Thornton Report 5th December 2022

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Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton

The 2022 season is completed, boats are off the water for their winter maintenance, engines away for the winter overhaul.

Following 2020 & 2021 covid impacted seasons it was great to get back to a full season without any restrictions.

All three waters enjoyed an excellent year’s fishing despite a long dry spell, lack of rain & a hot summer. We must thank our suppliers, Ex, Rainbow Valley, Torre & Westacre for their hard work keeping us supplied with trout during difficult conditions they experienced on the farms due to lack of rain, low summer water flows & high temperatures.

The change to our stocking policy at Thornton & Eyebrook back in 2020 has been vindicated with both fisheries annual rod average increasing despite the hot summer. Thornton averaged 3.9 for the year with Eyebrook returning an excellent annual rod average of 5.2

Thornton being the smallest of the 3 waters at 70acres is the first to open, opening on the 1st February. Following a couple of seasons of low water while work to upgrade the overflow took place enjoyed a 2020 season with water levels at full for most of the season. Concerns that the low water levels would affect our buzzer hatches didn’t materialise with buzzer hatches, especially the smaller olive buzzer hatches during the summer keeping the fish high in the water.

Eyebrook with its extended season to the 20th November was our best performing fishery with its impressive 5.2 rod average. As in past years it did produce large grown on browns & rainbows with our anglers fly fishing for the pike recording pike to 28lb. Huge damsel hatches provided superb dry fly sport to the blue damsel with the long awaited rain early September ensuring great daddy sport. It was interesting to see during our extended fishing into November that anglers were still catching on cdc patterns especially the yellow owl

Draycote has always been a consistent fishery returning a 4+ rod average every season with 2022 season rod average a respectable 4.4

Draycote hosted a number of high profile competitions, England Eliminator, John Horsey Anglers World, Airflo, 6×4 comp & the Angling Trust Team Loch Style.

For us however the superb fishing during October & November was outstanding with 3lb+, 4lb+ & 5lb+ rainbows been taken by boat & bank anglers in good numbers

Id like to thank our fisheries team, Alan, Tom, Lloyd, Lee, Andy M, Jim S, Michael, Derek, Martin, Steve, Andy D, Jason & Mark for their hard work during the year.

In 8 weekends it all starts again, the 2023 season at Thornton on the 1st February, followed by Draycote 1st March & Eyebrook 3rd March

Permit prices, package prices & membership details for 2023 can be found by clicking the “About Us” tab located on the fisheries website home page

https://www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/

https://www.flyfishdraycote.co.uk/

https://www.flyfishthornton.co.uk/

We wish you all a very happy festive period and look forward to seeing you in 2023

 

Ifor

iforjones@gmail.com    Tel: 01530230807