Hi folks,

Having fished Rutland for a few seasons, and being about to leave the area permanently, I've decided to brave Opening Day (this Friday), and hopefully end on a high.

I'd be very grateful for any advice about patterns and approaches - much as I love the place, it always seems to be extremely hit and miss for me (I always fish from the bank).

I'm especially keen to get a few overwintered fish, rather than bag up on stockies.

All suggestions very gratefully recieved!

Matt

Sailing club, Normanton - especially the blue pipes, East Creek, Stockie Bay Sykes and Fantasy. A very large black and green Booby on a 5ft leader. It's not pretty, but it's effective.

Very best of luck!

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Its hard to target overwintered fish on Opening day, probably best to fish an intermediate , long leader and black and green tadpole quite slowly, although its hard to tell in advance how deep the fish will be some years boobies inched along the bottom work well. You are probably more likely to encounter an overwintered fish on the Peninsula or Green bank and more likely to find the stockies in Whitwell Sailing Club , Normanton or Dickensons but there are no hard and fast rules

Overwintered fish are few and far between at this time of year at Rutland, not because they are not there but for some strange reason keep themselves well out of the way until the water warms a little. There were pleanty of fish left in the basin at the end of last season so Normanton bank and the Peninsula would see a fair chance of maybe picking one up. For me it would be #10 black buzzers or Diawl Bach fished slow and deep to try and pick up the better fish.
Best of luck in your quest to avoid the 'stockies' and may your line go tight with one of Rutlands best.

Thanks very much folks.

Am I right to expect anglers lined up like fence posts in places like Stocky Bay?

And do the North Arm shallows produce anything at this time of year - seems like a good place to try a stealthy approach given the recent warm weather? Carrot creek strikes me as a good spot too?

I wouldn't worry to much about 'stockie bay' and the north side of the reservoir if I was you, the wind is forecast 20mph from the SW. The water will colour up really bad if the wind gets that strong so your way of thinking may well produce the goods. There should be fish all the way down from the Transformer to the Peninsula, with where the hedge lines come down well worth a try. Also, either side of Armley wood. Places like Whitwell Creek will be shoulder to shoulder but there should be pleanty of space down the Normanton bank. Church bay is also a good place to start and should hold a good head of fish. I suspect that given the warm temp that we should get on Friday, the fish may well be high in the water and the buzzer should be coming off.

Picked up my ticket today ready for early start, overwintered fish could turn up anywhere but sounds like you are giving yourself best chance of connecting with one Matt. With the temps forecast and after an early attempt at some stockies will be heading for sheltered water with couple of buzzers I think, could well see you in some of the areas you mention Matt.

I wonder if we're all secretly hoping for a 14lb monster like the guy on opening day last year... anyone know where/how he got it?

It was a cracking Brownie, caught in 'Stockie Bay' on his first cast. Fish like that are in there and I strongly suspect that there are even bigger ones about. Saw one last season down the bottom of the N Arm that was well into doulbe figures. I think it's just a case of right place right time to put a hook in one. A boat partner of mine landed one of 12 plus on a black buzzer last June, another cracker. Best of luck t'morrow Matt.

Rob Waddington has posted some "opening day tips" on his website, pretty sound advice I'd say:
trout fishing news from Rutland

And opening day report from LAST YEAR was as follows, including that big brownie, useful?:

Week ending 4th April 2010
The opening day of the new season at Rutland Water was a day to remember for Allan Wood. Allan, of Owston, near Oakham, had hoped to boat fish on his own, but the strong winds meant he made for the bank instead. And in Stockie Bay his initial disappointment turned to joy as he landed a fantastic Brown with a floating line and black and silver humungus. Rutland Water Fishing Lodge was buzzing with excitement when this lovely Brownie tipped the scales at 13lb 8oz. Allan was congratulated by a number of witnesses including Fisheries Manager Jon Marshall and senior warden John Seaton. John presented Allan with the Independence Day Trophy and £130 in tackle vouchers. At first light there were stories of anglers losing big fish. Early limits were recorded by Rod Humphrey and Martin Hearth (Hambleton) who found fish in the Sailing Club Bay. Martin who used to warden at Rutland Water commented that sport was hectic and the fish were of excellent quality he took 7 over 2lb, the best at 3lb 4oz. Rod also had fish over 3lb with another five over 2lb. On the other side of the reservoir at Whitwell M Robinson (Notts) caught his eight fish limit down the far end of the creek. Winds strengthened during the day with boat anglers having to put up with very cold strong west/south westerlies restricting the areas that could be fished comfortably. Bank fishing was limited, however, the Sailing Club, Whitwell Creek,Stockie Bay, Carrot and Barn Hill Creek all produced a lot of limits. One or two overwintered fish are showing in cloudy conditions with some nice silver browns in the 3-4lb bracket. Anglers will miss the familiar face of Susan Noble, who has recently taken retirement from her post as Retail Assistant at Rutland Fishing Lodge. Friends and colleagues got together last week to wish Susan all the best for the future and to present her with some lovely gifts. Alan West Memorial Trophy 2 AprilThis match was held on the second day of the season in much kinder weather conditions with a steady southerly wind with some rain. 82 Anglers caught 304 fish for a rod average of 6.14. Top rod was Mick Angell with 8 fish weighing 20lb 14oz. The best fish of the match was taken by North Luffenham angler and season ticket holder Mark MacLeod who caught a 6lb 7oz Rainbow. The best areas on the day were drifts onto Sykes Lane, Sailing Club, East Creek and Normanton

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Matt Gregory
mattgregory.freeblogit.com