Week 32 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Season Total stocking to date: 24,000
Nearly a week without rain! Last week was about as settled as we could hope for heading into October, with mild, calm days right through until Friday. Then Friday arrived with a bang — high winds and heavy rain put an end to boat fishing over the weekend.
That said, the early part of the week fished really well. Flat, calm conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures brought some great hatches, and the trout responded in kind. Greenfly and small black buzzers were the dominant hatches, with fish rising freely to them!
With those imitations in mind, it’s been better to scale down your patterns for these actively feeding fish. Size 14 or smaller flies, paired with a tapered leader and fine-diameter tippet, have proved particularly effective.
The main areas to focus on have been the calmer spots on the reservoir, especially the flat patches that form on the left-hand side across the basin . It’s always worth noting wind direction and heading to the sheltered side — these areas often collect terrestrials blown off the trees.
No standout large fish reported this week, but several anglers have landed well-mended fish around the 3lb+ mark — a great sign as we move toward winter.
Notable Catches This Week:
Michael and Brian Shepherd shared a boat on the 1st and netted an impressive 19 fish between them, using a sinking line and “any pink fly” fished 3–5ft down. Well done, lads!
Top Areas:
• Grainfoot
• Millbrook
• Raspberry Bay
• Main Basin
Top Lines:
• Floating Line
• 3ft Tip
• Slow Glass
• Fast Glass
Best Flies:
• Hoppers
• Shuttlecocks
• Klinkhammers
• Blobs
• Various Boobies
Photo Competition!
Did you know we have a monthly photo competition? Send us your best photo of a live catch via email or Facebook for a chance to win a free day ticket! Don’t forget to include your contact details. The top 7 photos will be posted on our Facebook page, where our followers will vote for the winner.
Good luck and happy snapping!
Catch Returns Reminder
We’ve had a few catch returns not handed in recently. Please remember to return yours either at the fishery office (open until 6pm) or via one of the catch return boxes — located on the fence next to the office and at the gate to the Derwent Arm. These returns are vital for our stocking programme, helping ensure more fish are available for everyone to enjoy next time!
As a bonus, each correctly completed return is automatically entered into our monthly draw for a free Catch & Release ticket. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for this month’s winner.
Guided Trips & Tuition
Our fishery manager, Warren Langridge, now offers tuition and fully guided fishing trips.
To book, call 01433 659712 or visit the link below:
www.ladybowerfisheries.co.uk/tuition
A Few Words About the Rules
Please remember the new cages have a 50m exclusion zone, clearly marked by buoys. Respect this perimeter — it applies to everyone. We’d also like to remind all boat anglers that standing up in the boat to fish or motor is strictly prohibited. While most have taken this on board (thank you!), a few isolated cases remain.
Safety on the water is paramount. These rules exist for a very good — and sadly tragic — reason. Please remain seated and fish safely.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
