Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 22^nd September 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Cooler water conditions and with the algae reducing, still there but nowhere near as bad as the week before, we are seeing an improvement to the fishing with a rod average 1.8 for the week

Morning generally best although we are seeing some fish moving in the evening with some large buzzer hatching.

The deeper water in front of the dam, main car park, green bay and stones are the areas to fish with anglers either on fast sinking lines, midge tip or floating lines.

Mark Hunt recorded 17 trout during his two visits catching on dries, cdc and diawl bach. Jan Webber caught 3 for his mornings visit fishing along the stones with buzzer and yellow minkie booby. P Hunt also fished along the stones catching 5 on buzzers and boobies with Peter Wrigley fishing buzzers to take his 3 trout during a mornings visit. Peter Broad fished boobies and diawls to catch his 4 trout again during a morning visit.

With the cooler conditions and improving situation with the algae we will be stocking again this Monday 23^rd.

Our water level is currently 6ft down

Current rod average: 1.8

As always we recommend you call the lodge for latest information 01530 230807

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 7.00pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 7.00pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.00pm    Afternoon Boats: 2.00pm until 7.00pm

Last 4 Hours from: 3.00pm until 7.00pm (Tickets on sale from 2.45pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 7.15pm

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 15^th September 2019

Tel 01530 230807

The cooler evening has helped to drop our water temperature to 17c, the algae however stubbornly refuses to go which continues to impact on our sport

A slight improvement to the fishing this week although at Thornton its still sinking lines with booby & snakes while Draycote & Eyebrook with little or no algae are enjoying dry fly sport.

The drifts from the car park, valve tower & green bay across the main basin are the areas to concentrate with anglers covering the water on the drift or back drift catching better than the anglers on anchor

With the boobies on a sinking line a shorter 6 – 8ft leader with orange boobies best with a longer leader best if your fishing snakes

Mornings is best, a few fish are moving in the evening although the algae is hampering any rise

Current rod average: 1.2

As always we recommend you call the lodge for latest information 01530 230807

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 7.30pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 7.30pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.30pm    Afternoon Boats: 2.30pm until 7.30pm

Last 4 Hours from: 3.30pm until 7.30pm (Tickets on sale from 3.30pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 7.45pm

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 1^st September 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Water temperature remained stubbornly high at 20c+ although as I write this report the cooler conditions since Sunday is starting to see the temperature drop if a little slowly.

Algae bloom persists which isn’t helping us at all.

Generally, the deeper water in front of the main car park, dam wall & green bay is the area to try, but there doesn’t seem to be any consistency, an area that produces a few fish one day seems devoid of fish the next.

As reported last week on Monday Simon caught 7 on a booby fast sink line for his morning’s session fishing from the valve tower to green bay, John Thompson & Pete Hunt fished twice during the week catching 7 on sinking lines booby on the drift over the deeper water. All of the fish caught during the week were during the morning session.

As the water temperature drops we should start to see our clarity improve and more importantly be in a position to restock as we move into the autumn

Current rod average: 0.8

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 8.00pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 8.00pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.30pm    Afternoon Boats: 2.30pm until 8.00pm

Last 4 Hours from: 4.00pm until 8.00pm (Tickets on sale from 3.45pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 8.15pm

You can follow us on our social media page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 25^th August 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Generally a tough week our water temperature remains stubbornly at 19c with the mini bank holiday heatwave not helping.

Mornings were the best time to fish with the main car park, dam wall and green bay the only areas that produced.

You required a sinking line or a long leader 18ft+ on a floater to catch any fish with claret buzzer, cats whisker and orange blob, fab or booby

Richard Price photo on our social media pages www.instagram.com/flyfishstore/ or www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore  fished a floating line with claret buzzer static on a long leader to catch 3 trout for 8lb from the main car park area. Stuart Thompson fished the same area again with a floating line and long leader with a cats whisker and black buzzer to also take 3 trout with John Thomson fishing a sinking line with a Fab to take his 3 trout and a 2lb perch

Szymon fished bank holiday Monday catching 7 on a sinking line and orange booby from green bay area.

We have an algae bloom which isn’t helping matters with our water level currently down 5ft due to the ongoing work to the overflow. We are advised the completion to the work should be mid to late September

Current rod average: 0.8

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 8.15pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 8.15pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.30pm    Afternoon Boats: 2.30pm until 8.15pm

Last 4 Hours from: 4.15pm until 8.15pm (Tickets on sale from 4.00pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 8.30pm

You can follow us on our social media page

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 22nd August 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Similar tale to last week, fishing remains slow.

Some rods are picking up fish with Mark Hunt fishing last Friday in very wet & breezy conditions finding fish moving in Green Bay catching 6 on cdc buzzers & daddies.

Most anglers who caught fished snakes, booby & cats whiskers as we currently have an algae bloom, if we have a breeze it is blowing it all to one end of the reservoir.

Water temperature is starting to drop with it currently at 19c in the morning

As we hosted the John Horsey comp at Draycote last weekend we have moved some boats as they were required for the competition, this will temporarily reduce the Thornton boat availability, please call the Thornton lodge to book a boat before you travel.

Current rod average: 0.8

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 8.30pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 8.30pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.30pm    Afternoon Boats: 2.30pm until 8.30pm

Last 4 Hours from: 4.30pm until 8.30pm (Tickets on sale from 4.15pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 8.45pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 11^th August 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Few anglers out this week as they took our advice due to water temperature, algae and stormy weather.

A few fish were taken and were pleasantly surprised by the size and quality of the trout caught with Mr Ashman taking a 4lb rainbow & Mrs Warren taking a 3lb+ rainbow both in excellent condition.

Surprisingly the larger trout were taken in the shallower water off the corner of the wood, with Mat Vickers picking his two fish up in front of the main car park over deeper water.

Snakes, booby and cars whisker were the patterns that caught the fish.

On Thursday we saw the first of the claret buzzer on the water, a buzzer we expect to see at Thornton during August.

Water temperature is starting to drop with it currently at 19c in the morning with the current forecast it will be somewhere between 18c & 19c by the middle of the week

As were hosting the John Horsey comp at Draycote this weekend 17^th & 18^th we have moved some boats as their required for the competition, this will temporarily reduce the Thornton boat availability, please call the Thornton lodge to book a boat before you travel.

Current rod average: 0.8

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 8.45pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 8.45pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.30pm    Afternoon Boats: 2.30pm until 8.45pm

Last 4 Hours from: 4.45pm until 8.45pm (Tickets on sale from 4.30pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 9.00pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 28^th July 2019

Tel 01530 230807

That was a tough week at Thornton, our surface water temperature 18inch down during the mini heatwave hit 21c at 7.30am peaking at 24c by 3.00pm, with our water level down by 6ft+ making the hot conditions that much worst we took the sensible decision to stop catch and release until conditions improve. We also have had an algae bloom during the week.

Anglers generally took our advice not to fish with us this week or visited our larger waters Eyebrook & especially Draycote with its aerator been a bonus this past week

The very few anglers that fished generally fished the morning session.

Not surprising therefore snake, booby on a fast sinking line or a long leader 16ft+ with the flies on the lower 8ft of the leader with patterns such as weighted apps bloodworm on the point, buzzer or small blob on the dropper

It’s a relief therefore that the weather cooled on Saturday 27^th with much cooler air temperatures and persistent heavy rain on Sunday 28^th seeing the reservoirs level rise by over 1ft which will help reduce our water temperature.

The current long range forecast for the next fortnight is for generally cooler, showery & breezy conditions, not great for the farmers trying to get the harvest in, but for the fisheries throughout the country a welcome relief & will only help the general fly fishing conditions.

As we always advise please contact the lodge before travelling for advice on conditions & general sport.

Current rod average: 0.6

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 9.15pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 9.15pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 3.00pm    Afternoon Boats: 3.00pm until 9.15pm

Last 4 Hours from: 5.15pm until 9.15pm (Tickets on sale from 5.00pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 9.30pm

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 21st  July 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Thornton has suffered this week again as the warm muggy weather pushed the water temperature above 20c we also have an algae bloom

Not surprising morning session 8.00am – 3.00pm is currently fishing best.

Steve Brown fished Monday evening despite the warnings from the lodge that the fishing was going to be tough, not for Steve, small pink snake and 3 hours later 3 fish in the boat

Generally our advice of tough fishing has proved correct with the rod average at 0.6 for the week.

As usually the case a few people find a method that works and produces a few fish, Pete Hunt caught 4 for his mornings visit on buzzers, Andy Lilley caught 3 on Saturday morning again on buzzers with Mark Hunt fishing a team of buzzers off a midge tip to catch his fish.

The blessing for us is the shortening days, every week we will gain 15 minutes of extra darkness its during the cooler darker hours that the water will lose its temperature and get back towards a fish friendly 18c

As we always recommend contact the fishing lodge 01530 230807 for latest updates before you travel

Current rod average: 0.6

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 9.30pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 9.30pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 3.00pm    Afternoon Boats: 3.00pm until 9.30pm

Last 4 Hours from: 5.30pm until 9.30pm (Tickets on sale from 5.15pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 9.45pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 7^th July 2019

Tel 01530 230807

With our water temperature creeping above 20c it has for the first time this summer had an impact on the fishing with our rod average dropping to 0.9 The warmer water conditions has also resulted in an algae bloom towards the end of the week

With the warmer water conditions you need to plan your visit for the cooler morning session and be prepared to fish deep as the trout move into the cooler layers.

Floating lines with 16ft – 20ft leaders with black and red buzzer or weighted apps bloodworm fished static or fish a fast sinking line with a sink rate of 6inch per second plus at Thornton the RIO Mainstream fast sinker does the job https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/rio-mainstream-fast-sinking/ with a booby or snake with the shorter snakes currently working best.

We have an offer on the snakes pattern at our online store https://www.flyfishstore.co.uk/offers/

Clive Holt fished damsel patterns catching 3 fish with 2 weighing 3lb+ & the third an excellent 5lb. Phil Mee has been using buzzers catching 5 for his visit with Andrew Wilson also using buzzers catching 4 to 4lb

The bank has become hard work as the trout have moved to the deeper water in front of the main dam and around the buoys

Best pattern, Small Pink Snake, Small Olive Snake, buzzer, damsel nymph, weighted bloodworm, apps bloodworm.

Morning session 8.00am – 3.00pm is currently fishing best.

As we always recommend contact the fishing lodge 01530 230807 for latest updates before you travel

Current rod average: 0.9

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 9.45pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 9.45pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 3.00pm    Afternoon Boats: 3.00pm until 9.45pm

Last 4 Hours from: 5.45pm until 9.45pm (Tickets on sale from 5.30pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 10.00pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

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Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 7^th July 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Special offer- Please check out www.flyfishstore.co.uk/offers to take advantage of a great deal on our In house guides top patterns when fishing on the washing line.

July can be a difficult month at Thornton due to its size and summer temperatures, that’s not the case this year as we enjoy the best summer fishing I can remember, & I’ve been at Thornton for 38 years!

Rod average this past week was 2.5 with the morning session generally fishing best with anglers using a variety of methods from floating lines with dries, buzzer & bloodworm pattern fished deep & static to the snake on a fast sinker.

As you’d expect for July the deeper water is generally fishing best from the mouth of the Markfield arm across to the buoys in the main basin

If your fishing buzzers deep you currently need a 16ft – 18ft leader with your flies set in the lower 10ft, ideally a weighted bloodworm or red buzzer on the point with a black or golden olive buzzer on the dropper, the trick is to keep it static, Lee Henfrey has an excellent morning fishing his buzzer & blob static on a RIO Midge Tip Long.

With the snakes which seem to be having more success than boobies currently you need to be fishing a fast sink line with a sink rate of 6inch, 7inch or 8inch a second, fish your snakes off a shortish leader 10ft allow time for the sinker to reach the required depth then either fish them back with a slow figure of eight or as Lee found fishing an Olive snake as fast as he could retrieve it, Lee on his mornings visit was into double figure catch, visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore to see the flies Lee was using.

All Water Member Mark Hunt fished a standard midge tip again fishing his flies deep & static with black buzzers to catch his 16 fish on Saturday morning.

Water clarity, during the brighter middle part of the week we had an algae bloom, it was short lived with clarity improving by the weekend.

Best pattern, Pink Snake, Olive Snake, buzzer, damsel nymph, weighted bloodworm, apps bloodworm.

Morning session 8.00am – 3.00pm is currently fishing best.

Current rod average: 2.5

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 10.00pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 10.00pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 3.00pm    Afternoon Boats: 3.00pm until 10.00pm

Last 4 Hours from: 6.00pm until 10.00pm (Tickets on sale from 5.45pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 10.15pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

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