Anglian Waters Arsenal

Anglian Waters Arsenal

Fishing at this time of year can be testing at the best of times. Strong winds, rain, frosts, are all strong possibilities at this time of year. In return the fish will respond to this, so be prepared to respond with them. Make sure you have different line types on hand to allow you to fish different depths, if needed.

My first boat trip of 2026 was on Draycote Water. A cold N/W wind meant we headed for Rainbow Corner for shelter. Upon arrival I was surprised to see lots of fish rising, feeding on buzzers that were laying on the surface. I cast out my team of size 10 buzzers, however soon realised I was going below the fish, so changed the cast down to size 14 buzzers with a small fab on the point. This now meant I was now fishing much higher in the water.

This change made a dramatic positive difference as the fish started to come regularly. The fish quality was superb, with many of them in the 4lb bracket ! We went on to land 20+ fish.

My 2^nd day afloat was On Rutland, with Irelands Nick Hannon. An 18mph wind meant we headed for shelter, and this led us to Barnsdale Bay. There was plenty of fish in here, and a cast of 3 size 10 buzzers on a floating line was the best attack. Nick and I landed 20+ fish, including a nice brown of approx 5lb.

Day 3, and Nick and I headed back to Draycote, With a bonanza there just a few days earlier, a Westerly wind and warmer temperatures, was sure to bring another great day- right? Let’s just say it didn’t go to plan at first. Buzzers were coming off, but very few fish were showing. My floating line approach was not working, so soon switched to a 6’ tip line, to fish the flies deeper in the hope the fish were taking the buzzers deeper than my floating line was presenting them. A quick fish and I thought the code was cracked, only for things to dry up once more. With the buzzers continuing to hatch, I couldn’t stop thinking the fish will be feeding on these somewhere “down there” I switched lines once more, this time to a 12’ fast tip line.

Just  a few  casts in and the line pulled tight, on the hang. My hang, still with the 12’ tip line 90 degrees to my rod tip, and the 18’ leader, this meant only one thing, the fish were very deep. This line change was crucial, as we went on to land over 16 fish, again, some crackers too, with almost all taking the point fly –the deepest one !

Day 4. With much lighter winds and the opening of the South Arm, Nick and I headed to Hideaway Bay. Greeted with a flat calm, and clear skies, an hour in, and no sign of a fish we moved on. We headed to the Gibbets Gorse area. We found moving fish here, but struggled to temp tempt them on straight lining buzzers. A switch to smaller buzzers and a fab, made an instant difference, as both Nick and I started catching consistently. The fish clearly wanted them nearer to the surface.

After leaving here, we nipped in and out of the shore line, from Gibbest Gorse all the way to East Creek, picking up fish as we went. A great days sport, with plenty of fish landed.

Day 5, and this time I fished with Don Mansell.  A wind change to a Northerly gave us the chance to fish onto the Normanton Shore, so we started with fast sinking lines and big lures, in search of some Rutland Gold. Unfortunately we didn’t find any gold, so reverted back to floating lines. Having fished buzzers for the past few days, I decided to use diawl bachs instead, with my trusted size 14 fab on the point.

We started at the lodge front for a change, and it wasn’t long until we both hit into fish, this time on the nymphs. The fish were noticeable higher today, so keeping your line tight from the off was important, as some takes came within seconds of your flies landing.

After two successful drifts, we headed to Gibbets Gorse, and the Gold Course. The fish were still in this area, however, unlike the Normanton fish, that couldn’t leave the diawl bachs alone, these fish could not leave the fab alone. We netted fish pretty quickly here.

We then moved onto the Old Hall Bay. It was quiet here today, though still managed a couple ! Next stop, Armley Wood. A swirling wind around the trees made it tricky, however the fish were there.  Both the diawl bachs and fab worked well here.

For our last hour we shot across the water to Barnsdale. Definitely much quieter here than earlier than in the week, with us only taking two fish. A great day, with Don and I netting in excess of 25 fish.

When you fish a water consistently over a short period of time, you certainly pick up an idea on what’s happening. Key factors were, changing lines, moving about the lakes, switching fly sizes, and varying your fly depths.

FLIES USED -;

The Buzzer CODE HHB21 (s 10,12,14) – FlashAttackFlies

Gold Vicar Fly CODE HHB44(s10,12,14, & 16) – FlashAttackFlies

Diawl Bach Fly Black CODE HDB21 (S10,12,14) – FlashAttackFlies

Tequila Fab Fly CODE HB26 (S10,12,14) Barbless – FlashAttackFlies

Diawl Bach Fly Flash Back CODE HDB22 (10,12,14) – FlashAttackFlies

https://flashattackflies.com/products/flurocarbon-fishing-line-7-8-9-10-12lb-100m?_pos=1&_sid=dff4ce2fe&_ss=r&variant=56508483

If you would like a guided day on any of the Anglian Waters, then please email craig@flashattackflies.com

tight lines

Craig