Week Ending Friday 11th October · By Ray French

Yes, almost 3,000 more Trout went into Bewl on Wednesday. This was the third stocking of similar size in the past few weeks making 9,000 overall and that is on top of what was a good head of fish resident in late July that dived deep with the Summer

However, I have to say that so far in October, which is normally a good month for fly fishing on Bewl and normally heralds the start of our Autumn/Winter season, has so far been disappointing, especially for the fly fishermen who have struggled. Ok, so we are not long into October but I would have expected it to be much better than it has been. There were signs of improvement the week before last but the past week overall has not been good

The Any Method guys have done better andIdid get an email report of one boat catching 9 during the week but in truth it has not been easy and it has been the regular and better AM anglers at the weekend that have been most consistent

However the fresh stock, the colder weather and a more consistent wind direction should kick start a fishing bonanza for all methodsHopefully next week, when there is a special Team Invitation Fly Fishing Competition on Wednesday at Bewl. In fairness to them I will not be giving advice on fly, method and area details in this report even if I could but I have struggled myself this past week so have little to offer... suffice to say that the match is floating line only

Because of the draw down this year and low water level due mainly to the hot weather and Main Dam alterations, the majority of fish are likely be in the area from Seven Pound Creek and the Cages in Hook Straight, to Dunsters up Bewl Straight including the Main Bowl and Beauman's Creek. Water clarity is still good generally, especially out in the middle and upwind although areas of exposed mud will cloud the adjacent water in a wind so watch for that

The Autumn stocking has very much been of mixed size, mostly small - medium to boost the numbers but with some bigger fish mixed in

Fortunately we do not have a big Cormorant problem on Bewl so the smaller sizes do not get decimated. And anyway, for some time now we have had a sign on the Dam for the Cormorants pointing NW saying 'GRAFHAM - RUTLAND - THIS WAY', which seems to have worked by all reports