Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 29/8/12

The unsettled weather that we have experienced lately is disrupting the fishing some what, however despite this fact there has been some good sport at times, especially from the boats, as the fish do there late summer disappearing act, into deeper water. Fishing from the boats has been far more productive than the bank fishing as anglers afloat have far more access to the deeper stretches of the lake. The most productive areas have been the cages area and strickland bay in the south basin and the weather buoys, grubhole and the area in front of the boathouse stretch in the north basin. Hatches of sedges and buzzer, as well as damsels have provided a window of opportunity in the evenings for the top of the water anglers. However during the daytime most of the fish have stayed deep and gorged themselves on daphnia. When conditions have been right the fish have been up in the water and hitting the fry with gusto. Advice to anglers is to go out, in a boat if you can and assess the conditions on the day of your visit. Autumn is approaching and the bulk of the fish will be back up in the water before long. If you are planning a visit soon and are not accustomed to boat fishing then try the boathouse stretch on the eastern bank or grubhole if you are flyfishing , to experience the best results!

One angler that latched into some fry feeding Brown Trout was England Youth ace John Macintosh, who fished from the boats and took his limit bag of brownies, the best fish tipping the scales at a satisfying 6lb+. All John’s fish were taken on a Di-5 sweep line in conjunction with humungus fry patterns!

Also fishing the same tactics and flies from the boats was Steven Jones from St Ives. Steve fished around the weather buoys and took 2 brownies and a rainbow to complete a successful session.

Meanwhile another fly angler, Peter Ashurst from Peterborough fished a damsel from the boats to record a nice brace of Brown Trout to 7lb+.

Best tactic of late however is worm fished deep and there has been any number of fish caught and reported to this method. Indeed Todd Marsh from Stratford on Avon fished worm 20 feet down in the middle of the north basin to record 6 rainbows and 2 brownies to 2lb+.

Daniel Pearce aged 14 from St Helens also employed this tactic and took a nice brace of rainbows, again by fishing deep at 20 feet down from the boats.

Visiting anglers from Italy Sandro Iafrancesco and Pier Marino experienced a hectic session fishing worm from the boats. The pair landed 3 rainbows and 3 browns to 2lb+, fishing only 7 feet down.

There have been one or two fish out to spinning tactics, not suprising with the number of fry there are in the lake at present. Charles Williams from Chester took a fine brace of Brown Trout to 2lb+.

As we head into September, prospects will significantly improve and the fish should come to the surface in numbers as the water cools. For up to date information please telephone on 015394 36541 , alternately please follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 9/8/12

There has been a marked improvement in the fishing recently with anglers reporting good sport from both boat and bank, although the boats have been experiencing the best of the sport. Reports of good sport are also coming from anglers using all methods employed including worm and spinning tactics, as well as fly fishing. The fry feeding is well under way and as water temperatures are not as high as they normally are at this time of year, they are getting a pounding from the trout in the shallow areas of the lake. Hatches of buzzers are still good and sedges as well as damsels are featuring heavily on the trout’s menu. There are still fish out in the deeper water marks around where the cages used to be and the weather buoys up in the north basin and these fish have favoured the nutrient rich daphnia to feed upon. The best fishing is still to be had first thing in the mornings and the evenings have fished the best, over recent days!

Best recent sport was experienced by Hawkshead Angling Club member Shaun Whitaker from Peterborough who fished 2 days from the boats and employed various fry patterns on a floating line, including cats whisker, jack frost and appetisers to take 22 rainbows and browns. The majority of Shaun’s fish where taken from strickland bay, the weather buoys and the wooded section in front of the boathouse on the eastern bank.

Another fly angler who has been doing well is season ticket angler Jim Miller from Keswick. Jim has taken 18 trout in 3 visits to the fishery, all from the boats and all on a combination of fry patterns and nymphs fished on intermediate and slow sink lines.

Another season rod that had a good session last week was Bill Shortall from Southport. Bill took 5 trout from the boats on a combination of worm and spinning tactics.

Phillip Woods from Liverpool caught the best recent fish of 6lb 11oz, which was a rainbow fishing 25 feet down with worm around the weather buoys from a boat and was Phillips only fish of the day!

            Meanwhile Jamie Burns from London fished spinner from the boat to take 4 nice trout to 3lb+, again from the boats. Bob Brennan from Oldham also employed spinner and took a nice brace of trout, also from the boats.

Best areas from the bank include the point opposite the ticket office, the boathouse stretch on the eastern shore and the grubhole.

Prospects for the forthcoming weeks looks very good, as the water starts to cool and the fry feeding becomes more intense, fish will congregate nearer the surface and the fishing should remain good well into the autumn!

For up to the minute information please contact the fishery on 015394 36541. Also you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 24/7/12

The challenging fishing continues here at Esthwaite Water with anglers struggling to find any consistency. There is a myriad of natural food in lake at this time of year and this is not helping when it comes to fly or bait choice or which areas are more productive than others. Stockie bay is surprisingly still holding fish, however the lack of warm weather has ensured water temperatures are fairly low for the time of year, however the fish are being taken in no more than 6-8 feet, whereas the weather buoys are starting to fish more consistently which is expected and some fish are feeding down at 12-15 feet and are hard on the daphnia. The fish are also hacking into the coarse fish fry and there is any amount of surface activity in the mornings and evening as fish take advantage of the buzzer and sedge hatches. Hatches of damsels are also commonplace at present!

One angler that fished an evening session with dry beetle patterns, encountered the fish in an obliging mood was England Youth member Jon Macintosh from nearby Hawkshead. Jon fished in Stockie bay from the boats and was rewarded with 5 rainbows to 2lb+.

Season ticket angler Jim Miller has also been employing fly tactics from the boats and has taken 13 trout in 4 visits, mainly on a combination of fry patterns and general nymph patterns, fished on an intermediate line set up.

Richard Maddox fished fly and spinner from the boats and landed 3 Brown Trout from the boats.

Any method anglers are experiencing the bulk of the action at present and reports are coming in from both boat and bank. Indeed Pat Newman from Wigan fished the area next to the ticket office and landed 3 rainbows to 2lb+ on worm!

Meanwhile out in the boats Alistair Mcharrie from London took 7 browns and rainbows on spinner! Shaun Peacock from Preston also experienced similar sport, taking 8 trout to 2lb on spinner from the boats. Also Byron Timmer from Gloucestershire also took 3 trout on similar tactics!

Heat 6 of the Esthwaite Water Pairs Competition took place last weekend and the qualifying pairs for this years final was Graeme Bell and Jim Tuck who won the heat , followed closely in second place by Jason and Richard Ruff. Both pairs now go through to the final, to be held on Sunday 9^th September!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 5/7/12

The recent fishing on Esthwaite has once again been challenging, however despite this fact, a number of good catches have been reported from both boat and bank and also on a variety of methods! The fly life and hatches on the lake have been prolific as you would expect for this time of year and this years coarse fish fry have been high on the menu too, however a brief algal bloom last week has encouraged the daphnia to replicate and this usually keeps the fish off the surface and provides the usual head scratching as anglers seek the deeper water and the tricky exercise of finding the feeding depth of the fish. One place that has been consistent with the poor weather that we have experienced this season, is Stockie Bay and The Car Park area of the lake and fish are still feeding on buzzer, sedges and damsels that are coming off the lake. Even these fish have been abit twitchy and a careful approach and the right fly choice have been critical to experience consistent sport!

The West Midlands Police fished from the boats last week and the majority of anglers caught good numbers of fish, however pick of the bunch was seasoned angler Steve Owen who fished a damsel on a floating line to take a dozen fish over the two days to 7lb 5oz  (see attached photo ).

Meanwhile visiting angler Gerben Hulskens from Holland took 5 rainbows to 2lb+ fishing general nymph patterns on an intermediate line.

Season ticket angler Richard Maddox took 3 Brown Trout and 2 rainbows over 2 visits on a combination of spinner and fly. Jim Miller has had 7 fish over 2 visits on cats whisker and damsels and John Gardner has taken 7 in 1 visit.

Any method anglers have been getting in on the action too as Alistair Mcharrie from London proved with 7 trout all taken on spinner from the boats. Meanwhile Shaun Peacock from Preston has taken 8 trout, again on spinner from the boats.

Best recent fish was taken by Season ticket angler Simon Walsh from Wigan. Simon fished worm in Stockie bay and was only out fishing for 1 hour when he hooked into a lump of a rainbow at 12lb 9oz ( see attached photo ).

Heat 5 of the Esthwaite Open Pairs competition was contested last weekend with 10 anglers (5 pairs) weighing in 29 trout for a total weight of 32lb 4oz. In second place Graham Barton and Mick Taylor weighed in 10 trout for 9lb 7oz and in first place Mike Laycock and John Henshall who weighed in 12 trout for a total weight of 13lb 12oz. Both pairs now go through to the final on Sunday September 9^th. Well done to both pairs!

The last heat of this years pairs competition takes place on Saturday 14^th July. Anyone who wishes to enter should contact the fishery as soon as, to book their place!

Also on Saturday the 14^th July we have the last discounted tuition day of 2012. There are still places left for the day and remember this is a 4 hour fly fishing tuition session costs just £10 each. All participants need to bring with them is a current EA licence and a brimmed hat and glasses for protection. Please contact the ticket office on 015394 36541 to reserve your place.

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 20-6-12

The fishing at Esthwaite Water has been challenging of late, with a myriad of fly life coming off the water the fish have been spoilt for choice. The damsels and dragon flies are now hatching with regular abundance. The alders and olives are still coming off the water, along with big buzzer and sedge hatches. To cap all this there has been good numbers of hawthorn flies, daddy long legs and beetles getting blown onto the water and the coarse fish fry which are now already an inch or so long have been featuring heavily in the trout’s diet. Morning and late evenings have been the best times to be out on the water and for the thinking angler who takes consideration to match the hatch have been encountering the best sport!

One such angler and Hawkshead Angling club member Eddie Edmundson from Kendal fished from the boats one evening with floating line and claret buzzers, took 8 rainbows to 2lb+ from Stockie Bay. H.A.C Secretary Dave Armstrong also landed a cracking 5lb rainbow from the boats. Dave took his only fish of the day on a home tied lure fished on a floating line. (see attached picture)

Meanwhile Peregrine Team Esthwaite member Jon Turner also fished an evening session from the boats and landed 6 rainbows to 2lb on floating line and invicta patterns!

Pete Welbourne also fished from the boats and landed 4 rainbows to 2lb 4oz on floating line and hares ear combinations.

Best recent fish was another cracking lump of a rainbow at 12lb taken by visiting angler John Morgan Parker from Crewe. John fished a white lure on a sinking line from the boats to record 7 fish in total.

The season rods are also finding the fishing challenging , however Mr consistent John Gardner from Morecambe has taken 11 browns and rainbows over 3 visits to the fishery, fishing from the boats and using a combination of fly and worm tactics. Jim Miller from Keswick has taken 8 trout in 2 visits and Richard Maddox from Barrow has taken 5 fish in 2 visits.

Any method anglers are also getting in on the action from both boat and bank with Wayne Egan  from Lincolnshire taking 7 browns and rainbows to 2lb on spinner from the boats!

Heat 4 of the Esthwaite Water 2012 Open Pairs Competition was contested last weekend and 8 anglers landed 17 fish for a total weight of 21lb 4oz. In second place Jon Turner and Stuart Hall weighed in 5 fish for 6lb 3oz and in first place Andrew Jones and Dave Mordew weighed in 7 fish for a total weight of 8lb 15oz. Both pairs now qualify for the grand final on Septemeber 9^th. Well done to both teams! The next heat of the competition will take place on Saturday 30^th June. Anyone wishing to enter this popular competition should contact the fishery to book your place.

Also to be held on Saturday 30^th June the next discounted tuition will take place and once again please contact the fishery if you would like to book in. The cost for the session is only £10 and the session itself will be conducted between 10am and 2pm. Participants are reminded to bring with them a hat and a pair of sunglasses, however all tackle is supplied!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.FM

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 30/5/12

The hot weather has slowed sport some what, however there has been some outstanding catches reported nevertheless with successful anglers fishing early mornings and evenings for the most consistent sport. Fly life has been phenomenal with big hatches of buzzer, alders, olives and damsels. There have also been good falls of hawthorn and daddy log legs which have kept fish feeding high in the water and anglers have found that the imitative approach has been the most successful.

Before the start of the hot weather England Youth star Carl Malpass and boat partner seasoned veteran Tom Nelson, both from Consett in Co Durham lost count of the numbers of fish they had to the boat fishing buzzers on a floating line set up. Carl took the best fish of the day and what a fish it was too, a 9lb 12oz beauty (see attached photo ).

Also fishing imitative patterns Malcolm Robson from Morecambe, a Hawkshead Angling Club member took 5 rainbows from the boats on static nymph tactics fishing on a floating line!

Meanwhile visiting anglers from North Wales, John and Rhian Robinson who boat fished the venue and employed buzzers and sedges on floating lines took a total of 62 rainbows and browns over 3 days!

Also doing well with the imitative approach John Morgan Parker fished buzzers on a washing line set up to record 28 trout while fishing from the boats.

The season ticket anglers have also done well with Richard Maddox latching into 23 fish, John Gardner landed 18 trout and Jim Miller 17 trout to the boat fishing cats whiskers and damsels! Also Joe Reynolds employed worm and spinning tactics to take12 trout over 2 visits fishing again from the boats.

Tony Price from Wasdale fished fry patterns on a sinking line from the boats and took his limit bag of 4 fish to 3lb+. Meanwhile Anthony Hutchinson fished small black flies, just under the surface and was rewarded with 3 cracking rainbows fishing from the banking.

Just 6oz separated the top three anglers in the inaugural Esthwaite Water Individual Competition 2012 which was contested recently. This all new boat/fly competition which is open to all fly anglers saw 23 anglers weigh in 87 trout for 127lb 5oz.

The contestants fished from 10am until 5pm and had to retain the top 6 fish with no time bonus system in place. In third place Andy Campbell weighed in 6 trout for 10lb 3oz. In second place Graeme Bell weighed in 6 trout for 10lb 8oz and in first place Andrew Jones weighed in 6 trout for 10lb 9oz and was crowned Esthwaite Individual champion for 2012.

The next discounted tuition day is to be held on Saturday 16^th June, anyone wishing to book in for this event should contact the fishery ticket office to book in. The cost of this not to be missed event is only £10 and all that participants need with them is a hat and pair of sunglasses and a current EA licence!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 17/5/12

The cold northerly weather systems have been with us for weeks now and although it has been unpleasant on the lake some days, the water temperature has remained constant and the fishing as a result has been fantastic. Hatches of buzzers, alders, olives and sedges have been prolific, especially on warmer days and the fish have been up in the water and very obliging. Imitative techniques have reigned supreme of late and damsels fished on an intermediate line as well as buzzers and nymphs fished on floaters have been the most successful approach.

Indeed two anglers that have reaped the rewards of employing these methods were Peregrine Team Esthwaite members Adam Larbelestier and Ben Bayliss who boat fished the venue and took 22 fish to 6lb 8oz. Hot patterns for the duo were general nymph patterns, damsels, dabblers and bumbles.

The season ticket anglers are also doing well. Bill Shortall from Southport fished beetle imitation dries on a floating line and over 2 visits took 14 fish from the boats. Bill’s best fish was a grown on 6lb Brown Trout. Richard Maddox from Barrow in Furness took 21 fish on damsels and cats whisker’s,over 2 visits, again from the boats. Meanwhile Jim Miller from Keswick took 14 brown’s and rainbows over 2 visits, from the boats on a combination of damsels, cats whiskers and diawl bachs. Also John Gardner took 8 fish from the boats on an intermediate line and an olive cats whisker.

Any method anglers have also been getting in on the great sport experienced of late. David Pennington from Blackpool bank fished with worm in Stockie bay and took a cracking  rainbow of 12lb 14oz (see attached photo of Lisa, his daughter).

Meanwhile David Wareing from Wigan bank fished the car park and took another lump of 12lb 4oz on legered sweetcorn (see attached photo).

Hawkshead Angling club members Wendy and Dave Telford have also been encountering great sport from the banking, fishing legered and float fished worm and have landed good numbers of fish, with the best fish falling to Dave’s rod at 7lb 8oz. Wendy’s best fish tipped the scales at 6lb!

Heat 3 of the Esthwaite Water Open Pairs Competition 2012 was contested last week with 14 anglers weighing in 66 trout for a total weight of 90lb 4oz, including time bonuses. In second place England Youth members John Macintosh and James Atkinson  weighed in 12 fish for 18lb 1oz, including time bonus and in first place England senior members Alistair Beaumont and Dave Morris weighed in 12 fish for 19lb 13oz, including time bonuses. Both pairs now go through to the final in September. For those that want to fish the next heat which takes place on Saturday 16^th June, please contact the fishery for more details!

Also there is a new individual boat, fly fishing competition taking place this weekend, Sunday 20^th May. The competition will be fished to Esthwaite Water competition rules. It is a friendly event and there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs. Please contact the fishery A.S.A.P for further details as we still have a few boats available!

Also our next discounted tuition day will take place on Saturday 26^th May. If you fancy learning to fly fish then this is an opportunity not to be missed. The session start at 10am and finishes at 2pm. The cost is £10 per person. All you need is a current EA licence and a brimmed hat and sunglasses for protection!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER