Report issued - 23rd October 2001

The reservoir continues to fish very well especially when the weather is settled. Plenty of quality fish are being taken from both bank and boat with the whole lake producing fish. On the calmer days fish can be seen tracking along the top after fry and a well presented suspender palmer or similar will always produce some interest if pulled in front of the fish. If bank fishing stay out of the water and fish the margins with a suspender on the point and two nymphs such as Diawl Back or Pheasant Tail. Keep on the move casting and walking and eventually an offer will be forthcoming. The season is due to end in mid November and there is every possibility that a large number of fish will overwinter as there is a greater head of trout in the lake than I have seen for many a season.

Report issued - 8th October 2001

What a season this has been. Here we are well into October and the fish are still high in the water and taking dries! Despite the windy weather of the weekend, it has remained quite mild and there are still some small buzzers hatching off. These are bringing the trout to the surface where they can be taken on dries or traditional wet flies. Best boat area has been under the relative shelter of the dam with a drift from the boat landing stages out for a couple of hundred meters, producing plenty of quality fish. All the banks are fishing well and those that have ventured into the north lake, especially along the wooded Duckley bank, have had superb sport with quality 2lb plus full finned rainbows that fight like demons. These fish are close to the bank and its only necessary to cast a short line of around 10 meters before walking. Fish your way along the margin but stay out of the water as the fish may be lying in only a foot of water. Use a Suspender or similar buoyant fly on the top dropper with a nymph such as a Diawl Back on the middle and a tradition wet like a Zulu on the point. The fish are attracted by the Suspender and will often then drop back and take one of the other flies.

Report issued - 1st October 2001

Another bumper week at this 800 acre Staffordshire water with a rod average of 4.47. When conditions are right there are fish to be seen moving all over the lake and the boats are taking fish consistently on both traditional wet flies and the usual dries like shipmans and suspenders. Best bank areas have been Boathouse Bay and Ten Acre bay in the south lake and the Oak Tree area in the north. Best fish fell to Mr Stan Hough and weighed an estimated 8lb as the rainbow was returned to fight another day. A 7lb 10 rainbow fell to a soldier palmer fished by member Dr Keith Dicke. Much of the surface activity has apparently been prompted by a large fall of tiny beetles. If you fancy trying the exceptional fishing at this beautiful water a day boat for two rods is �50.

Report issued - 24th September 2001

Although the weather has remained cool for the time of year, at least the strong winds have relented and this has switched the fish back on in no uncertain terms. There have been good hatched of large brown buzzers and small blacks and, coupled with the flat calms, the whole reservoir has been boiling with moving trout for long parts of the day. I have lost count of the number of times that I have suffered breakages by hooking two fish at once on the dries! It has been possible to complete a bag limit in only an hour or two so some rods have moved into the North Lake to find more challenging fish. All the banks are fishing well and there is no real hotspot on the boats as the fish are well spread. If a light breeze does affect the water then the fish cease rising but will still come up for a dry or traditional wets. In fact one of the best bags last week fell to Mr. Tom Millington who took 8 fish for a staggering 24lb 13 his bag including two rainbows of 6lb 1 and 5lb 4. All the fish fell to either a Wickhams fancy or other small traditional black flies. The North Lake has now started to fish again with some very nice established trout being taken. Provided the weather stays kind I expect a bumper back end to this remarkable season. The rod average last week shot up again to a very respectable 3.38 and the average so far for the season remains near to 4 fish per rod.

Report issued - 17th September 2001

Not suprisingly, last week saw a dramatic fall in the number of fish caught at Blithfield. With the strong cold north westerly winds hardly relenting, the average dropped for the first time this season to less than two fish per rod. Best bank areas were Old Mans, Watery Lane and Dougies, the latter two coming more into their own when the wind did swing into the north. Small black flies are taking fish with Black Pennel, Bibio and Zulu worth a try. Muddlers and small orange Raiders have been used to good effect from the few boats that are venturing out. Boats are confined mainly to the shelter of the causeway with fish being taken all the way to the edge of the sailing area. best fish last week fell to Trevor Colclough of Moddershall who took the 4lb 12 rainbow on a small dry fly from the boat on Wednesday in the presence of the fishing journalists!