Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 14^th April 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Despite the cold easterly winds we enjoyed a rod average of 4.0 last week with the majority of fish taken on floating, midge tip or intermediate lines. On the colder days a Sink3 or fast sinking line did work best, it was a case of matching the line to the conditions.

The corner of the wood down past the lonesome pine fished best for boat and bank anglers on the windier days the sheltered bank from the end of the stones to the farm

Scotty Wilson caught 11 from the lonesome pine area on Monday. Dave Leavesley bank fished down by the lonesome pine catching 6 fish on buzzer and cats whisker patterns with the most productive time between 11am and 1pm

Pete Hunt caught 18 on Wednesday with Tony Lorrimer fishing his bunny patterns to catch 20 with L Sorreno fishing the afternoon session with buzzers, dawson olive and red holo cormorants to catch 23 trout

Neil James caught a rainbow of 5lb+ with D Ryalls catching a 4lb+ rainbow, photo on www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Over the weekend we had members of the Complete Fly Fisher forums visit Thornton for their annual competition notable catches were Kevin Dewey 17 trout, Ian Lindsey 19 trout, Paul Evans 16 trout catching on blobs, boobies and damsel patterns

The colder conditions are pegging back our evening rise sport, hopefully with the forecast giving improving air temperatures towards the middle of the week onwards we will see an evening rise as were certainly getting the buzzer hatches.

Water clarity is excellent

Our rod average 4.0

Our water levels are down 4ft due to the continued maintenance work on the overflow,

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 8.00 pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 8.00pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.00pm

Afternoon Boats: 2.00pm 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 Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 7^th April 2019

Tel 01530 230807

The first week of April and it had us all pulling on an extra layer of clothing with the strong cold North Easterly. Not surprising therefore rod numbers were low for the week.

Despite the cold wind we had good buzzer hatches most days with fish up & about feeding on the buzzer at times in good numbers off the corner of the wood & down from the stones to the farm bank.

The highlight of the week were the two well conditioned rainbows taken by D Leavesley at 4lb4oz and Jan Webber 5lb2oz photo on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Monday D Button fished the afternoon session finding the fish moving down the Markfield arm catching 5 on diawl bach and buzzer. Tuesday D Leavesley fish a couple of hours before close again finding feeding fish off the corner of the wood.

Richard Dayman put up with the cold conditions catching 20 off the wood with B Pearce bank fishing recording 7 on damsels

Members H Davies caught 11 for his Friday visit with D Woodall catching his 6 on buzzer patterns, Saturday Mark Hunt caught 11 specifically targeting the buzzer feeding fish which were finnicky as they had been all week

Sunday And Thornton fly fishers fished their spring boat pairs competition with Richard Dayman & Nigel Harvey winning the comp with Pete Birdsall and Tony Kirk second

Sport improved as the week went on with increasing buzzer hatches

Water clarity is good

Our rod average was 3.0

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Bank: 07:30 am till 7.45 pm

Boat All Day: 08:30 to 7.45pm

Morning Boats:   08:30 until 2.00pm

Afternoon Boats: 2.00pm until 7.45pm

Last 4 Hours from: 3.45pm until 7.45pm (Tickets on sale from 3.30pm)

All anglers to be off site by: 8.00pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary

At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water

This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 31^st March 2019

Tel 01530 230807

A very mixed weeks fishing at Thornton with anglers reporting seen fish feeding on the improving buzzer hatches along the stones & in the evening from the corner of the wood.

Anglers found the fish they could see moving difficult to temp with some finding blobs & boobies easier to tempt fish, although the fish when spooned were full of buzzer

Areas that have produced are Stones, down past the lonesome pine & corner of the wood with the morning session fishing best.

As we move into April we normally expect to find increasing numbers of fish down the farm bank & with the increasing hatches of buzzer & the arrival of the sand martins it shouldn’t be too long before were out on the evening rise.

The next two stockings from the River Gwash are due Wednesday 3^rd & Wednesday 10^th

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Water clarity is excellent

Our rod average was 1.1

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Full Day Boats 8.30am – 7.30pm

Morning Boat 8.30am – 2.00pm   Afternoon Boat 2.00pm – 7.30pm

Last 4 hour 3.30pm – 7.30pm

All anglers offsite by 7.45pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary

At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water

This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 17^th March 2019

Tel 01530 230807

A week of unusually constant strong winds which has kept the boats off the water & anglers off the bank for most of last week. We desperately needed the rain to fill the reservoirs after a dry winter, that was the only good point of the weeks weather.

Tuesday provided us with a short break in the weather with J Cutts & M Aylott catching 14 between them on booby, appetizer, Pitsford pea and damsel.

It was Sunday before rods were out again with the ladies leading the way, Carren Tate caught 5 for her mornings visit with Alison Toon catching a 3lb4oz rainbow.

All Water member Mark Hunt having caught 4 at Eyebrook during a short two hour session on Friday visited Thornton on Sunday catching 6 on bloodworm patterns

Clarity is 2ft+ and improving, with last weeks stocking and a better forecast we should see good sport for bank and boat anglers at Thornton this week

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Water clarity is improving and is fishable

Our rod average was 2.3

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Full Day Boats 8.30am – 6.15pm

Morning Boat 8.30am – 1.00pm   Afternoon Boat 1.00pm – 6.15pm

Last 4 hour 4.15pm – 6.15pm

All anglers offsite by 6.30pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary

At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water

This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 11^th March 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Strong winds at times last week kept the boats on the pontoon and made bank fishing near impossible, however on the better days we enjoyed excellent spring sport with the rod average for the week a respectable 5.9

Tuesday All Water Members Paul Havard and Nev Welsh caught 12 trout apiece, Alan Topping bank fished catching 6 during his short 4 hour session. Ian Jobe bank fished on Wednesday catching 9 trout. On Thursday day rod Tony Lorrimer used his rabbit patterns to record 21 trout.

Friday produced the best days fishing Richard Price caught 14 on damsel patterns, Jamie Scott fished damsels, cut throat cat and dancer patterns for his 19 trout with Neil Shilton taking to his float tube and recording 14 trout. Ricky Cotterill and S Wilson caught well into double figures with the damsel pattern again being the fly that was working.

Some fish are starting to fall to buzzers and crunchers with Ian Coe, Peter Wrigley using them to catch their fish

As we enter week 7 of the season some of the earlier stocked trout are feeding on bloodworm and buzzer, we will see an increasing number start to take the buzzer as we move into March.

The area opposite the lodge and corner of the wood continues to fish although anglers who are pushing down towards the lonesome pine into the Markfield arm are picking up increasing numbers of trout.

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Water clarity is good

Our rod average was 5.9

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Full Day Boats 8.30am – 6.00pm

Morning Boat 8.30am – 1.00pm   Afternoon Boat 1.00pm – 6.00pm

All anglers offsite by 6.15pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water

This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 3^rd March 2019

Tel 01530 230807

An excellent weeks fishing with the February weather being kind for us, with bank and boat anglers enjoying the excellent early season sport with a 6.7 rod average

The area opposite the lodge continues to produce but it was noticeable this week that the trout were moving further along towards the corner of the wood and down the Markfield arm.

All Water member Ken Key who usually fishes Draycote visited Thornton for the first time catching 8 off the bank on buzzer and blobs, Dave Smith another All Water member caught 12 for his visit with Keith Coley catching an overwintered trout of 5lb12oz photo on www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Alan Topping continues to find the fish off the bank recording 19 for his visit. Bob Menhams fished a short morning session from a boat catching 9, with Disabled International Angler Harold Pritchard catching 24 for his visit.

Ian Jobe is making good use of his All Water permit visiting Thornton prior to Eyebrook opening and recording 24 off the bank. Richard Price enjoyed his best visit ever at Thornton catching 20 for his visit.

Crunchers and fabs worked for Robert Middleton fishing from the bank he caught 14 trout, Scotty Wilson fished a midge tip with a gold headed daddy catching steadily all day.

The good sport continued into the weekend with Thornton members Jan Webber, Martin Clay, Brian Sibley, Mark Hunt and Andy Lilley all returning good numbers of trout.

Although black and green or white and green lures are still taking good numbers its noticeable the increasing numbers of trout taking buzzers, crunchers & bloodworm patterns

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Our rod average was 6.7

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Full Day Boats 8.30am – 5.45pm

Morning Boat 8.30am – 1.00pm   Afternoon Boat 1.00pm – 5.45pm

All anglers offsite by 6.00pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary: At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water

This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 24^th February 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Were enjoying a good spell of weather which is allowing our rods to enjoy some excellent sport from the bank and boats.

The bank is still enjoying the best of the sport with the fish running close to the margins opposite the lodge and down past the lonesome pine, there is no need to wade.

As the week progressed it became noticeable that the afternoon session was fishing best for the bank & especially the boats. Sinking lines with black & green lures, orange blobs & cats whisker are the best patterns to use, although by the weekend anglers using buzzers & apps bloodworm were starting to catch increasing numbers.

Day rods Alan Topping had another successful bank session catching 19 trout, Vince Aronica fished in his wellingtons keeping out of the water to catch his 11 trout, Mark Perry caught 13, J Woodward boated 15 with P Cooper and partner boating 30 fish for their visit.

All Water Members Nev Welsh, Andy Lilley, Phil Mee, Mark Hunt, Neil Shilton all caught 10+ fish for their visit.

Thornton members Matt Vickers, Szymon also caught 10+ trout off the bank for their visit

Draycote fishery ranger and guide Lee Henfrey fished the bank once again showing his mastery of the sinking line

Good average size to the trout with overwintered trout to 5lb+ recorded again this week

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Our rod average was 4.1

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Full Day Boats 8.30am – 5.30pm

Morning Boat 8.30am – 1.00pm   Afternoon Boat 1.00pm – 5.30pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary. At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water

This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 18^th February 2019

Tel 01530 230807

The weather was a little kinder this week, a couple of early morning frosts with the sun clearing that by 9.30am.

Intermediate, mid-range & fast sinking fly lines with black and green lures, orange blob, boobies and damsel have caught with the warmest part of the day 10.30am to 3pm the most productive time to fish with anglers reporting a slow retrieve working best.

The area in front of the lodge & wood is fishing best with the bank anglers enjoying the best of the sport as the trout ran close to the margins along the shallows opposite the lodge.

A few more of our new All Water Members visited this week with Ian Jobe catching 17 off the bank, Dave Slesser caught 11 from a boat with N Shilton taking to his float tube for his 12 trout, with Neil finding some fish in front of the dam, with Mark Hunt catching 9 for his short afternoon visit.

Thornton member P Wrigley fished on the Wednesday and caught 1 but returned on the Thursday and caught 15, Jan Webber decided to fish the bank for his two visits catching 10 & 7 with Pete Hunt catching 11 off the deeper bank at the top of the Thornton arm

Day rods J Perry & P Harding caught 15 to the boat, Bill Ward caught 10 to his boat with L Sorreno catching 12

Couple of club matches this week with Thornton Fly Fishers bank match fishing to a 4 fish limit won by Martin Vernon pushing Richard Dayman to second place. Colwick Fly Fishers fishing a boat competition to a 4 fish limit with the winner I believe was K Saxton.

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Our rod average was 3.9

Main gate, lodge & bank fishing open 7.30am

Full Day Boats 8.30am – 5.00pm

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Date for your Diary: At Draycote on Sunday 14^th April FREE opportunity to try a RIO fly line or SAGE rod of your choice fishing with one of our guides. We have Simon Gawesworth of RIO & Jim Fearn of SAGE who are available to advice & demonstrate casting for Trout, Salmon & Salt water. This day is free, booking essential call the Draycote lodge 01788812018

Thornton Weekly Report

Week ending 10^th February 2019

Tel 01530 230807

Thornton 2019 season opened on the 1^st February. The opening 10 days has given us a variety of weather with ice, strong winds, rain and some mild weather, a proper mixed bag.

As we would expect the majority of the trout were caught opposite the lodge & down in front of the wood for the bank anglers with boats catching in front of the lodge down towards the lonesome pine.

Intermediate, mid-range & fast sinking fly lines with black and green lures, orange blob, boobies and damsel have caught with the warmest part of the day 10.30am to 3pm the most productive time to fish with anglers reporting a slow retrieve working best.

Reservoir is currently 3ft down if your coming to fish the bank wellingtons or waders are recommended.

Our rod average for the first 10 days of the season was 6.5

Following the rain on Sunday it has reduced the clarity as we always recommend you call the lodge for latest updates. 01530 23080

You can follow us on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/FlyFishStore

Happy New Year to you all

Thornton opens for the 2019 season on the 1st February 2019.

Tel 01530 230807

No price increase for 2019

We are taking bookings but as were out repairing boats & undertaking general winter maintenance if you can’t get us on the phone you can email us at lodge@flyfishthornton.co.uk with your booking requests.

January Sales

We have an online tackle shop at www.flyfishstore.co.uk as we prepare to restock our shops we do have a Sale & Clearance page which will be updated weekly at www.flyfishstore.co.uk/shop/category/sale-items/

New for 2019 is our All Water Membership that allows you to spread your visits across Thornton, Foremark, Draycote & Eyebrook with membership options starting from £480.00
email Lodge@flyfishthornton.co.uk for details.

Dates for your Diary

We will be attending the popular BFFI Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Show on the 9th & 10th February 2019 show info visit their website https://www.bffi.co.uk/

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