Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton reservoirs

[NSW77]

Did you catch any decent fish back in the day? I lost a twenty at the net the other week which would’ve been my best from the place. Biggest I’ve heard out was 26lb.

[martin(rockape)]

Did you catch any decent fish back in the day? I lost a twenty at the net the other week which would’ve been my best from the place. Biggest I’ve heard out was 26lb.

My biggest was 21Lb ( first pike of the season early October) I used to get plenty of high teens. I've been thinking about this water for some time now and your mentioning it has kinda nudged me a bit.
I'll phone them to see if there are any winter predator tickets available and depending on price I'll give it a go again.


Regards

Martin

[NSW77]

See what they say, I gave up my ticket as I wanted to try different waters but decided to get one later in the season for a discount. I know they don’t do winter tickets for the individual water but they have them that covers all AW waters. If you like coarse fishing in general it’s fantastic in summer. The big bream (6-8lb) died off a few years ago, me and my friend used to catch 200-300lb bags of them. We used to fish in Ireland and Holland and this was better! There’s still good roach and hybrids one a chuck though.

[Fentiger01]

I ran a half-marathon around Draycote a week ago last Saturday (23rd), first time I've ever been there and the run involved a couple laps of the lake.

I noticed the corpses of four or five VERY big Perch on the banks while running round. I dunno what had gotten them, but they were big alright!

[Runaway Train]

So

AW in legals to take on the Eyebrook and Draycote leases

If it proceeds

Eyebrook will cease as a trout fishery

Draycote will continue as a trout fishery + predators

Ravo will cease as a trout water (to be carp syndicate + winter pike)

[Oldskoolfool]

Any news on Foremark?

[paintman]

Draycote latest: www.dffa.org.uk

Main points (copy & paste from the link):

AW anticipate opening on 1st April 2025, or as near to that date as they can. The exact opening date depends on several factors including the timing of the first opportunity to stock fish into the water. The season will close on 31st January 2026 and then reopen in March 2026 (precise date TBC).

Stocking levels will be broadly in line with the previous fishery management. It is expected that 29,000 fish will be stocked in Draycote in 2025.

The arrangements and pricing for Draycote will be in common with the other AW fisheries. All bookings will be online, site staff are able to assist anglers unable to book online or wishing to pay cash. Online booking will include the booking of car passes for bank anglers. There will still be a restriction on 30 cars per day.

Predator fishing will be a new activity on Draycote, from boats only. Fly fishing for pike will be permitted from 1st May, with lure fishing (NOT spinners) from 1st September. Predator anglers will be allowed to use saltwater dead baits from 1st October until the end of the season. No mixed methods fishing is allowed, i.e. both anglers in the boat have to be targeting predators.

[delboy]

Thank you for that , just wish I could fish for pike from the bank and not a f*****g boat, must be a reason I suppose .

[piker al]

Draycote latest: www.dffa.org.uk

Main points (copy & paste from the link):

AW anticipate opening on 1st April 2025, or as near to that date as they can. The exact opening date depends on several factors including the timing of the first opportunity to stock fish into the water. The season will close on 31st January 2026 and then reopen in March 2026 (precise date TBC).

Stocking levels will be broadly in line with the previous fishery management. It is expected that 29,000 fish will be stocked in Draycote in 2025.

The arrangements and pricing for Draycote will be in common with the other AW fisheries. All bookings will be online, site staff are able to assist anglers unable to book online or wishing to pay cash. Online booking will include the booking of car passes for bank anglers. There will still be a restriction on 30 cars per day.

Predator fishing will be a new activity on Draycote, from boats only. Fly fishing for pike will be permitted from 1st May, with lure fishing (NOT spinners) from 1st September. Predator anglers will be allowed to use saltwater dead baits from 1st October until the end of the season. No mixed methods fishing is allowed, i.e. both anglers in the boat have to be targeting predators.

Is this the first time pike fishing has been allowed on Draycote? Looks a good big water,

[paintman]

As far as I'm aware.
Fished it a lot in the 80s & 90s for trout, pleasure & competition, & no mention of pike being caught. Fair to say that it was my favourite trout reservoir.

I knew Ifor Jones as we also fished Thornton & I used to drop in when at work for a coffee & pike never came up in any of our conversations.
I would have thought some would have come to trout anglers as is the norm on many waters esp when big lures for trout are being used.
At the time the only coarse fishing I was doing a bit of carp fishing so may well be the case that I just didn't ask the question!

Didn't do much fishing during the noughties & teens as I was too busy with my own small business so lost touch.

[Seymo]

It’s really surprising to hear about the troubles at Three Waters Fishery Management, especially after the passing of Ifor Jones earlier this year. I know they’ve been a key part of the local fishing scene for a long time, so seeing them go into voluntary liquidation is a big deal. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next – whether they can restructure or if it marks the end of an era for that business. It’s always a bit worrying when a company with such a history hits financial trouble.

[paintman]

It’s really surprising to hear about the troubles at Three Waters Fishery Management, especially after the passing of Ifor Jones earlier this year. I know they’ve been a key part of the local fishing scene for a long time, so seeing them go into voluntary liquidation is a big deal. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next – whether they can restructure or if it marks the end of an era for that business. It’s always a bit worrying when a company with such a history hits financial trouble.

AIUI from speaking to people the original intention was for his daughters & others to take over the business & carry on.
Unfortunately they were unaware of the true financial position of the company until they started going into detail - heavily in debt, but I have no idea how much - & that was the end of that & voluntary liquidation was the only option.
More here: https://flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/o ... -to-close/

Draycote (Anglian Water) is reopening April-ish 2025, details covered in the DFFA link I posted earlier.