Week 24 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Season Total stocking to date: 21,289
Weekly Rod Average: 8.4
Top of water fishing remains consistently good with water temperatures 15°C at thirty five feet. With our max depth of 120ft we are increasingly confident this surface feeding activity will continue into the summer.
Ladybower is quite unique amongst UK reservoirs due to the conditions mentioned above.
Ever increasing numbers of anglers are booking boats although those that prefer the bank, float tube and kayak continue to enjoy high rod averages. Similar to last week weather fluctuations from sunny through to high winds and pretty heavy rain have made fishing a little unpredictable although the rainbows, as mentioned above, are in the upper reaches of the water maintaining excellent fishing.
Stocking for the season to date is 21,289 blue and rainbow trout. Once again, and we keep on saying it, come and have a go at Ladybower, home of the big Bows…….
In keeping with last week at Ladybower, anglers are still favouring floating line with dries and nymphs but fast glass are scoring when the surface action abates pulling various patterns from tequila boobies to damsels.
Notable catches this week:
• Top of the pile this week is Matt ‘6.15pm’ Harris all the way from Cambridge for a couple of days angling netting a grand total of 62 fish to his boat, all on a floating line with the ubiquitous Daddy doing the business. Good to see you Matt and we look forward to seeing you again soon for some more gentle healing time keeping based humour.
• I’ll mention Nick Halstead again (although it’s becoming a little predictable when he shows up ) who spent a fruitful day around the Telegraph Pole area using (for a change) some wet Daddies to get his usual 30+ before losing count, although he does report a frantic period of 15 minutes where 21 trout made it to his boat.
• Neil Jones on the other hand opted for a fast glass line with a Tequila Booby and Blob under the Ashopton Viaduct to claim a steady 24. Just goes to show that there’s more than one method at Ladybower!
• Elliot Horrocks of the Horrocks fishing dynasty was present with his Dad this weekend enjoying some good sport on the Snake Arm near Raspberry Bay using a Dawson’s Olive, employing a slow figure of eight retrieve to achieve an excellent total of 28.
• Ben Bayliss spent his day pulling various FABs and Blobs through the waves on the Snake using a floating line for a creditable 18 fish.
• Richard Walker, fast becoming a regular should also be mentioned catching his 14 on the 7th with Muskins, Daddies, FABs and Bob’s Bits with a 12’ Slow Tip.
Excellent stuff,L once again everybody so well done one and all!
Don’t forget to submit your catch photographs to: ‘ladybowerfisheries@gmail.com’
Fish caught and safely returned only please! Alternatively there are QR codes to be scanned in the office and various other locations around the fishery. Scanning will launch your phone’s email app populated with the correct address and subject matter. All you need to do is attach the pictures and type in your name and telephone number. Selected photos will appear on our Facebook page for a public vote each month with the winner getting a free day’s C&R ticket.
Top areas this week:
• Raspberry Bay
• Old Telegraph Pole
• Underbank
• Dam Wall
• Main Basin Far Bank
• Derwent Arm Far End
Best flies:
• Detached Foam Body Daddy Long Legs
• Blobs
• Tequila and Coral Booby
• Sedge
• CDC Emergers
• Damsel Nymphs
Severn Trent Water are conducting pumping works in Ladybower Bay so for the duration please avoid entering the area. Also, due to the low water around the jetty area, the old Ashopton Pumping house foundations are now visible under the surface so keep boats well away from it.
There is now a 50m exclusion zone around the new cages indicated by a perimeter of buoys. Please respect this perimeter and do not cross into it. This applies to everybody.
Ladybower Fisheries would, once again, like to remind all our boat anglers that standing up in the boat to fish or motor is strictly prohibited. Safety on the water is of paramount importance to all of us. Please, follow the rules (they’re there for a very good, and sadly tragic reason) and remain seated. Many thanks.
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