England Troutmasters reports for week-ending February 17th, 2017
Blackdyke Trout Fishery, Norfolk
With the weather this past week being less than ideal and the water temperature dropping into consistent low single digits, fishing has been tough. Forecast for this week is more favourable and those that have managed to catch under the tough conditions have been using Bloodworms, Cat’s Whiskers and Snakes. The water clarity is excellent and we are looking to restock in the next week or so.
Chatton Trout Fishery, Northumberland
Cold easterly winds have made sport challenging for some anglers this week. Fish are approximately five feet deep. Depending on the weather conditions the best patterns are lures, Tinnies, Black Buzzers and Pheasant Tail Nymphs. Black appears to be the prominent colour working this week. Matty Divine from Hadston enjoyed his day, catching 14 fish up to 10lb 8oz using PTNs and Bloodworms. The Chatton Ladies Angling Club are meeting on Saturday February 18 at 9.30am in the lodge.
Elinor Trout Fishery, Northamptonshire
For the opening weekend of February 11-12 the 46 anglers caught 503 fish of which 449 were returned. Best fish: 6lb 2oz to Jurgis Mikalauskas, from Peterborough, on a Pitsford Pea; 5lb 12oz for Phil Rennocks, Kettering, Candy FAB; 5lb 9oz for Tim Wadwell, Northampton, Bloodworm; 5lb 8oz to Norman Sketchley, Leicester; 5lb 2oz for Barry Read, Northampton, Black Buzzer; and 5lb for Mr Curtis, Burton Latimer. Best bank areas were dam and Brookside, best boat area the dam. Best patterns black/green or white/green lures, Goldhead Damsel, Tequila Blob and Bloodworm. Awful wet and cold weather but fantastic fishing! Only 46 anglers came out to play over the opening weekend but they were rewarded with an amazing 10.9 rod average. Most anglers fished the bank using floaters or slow intermediates with weighted lures. Water clarity remains excellent and along with the preseason stocking of 1600 fish a further stocking will take place this week. Lures taking most fish although a few anglers have caught on Buzzers.
Exe Valley Trout Fishery, Somerset
The relatively mild weather conditions have attracted plenty of anglers during January. 117 visited in total, catching 370 fish for an average of 3.2 per rod. In contrast February has been bitterly cold, even so up to February 12, the 48 anglers had wrapped up warm, enjoying some great sport with a total of 159 fish caught for a rod average of 3.3 Top flies include Black Nomads, Blue-flash Damsels and some anglers have been finding success with Buzzers, Daiwl Bachs and Worm patterns. Fish are being caught all over the lake and even when the weather has taken a turn for the worse the fish have been biting such as the perfectly conditioned rainbow weighing 8lb 9oz, caught by John Ratcliffe using a Black Nomad on February 2. Rob Pithouse from Wiltshire also got among the big fish landing a fin perfect 8lb 14oz rainbow, while Danny Ford made use of the catch and release permit to enjoy a hectic three-hour session, netting seven fish to 8lb with a few lost. His winning tactic on a bitterly cold day was to fish very small size 14 Diawl Bachs ultra slow on a sink-tip line.
On Sunday February 5, the local Wistlandpound club visited Exe Valley for the second leg of their winter competition. 11 anglers took part, catching 49 fish for a rod average of 4.5. Winner was Dave Mock with five fish weighing 19lb, Danny Ford was in hot pursuit on 18lb 12oz and third was David Eldred on 18lb 8oz. Dave Mock also bagged himself a £10 tagged trout prize and so did Danny who also caught the best fish of the day at 5lb 12oz. Tactics were mainly sink-tip or intermediate lines with a mix of Blobs (coral), Mini Cats and Diawl Bachs.
The Troutmasters fish-off is on Sunday February 26, 2017. If you caught one of our big fish last season, winning a Troutmasters badge, a letter should have arrived this week so please give us a call to book in on 01398 323008.
This is going to be a big month for Exe Valley as we open up the opportunity to catch and release fishing. Please come and support the fishery and look out for more news on these pages soon.
Packington Trout Fishery, Warwickshire
Last week 39 rods caught 171 fish for an average of 4.38 fish per rod. It was very quiet with the cold conditions towards the weekend putting off anglers. The largest fish of the week was a 6lb 5oz rainbow caught by Colin Merry of Nuneaton who was fishing from the bank of Cocks Close and he took it on a Cat’s Whisker. Fishery regular Dave Bratby of Birmingham fished catch and release from the bank and used a Bloodworm pattern to tempt 14 rainbows to 4lb from Cocks Close. Tom Lyon of Yardley also fished from the bank of Cocks Close and caught a five-fish limit and returned a further six fish which all fell to a green nymph fished on a floating line. Bob Greenaway of Stoke Golding caught eight fish to 3lb 8oz while fishing from a boat on Cocks Close. The fishing is still in good form with both boat and bank anglers catching to a variety of tactics. Cat’s Whisker, Black Tadpole, Goldhead Damsel, Bloodworm, Diawl Bach and Fritz lures are all taking a few fish. The best areas have been the road bank, the sandbank and the old boat jetty corner. A larger stocking of rainbows to double figures will be included this week.
Thrunton Trout Fishery, Northumberland
A wintry week saw anglers fishing through wind, rain, sleet and snow to produce some good bags and bringing to the net some cracking big overwintered fish. Buzzers have been the dominant fly but fish have also been attracted on a real variety of different flies and retrieves. Willie Emery form Newbiggin returned 12 fish from Long Crag on Wicked White Buzzers and Alec Harvey from Cramlington released nine to 8lb also on Buzzers. West Woodburn angler Ray Wood netted eight on Pink Bloodworms while Keith Mortimer had ‘a great day’ returning six on Pink Zonkers. Mick Brown from Bedlington expected a difficult day but was delighted to return 15 from Long Crag on Buzzers. Tony Maddocks from Newcastle landed eight fish, all on wets and David Cook from Ferry Hill enjoyed his first visit catching seven on Buzzers. Ali Tait enjoyed two sessions this week returning 10 and 20 to 13lb 4oz from both lakes on Buzzers and Worms. Pete Davison from New Hartley found Worms productive, landing 14 fish from Long Crag. Terry Keenan from Pegswood landed a 9lb rainbow on a Yellow Dancer and a sink-tip line.Many other anglers had some good bags with Alex Ainslie and Les Dinsmore both netting well-conditioned doubles. Top patterns have been Buzzers, Bloodworms, Zonkers, nymphs, PTNs and Cat’s Whiskers.
Toft Newton Trout Fishery, Lincolnshire
For the week-ending February 10, the 44 rods caught 267 trout for a rod average of 6.06. Opening day certainly didn't disappoint with a couple of anglers managing into the 20's - an ever-reliable Mr Normington being the top rod. Typical early season tactics have reigned supreme, intermediates teamed with either black and green lures or Cat’s Whiskers being the way forward. This is possibly set to continue following the stocking of additional fish on Friday February 10. There's also fish to be caught on Buzzers, Hare’s Ear, Diawl Bach and Crunchers, particularly when there's a few rising. It wouldn't even be a surprise to catch one on a small dry fly. One particular favourite pattern this week has been Andy's small wingless Cat Booby which will be available to buy in the shop from Sunday.
West House Trout Lakes, Cleveland
Better weather forecast this weekend which will be a relief for all anglers. The cold windy weather has made for challenging angling, but those brave enough to put up with the conditions have been rewarded with some good catches. Lures and static flies under the indicator have been the winning combination with some anglers catching up to 20 fish in a sitting. Peter Walker of Northallerton landed 17 fish on his first visit to the lakes, most of his fish falling to a weighted Egg Fly fished under the indicator. Graham Potter of Barnard Castle caught 22 fish with the majority tempted by a Cormorant pattern. David Stuart of Newcastle had the best fish of the week at 11lb, taken on a Cat’s Whisker. Best flies are Zonkers, Cat’s Whiskers, Pink Buzzers, Egg flies, Cormorants. The lakes are now open from 8am until dusk every day. Anglers visiting on a Saturday morning get a free bacon sandwich and tea or coffee.
Westlow Mere Trout Fishery, Cheshire
For the week-ending February 12, 2017 the 63 anglers caught 190 fish for a rod average of 3. Both deeps and shallows producing with fish caught on small lures and nymphs with some anglers catching good numbers of fish on large Sedges fished on the ripple. Gusty conditions led to a few anglers choosing to fish intermediate lines which picked up bonus fish.