate with fly fishing been the only permitted leisure pursuit allowed.

The Eyebrook is fortunate therefore to be a 400 acre water solely for fly fishermen to enjoy

Returning a rod average of 3.9 for the season boosted by a more consistent fishing period during the warmer summer months July to August with a stocking during that periods of smaller triploid rainbows of 1lb10oz to 1lb14oz, during the other months we stocked with rainbows from 1lb12oz to 3lb+ rainbows

Were fortunate at the Eyebrook to have a body of water rich with food items, buzzer`s, olive`s, mayfly, sedges, hog louse, freshwater shrimp, corixa, the most prolific number of damsels, snails, fry & blown on from the surrounding farmland, daddy long legs.

It’s not surprising therefore we see some superb grown on rainbows & brown trout with rainbows to 9lb7oz & browns to 17lb recorded during the latter part of the season, photographs on our social media pages Facebook www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore  Instagram www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/ Twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore

With much of the focus on boat fishing across the larger Stillwaters it was particularly pleasing to once again watch our regulars enjoy their bank fishing during May to the end of October along Stoke Dry, Chestnut Tree, Hawthorns, dam wall & the netted bank with “matching the hatch” buzzer, sedges & damsels been key to their success especially if they were fishing into the evening and the evening rise.

For 2021 our planned stocking of 25,000 trout is a reflection of the increased number of day rods & the 2 & 3 day fishing breaks, competitions & angling club visits that will return during 2021.
20,000 of these trout will be in the 1lb10oz to 2lb4oz+ range but to ensure the Eyebrook fishes during the warm summer months 5,000 trout in the 1lb8oz to 1lb12oz range will be stocked during late June, July and early August.

We also allow limited fly fishing for the Pike & Perch at Eyebrook, this is strictly fly fishing only from boat or float tube & is limited to a maximum of 5 boats per day, for the past few years we have had pike of 30lb+ caught with 3lb+ perch
www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk

Draycote at 600+ acres the larger of our three reservoirs is a popular midland reservoir returning a rod average of 4.5 for the season

With most of our competitions, fishing break packages, group & club events cancelled due to Covid this year we were thankful once allowed to welcome back our members, day rods at the end of May, during that first month back they enjoyed a rod average of 7.0

We were especially proud to successfully & importantly safely host 100 anglers at the John Horsey Anglers World Competition Final, thanks to Kay Pittaway & her team at the Draycote Waterside Restaurant for providing takeaway pies & chips for the competitors. We also hosted a heat of the  Scierra Pairs & the TEFF / AT fundraiser arranged by Ian Coclough & Andy Taylor fished to a successful catch & release format.

With Draycote rich buzzer hatches, shrimp, snails & fry providing valuable food source for our resident trout we every year see our stock fish put on weight during the season with an increasing number of 3lb, 4lb, 5lb+ trout caught, photographs on our social media pages Facebook www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore  Instagram www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/ Twitter www.twitter.com/FlyFishStore

The bank fishing at Draycote is always better once the water level drops by a couple of feet, it took a bit longer this year for STW to begin drawing down, once they did the bank rods enjoyed good sport with the last 6 to 8 weeks seen the larger fish move in after the shrimp & fry.
For the boat anglers taking long drifts across open water & along the edge of the shoals with long leaders & sparsely tied nymph, buzzer & emerger patterns picked out the better trout throughout the season with fry patterns during the last month of the season off the edges of the shoals picking up 5lb+ trout

With Draycote depth of 65ft at the valve tower & its 90 to 100 yard long aerator pipe which helps to keep the water temperature for most of the summer below 20c we will be stocking Draycote with trout between 1lb14oz to 2lb8oz+
www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk

Looking forward to 2021
The news of the vaccines gives us hope that during 2021 we will slowly start to see a level of normality start to return to our fishing lives.

2021 will see our Eyebrook Tackle Shop become fully open with a range of demo fly lines, rods & float tubes for you to try.

Online Shop & Sales
We also have an online shop www.flyfishstore.co.uk during the next few weeks we will be adding items to or sales page keep checking to make sure you don’t miss out on a bargain!  https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/
With the upturn in angling reported by the EA we have a number of tuition days & casting lessons which can be purchased as a Christmas gift voucher https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/s=christmas+voucher&s_cs=true last posting date for Christmas vouchers 21^st December

Membership
We also offer membership for individual fishery & our increasingly popular All water Membership for details, members receive discounted boat rates & 20% reduction on the RRP of any item of fishing tackle we stock
Draycote http://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/prices/season-permits/  

Call Draycote 01788 812018 email shop@flyfishstore.co.uk

Eyebrook http://www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/prices/season-permits/

Call Eyebrook 01536 770264 email shop@flyfishstore.co.uk

Thornton http://www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/season-permits/

Call Thornton 01530 230807 email shop@flyfishstore.co.uk

Christmas Shopping the Draycote & Eyebrook Lodges will be open on Saturday 19^th December & Sunday 20^th December from 10.00am – 2pm for you to call & pick up your Christmas vouchers, pick up a last minute gift or discuss our membership options

We look forward to welcoming you back in 2021
Thornton 1^st February, Draycote 1^st March & the Eyebrook 5^th March

Wishing you all a safe Christmas & Happy New Year
Ifor & the fisheries team