Grafham Water Fly Fishers' Association

Member John Vincent with a 4lb 12.4oz rainbow caught from the dam on Tuesday 7 July 2020

We would like to thank you for your continued cooperation and patience during the recent unprecedented times. 

During the closed period, we have continued to maintain our stocking and we can’t wait to open up for a great fishing season. 

We are pleased to inform you we will be re-opening to anglers on Tuesday 2^nd June 2020. In preparation for this, from 9am Thursday 28^th May 2020 our fisheries team will be available to taking bookings for the coming months (please do not call before this time as the team will not be back onsite until then).  Please note however that in order to maintain social distancing and cut down on the amount of traffic in the lodges, all boats booked  will need to be paid for at the point of booking.  The terms and conditions of which will be updated on our website.  We will still be accepting ‘walk-ins’ for boat fishing but strongly suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

To ensure we comply with social distancing and government guidelines, the fisheries will be observing new operating procedures. We ask that you respect these guidelines and follow them to ensure all our staff and visitors remain safe. 

Parking

• Please be mindful of others on arrival to the car park. Please leave a parking space between each other to allow time to unload. Where this is not possible, please find a space next to a vacant vehicle.
• Please note at Grafham no cars will be allowed to park or drop off in the area by the boats.  At Rutland there will be no parking by the lodge, but as before you can drop off your kit here.  This is to allow more room for social distancing.  However Blue badge holders can continue to park here.

Lodges

• All lodges will open at 8am to 3pm 7 days a week for boat and permit sales.  Please only attempt to enter a lodge for these purposes. We kindly ask that anglers do not visit to chat or say ‘hello’ to the staff – no matter how much you have missed us!
• We are limiting the number of people in the lodge at the same time. Please be patient if you are asked to wait.
• We ask you keep your shopping time as brief as possible for tackle sales and be mindful and courteous of other customers waiting to enter, particularly if they are wanting to go fishing.  Strictly no ‘browsing’ whilst there is a queue to enter the lodge.
• Please adhere to all signage in regard to queuing and social distancing maintaining 2 metres apart.
• If you are boat fishing with a member of the same household, only one of you should enter the lodge and pay for the boat in full.  At this time, we will not split payments for boats.
• We request the use of contactless/card payments where possible. The limit for contactless card transactions has been increased to £45.
• Please note Rutland cafe remains closed and Grafham cafes are offering a limited takeaway service only. 
• Toilet facilities will be available at all our lodges. Please observe social distancing maintaining 2 metres apart.

Bank Angling

• Anglers must maintain 2 meters apart when fishing.
• For pre-paid permits following payment, you will be emailed a permit, which should be carried with you whilst fishing. A biosecurity agreement and fishery rules will also be emailed to you.
• On arrival you may commence fishing at your leisure. You are required to text/call in and out to the ranger mobile:
  • Rutland: 07885 484113
  • Grafham: 07801 674683
  • Pitsford: 07885 135453
  • Ravensthorpe: 01604 770875
• Once your fishing session is complete and you have washed down following our biosecurity measures, we ask you to promptly leave site.
• Where you need to gut/clean fish please adhere to social distancing measures at Grafham & Pitsford. Please note that there is no gutting room at Ravensthorpe and due to concerns with social distancing we will not be opening the Rutland gutting room at this time.
• Please place catch returns in the usual catch return boxes or alternatively email them to fishing@anglianwater.co.uk
• During your visit you may need to touch gates and padlocks, it is angler’s responsibility to make sure they have taken adequate measure to maintain hygiene, i.e. have their own hand gels and sanitizers etc.

Boat Fishing

• We are operating a reduced boat fleet to allow us to clean and sanitise the boats and equipment ready for the next fisherman.
• Single man boats only permitted at this time, unless you are fishing with 1 other member of your household.
• We recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment.
• Payment needs to be made over the telephone when pre-booking. Pre-payment will enable you to make your way straight to the pontoon on arrival and avoid any unnecessary queuing at the lodge.
• The rangers will issue you a boat on your arrival at the pontoon.
• No requests for specific boats can be made at this time.
• Where you need to gut/clean fish please adhere to social distancing measures at Grafham & Pitsford. Please note that there are no gutting rooms available at Rutland and Ravensthorpe currently.

Arriving and departing from the pontoon

• Pre-paid boat customers do not need to enter the shop, boat numbers will be issued by the rangers on the pontoon.  
• Where possible pre-booked customers should try to arrive before 10am.
• On arrival at the pontoon we ask you to wait at the signposted area and queue maintaining a 2 metre distance at all times.
• Once fishing is completed, when you arrive back to the pontoon we ask that the boat is docked the same side you departed from.  Please continue to adhere to social distancing measures when disembarking from your boat.
• Please place catch returns in the usual catch return boxes or alternatively email them to fishing@anglianwater.co.uk
• Where you need to gut/clean fish please adhere to social distancing measures at Grafham & Pitsford. Please note that there are no gutting rooms available at Rutland and Ravensthorpe currently.
• For your safety, all boats, equipment and lifejackets are disinfected after every use. Boats are given 36 hours between occupants. If you wish, please feel free to bring protective gloves and/or a face covering as well as hand sanitiser. 
• Once in your boat please motor out of the harbour immediately.  Anglers wanting to ‘tackle up’ should do this out in ‘open water’.

As a season ticket holder, once the park is open, we will begin to process refunds for our period of closure. We ask that you remain patient at this time, and our fisheries team will contact you in due course to arrange the following:  

For customers who have paid in full for their 2020/21 Season Ticket

• Refunds will be calculated for the pro rata amount (equivalent to the number of weeks/ months) of lost access to facilities.

For customers who opted for the multi-stage payments

• New ‘set ups’, we will arrange for your multi-stage payments to be set up for the remaining season, discounting the value of pro-rated amount of loss of access to facilities.
• Those currently paused, we will contact you to arrange set up and advise you of your amended future payments, discounting the value of pro-rated amount of loss of access to facilities.

*Please note if you wish to book at boat at Ravensthorpe before 1^st June please call the Pitsford Fishing Lodge to do this. From 1^st June please call Ravensthorpe directly* 

We look forward to welcoming you back. 

Best Practice Guidelines for Game Competition Fishing under Covid-19

Visit the Angling Trust website and click on the above link to read the full guidelines drawn up by the Angling Trust.

Whilst this doesn’t give a green light to the opening up of Anglian Water reservoirs (because of all the other activities that take place on these water parks), it does give some encouragement and hope that we may see trout fishing re-commence in the not too distant future.

As we said in a previous posting, The Angling Trust needs the support of ALL anglers, both as individuals and clubs and with your first year’s subscription in effect paid for by an associated voucher scheme, now is the time to join.

Dear Season ticket holder

Having reviewed the Government’s announcement yesterday, because our water parks are tourism venues and draw large crowds, they will remain closed to the public at this time.  This includes fishing, watersports and events. 

It continues to be a difficult decision for us to make. We know how valuable the park is to you, but the health and safety of our local communities, visitors and colleagues is our priority.  We must be certain that when we reopen we can do so safely, meeting all the guidance on social distancing.  

We know this will be disappointing news. We are regularly reviewing our position and will continue to update you with any changes. However for the time being, like the rest of the hospitality and leisure sector, our attractions, activities and recreation services remain closed.  

Yours sincerely

Jake Williams

Head of Parks and Conservation

When We Fish Again Latest

Whilst GWFFA supports the Angling Trust by way of club membership, in the light of the current restrictions due to the Coronavirus, there has never been a better or more important time to join the AT as an individual member.

Click on the upper link above and read the full proposals made by AT to Government and watch the accompanying video. It is sad to read that many fisheries are being broken into during this time with the probability that fish are being illegally removed; this would not happen if anglers were allowed back on the banks and whilst fishing, acting as bailiffs.

You can currently get your first years subscription effectively paid for by joining now in conjunction with a special offer; click on the lower link to see how you can join and take advantage of this special offer.

Support the Angling Trust and help get us back fishing again.