Fly Fishing Reports

More Video at the end of this report

Sport: What a cracking start to the season. We had great weather, a great turnout, great sport, there were seven doubles landed and three tagged trout were caught.

On the shore the best catches came from Newclose and Grindy’s Lawn but there were also some good catches from Hollins bay and the East bank. The fish have spread very quickly especially northwards along the west side of the reservoir to Newclose and Eaking Shallows. The best catch went to Paul Gaskell (video interview to follow). Paul fished Newclose Bay with a sink tip line and two weighted flies. He had a gold head viva on the point and a gold head hare’s ear on the dropper. He retrieved with a steady figure of eight and had arm aching action right from the start. Fishing along side him was Dave Gaskell who landed a belting 12lb 12oz rainbow to earn himself a place in the 2009 doubles club and his total bag weight was the best of the day. It weighed 22lbs 12oz for five fish and has earned him a 9ft 6” 7# SONIK fly rod.

The fishing in Hollins Bay was a bit patchy some anglers were catching well while others nearby were struggling for takes. Frank Hartley took 11 fine trout and lost several others in a half day session whilst fishing near Hollins Hurdle and later Paul Davison dropped into the same spot to take nine more. Both anglers fished midge tip lines, which definitely seemed to be the choice line from the bank. Frank fished a yellow dancer on the dropper and a black tadpole on the point, Paul fished unweighted nymphs and wets. The best fish of the day was a beautiful rainbow of 14lbs 7oz it was caught at two trees and was caught by local angler Anthony Hooley. (Picture to follow)

We had three tagged fish caught today. The 2^nd and 3^rd of the day were caught from the bank by Frank Hartley and John Williams who both received a Stocks vouchers worth £30. The 1^st of the day was caught by Peter Andrews whilst boat fishing near Willow Island, it was part of a very impressive 26 fish haul by Peter and his boat partner Stuart McCaughy. The tagged trout won Peter a Reddington CPS fly rod worth £260. Not to be out done Stuart landed the best fish which weighed 10lbs 5oz and by earning him a place in our doubles club it gives him a chance to win a season ticket for 2010. (video to follow)

On the whole he boats fished really well. We saw many boats catch more than twenty trout today and plenty of fish over 3lbs were taken. The best trout from the boats tipped the scales to 12lbs 8oz and was caught by David McAbe on a small black ally cat. (picture to follow) The most consistent methods were intermediate lines or slow sinkers with a variety of mini lures and boobies retrieved with a slow draw. The hang also accounted for more than its fair share of fish. Carl Nixon and Alec Bowler both took 17 trout, Carl’s best fly was a black n green lure fished on a midge tip whilst Alec used a fly called a monster on an intermediate. The top boat was Mr Dinning and Paul Moore who landed an amazing forty five fish on boobies. The Hot spots were The Northern Shallows, Willow Island, Newclose and Grindy’s Lawn.

The mild weather looks like its here to stay for the coming week so lets hope the great sport continues. Tight lines Ben Dobson