Weekly fisheries report 1st October 2023

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

Fishery YouTube Channel: YouTube Flyfishstore

Thornton Fishery Weekly Report – 01530 230807

Email: thornton@flyfishstore.co.uk

2023 Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Thornton are explained on our website www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

2023 Permits & Pre Payment for Boat Bookings For details of our Day Permits, Package Breaks & our Boat bookings pre-payment policy visit our website.

https://www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Week Ending: 1^st October Rod Av: 1.0  Water Temperature:16c – 17c

Our water temperature is dropping to where we would normally expect it to be for September. Water conditions are improving we have 2ft – 3ft clarity.

We are on some days starting to see some rising trout although the best of the catches continuous to be with sinking lines, booby & fry patterns with the shallower water in front of the willows, corner of the wood & off the bank down the Markfield arm has fished best.

Currently we have 5800+ trout in the fishery which should produce good sport during October & November as our water condition continuous to improve & our water temperature is between 12c & 16c.

Thornton 2023 last day of the fishing season Thursday 30th November

Weather: we use two weather forecast pages.

Both options give a good 48 to 72 hour forecast.

XC Weather – https://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/LE67_1AR use this link for Thornton.

Windy App – https://www.windy.com/  on their home page, enter the fishery name Thornton Reservoir

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Draycote Fishery Weekly Report – 01788 812018

Email:  draycote@flyfishstore.co.uk

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

2023 Permits & Pre Payment for Boat Bookings For details of our Day Permits, Package Breaks & our Boat bookings pre-payment policy visit our website.

https://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Exclusion Zone  Due to the work being carried out on the Hensborough Bank there is an exclusion zone in place, clearly marked with yellow buoys. Under no circumstances are anglers to enter this area as there are divers in the water.

Week Ending:  Sunday 1^st October 2023  Rod Av: 5.4  Water Temperature:  16°C

A bright start to the week with the wind coming from the South, which picked up as the day progressed and then swung a little more to the Southwest. Member Pete Allen fished on the bank landing 4 fish from Rainbow Corner using a hopper booby on the point and then crunchers on the droppers. On the boats Tony Broadway fished with former fishing partner Mike Davies with the pair landing a dozen fish in a morning session. Tony, opted for a neutral density line with a white snake. With Mike using a slow sinking line and a white booby. Kevin Hart enjoyed a good day landing a dozen fish using a slow intermediate and mini snakes. Landing a cracking fish over 4lb with the best drift being from the Hensborough Bank to Y Buoy. All water member Ged O’Donoghue landed 10 fish while fishing with fellow member Steve Orton in a boat all taken a Cinnamon Sedge pattern. Mr D Rees and M Woodward landed 15 fish during their day using snakes and humongous. Fishing down in Toft in a boat Bob Barfoot landed 7 fish on a variety of flies, with all of his fish c0ming from over the weed beds.

Tuesday was overcast and breezy to start with, but brightened up as the day progressed. Season permit holder Ken Key fished from the bank by the Swans Nest, bagging 3 fish on cormorants. Mr C J Day also netted 3 fish from the bank whilst fishing between Lincroft Point and the Valve Tower. Young Andy Lilley had a brace on FAB’s and diawl bachs fished off a midge tip line. John Dickens had half a dozen fish to the boat on dries such as the F fly. Mr M Francis drifted from the Aerators to D buoy in Duns Bay using a sunburst dabbler and a white dog knobbler to bring 12 fish to the net. Draycote regulars Andy Birkett and Brent Vinall had just under 30 fish between them to the boat using a washing line and crunchers in the morning and dries through the afternoon. James Alexander and his boat partner caught 7 fish using foam daddies near M buoy just up past the sailing club. John Falconbridge and Paul Walker used cormorants and crunchers to boat 18 fish between them from areas such as the Aerators and Duns Bay.

Wednesday morning started with a level of low slung cloud and southerly winds, which picked up resulting in a very wind day by lunch. As a result of the forecast only a few boat ventured out. One such boat was that of Fishery Manager Tom Bird & Fishery Ranger Lee Henfrey. The pair fished till lunch before the worst of the wind arrived, landing 13 fish. Lee took the majority of them. With the best tactic being a fast intermediate with a sparkler booby on the top dropper, cormorant in the middle then a minkie booby on the point. Using a roly-poly retrieve, with the pair landing fish at E Buoy into Biggin Bay, J Buoy and N Buoy. Andy Birkett & Brent Vinall fished for their second day of a 2 day break, boating 33 fish. They drifted from N Buoy across to Y Buoy and used dries or fry patterns pulled on an intermediate line.

Once again Thursday started with over cast conditions and a stiff breeze coming out of the south west. What a great  day it was to be out on Draycote Water. There were some excellent returns from all 4 points of the compass, mainly caught in the top few feet on anything from small snakes and floating fry patterns to crunchers on a washing line and dries for some. Mr Brian Joseh caught half a dozen fish from the bank at Lincroft Point and the Tower Bank. Season permit holder Phil Cross also ventured out onto the bank, netting 3 fish on this occasion. Out on the boats the pairing of Kevin Hart and young John Hoskins had 18 fish between them with long drifts off the Hensborough Bank out to Y and P buoy. The pair used intermediate lines with black bunny leaches and tequila blobs. Ina Richardson and Bob Smith also netted 18 fish between them on the drift using sparkler boobies and cormorants. Ian and Bob had their fish from the area around E buoy and Alberts Bottom as well as The Tower Bank. Bob Barfoot had some big fish to the boat, weighing in at 4, 5 and 6 lbs. Bob caught a total of 10 fish on cormorants along the Draycote Dam and also down in Toft Shallows. Mr Nick Righton and Mr Keith Eastbury had 17 fish to the boat between them. The pair used a mixture of wet flies with a foam daddy on the point on a floating line,  as well as cormorants and crunchers. Draycote stalwart Ed Douglas had 10 fish to the boat on foam daddies as well as nymphs on a washing line.#

Friday was initially overcast but changed into a clear blue sky very quickly with a south westerly wind. A more difficult day out on the water that never the less still produced some good returns from right across the reservoir. Draycote regular Mick Cronin caught 5 fish from the bank using fry patterns from various areas including the Tower Bank. DFF (Draycote Fly Fishers) member Paul Walley caught 3 fish from the bank using white and silver zonkers. Paul tried a number of areas before also settling on the Tower Bank. Season permit holder Andrew Tasker caught a brace from the bank but played his cards very close to his chest. Sean and Debbie Gilbert had 10 fish to the boat using small minkies, daddies and cormorants. Debbie and Sean fished along the Draycote Dam as well as the Hensborough Bank. Paul Havard had 5 fish to the boat . Paul used a midge tip line and caught all of his fish on a candy booby. Mr A Moore and Mr I Baynes netted a total of 10 fish between them. The pair fished along the Draycote Dam and used a green pea lure as well as ginger crunchers. Mr K Williams and Mr G Barclay also caught 10 fish between them using buzzers and lures and remarked that they caught fish everywhere they went on the reservoir.

Saturday was a bright start with the cloud arriving later in the day, with he winds from the South. On the bank Kasidit Leoviriyakit landed 11 fish including a fantastic 4lb rainbow. Kas, used either a washing line with crunchers and a FAB on the point or a cats whisker. Catching all over the lake although the Swan’s Nest was properly the most effective area. Season ticket holder Mike Garner also fished the bank landing 4 fish from Lincroft and the Swan’s nest using fry patterns. On the boats fishery ranger Mark Braun landed a dozen fish using snakes on Di3, Di5 and intermediate lines. Taking fish near J Buoy in the morning before heading up to the Draycote Dam. Father & Son duo David & Gary Turner landed 15 fish from a morning boat. Using a washing line with the nymphs on the dropper being the most productive, however a couple of their fish fell to dries. Fishing at Rainbow Corner towards A Buoy. Draycote member Jon Crowley landed 14 fish with an orange daddy on the top dropper and a buzzer on the dropper at M Buoy. Peter Elliot fished with Lee Patten landed 37 fishing around Rainbow Corner and the Draycote Dam on floating fry.

A warm muggy day here at Draycote Water on Sunday saw yet another rise in the rod average. Both boat and bank anglers are making good returns, especially those who keep on the move. Mr Andy Jordan had a good number of fish from the bank in Rainbow Corner using green holographic diawl bachs. Season permit holder Richard Walker had 7 fish to the boat on intermediate lines and snakes. Paul Walley ventured out in a boat to net 18 fish using humungus and big reds around A bouy. Mr M Rogers and Mr A Hart had a bakers dozen to the boat using a washing line with FAB’s, humungus boobies and diawl bachs. The All Abilities Fly Fishers took to the water on Sunday with a total of 19 rods. There were some great returns made by all participants and a total of 124 fish caught, giving them a rod average of 6.5.

Upcoming Events.

7^th October – AMFC Group Autumn Match – 32 Boats.

8^th October- Troutmasters Bank Only (BANK CLOSED)

Draycote Fur & Feather competition Sunday 26^th November

Draycote’s closing date

The closing date for Draycote for this season will be Thursday 30^th November 2023.

Weather: we use two weather forecast pages.

Both options give a good 48 to 72 hour forecast.

XC Weather – Forecast for CV23 8AB | XCWeather use this link for Draycote

Windy App – https://www.windy.com/  on their home page, enter the fishery name Draycote Water

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Eyebrook Fishery Weekly Report – Tel: 01536 770264  Mobile 07834 581424

Email: eyebrook@flyfishstore.co.uk

Stocking Policy Details of our stocking policy for Eyebrook are explained on our website

www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/about-us-2/stocking-policy/

2023 Permits & Pre Payment for Boat Bookings For details of our Day Permits, Package Breaks & our Boat bookings pre-payment policy visit our website.

https://www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/about-us-2/day-permits/

Week Ending: 01^st October   Rod Av: 3.7       Water Temperature: 16°c

It was a bright, clear start to the week with a gentle southerly that developed into a moderate, gusty southerly by late morning, which remained for the rest of the day. The cloud cover was intermittent at best, with some extended period of sunshine. Despite the bright conditions, those targeting fish higher up in the water column, with Dries & the Washing Line on floating lines, fared better than those fishing sinking lines. As the water continues to cool, the fish are beginning to get caught up the shallower end of the reservoir, Mucky Bay, the Chestnut, Stoke Dry & the Willows. There were a few good returns recorded, which indicates that the fish are beginning to settle after the previous weather fronts. Eyebrook Member Keith Johnson landed 8, David Moore & Terry Bayes landed 15 & Bill Woods & Mr Munro had 10 between them. The most Main Basin remained a very productive area & Dries & the Washing Line, were the percentage methods.

The weather followed a similar pattern to the previous day, calm start, developing to a moderate, gusty winds with extended periods of sunshine. It was a challenging day with some mixed returns. All Water Member had 5 off the bank, including a couple of overwintered fish, targeting Fry feeding fish around the weedbeds. After Initially catching down by the Hawthorns, Mark also went on to catch along the Dam & Harrisons Corner. Fishing the 2^nd day of a Short Break, Bill Woods had another productive day. This time he was fishing with a Mr Mckay, with Mr Munro in a separate boat. They went on to land well over 20 fish between them, catching on a multitude of patterns including Foam Daddies & traditional Wets, from various locations around the reservoir. That’s great angling. For anyone interested in one of our short breaks, please use the following link https://www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/about-us-2/short-break-packages

As each day of the week has passed, the fishing has got better & better. Wednesday saw the previously forecast strong winds not materialise until late afternoon/early evening & for the those venturing out they were rewarded with good fishing as the reservoir fished well from the Float Tubes, boats & the bank. For the boat anglers, the Main Basin fished well as it has all week, with fish being caught high up in the water column on a variety of methods; Washing Lined Floating Lines/Midge Tip or Dries. On their Final day of a 3 Day Short Break, the Woods, Munro & McKay enjoyed another productive day landing nearly 30 fish between them on Foam & CDC Daddies. From the banks, Eyebrook member Roy Swinfield & Eyebrook regular Max Woolnough both had very productive mornings, landing well into double figures, fishing natural patterns, slow & tight in along the Dam Wall. Concentrating on the Main Basin, Pete Lehure enjoyed his session in his Float Tube, landing 12 fish, fishing the Washing Line.

Thursday saw the weather pay a significant part in how the reservoir fished. The conditions looked great but there was a strong wind in the morning that petered out in the afternoon. Not for the first time, the fish here at Eyebrook seemed very reluctant to stick their noses up into a good wave, despite the very favourable conditions. By afternoon, the wind had dropped, so to the waves & fish could be seen moving all over. Subsequently, the Washing Line & Straight-Lined Floaters were the most productive methods in the morning & Dries were in the afternoon. Mark Gee landed 10 fish using Straight-Lined tactics & All Water Member Mark Hunt had 16 fish on a single Grunter in the afternoon. Mark did not see a fish until 12.30hrs, just to echo the importance of the conditions. Elsewhere from the bank, Max Bazely had 6 in a short morning session from the Dam & fish from the bank were caught as far down as the willows. Eyebrook regular Max Woolnough, went out fly fishing for Pike & was duly rewarded with a couple of mid doubles which is indication the Pike are starting to move.

Friday was yet another day of 2 halves. The morning was very bright, whereas the afternoon was overcast. As the previous day, the reservoir fished well to the Washing Line in the morning & then the Dries in the afternoon. One to benefit from this was All Water Member Ed Douglas who caught well in the morning on the Washing Line & switched to Dries in the afternoon. Ed finished the day on 17 fish which was excellent. There were plenty of the boats getting into double figures on either method from various locations around the reservoir, with the open water between the Island & the Willows proving to be productive. From the Banks, Stuart Normanton landed 6 fish on a Cat’s Whisker, Diawl Bachs & Buzzers.

The conditions were great on Saturday with plenty of cloud cover & a gentle South westerly Breeze. On the boats fish were caught from various locations around the reservoir, from Mucky Bay to the Willows & down to Dam. Both the Dries & the Washing line, on a floater or a tip line, caught well with long drifts & having clear, open water in front of your boat proving to be key. Some good, consistent returns were recorded, Eyebrook Member Mick Farrell, landed 12 on the Washing Line with Diawl Bachs on the droppers. The bank anglers really got amongst some fish with both the Leicester Bank down to Sam’s Dyke & the Dam fishing well. More Eyebrook Members, Bob Margery & Steve Lawrence had a great morning session fishing the Dam with Intermediates & Floating Lines, landing well over 30 fish between them.

Sunday saw us host the latest AMFC Group 3 match, which saw 5 teams take to the water in very favourable conditions, a moderate south westerly breeze with plenty of cloud cover. The reservoir fished well, fishing to a rod average of 4.5 with fish being caught on Dries & on the Washing Line, from long drifts across the Main Basin. Well done to all participants & congratulations to the winning team, Bristol Reservoirs Fly Fishing Association, who, with a great team performance, catching an impressive 46 fish. Elsewhere, Eyebrook Member Dave Etty had a very productive day off the bank. Dave fished the Leicester Bank, targeting naturally feeding fish around the weedbeds using Olive Nymphs, Corixa patterns & CDC Emergers to land a high number of fish. The bank fishing is really starting to switch on with fish starting to get from various locations around the reservoir.

Upcoming Events.

08^th October – Alex Booth Fly Fishers – 13 Boats.

11^th October – England Disabled Fly Fishers Fur & Feather – 15 Boats + 2 Wheely Boats.

15^th October – All Abilities Friendly Fly Fishers – 14 Boats + 2 Wheely Boats.

21^st October – Greylags – 10 Boats.

29^th October – Eyebrook Fur & Feather – All Boats.

 2023 Eyebrook Closing Date is Monday 20^th November.

Weather: we use two weather forecast pages.

Both options give a good 48-to-72-hour forecast.

XC Weather – https://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/LE16_8RP use this link for Eyebrook.

Windy App – https://www.windy.com/  on their home page, enter the fishery name Eyebrook Reservoir.