Welcome to our Elinor Trout Fishery Reports for 2020 ...
To view any particular months report, please just click on that month you wish to read shown below.

February         March         April          May         June         July         August         September         October         November         December

December 7th - 13th

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for both boat and bank fishing with the last day of the season being December 31st. Season ticket holders can bank fish during January. The 2021 season will start on Saturday February 6th. Fishing ticket gift vouchers make a perfect Christmas present. I can supply anything from a half day permit to a full season ticket. Please email me with your requirements to: elinortf@aol.com

74 anglers caught 198 fish of which 150 were returned

Best Fish
6lb 6oz Frank Quinn, pitsford pea, boat
6lb 4oz Derek Benamore, damsel, bank
6lb 2oz Neville Silver, bank
6lb 2oz Ian Benbow, hares ear, bank
6lb 0oz Neville Silver, bank
5lb 14oz David Sanders, red apps, bank
5lb 8oz Paul Laundon, olive apps, bank
5lb 5oz Jim Garner, cruncher, bank
5lb 3oz Dave Macquillin, bank

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam
Boat - dam end, brookside bay

Best Patterns
Red/yellow/olive apps, pitsford pea, black diawl/cruncher, small damsel.

Water clarity is around 3 foot with anglers catching on smaller flies as well as the usual late season lures. Bank fishing has been slightly more productive than boat. Fish continue to feed on fry at the lodge end. On milder days there are good numbers of small brown buzzers hatching and a few fish are being taken on dries. The final pike weekend saw fish of 18lb to Mark Simmonds, 17lb to Dan Brackley and 15lb to Leigh Laffar. Pictured below is the 19lb 8oz caught on the first predator weekend by Dan Brackley.

Half day tickets are now available 7am until 2pm or midday until dark. The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material, flies and other essentials.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: December 18th

November 30th - December 6th

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for both boat and bank fishing with the last day of the season being December 31st. Season ticket holders can bank fish during January. The 2021 season will start on Saturday February 6th. Fishing ticket gift vouchers make a perfect Christmas present. I can supply anything from a half day permit to a full season ticket. Please email me with your requirements to: elinortf@aol.com

83 anglers caught 204 fish of which 166 were returned

Best Fish
10lb 14oz Frank Quinn, orange snake, boat
7lb 8oz Steve Owen, candy fab, bank
7lb 6oz Andrew Lebish, boat
7lb 1oz Paul Wood, red apps, boat
7lb 0oz Alan Rennocks, damsel, bank
6lb 8oz Frank Quinn, orange snake, boat
6lb 7oz Paul Wood, red apps, boat
6lb 7oz Paul Graham, cruncher, bank
6lb 2oz James Ward, pitsford pea, bank

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, gravel bar, dam
Boat - brookside bay, gravel bar, boat bay, dam

Best Patterns
Black & green lures, damsel, apps bloodworm, black cruncher, grhe, black snake.

Very cold and not many anglers ventured out last week. Rain on Thursday and Friday has given the water a tinge of colour which seems to have helped catches, especially for bank anglers as the fish are less easily spooked. On Sunday Mike Edwards and Scott Bowman anchored off brookside bay and fished black and green lures to take 19 fish between them.
Yesterday in freezing conditions only two bank anglers fished. Neil Groves caught 9 from the dam on a pink snake while Boris Rasic landed 16 from brookside with a black cruncher his top fly. Half day tickets are now available 7am until 2pm or midday until dark.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material, flies and other essentials.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: December 18th

November 23rd - November 29th

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for both boat and bank fishing with the last day of the season being December 31st. Season ticket holders can bank fish during January. 2021 season will start on Saturday February the 6th.

160 anglers caught 427 fish of which 340 were returned

Best Fish
9lb 3oz Andrius Papeika, olive apps, boat
9lb 2oz Frank Quinn, grey snake, boat
8lb 3oz Andrius Papeika, damsel, boat
8lb 2oz Andrius Papeika, olive apps, boat
7lb 8oz Chris Redhead, pink apps, boat
7lb 2oz Mr Alexander, black suspenders, bank
7lb 2oz John Crook, pink booby, boat
7lb 0oz Mick Moseley, green cruncher, bank
7lb 0oz John Crook, boat
7lb 0oz Audrius, blue damsel, boat
6lb 10oz Chris Redhead, red apps, boat
6lb 9oz Paul Wood, damsel, boat
6lb 8oz Ray Ward, orange cruncher, boat
6lb 7oz Andrew Lebish, pink booby, boat
6lb 5oz Ray Ward, olive cruncher, boat
6lb 2oz Darren Oram, damsel, boat
6lb 1oz Lazloe Boden, yellow apps, boat
6lb 0oz Mr Tilley, orange blob, bank
6lb 0oz Frank Quinn, black buzzer, boat

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam, boat bay, goodfellow bay
Boat - lodge end, brookside bay, gravel bar

Best Patterns
Red or olive apps, damsel, damsel booby, white booby, cruncher, black hopper, foam daddy, candy fab, black/green or white/green lure.

A lower rod average last week with four flat calm days making the fish more wary in the extremely clear water. In cloudy conditions with a light breeze the catches are good. Today, Alan Rennocks and Roy Whitwell caught 15 and 12 fish from the brookside bank using apps or small damsels and a few other anglers managed 6. Yesterday in bright conditions bank anglers struggled with 5 fish by Derek Benamore top scorer. Although the lodge end is still favourite there are fish as far up as brookside bay and on the lodge bank a few fish are now appearing on the gravel bar and in shallow bay. Dries or floater and washing line continue to be the best methods. Half day tickets are now available 7am until 2pm or midday until dark.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Next Stocking: December 4th

November 16th - November 22nd

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for fishing. Under current guidance no competitions or club outings are allowed. Two anglers maximum per boat. Pleasure angling continues as normal. Open every day from 7am. Further details are available here www.anglingtrust.net under the ‘News & Blogs’ section.

150 anglers caught 621 fish of which 511 were returned.

Best Fish
13lb 6oz Phil Musgrove, bank
12lb 4oz Darren Oram, pink snake, bank
12lb 2oz Pip Jeffs, white/green snake, boat
8lb 11oz Chris Redhead, red apps, boat
8lb 2oz Mr Patrick, bank
8lb 0oz Neville Silver, bank
7lb 10oz Pip Jeffs, white/green snake, boat
7lb 8oz Lazloe Boden, green apps, boat
7lb 5oz Michael Daymond, bloodworm, boat
7lb 0oz Egis, boat
+ 7 other fish over 6lb

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam, boat bay, goodfellow bay
Boat - lodge end

Best Patterns
Red or olive apps, damsel, cruncher, black hopper, foam daddy, candy fab, black/green or white/green lure.

Still plenty of lumps being caught from bank and boat with thankfully most being returned. Bank anglers are doing best on a floater and washing line or dries. Boat anglers are catching with the same washing line method near the surface as well as using a lure/nymph combination 2-4 foot down.

Predator boats at the weekend found some nice fish on Saturday although the calmer, bright weather on Sunday slowed up sport. Dan Brackley led the way with pike of 20lb 3oz and 19lb 8oz on lures. Paul Jeynes’ boat partner had an 18lb 4oz pike on deadbait. Next predator weekend is December 12th and 13th.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Next Stocking: November 25th

November 9th - November 15th

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for fishing. Under current guidance no competitions or club outings are allowed. Two anglers maximum per boat. Pleasure angling continues as normal. Open every day from 7am. Further details are available here www.anglingtrust.net under the ‘News & Blogs’ section.

177 anglers caught 471 fish of which 354 were returned.

Best Fish
10lb 10oz Pip Jeffs, orange snake, boat
9lb 8oz Allan Wither, orange snake, boat
9lb 6oz Phil Waples, black snake, boat
9lb 0oz Paul Gillies, damsel, boat (see photograph below)
8lb 9oz Lazloe Boden, orange blob, boat
8lb 4oz Mr Barnes, damsel, bank
8lb 2oz. Andy Lane, black cruncher, bank
7lb 6oz. Chris Redhead, red apps, boat
6lb 6oz Pete Johnson, grhe, boat
6lb 3oz Phil Waples, black snake, boat
6lb 0oz. Lazloe Boden, orange snake, boat

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam, boat bay
Boat - lodge end

Best Patterns
Tequila or candy fab, red apps, black or red diawl, red cruncher, damsel, montana, olive/black/pink/orange snake

There are still plenty of fish chasing the roach and perch fry at the lodge end. Spooned fish have also been feeding on small black buzzers and immature damsel nymphs. Anglers who struggled were generally fishing their flies too deep. On Saturday, Allan Wither fished from a boat using a floater with a booby on the point, FAB on top dropper and a couple of nymphs in between to land 26 fish while anglers fishing a couple of foot deep caught only the odd fish. Yesterday morning, Colin Ashpole bank fished and caught 12 on dries from brookside (black hopper & olive shipmans). The water remains crystal clear. Half day tickets are now available 7am until 2pm or midday until dark.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Next Stocking: November19th

November 2nd - 8th

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for fishing. Under current guidance no competitions or club outings are allowed. Two anglers maximum per boat. Pleasure angling continues as normal. Open every day from 7am. Further details are available here www.anglingtrust.net under the ‘News & Blogs’ section.

192 anglers caught 635 fish of which 455 were returned.

Best Fish
12lb 2oz Darryl Gardner, Wellingborough, appetiser, bank
11lb 4oz J Lerigo, pink snake, boat
10lb 4oz Darren Oram, Aldwincle, pink snake, boat
9lb 10oz Richard Hunt, Irchester, mini tequila fab, boat
8lb 7oz J Lerigo, pink snake, boat
8lb 5oz Andrius Papeika, Northampton, boat
8lb 4oz J Lerigo, pink snake, boat
8lb 2oz. Mr Whittaker, boat
7lb 12oz Mr Hobbs, boat
7lb 9oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
7lb 8oz Arturas, Northampton, pink snake, bank
7lb 7oz Mr Southgate, white/green lure, boat
7lb 4oz Ray Brown, black snake, boat
7lb 4oz Mike Bownes, Wilsthorpe, black snake, bank
7lb 4oz John Parker, Cambridge, bank
7lb 3oz Ray Brown, black snake, boat
7lb 3oz Ray Brown, black snake, boat
7lb 0oz John Parker, Cambridge, bank
7lb 0oz Vitalis, boat
+ 9 other fish over 6lb

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam
Boat - lodge end

Best Patterns
Red or pink apps, black hopper booby, foam daddy, tequila fab, pink or black snake, small cdc, small black buzzer.

The specimen fish bonanza continued with fish over 6lb landed almost every day over the last two weeks. Bank anglers are enjoying as good a sport as boats. Elinor is crystal clear so on calm days although there are plenty of fish showing they can be tricky to tempt. Many of the big fish are feeding on good size roach and perch fry. Otherwise it’s tiny black buzzers on the menu. Elinor has been busy over the last few days so there’s a double stocking this week.

Half day tickets are now available 7am until 2pm or midday until dark.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Next Stocking: November 13th & 19th

October 26th - November 1st

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for fishing. Under current guidance no competitions or club outings are allowed. Two anglers maximum per boat. Pleasure angling continues as normal. Open every day from 7am. Further details are available here www.anglingtrust.net under the ‘News & Blogs’ section.

145 anglers caught 530 fish of which 442 were returned.

Best Fish
13lb 4oz Charlie Abrahams, Digswell, bank
13lb 2oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
11lb 4oz Ian Watts, Folkestone, bank
11lb 0oz Marius, Slough, boat
10lb 10oz Steve Quartley, Mill Hill, white/green lure, boat
10lb 8oz Gary Martin, Corby, black/green lure, boat
10lb 6oz Marius, Slough, boat
9lb 6oz Charlie Abrahams, Digswell, ginger hopper, bank (see photograph below)
8lb 12oz Bob Walmsley, Desborough, cruncher, bank
8lb 10oz Ray Buckland, Kettering, damsel, bank
8lb 8oz Ray Buckland, Kettering, damsel, bank
8lb 4oz Mike Bownes, Wilsthorpe, candy fab, bank
8lb 2oz Alan Weatherley, Kettering, black mamba, bank
8lb 2oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
8lb 1oz Alan Weatherley, Kettering, black mamba, bank
8lb 0oz Lazloe Boden, Rothwell, pink apps, boat
7lb 12oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
7lb 4oz Andrew Smith, Lilford, boat
7lb 0oz Allan Wither, Market Harborough, black/green snake, boat
+ 14 other fish over 6lb

Angling Trust TEFF Bank semi final Sunday November 1st
26 anglers fished a very windy Elinor with the top 13 anglers progressing to the national final. No blanks with 118 fish landed on barbless hooks and all safely returned. Anglers fished eight 40 minute sessions along the whole match length.

1. David Neilson 14 fish from 6 pegs (floater with yellow shammy)
2. Sam Bailey 13 off 3 (fast glass with olive apps)
3. Ian Watts 11 off 4
4. Tim Joyce 7 off 4
5. Mark Haycock 7 off 4
6. Colin Fitzjohn 7 off 3
7. Sean Brooks 6 off 3
8. Craig Barr 6 off 2
9. Leigh Pond 5 off 3
10. Simon King 5 off 3
11. Anthony Meadows 5 off 3
12. Stephen Pattinson 5 off 2
13. Ron Wilday 4 off 3

Best Patterns
Red or pink apps, black hopper booby, foam daddy, tequila fab, pink or black snake, small cdc, small black buzzer. Half day tickets are now available 7am until 2pm or midday until dark. The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Next Stocking: November 10th, 13th & 19th.

Covid News Update
I’m pleased to report that Elinor will remain open for fishing. Competitions are not permitted under new government guidelines so sadly the Fur & Feather will not take place on Sunday November 8th.

Further details are available here www.anglingtrust.net under the ‘News & Blogs’ section.

Latest fishing report will be sent out later today or tomorrow.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Next Stocking: November 5th

October 19th - 25th

160 anglers caught 602 fish of which 446 were returned.

Best Fish
12lb 4oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
11lb 4oz Pete Jinks, Peterborough, bank
10lb 7oz Darren Oram, Aldwincle, pink snake, boat
10lb 0oz Clive Trundle, Towcester, bank
9lb 10oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
9lb 2oz Pip Wetherington, Oundle, white/green bunny leech, boat
9lb 2oz Clive Trundle, Towcester, bank
9lb 1oz Keith Hatfield, mid Wales, white/green lure, bank
8lb 10oz David McSeveney, Northampton, tequila fab, boat (see photograph below)
8lb 8oz Reg Inman, Earls Barton, black/green lure, bank
8lb 3oz Steve Loveridge, Northampton, black diawl, boat
8lb 2oz Darren Oram, Aldwincle, candy blob, boat
7lb 8oz Clive Trundle, Towcester, bank
7lb 7oz Reg Inman, Earls Barton, black/green lure, bank
7lb 4oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red apps, boat
7lb 2oz Martyn Barley, white/green lure, boat
7lb 0oz Graham Willis, Glendon, white lure, bank
+ ten further fish over 6lb

October 12th - 18th
168 anglers caught 536 fish of which 396 were returned

Best Fish
13lb 6oz Bob Senior, Stamford, boat
12lb 12oz Steve Loveridge, Kettering, black diawl, boat
12lb 12oz Alan Rennocks, Kettering, red diawl, boat
10lb 8oz Pete Welch, Boston, candy fab, boat
10lb 3oz Bobby Dorrian, bank
10lb 1oz Tomas Maciunas, Northampton, snake, boat
8lb 12oz Mick Lacey, Amstel, popper minkie, bank
8lb 12oz Neville Silver, Godmanchester, bank
8lb 11oz Richard Eaton, Corby, damsel, bank
8lb 11oz Andrius Papeika, Northampton, snake, boat
8lb 2oz Dave Thomson, Leicester, black/green snake, boat
8lb 1oz Gavin Cairns, Newmarket, white/green lure, boat
8lb 0oz Nevillle Silver, Godmanchester, diawl bach, bank
7lb 10oz Neil Groves, Oundle, natural snake, bank
7lb 9oz Boris Rasic, Stanion, cruncher, bank
7lb 7oz Tomas Maciunas, Northampton, snake, boat
7lb 4oz Pete Welch, Boston, candy fab, boat
7lb 4oz Pete Nightingale, cats whisker, boat
7lb 2oz Michael Daymond, Leicester, pink lure, boat
7lb 0oz Roger Bosence, Corby, black/green lure, bank
+ nine further fish over 6lb

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam, pensioner’s point
Boat - lodge end, brookside. boat bay

Best Patterns
Small black/green or white/green lures, candy or tequila FAB, red apps, red diawl/cruncher, black or olive hopper, wet daddy.

I can’t remember a better couple of weeks for quality big fish. Certainly many have been attracted to the abundance of roach and perch fry at the lodge end of Elinor. Most days there are a few lumps being caught. However with the ultra clear water the fish are trickier when the sun is out. Generally in cloudy conditions the bank anglers are doing best but on brighter days the boats have the edge. Lures on a slow intermediate working or a floater with fab/foam daddy and diawl cruncher on dropper.

Bank fishing on Sunday November 1st will be limited for pleasure anglers as much of the lake will be pegged for a Team England bank semi final. Wind permitting, boats available as normal. Now the clocks have changed Half day tickets are available 7am until 2pm or Midday until dark. The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council. Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Upcoming Competitions
• Angling Trust -TEFF bank competition - Sunday November 1st. Elinor is hosting the Southern eliminator of the Angling Trust -TEFF bank competition for the 32 anglers who have      prequalified. There will be limited bank space for pleasure anglers on this day. Boats available as normal.
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th. Fishing from boat or bank. £25.00 entry fee includes fishing permit (£5.00 for season ticket holders). 9am - 3pm
    6 fish limit then 2lb an hour time bonus.
•  UK Stillwater Pairs heat Sunday November 29th. See: www.flyfishnorth.com
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers. See: www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material, flies and other essentials.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: October 30th

September 5th - October 11th

140 anglers caught 576 fish of which 454 were returned.

Best Fish
9lb 1oz Peter Sharples, Corby, orange booby, boat
7lb 14oz Roger Bosence, Corby, daddy, bank
7lb 14oz Roy Brown, Rushden, black snake, boat
7lb 10oz Roger Bosence, Corby, red diawl, bank
7lb 2oz Ray Ward, Olney, damsel, boat
7lb 2oz Darren Trumper, Ely, cruncher, boat
7lb 0oz Mr Roberts, Blisworth, bank
7lb 0oz Peter Sharples, Corby, black snake, boat
6lb 12oz Ivor Fisher, Peterborough, red cruncher, boat
6lb 8oz Luke Key, Long Buckby, orange blob, float tube
6lb 2oz Luke Key, Long Buckby, orange blob, float tube
6lb 0oz Paul Gillies, Desborough, boat
5lb 5oz Mike Bownes, Wilsthorpe, red cruncher, bank
5lb 8oz Bryan Swain, Brampton, tequila FAB, boat
5lb 4oz Clive Trundle, Towcester, boat
5lb 4oz John Gray, Spaldwick, boat
5lb 2oz Stewart Weston, green/white lure, boat

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam, pensioner’s point
Boat - lodge end, brookside. boat bay

Best Patterns
Small black/green or white/green lures, candy or tequila FAB, red apps, red diawl/cruncher, black or olive hopper, wet daddy.

An excellent week with a rod average over 4 and lots of big fish. Boat and bank anglers enjoying great sport although bank not as easy when the sun is out. Plenty of fry feeders along the dam and boat bay. Most methods producing fish. Thankfully the water remains crystal clear.

The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has arrived with help from a grant by East Northants Council (see photo below). Electric engine and batteries supplied. Available to anglers who struggle fishing from our Coulam boats as well as wheelchair users.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  UK Stillwater Pairs heat Sunday November 29th. See: www.flyfishnorth.com
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers. See: www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material, flies and other essentials.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: October 8th

September 28th - October 4th

137 anglers caught 365 fish of which 229 were returned.

Best Fish
8lb 3oz Steve Loveridge, Kettering, red diawl, boat
8lb 0oz Mr Wenman, bank
7lb 10oz Pete Nightingale, boat
7lb 5oz Boris Rasic, Stanion, pitsford pea, bank (see photo below)
7lb 2oz Steve Quartley, North London, pitsford pea, boat
6lb 10oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, diawl bach, boat
6lb 5oz Neil McIndoe, Market Harborough, float tube
6lb 4oz Alan Weatherley, Kettering, black mamba, boat
6lb 2oz John Considine, Leicester, daddy, boat

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam.
Boat - down middle, brookside.

Best Patterns
Orange or brown foam daddy, black hopper, red diawl, red cruncher, red apps, cormorant, small white/green or black/green or olive lures.

Some cracking fish being caught, mainly from the boats although bank anglers have done well since Sunday. Despite the heavy rain recently the water remains crystal clear. As usual during October the whole of the brookside bank is producing fish. The biggest boat catches have come from the lodge end. Best method from the bank is a foam daddy with red diawl on dropper. Best method on a boat is a small lure on the point such as a pea, cat or apps with red diawl/cruncher on dropper using either a floater, midge tip or slow intermediate. On days with a light breeze there has been excellent surface sport.

Fishery News
The new Mk11 Wheelyboat has finally been delivered.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  UK Stillwater Pairs heat Sunday November 29th. See: www.flyfishnorth.com
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers. See: www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: October 8th

September 21st - 27th

113 anglers caught 292 fish of which 177 were returned.

Best Fish
6lb 8oz Dave Gunby, boat
6lb 6oz Nigel Cheetham, Thrapston, cruncher, boat
6lb 4oz Alan Weatherley, Kettering, s16 black buzzer, boat
6lb 4oz Darren Trumper, Ely, goldhead cat, boat
5lb 9oz Pip Wetherington, Oundle, muddler, boat
5lb 5oz Chris Selby, Yaxley, daddy, bank

Best Areas
Bank - dam, brookside, boat bay
Boat - all areas producing fish apart from west arm

Best Patterns
Orange or brown foam daddy, black hopper, red diawl, red cruncher, black buzzer, cormorant, small white/green or black/green lures.

Boats are fishing well but it continues to be harder from the bank. Water clarity is superb and the temperature is down to 14.2C. Anglers are catching on a mixture of methods including dries, nymphs and lures. Most fish are coming from the surface although some boats have scored well with lures on an intermediate. Fish are feeding on small buzzers and daddies along with a growing number of fry feeders.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  UK Stillwater Pairs heat Sunday November 29th. See: www.flyfishnorth.com
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers. See: www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: October 2nd

September 14th - 20th

123 anglers caught 358 fish of which 226 were returned.

Best Fish
9lb 3oz Alan Rennocks, Kettering, red diawl, boat
7lb 8oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, red cruncher, boat
6lb 2oz John Thomson, Corby, black/red blob, boat
6lb 0oz Ray Brown, boat
5lb 8oz Andy Glasby, black buzzer, boat
5lb 5oz Liam Johnson, Denford, white snake, boat
5lb 4oz John Gray, Spaldwick, boat
5lb 0oz Nick Marshall, yellow/green fritz, boat (photo of fish below held by son Patrick)

Best Areas
Bank - dam, east arm, brookside
Boat - down middle

Best Patterns
Daddies, black hopper, red diawl, red cruncher, tequila fab, white or black snake, white/green lure.

Finally a much better week with a decent rod average and some quality fish caught. Bank anglers are still struggling with very little cloud cover keeping fish out of range. This should change with the cooler conditions this week. Even boat anglers found it harder in the bright and breezy conditions from Thursday to Saturday. Generally though the fish are near the surface over most of the lake with only the West arm quiet. The grass around Elinor is full of daddies and a few are starting to be taken. A SE or NW wind direction is best to get them blown onto the water. With the resident fish back on the feed and a weekly stocking the prospects are excellent for the rest of the season.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: September 25th

September 7th - 13th

113 anglers caught 193 fish of which 133 were returned.

Best Fish
4lb 3oz Pete Johnson, Leicester, black snake, boat

Best Areas
Bank - dam, east arm, brookside
Boat - east arm, brookside, down middle, anchored off dam

Best Patterns
Red or black cruncher, red diawl, black hopper, foam daddy, small black buzzer, tequila fab, white & green snake.

Boat fishing has improved, especially on days with a lighter wind or cloud cover. Even some of the resident big wish are waking up with two fish over 6lb caught yesterday. Floater/washing line with a FAB, hopper booby or foam daddy on the point with diawl and cruncher on the droppers keep the flies in the top 2 foot. The rod average should climb fast as Elinor is full of fish. Bank catches should also improve anytime. Water clarity is excellent and warm water won’t be a problem for the rest of the season.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: September 18th

August 31st - September 6th

To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

108 anglers caught 147 fish of which 75 were returned.

Best Areas
Bank - dam, east arm, brookside
Boat - east arm, brookside, down middle

Best Patterns
Red or black cruncher, red diawl, black hopper, small black buzzer, white or black snake.

Most of last week continued to be difficult fishing but there was a definite improvement since Sunday 6th for boat anglers. Fish are well spread around the lake and being caught in the top 18 inches. Water temperature is fine at 17.2C and I’m confident we are over the summer doldrums with Elinor providing good autumn sport for boat and bank anglers.

Competition result Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th 10am - 5.00pm
10 pairs took part catching 39 fish with all but one boat catching
1. Andrius Papeika/Tomas Maciunas 8 fish 14lb 3oz (white/green snake, fast glass, brookside)
2. Iain Barr/Richard Cooper 7 fish 12lb 12oz (red cruncher, midgetip, east arm)
3. Daniel Tranter/Ben Fox 6 fish 11lb 0oz
4. John Hurst/Richard Wood 6 fish 9lb 10oz
5. Roger Kerrison/Mick Griffin 5 fish 8lb 10oz

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  Fishing for Schools National Final Sunday December 6th. Information on regional qualifiers www.fishingforschools.co.uk

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: September 11th

August 24th - August 30th

To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

60 anglers caught 68 fish of which 47 were returned.

Best Patterns
Small cats whisker, black tadpole, tequila blob/fab, black buzzer, foam daddy, white snake.

Fishing has continued to be extremely hard from boat and bank. We had a few weeks of the water temperature over 20C. It’s now dropping with the cooler nights and today is 16.8C.
Elinor was stocked last Wednesday and there is a further stocking tomorrow. Water clarity remains good and we are starting to get some good hatches of small black buzzers. Fishing should switch on any day now!

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  UK Stillwater Pairs heat Sunday November 29th www.flyfishnorth.com

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: September 3rd

August 10th - August 16th

To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

35 anglers caught 29 fish of which 24 were returned.

Best Fish
4lb 3oz Graham Davis, Cambridge, claret hopper, boat

Best Areas
Bank - east arm, dam (in a north wind)
Boat - east arm, pylon point, down middle

Best Patterns
Red apps, damsel, green cruncher, red cruncher, hares ear, foam daddy.

Only a handful of anglers visited last week in the extreme heat and threat of storms. Fishing is very difficult with the water temperature today still too high at 22C. Water clarity remains very good. Looking at the forecast for the next two weeks there should be some cooler nights. Elinor should switch on again in early September.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th
•  UK Stillwater Pairs heat Sunday November 29th www.flyfishnorth.com

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: August 26th

August 3rd - August 9th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

63 anglers caught 67 fish of which 44 were returned.

Best Fish
4lb 7oz Derek Benamore, Finedon.

Best Areas
Bank - east arm, dam (in a north wind)
Boat - east arm, pylon point, down middle

Best Patterns
Red apps, damsel, green cruncher, black/olive buzzer.

With the water temperature currently 23C at 2ft down the fishing is very difficult. Prospects don’t look good for the rest of this week. Please don’t visit unless you are prepared to struggle! Catches will improve as we head towards September with the longer nights giving the water a chance to cool down.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: August 19th

July 27th - August 2nd

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

89 anglers caught 113 fish of which 83 were returned.

Best Fish
7lb 14oz Eamonn Byrd, Hitchin, white apache (photo below)
4lb 10oz Brian Coe, Kettering
4lb 8oz Pete Welch, Boston, black buzzer, boat

Best Areas
Bank - east arm, creek, boat bay
Boat - pylon point, east arm

Best Patterns
Green diawl/cruncher, olive/black hopper, damsel nymph, dry damsel, white snake.

Fishing was rock hard last week with the water temperature reaching 23.1C. There are plenty of surface feeders taking damsels but they are proving difficult to tempt. Eamonn Byrd fished all day from the bank on Sunday for one take but it did result in a fully finned 7lb 14oz rainbow. Water temperature this morning has dropped a little to 21.5C. Further stocking today so eventually Elinor will switch on.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: August 5th

"Eamonn Byrd with a fully finned 7lb 14oz Rainbow"

July 20th - July 26th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

132 anglers caught 197 fish of which 151 were returned

Best Fish
8lb 4oz Mike Bownes, Wilsthorpe, s16 black bobs bits
5lb 0oz Lazloe Boden, Rothwell, olive hopper, boat

Best Areas
Bank - east arm, boat bay, creek
Boat - fish well spread down the middle

Best Patterns
Olive or black hopper, daddy, adult damsel, olive buzzer, green cruncher, tequila fab, white snake.

Fishing remained difficult last week. Cloud cover definitely improved your chances. Damsels continue to hatch with fish feeding on adults and nymphs. Lazloe Boden caught double figures from a boat on Saturday while many struggled. He pulled daddies and hoppers through the surface to entice plenty of follows off pylon point. Water temperature at 20.5C is lower than average for late July.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise please try and bring the correct cash.

Next Stocking: August 5th

July 13th - July 19th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

175 anglers caught 289 fish of which 196 were returned.

Best Fish
10lb 14oz Mike Bownes, Wilsthorpe, dial bach
9lb 12oz Luke Mason, Glinton, cat booby, boat
6lb 5oz Mick Moseley, Rushden, brown buzzer, boat
5lb 2oz Lazloe Boden, Rothwell, olive nymph, boat

Best Areas
Bank - east arm, boat bay, dam (in a north wind)
Boat - fish well spread down the middle

Best Patterns
Olive or black hopper, olive cdc, damsel, olive buzzer, grhe, red drawl/cruncher, red apps, tequila/candy blob.

Very difficult fishing last week. There are plenty of fish to cast at feeding on damsel nymphs and adult damsels over open water and some perch/roach fry feeders around the margins. We are still getting some decent hatches of small olive and black buzzers. Alan Rennocks boat fished yesterday and proved that it can be done. He caught 12 fish all on straightlined s14 skinny olive buzzers. Despite only a few fish being taken out over the last two weeks a further stocking is going in on Thursday.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial "Fur & Feather" Sunday November 8th

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: July 23rd

July 6th - July 12th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

138 anglers caught 344 fish of which 246 were returned

Best Fish
6lb 4oz Matt Tuck, Yelling, wet daddy, boat (photo below)
5lb 11oz Graham Wilson, Nottingham, olive cdc, boat
5lb 4oz Pete Welch, Boston, black buzzer, boat

Best Areas
Bank - east arm
Boat - fish well spread down the middle

Best Patterns
Olive or black hopper, olive cdc, damsel, olive buzzer, grhe, black or white snake.

Last week there was a steady rod average of 2.5. Boat anglers did best with fish showing all the way down the middle. This week has started with some decent fishing conditions although the fish are proving difficult to tempt. Dries or floater and washing line continue to be best methods. Some boat anglers are also catching using snakes pulled close to the service. Water temperature is still around 19C which should see fish continue to feed. A decent stocking on Friday will hopefully liven things up.

Upcoming Competitions
•  Scierra Pairs Sunday September 6th www.scierrapairs.co.uk
•  Dave Hughes Memorial Fur & Feather Sunday November 8th

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: July 17th

"Matt Tuck with a nice 6lb 4oz Rainbow"

June 29th - July 5th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

146 anglers caught 385 fish of which 275 were returned.

Best Fish
10lb 5oz Steve Loveridge, Kettering, rhubarb & custard booby

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, east arm, coarse bank
Boat - most areas holding fish.

Best Patterns
Damsel booby, tequila booby, cat booby, daddy, black or olive hopper, olive suspender, red diawl/cruncher, black snake.

Water temperature has been hovering between 18C & 19C which the fish are much more happier in. Fish are well spread and feeding well on or near the surface. Boat anglers are having exciting sport pulling blobs, boobies or muddlers through the top. As is usual for July the boats are providing more consistent results than from the bank.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: July 17th

June 22nd - 28th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

95 anglers caught 353 fish of which 282 were returned.

Best Areas
Bank - east arm, brookside, coarse bank
Boat - east arm, pylon point, down middle

Best Patterns
olive cd, foam daddy, grhe, red diawl/cruncher, red apps, damsel/damsel booby, white/green lure.

Last Monday and Tuesday fished well but the heatwave on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sent the water temperature up to 24C. Not many anglers braved the heat and catches were poor as the the fish refused to feed. There was an improvement on Sunday as the water dropped to 21.5C with Ronnie Madder from Oundle catching 14 from the bank on red cruncher and olive cdc. Fishing is better this week with the water a much cooler 18.9C today. Bank fishing is more accessible than normal for the time of year as weed growth is less.
Floater with a washing line or dries are the best methods for boat and bank. Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: July 3rd

June 15th - 21st

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

207 anglers caught 554 fish of which 396 were returned

Best Fish
8lb 13oz Nigel Cheetham, Thrapston, black midas (photo below)
6lb 8oz Bryan Swain, Brampton, black booby
6lb 1oz Neil McIndoe, Market Harborough, bloodworm, float tube

Best Areas
Bank - dam, brookside, east arm
Boat - east arm, west arm, down middle

Best Patterns
Olive, red or black cdc, hoppers, foam daddy, small black buzzer, grhe, red diawl/cruncher, red apps, damsel/damsel booby, black or olive snake.

A steady week with a rod average of 2.6. Fish being caught from a few more areas now with the east arm being particularly productive. Best method has been a floater with a damsel booby or foam daddy on the point with a skinny red diawl or small red apps on the dropper. Dries continue to score for bank and boat anglers. Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: June 26th

"Nigel Cheetham with a full tailed 8lb 13oz rainbow"

June 8th - 14th

Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

239 anglers caught 647 fish of which 477 were returned. 

Best Fish
7lb 2oz Lazloe Boden, Rothwell, diawl bach, boat
7lb 1oz Craig Hopkins, Corby, dawson’s olive
6lb 6oz Marius Costan, London, olive dry

Best Patterns
Olive, red or black cdc, hoppers, foam daddy, small black buzzer, grhe, red diawl/cruncher, red apps, damsel.

A slight improvement in catches last week. Dries continue to take the best bags along with floater/washing line. Some boat anglers are having success ignoring the surface feeders and catching deeper on buzzers. The lodge end is holding the most fish. Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material and other essentials. Elinor is now permitting two anglers per boat. To allow thorough disinfecting, boats must be back in by 10pm.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: June 18th

June 1st - 7th

251 anglers caught 467 fish of which 328 were returned

No fish landed over 6lb but 35 fish over 4lb caught.

Best Patterns
Olive or black cdc, hoppers, small black buzzer, grhe, red diawl/cruncher, red apps, damsel.

A difficult week at Elinor with plenty of fish seen but proving hard to tempt. Water temperature has dropped to 17C after last week’s sharp rise. Along with another decent stocking tomorrow it’s only a matter of time before the lake switches back on. Floater with a washing line or dries has been the best method.

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material and other essentials. Bank fishing or single boats only (unless from same household).

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: June 12th

May 25th - 31st

352 anglers caught 824 fish of which 668 were returned.

Best Fish
7lb 2oz Andrius Papeika, Northampton, s14 black buzzer
6lb 12oz Chris Redhead, Whittlesey, olive buzzer, boat

Best Patterns
Claret/black/olive dries, damsel, red diawl/cruncher, grhe, olive snake.


The hot weather has quickly increased the water temperature and made the fishing difficult over the last few days. Plenty of fish cruising around but reluctant to take especially when fixated on adult damsels. Thankfully the forecast is for a few days of much cooler conditions which will get the fish active again.

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material and other essentials. Bank fishing or single boats only (unless from same household).

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: June 5th

May 13th - 24th

611 anglers caught 1698 fish of which 1275 were returned.

An extremely busy 12 days since reopening. A rod average of 2.8 doesn’t tell the full story. Many anglers only fished for a part day and there were also a good proportion of beginners. Conditions were far from ideal with bright sun on most days making bank fishing a challenge. Although there are fish rising most of the day the big boat catches recently were taken using a long leader with buzzers and diawl bach fishing the deeper water down the middle. Plenty of quality fish caught including the 7lb+ rainbow caught by Andy Burgess pictured below. Black and olive buzzer hatches continue, good numbers of mayfly and thousands of damsels. Stocking today, May 29th.

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material and other essentials. Bank fishing or single boats only (unless from same household).

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: May 29th

7lb+ rainbow caught by Andy Burgess

May 19th Update
A quick update on Elinor since opening on Wednesday 13th. Apologies that I haven’t had time to collate the rod average. It’s been a busy few days with anglers obviously keen to get out.

Dries has been the best method with black or olive hopper and a small foam daddy working during the day. During the evening top scorers were yellow owl, black/olive/red midas, shipmans and suspender buzzer. Otherwise its washing line line on a floater with olive cruncher and black diawl bach with either a fab or hopper booby on the point. Snakes on an intermediate also worth a try from boats. Fish are on the surface most of the day apart from the dreaded combination of sun and strong wind. Most nights there is a spectacular evening rise from 8.30pm onwards. Brilliant to see see so many youngsters and beginners fishing. Elinor allows those aged 16 and under to fish free of charge with an adult permit holder.

Double stocking this week! With plenty of advance bookings I’ve ordered a delivery for Tuesday and Friday this week to add to the top quality resident fish that are showing up in catches. Fish are well well spread around the lake although favourite areas are west arm, east arm, gravel bar where there are some amazing hatches of buzzers along with mayfly, hawthorn and caenis.

I’d like to ask anglers to be considerate and sensible while at the fishery so that fishing can continue. There will be a limit of 60 anglers on the bank. Please keep at least 15 metres apart. It will be a balancing act to keep both season ticket and day ticket anglers happy. Boats are now fully booked until Sunday 24th. Although at this time of year the fish are well spread around the lake there are sure to be some hotspots from bank and boat. Please don’t be greedy and sit on the same pod all day. Be generous and move to allow other anglers some sport. If you are releasing fish then use barbless or debarbed flies. Bring your own pen to fill in catch returns. They are important to running a successful fishery.

The lake is full of fish and it’s a fantastic time of year for boat and bank fishing. During lockdown I have supported my supplier by having three deliveries of superb rainbows and a few browns. Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material and other essentials. Bank fishing or single boats only (unless from same household).

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Next Stocking: see above re double stocking

Elinor will reopen on Wednesday May the 13th

Elinor is going to be busy over the next few days.

I’d like to ask anglers to be considerate and sensible while at the fishery so that fishing can continue. There will be a limit of 60 anglers on the bank. Please keep at least 15 metres apart. It will be a balancing act to keep both season ticket and day ticket anglers happy.

Boats are now fully booked for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Although at this time of year the fish are well spread around the lake there are sure to be some hotspots from bank and boat. Please don’t be greedy and sit on the same pod all day. Be generous and move to allow other anglers some sport. If you are releasing fish then use barbless or debarbed flies. Bring your own pen to fill in catch returns. They are important to running a successful fishery.

The lake is full of fish and it’s a fantastic time of year for boat and bank fishing. During lockdown I have supported my supplier by having three deliveries of superb rainbows and a few browns. Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. I will be able to supply leader material and other essentials.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Bank fishing or single boats only (unless from same household). There are currently some fantastic buzzer hatches throughout the day and evening. More hawthorn fly than usual as well as the first few mayfly.

Next Stocking: TBA

Elinor will reopen on Wednesday May the 13th

Please note that the lodge will not be open to anglers. Elinor has 1 and a 1/2 miles of bank fishing, so social distancing is no problem.

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E. Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Otherwise try and bring correct cash.

Bank fishing or single boats only (unless from same household). There are currently some fantastic buzzer hatches throughout the day and evening. More hawthorn fly than usual as well as the first few mayfly.

Next Stocking: TBA

March 16th - 22nd

Elinor remains open for both bank and boat fishing. If day ticket anglers don’t wish to enter the lodge they are welcome to prepay for their permits by bank transfer in advance:

Please make payment by bank transfer to:
Payable to: E. Foster
Bank: Natwest
Account: 00548537
Sort Code: 52-30-21
Payment Reference: Your Name

Please email me with the date you have paid for and your vehicle registration. If bringing cash cash please try and bring the exact money. Only one customer at a time in the lodge.

I wont be sending out a full catch report this week as I’m away fishing. Bank fishing remains excellent with best method being a floating line and a blob/fab on the point with buzzer/diawl or cruncher on the droppers. Boats are catching well on calmer days also using the above method or an intermediate with lures or snakes. The team England bank match on Sunday March 29th has been postponed so Elinor will be open as normal with no restricted areas.

Forthcoming Competitions
Geordie Mountford Pairs Memorial
Sunday May 3rd Geordie Mountford Pairs Memorial. A friendly competition with proceeds to Sue Ryder Care. Competition times: 9am - 4pm. You will fish with your boat partner to a 12 fish limit. Prizes for top 3 pairs. Entry including all fishing fees is £80.00 per pair (season ticket holders will receive a day permit refund). Bookings already being taken after last year’s successful event. Please reserve a boat by email.

Next Stocking: March 27th

Stuart Weston safely returned last week’s best fish of 10lb 3oz caught on a cat’s whisker.

March 9th - 15th

Elinor Remains Open for both Bank and Boat Fishing.
If day ticket anglers don’t wish to enter the lodge they are welcome to prepay for their permits by bank transfer in advance. Just turn up, park and go fishing. Your permit will be placed under your windscreen wiper. Please email for payment details.

154 anglers caught 754 fish of which 645 were returned.

Best Fish
10lb 3oz Stuart Weston, Whitwick, cat’s whisker, boat
7lb 4oz Nigel Cheetham, Thrapston, damsel
6lb 12oz Dan Roberts, Rushden, black/green blob, boat
6lb 5oz Nigel Cheetham, Thrapston, cormorant
6lb 2oz Darren Oram, Aldwincle, white snake

Best Areas
Bank - brookside, dam, gravel bar, shallow bay, east arm
Boat - anchored along brookside or dam

Best Patterns
Black/green or white green lures, black or whites snake, cormorant, black nymphs, bloodworm, damsel, black buzzer.

Another good week with a rod average of almost 5. Bank continues to fish best although boat anglers are also enjoying decent sport. There has been a noticeable increase in fish being caught on nymphs along with the usual early season lures. Fish also seem to be higher in the water with plenty taken in the top two feet. Water clarity continues to improve and on calmer days there are fish rising to small hatching buzzers. On Sunday March 29th bank space will be limited as Elinor is holding the TEFF Southern bank fishing semi final. The good news is that all areas continue to produce fish so bank fishing will still be available to day and season permit holders.

Forthcoming Competitions
Geordie Mountford Pairs Memorial
Sunday May 3rd Geordie Mountford Pairs Memorial. A friendly competition with proceeds to Sue Ryder Care. Competition times: 9am - 4pm. You will fish with your boat partner to a 12 fish limit. Prizes for top 3 pairs. Entry including all fishing fees is £80.00 per pair (season ticket holders will receive a day permit refund). Bookings already being taken after last year’s successful event. Please reserve a boat by email.

Next Stocking: March 17th & 27th

March 2nd - 8th

146 anglers caught 1004 fish of which 813 were returned

Best Fish
8lb 5oz Trevor Blair, Milton Keynes, black lure
8lb 2oz Lester Bishop, Bishop’s Stortford, black/green lure
8lb 2oz Trevor Partridge, Corby, black/green lure
7lb 8oz Ken Nicholls, Farcet
6lb 11oz Clive Trundle, Silverstone
6lb 8oz Pete Welch, Boston, black buzzer
6lb 5oz Chris Selby, Yaxley, black snake
6lb 4oz Trevor Partridge, Corby, black/green lure
6lb 4oz Pete Welch, Boston, black buzzer
6lb 1oz Alan Weatherley, Kettering
5lb 10oz Paul Laundon, Wixams, black/green lure

Best Areas
Bank - dam, boat bay, gravel bar, shallow bay, brookside, east arm
Boat - anchored along brookside

Best Patterns
Black/green or white green lures, black or olive snake, cormorant, black nymphs, bloodworm.

Elinor is well and truly back on form, especially for bank anglers. Rod average was just under 7 with some quality fish caught. The water clarity continues to improve with anglers catching on small black buzzers although lures are still taking the majority. Fish are spread around the whole lake. 2 to 5ft down seems to be the feeding zone.

Forthcoming Competitions
Geordie Mountford Pairs Memorial
Sunday May 3rd Geordie Mountford Pairs Memorial. A friendly competition with proceeds to Sue Ryder Care. Competition times: 9am - 4pm. You will fish with your boat partner to a 12 fish limit. Prizes for top 3 pairs. Entry including all fishing fees is £80.00 per pair (season ticket holders will receive a day permit refund). Bookings already being taken after last year’s successful event. Please reserve a boat by email.

Next Stocking: March 18th

February 24th - March 1st

24 anglers caught 71 fish of which 52 were returned.

Best Fish
6lb 8oz Allan Wither, Market Harborough, olive lure
6lb 2oz Bobby Dorian, Corby
5lb 1oz Craig Massey, Coventry

Best Areas
Bank - dam, boat bay, gravel bar, lagoon, east arm
Boat - no boats out as most days were windy

Best Patterns
Black/green or white green lures, black or olive snake, cormorant, black nymphs.

Not many anglers ventured out during another wet and windy week. However a rod average of 3 shows things are definitely improving. The water still has some colour but fish are seeing flies no problem. Best method has been to bank fish with a floater and weighted lures or an intermediate with unweighted lures. Slow retrieve is important. Fish are well spread over the whole lake. On a rare calmer morning yesterday there were good numbers of fish rising although most anglers are catching at a depth of 2-3 foot. This week there has been a massive improvement in catches. Yesterday, Monday 2nd, Steve Cracknell caught 16 on white/green lures. Alan Rennocks 12 and Pete Welch 9 both caught on lures and buzzers under a bung. Roy Whitwell caught on a Black Diawl Bach, including the 3lb 5oz overwintered fish below.

Next Stocking: March 6th

Roy Whitwell (above) caught this 3lb 5oz overwintered Rainbor on a Black Diawl Bach

February 10th - 23rd

42 anglers caught 48 fish of which 32 were returned

Best Fish
4lb 9oz Ray Grace, Higham Ferrers, black humungus

Best Areas
Bank - lagoon, coarse bank, gravel bar
Boat - very few boats went out

Best Patterns
Black snake, black/green lure, black humungus, red apps.

A grim couple of weeks with almost nonstop wind and rain. Only a few anglers fished, mostly for just a couple of hours. The water is coloured which is hindering catches. Despite only 16 fish taken out yet another stocking is going in this Thursday. Anglers will have a bonanza when conditions improve.

Next Stocking: Feb 27th

February 8th & 9th

72 anglers caught 138 fish of which 63 were returned

Best Fish
6lb 3oz Peter Sharples, Corby, black snake (photo below)
5lb 0oz Tim Hodkinson, Wollaston

Best Areas
Bank - lagoon, creek, shallow bay, east arm
Boat - east arm, west arm

Best Patterns
Black snake, black/green lure, white/green lure, tequila blob, cormorant

Opening day saw a fantastic turnout of 72 anglers. Despite heavy preseason stocking the fishing was much harder than usual with a rod average of just under 2. Best method was a floater with a weighted lure or an intermediate with snakes or cormorants and a slow retrieve. No anglers fished on stormy Sunday. Catches will improve dramatically as the water clears.

Next Stocking: Feb 13th & 21st

No fishing report next week. Next update will be on Febuary the 25th.

Peter Sharples with his 6lb 3oz Rainbow, caught on a Black Snake

Elinor opens for the 2020 season this Saturday February 8th at 7am

Only a few days to go before the new season starts this weekend. Saturday weather forecast is fine although Sunday is going to be extremely windy. Water is still going to have some colour with the huge amount of rain during November and December but season ticket holders have been fishing from the bank during January and catching some superb residents.

Graham Wright fished on January the 31st and caught the 6lb 3oz rainbow pictured at the bottom of this report.

With a preseason stocking of 1350 fish included a good proportion of 4lb+ specimens and a good head of overwintered fish this year it should be a bonanza early season. Black/green or white/green lures and snakes on an intermediate are worth fishing during the first couple of weeks with nymphs starting to score as the water clears further. There is no need to book for bank fishing but it’s best to book boats, especially from March onwards. I hope you enjoy a memorable season, Ed.

Graham Wright (above) fished on Jan 31st and caught this 6lb 3oz rainbow

Opening weekend, February 8th

Fly-fishing for Brown & Rainbow Trout, in idyllic surroundings. Our 2020 Season is from 7am on the 8th of February to the 31st of December. Season permit holders may bank fish in January 2021. At Elinor Trout Fishery there are 1.5 miles of superbly accessible bank fishing, which means there is plenty of space without Elinor being too large and daunting. We have a modern fleet of 15 modern boats, plus we have a Wheelyboat available with electric engine and battery provided. We stock weekly with top quality Rainbows and Browns.

Best Fish in 2019
• Rainbow 13lb 4oz Brian Coe, Kettering, Damsel, Bank
• Brown 7lb 2oz Scott Bowman, Weedon, Black & Green lure, Boat
Our rods tend to keep only a few fish to eat and this has resulted in a large number of grown-on fish. Also Float-tubers are always made most welcome at Elinor, plus we now have a fleet of 16 "fifteen foot" Coulam boats on the water. Stocking weekly with top quality Rainbows & Browns. Our Gin clear, well oxygenated spring fed water gives a stable environment for our hard fighting, well-conditioned fish to live in. I hope you enjoy a memorable season, Ed.