Bluemoon Angling Thread

Glorious day on Coldingham yesterday. The fish were up on the surface after big hatches of buzzer, sedge and a very small fly just a little bigger than caenis - probably some kind of aphid. Water was pretty clear so it was like fishing in an aquarium. You could clearly see fish cruising round and under the boat and then slurping down insects. Anyway what with the bright sun, it wasn't easy and a mite frustrating watching fish choose flies and ignore your own. Anyway, I managed 10 in a shortish session. 6 to dries and 4 to buzzers. Best fly was a small size 16 foam beetle.
 
Just back from 2 days on Rutland and 1 on Grafham. The 6 of us (pretty experienced and not bad fly fishers) caught 30 fish or so in those three days. Grafham we caught in real heat and sun but no excuses on Rutland where fish are in tight pods scattered across the place. I get the feel that Rutland is getting absolutely hammered by competitions and Anglian Water have not got the stocking policy right (or are cutting back). It was a slog and its the third time in two years we have been down that its been a slog. I doubt very much we will be back down for a while.

In discussing where we go next year, Clywedog was mentioned a lot. For those of you that have fished it what did you think? Does it haver accommodation and pubs etc close to it as from what I have seen its a bit remote. The social side is half the reason we go on these jaunts. :-)
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Just back from 2 days on Rutland and 1 on Grafham. The 6 of us (pretty experienced and not bad fly fishers) caught 30 fish or so in those three days. Grafham we caught in real heat and sun but no excuses on Rutland where fish are in tight pods scattered across the place. I get the feel that Rutland is getting absolutely hammered by competitions and Anglian Water have not got the stocking policy right (or are cutting back). It was a slog and its the third time in two years we have been down that its been a slog. I doubt very much we will be back down for a while.

In discussing where we go next year, Clywedog was mentioned a lot. For those of you that have fished it what did you think? Does it haver accommodation and pubs etc close to it as from what I have seen its a bit remote. The social side is half the reason we go on these jaunts. :-)
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Bloody hell ! Due to go to Rutland shortly! Doesn't sound promising. As for Clywedog we usually go for the day but I'll ask my mate if he's ever stayed anywhere near.
 
Fired a blank today on the canal looking for perch or pike.

Not sure if it was the conditions, the lures I was using or the endless barges coming through
 
Newman Noggs said:
Bloody hell ! Due to go to Rutland shortly! Doesn't sound promising. As for Clywedog we usually go for the day but I'll ask my mate if he's ever stayed anywhere near.
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You may catch it right mate. If you struggle, go and anchor up in Yellowstone bay. There are usually fish holding in there. Sailing club was worth a shot too as was Barnsdale. It’s not like it used to be with fish all over the reservoir. Now they are bunched in relatively tight spots. Any info on Clywedog is welcome thanks.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
You may catch it right mate. If you struggle, go and anchor up in Yellowstone bay. There are usually fish holding in there. Sailing club was worth a shot too as was Barnsdale. It’s not like it used to be with fish all over the reservoir. Now they are bunched in relatively tight spots. Any info on Clywedog is welcome thanks.
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Been asking around and can't find anyone who has fished Clywedog recently or stayed anywhere near. Sorry mate.
 
I’ve been busy taking care of my parents this spring so haven’t been able to start the carp campaign I’d planned on my new ticket (£400 and not one trip yet) but I did have a campaign on the same park lake as last season with the target of a double figure bream. I’ve been heavily baiting a long range spot with the spod at night (it’s a day only water) and have fished that spot about 6 times either dawn or dusk. My method has been scaled down carp tactics.

Long story short, ive had a number of big bream but the biggest was 9-10. Backed up by a number of plump carp and tench. As the rivers open tomorrow that might be the end of that campaign. IMG_0593.jpegIMG_0585.jpegIMG_0570.jpeg
 
Didsbury Dave said:
I’ve been busy taking care of my parents this spring so haven’t been able to start the carp campaign I’d planned on my new ticket (£400 and not one trip yet) but I did have a campaign on the same park lake as last season with the target of a double figure bream. I’ve been heavily baiting a long range spot with the spod at night (it’s a day only water) and have fished that spot about 6 times either dawn or dusk. My method has been scaled down carp tactics.

Long story short, ive had a number of big bream but the biggest was 9-10. Backed up by a number of plump carp and tench. As the rivers open tomorrow that might be the end of that campaign. View attachment 160161View attachment 160162View attachment 160165
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I'm well jealous of that bream !!

Off to Rutland for the next two days. I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Hard going at Rutland. There's been an algae bloom in the heat that appears to have effected the fishing. The fish seem to be very concentrated in two (so far, discovered) places on which all boats descend. Not my idea of fishing which is to get as far away from people as possible. Managed a few stockies over the two days but not not in numbers. We fished dries throughout (being the purist fly fisherman that I am) and we're told that didn't help our cause given the conditions.

Stayed at the golf course just up the road which was lovely. All in all though, thoroughly enjoyable couple of days.

Off to the Wye for 5 days on Monday. I'm going to float fish maggot given the conditions, to entertain myself. I think it will be hard going. Maybe late evenings, early mornings and snooze during the day.
 
Newman Noggs said:
Hard going at Rutland. There's been an algae bloom in the heat that appears to have effected the fishing. The fish seem to be very concentrated in two (so far, discovered) places on which all boats descend. Not my idea of fishing which is to get as far away from people as possible. Managed a few stockies over the two days but not not in numbers. We fished dries throughout (being the purist fly fisherman that I am) and we're told that didn't help our cause given the conditions.

Stayed at the golf course just up the road which was lovely. All in all though, thoroughly enjoyable couple of days.

Off to the Wye for 5 days on Monday. I'm going to float fish maggot given the conditions, to entertain myself. I think it will be hard going. Maybe late evenings, early mornings and snooze during the day.
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sounds very similar to our trip. They have changed the stocking policy and the number of points they stock - hence the concentration of fish. Where were they? Barnsdale and Yellowstone?
After our trip this year we decided to bin it off for a while. We will be trying Clywedog in May next year for a change. I hear Draycote is fishing well but its been well stocked fort he reopening. It remains to be seen if it stays like that with Anglian Water getting their mits on it.

Anyhow, we have been on a new (for the club) water this season a couple of times- Cobbinshaw reservoir just south of West Craigs in the middle of a peat hag. Its a private club that are now letting other clubs fish it on certain days. Well run water with good boats. The first time we fished was in 20mph winds, last Saturday in monsoon rain and thunder and lightening that had us motoring back to the lodge bdq. Irrespective of the conditions, it fished really well on both occasions with our rod average over 10 each time. The difference between this water and the others I fish was very notable, the fish eager to chase and not nearly as shy coming to dries and fabs/blobs like nobodies business. I put it down to much less fishing pressure than say Lake of Menteith (which is still far more consistent with better quality fish than the Anglian Waters).

Anyway, talking of the Lake, I was out a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely stuffed in the boat 12-0 :-(
I dropped half a dozen fish, I couldn't believe it. The days highlight for me was watching an osprey no more than 20 metres away, dive and catch a trout right in front of us. The bird had clearly underestimated the size of the fish because despite four attempts in couldn't take off and proceeded to swim to shore. It did so by working its wings very much like a butterfly stroke, it was the most bizarre sight. Having got to shore it stood on the trout, in the shallows figuring out what to do next. After numerous attempts it got airborne but only a couple of feet from the lake surface and finally disappeared into the trees, still very close to the ground. The trout which must have been a good 3lb will have been beheaded and the inedible bits discarded to get the weight down b efore taking it back to the nest.
It was almost worth the blank.
In other noteworthy news, one of our number caught a Tench on the Lake. On fly?!?!
First one I have seen caught and can now be added to the growing list of course fish. Pike and Perch (natch) but also Roach, Dace and now Tench. Rumours of a few Carp abound. Global warming? What next? Bloody Bream?

Glencorse tomorrow in 30c heat. Di7 and Booby Basher at the ready.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
sounds very similar to our trip. They have changed the stocking policy and the number of points they stock - hence the concentration of fish. Where were they? Barnsdale and Yellowstone?
After our trip this year we decided to bin it off for a while. We will be trying Clywedog in May next year for a change. I hear Draycote is fishing well but its been well stocked fort he reopening. It remains to be seen if it stays like that with Anglian Water getting their mits on it.

Anyhow, we have been on a new (for the club) water this season a couple of times- Cobbinshaw reservoir just south of West Craigs in the middle of a peat hag. Its a private club that are now letting other clubs fish it on certain days. Well run water with good boats. The first time we fished was in 20mph winds, last Saturday in monsoon rain and thunder and lightening that had us motoring back to the lodge bdq. Irrespective of the conditions, it fished really well on both occasions with our rod average over 10 each time. The difference between this water and the others I fish was very notable, the fish eager to chase and not nearly as shy coming to dries and fabs/blobs like nobodies business. I put it down to much less fishing pressure than say Lake of Menteith (which is still far more consistent with better quality fish than the Anglian Waters).

Anyway, talking of the Lake, I was out a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely stuffed in the boat 12-0 :-(
I dropped half a dozen fish, I couldn't believe it. The days highlight for me was watching an osprey no more than 20 metres away, dive and catch a trout right in front of us. The bird had clearly underestimated the size of the fish because despite four attempts in couldn't take off and proceeded to swim to shore. It did so by working its wings very much like a butterfly stroke, it was the most bizarre sight. Having got to shore it stood on the trout, in the shallows figuring out what to do next. After numerous attempts it got airborne but only a couple of feet from the lake surface and finally disappeared into the trees, still very close to the ground. The trout which must have been a good 3lb will have been beheaded and the inedible bits discarded to get the weight down b efore taking it back to the nest.
It was almost worth the blank.
In other noteworthy news, one of our number caught a Tench on the Lake. On fly?!?!
First one I have seen caught and can now be added to the growing list of course fish. Pike and Perch (natch) but also Roach, Dace and now Tench. Rumours of a few Carp abound. Global warming? What next? Bloody Bream?

Glencorse tomorrow in 30c heat. Di7 and Booby Basher at the ready.
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Yes, Barnsdale and the yacht club (?). We'll probably go back in November after big brownies.

On the subject of coarse fish, our friend, who is a guide both in the Seychelles and Rutland (and various other countries and places) regularly goes out for the evening catching 30lb carp at a water not far away using imitation dog biscuits. He caught this one the night before fishing with us.
IMG-20250616-WA0006.jpg

It's interesting that, because he spends his life fishing, he and his mate have to keep challenging themselves to generate interest. They recently managed to catch a bream out of Rutland on a nymph.

Anyway, I suspect I'll never reach that stage. Hope not anyway. Let us know how how you go on at Glencorse.
 
Newman Noggs said:
Yes, Barnsdale and the yacht club (?). We'll probably go back in November after big brownies.

On the subject of coarse fish, our friend, who is a guide both in the Seychelles and Rutland (and various other countries and places) regularly goes out for the evening catching 30lb carp at a water not far away using imitation dog biscuits. He caught this one the night before fishing with us.
View attachment 160585

It's interesting that, because he spends his life fishing, he and his mate have to keep challenging themselves to generate interest. They recently managed to catch a bream out of Rutland on a nymph.

Anyway, I suspect I'll never reach that stage. Hope not anyway. Let us know how how you go on at Glencorse.
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thats a fine fish for sure. The guy that caught the Tench at Menteith swears blind he got it on a tups indispensable. Lying sod :-)
 
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