Grafham Water Fly Fishers' Association

If you are not yet a member, you can join now for just £17 until 31 December 2022. Benefits include regular e Newsletters & updates, organised boat & bank competitions, free entry to monthly “big fish” prizes, insurance on club events, entry to winter evening meetings (in person and by Zoom). Please see the calendar for dates & content of meetings.

Please e mail the secretary (jbatter100@ gmail.com) for an application form.

Existing members are politely reminded that their subs for 2022 will be due on 1st January, so please make payment direct to the club’s bank account (details in recent newsletter or contact club secretary jbatter100@gmail).

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

Grafham Water

Fish 58(season 12,422) Returns 26 (2,933) Rod average 2.23 (4.24)

There are fish feeding all across the reservoir, although the banks and boats have been particularly quiet. A rod average of 2.2 is much lower than many anglers are reporting to the rangers.

Depending on conditions, you will want to fish hares ears up in the water on a floating line, although keeping the line tight rather than an active retrieve is more likely to succeed. On the complete opposite scale a lure pulled through quickly, whether it be a minky, snake or humungous, will see you land a few on your day. Many anglers are struggling to find the fish although you can be sure to find them on heavier areas of substrate, so come along and visit the banks and plan your day in advance.

Whilst water levels are down collecting valuable information on areas of mussel beds, gravel or heavy stone will certainly increase your chances over the next few months. There has been an explosion in small perch numbers this year and the trout will be feeding on them readily, tie a few patterns to mimic perch fry or pop into the lodge to collect some of the current patterns we carry.

Please remember to re-familiarise yourselves with the wading regulations across Anglian Water. Due to the soft silt and clay you can slowly sink or become trapped. The best way to avoid this is to wade no deeper than your thighs.

Due to the receding water all boat anglers will require at the very least wellies or waders. The pontoon is no longer accessible so please ask in the shop or a ranger for directions to temporary measures. This sadly means the wheelie boat is unavailable until further notice. Boat times may vary from those specified so that we can get everybody in safely. Rangers will be around to assist you on and off the boats and we advise contacting the duty ranger before you return to the shore. Please do not leave any boats unattended.

Best boat areas: Willows, south dam, G marker, in front of lodge, Perry Point, Hill Farm, the bowl.

Best bank areas: The Seat, Sludge bank, the dam, Willows, G bank area, Hill Farm.

Midweek boat winner: Mr Skipsey.

Forthcoming events
Shrimpmasters bank league: Sundays 16 December; 6 and 20 January.

Grafham Water

Some good fishing is on offer at Grafham, anglers are catching more fish with improving conditions and the rod average is 2.73.

A few good fish have been coming out this week including 4lb and 5lb brownies for Mr Gilks. Another angler achieving good results was Steve Cracknell who landed a 4lb plus Rainbow. Many anglers are using a wide range of tactics to catch their fish with most picking up a couple or more throughout the day. Switching tactics is important, particularly if you have fish moving in front of you. You will find spells throughout the day where the sport will be tough, although this is usually when a surprise turns up so keep at it

The bank fishing has been steadily improving with plenty of shrimp around drawing the fish closer to the banks. Although fishing floating lines with static shrimp is working well, many of the anglers are finding much better responses fishing lures on faster retrieves. There are many areas that are being relatively unfished on the bank, try somewhere you haven’t fished before and find the gravely substrate for much better chances. The water is still receding at Grafham so take extra care wading into soft silt or mud, take a prod stick, ask a ranger for advice and let somebody know where you are.

Boat anglers are still enjoying some good fishing, particularly on the north shore where fish can be just out of casting range. If you are worried about getting down to the boats the rangers will be happy to assist with your equipment, so ask in the shop or a ranger and we will do everything we can to get you out on the water. You must bring your lure rod at the moment for good results with most varieties working well.

Due to the receding water levels all boat anglers will require at the very least wellingtons or waders. The pontoon is no longer accessible so please ask in the shop or a ranger for directions to temporary measures. This sadly means the wheelyboat is unavailable until further notice. Boat times may vary from specified so we can get everybody in safely. Rangers will be around to assist you on and off the boats and we advise contacting the duty warden before you return to the shore. Please do not leave any boats unattended. Thank you.

Best Rainbow: 4lb taken by Steve Cracknell.

Best Brown: 5lb taken by Mr Gilks.

Best boat areas: G marker, dam, drifting near structures.

Best bank areas: Dam, Pylon, Deep Water Point, Hill Farm, Mander bank, G marker, Marlow bank.

Midweek boat winner: Steve Middleton of Holywell.

Competition news
Grafham’s fur and feather was fished on Sunday 25 November. Some great Christmas hampers were on offer along with some excellent fishing. It was a lovely day – thank you to all that turned out for the match with some cracking performances from everyone who fished. Chris Mcleod was the overall and well deserved winner with 6 fish to the bag; the only limit of the day so well done. A rod average of just over 2 was recorded.

1st Chris Mcleod 13lb 5oz bag (best fish 2lb 11oz)
2nd Charlie Abrahams 10lb 8oz bag (best fish 2lb 15oz)
3rd David Moore 9lb bag (best fish 2lb 13oz)

Chris Bobby took the biggest fish at 3lb 3oz.

Forthcoming events
Fly fishing for Pike to 31 January 2019

Shrimpmasters bank league: Sundays 2 and 16 December; 6 and 20 January.