He caught.

Lots of ice on the reservoir this morning.

I suggest you call the lodge before you travel

01530 230807

Ifor

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Lol, had a very good time on the opening day. Very cold but nice and sunny. Got there for about 7.45 with the intention of fishing from the bank, good job really as the boats were all frozen in!.

So myself and Nick donned the waders and wandered round to the corner of the woo, opposite the lodge. A good tramp round the res with neoprene waders does wonders for warming you up! We set up on the bank enjoying the sun rising over the hill.

With only myself and Nick on the bank it was a very peaceful start to the season, the boat anglers must have been having a good old laugh at the muppets ball deep in icy water.


Still, it was great to be fishing an not be at work! Even more rewarding was that after about 15 minutes a slow steady tightening on the line resulted in my first fish on of the season, followed shortly later by the first Thornton fish of 2012 being landed. To say I was a happy camper would be an understatement. After a quick coffee and defrosting my fly which had frozen solid I was fishing again. Happily shortly after I was into the second fish of the morning, and having landed and administered the last rights re cast and immediately had number 3 on, 2 fish in 2 casts! Unheard of for me.
This one felt like a better fish and after a spirited scrap a lovely long over wintered rainbow of about 3lb came to hand and was swiftly released again. After a wee while fish no 4 was on and after a dogged scrap swam off healthily. All this action had spurred the potential boaters to life as the bank was rapidly filling up with anglers, and with not much space due to the ice in places it all got a bit crowded and the fishing died right off. I managed a couple more during the rest of the day, but the highlight was my mate Nick landing his first Thornton trout. It was a cracking day out, crystal clear blue skies and fish on the bank too

Thanks for the report sheepy.

Sounds like you had a good day, I knew I should of had the day off work haha as I still havnt manged to go due to the weather.

Im hoping the res has defrosted for this weekend, even if its just one swim, Ill pay double just to fish it haha as im iching to go and wet aline.

Some really nice photos, Cant beat thornton for its beautiful scenery.

Cheers Mitch

Thornton Reservoir Report week ending 05/02/12
A mild winter reservoir filling nicely, trout stocked should be a good start to the 2012 season.

We woke on the 1st February to the first proper hard frost of 2012, pontoon remained frozen until midday with a good 50% of the reservoir covered in ice.

By the 2nd Feb well over 60% of the reservoir was frozen & by the 3rd 90% of the Thornton reservoir was covered in ice & unfishable.

A poor start therefore with only 32 rods venturing out, they recorded a catch of 44 trout giving an opening weeks average of 1.4

As I write this report the 4inch of snow is starting to go but we still have at least 70% of the reservoir frozen, my advice is contact the lodge before you travel & get the latest report.

Water temperature is 3 degrees, water level 3ft6inch of full level.

Good average size of the first stocking with the fish averaging 2lb as soon as conditions improve we have some cracking trout to have a go at.

For 2012 lifejackets will be required to be worn while on the pontoon & in a boat, you can wear your own but the fishery can supply one if required.

Contact the lodge on 01530 230807

Main gate & lodge open from 7.30am with boats (if conditions allow) out from 8.30am

Ifor

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Reservoir still covered by at least 70% ice, some colour in it today as well due to a bit of snow melt. At least its bringing the level up.

Currently the site is closed due to conditions on the car park & track, snow has compacted & is now a sheet of ice.

Call the lodge before you travel for latest update

Ifor

01530 230807

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Thornton Fishery Report week ending 12/02/12

At last this morning the thaw has started & we are open once again with the road down to the lodge clear of ice & snow

With a good 90% of the reservoir still covered in ice the improving temperatures & breeze will soon clear large areas.

With the thaw our water levels continue to creep upwards.

Having the site closed for much of the past 7 days due to the conditions there is little if anything to report.

Contact the lodge for all the latest information

01530 230807

Ifor

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Today Wednesday 15th, all ice has gone, clarity OK a few rods out & its starting to fish rod average today over 4.

Call the lodge 01530 230807

Ifor

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Fishing report update 16/02/12

Yesterday & especially today (Thursday) conditions were ideal for February, water temperature at 5 degrees & air temperature into double figures.

As you would expect at this time of year the Thornton Arm & in front of the wood produced best for bank & boat anglers.

During the past 2 days 28 rods recorded a catch of 191 trout for rod average 6.8 with trout up to 4lb recorded including a number of overwintered trout.

Contact the lodge for latest news.

01530 230807

Ifor

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Thornton Report week ending 19/02/12

At last weather conditions allowed us to enjoy some good early season sport with 117 rods catching 613 trout returning 350 for a rod average of 5.2

At this time of year the bank often fishes better than the boats at Thornton & this was the case last week with bank anglers enjoying the best of the sport with many of the trout caught within feet of the shoreline.

The Thornton arm (opposite the lodge) wood bank & lonesome pine produced best with the best of the sport during the warmer part of the day 10.00am – 4.00pm

Surprisingly many of the bank anglers found a floating line was the best method with a variety of flies & lures working.

Black & Green tadpole, cats whisker, orange blob, diawl bach, damsel & hares ear were all patterns that took their fair share of the catch.

It was good to see a number of overwintered trout taken with the best at 5lb6oz taken by Ray Jeffrey on a hares ear

Boat anglers at Thornton this year will be required to wear a life jacket, we have them at the lodge for you to wear.

The water level is currently 3ft+ down but is coming up a little each day, however the current level is ideal for bank angling, exposing large areas of suitable bank fishing.

Main Gate & lodge open 7.30am
Full Day Boats 8.30am – 5.30pm
Part Day Boats 8.30am – 1.30pm / 1.30pm – 5.30pm

Call the lodge 01530 230807

Ifor

Dates for your Diary

Foremark opens 1st March 01283 703202

Draycote Opens 8th March 01788 812018

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

Has anyone fished Thornton this week? With the fairly settled weather I'm hoping to see some good sport on Sunday.

Any help on flies, depths, & locations would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Drew