This is all catch and release with the winner being the angler with the longest overall length of fish. The match was won by Alan Taylor, (seasonal warden at Grafham), with 15 fish with a total length of 6388mm including the best brown at 570mm in length. The longest rainbow, measuring 610mm, was released by Norman Shippey.

1^st Alan Taylor 15 fish 6388mm

2^nd Mike Smith 11 fish 4614mm

3^rd Gordon Bloodworth 10 fish 4490mm

Wednesday saw the prestigious Bob Church/Trout Fisherman Classic. The pressure was on local angler Iain Barr to see if he could make it three classic wins in a row. With conditions very different from the practice day new areas and methods had to be found quickly. Stephen Peart from Durham succeeded and found fish whilst drifting out of Church Bay, starting on a Di 3 and cormorants and then changing up to a slime line and cruncher nymphs. Stephen ended the day with 16 fish.

Second place went to rising star Phil Dixon from Crewe. Phil is on a roll at the moment winning the Trout Masters last year at Grafham and the Hanningfield Masters only two weeks ago. Phil took 14 fish from Rectory Bay. In third position was Grafham regular and season ticket holder Jonathan Tomlinson who at 1 o’clock had caught only three fish. But Jonathan caught up well and finished with 12 fish from behind the North Tower in Hill Farm Bay. Huge congratulations to the youngest competitor in the match, 10 year old Kieran Jenkins from Wales, who took three fish for 6lb and was partner to local and international star Robert Edmunds. Moc Morgan, secretary of the Welsh Salmon and Trout Association said "Kieran is the brightest prospect from Wales for many years. He is already a champion fly tier and looks set for international success at a very young age".

Top lady of the day was Julie Emerson who took 6 fish and finished in 27^th place. Anglian Water presented Julie with a bouquet of flowers. Best fish of the match went to Allen Hayward with a cracking rainbow of 4lb 1oz. 94 anglers caught 344 fish and returned 55, giving a rod average of 4.24.

1^st Stephen Peart 16 fish for 35lb 12½oz

2^nd Phil Dixon 14 fish for 27lb 15¼oz

3^rd Jonathan Tomlinson 12 fish for 23lb 13½oz

The third and final match of the week was the Ladies Mixed Pairs. Thirteen mixed pairs from all over the country took to the water. Winning pair was Margi Godwin of Northborough and Andy Linwood of West Perry with 16 fish for 45lb 5oz. Most of the fish came from the seat area on a variety of methods from the orange blobs on Di 7 to buzzers on the bung and floaters.

1^st Margi Godwin and Andy Linwood 16 fish for 45lb 5oz

2^nd Kay and Danny Peet 16 fish for 44lb 11oz

3^rd Sue and Pete Shaw 16 fish for 40lb 11oz

Best fish of the match went to Jane Percy of Kent, with a beautiful overwintered rainbow of 5lb 15oz taken on a hares ear from the sludge bank.

beginners course June 22 details from the lodge

Ladies ‘have a go’ fly fishing

Saturday 6 July - a day especially for the Ladies. This is your turn to have a go at fly fishing on your very own day. Learn to beat your partner at his own game. Don’t be shy book yourself a place – telephone Grafham Water Fishing Lodge on 01480 810531

Grafham Water Fly Fishers Association is hosting a fly fishing day on Saturday 25 May at Grafham Water to fish with the English Disabled Fly Fishers in a friendly angling competition sponsored by Anglian Water. Fishing is from 10am to 5 pm. Free refreshments will be served after the weigh-in. Fishing to reservoir rules with an 8 fish limit. Super prizes include a subscription to ‘Fly Fishing and tying’ magazine, fly reels and tackle, DVDs and scotch whiskey. For further information please contact Gordon Watson on 01480 810857.

Season permit holder Stuart Huckins landed a very nice 22 lb. mirror carp from Noah's Ark last week. Two more carp were also caught at the weekend by Steve Brown from Dagenham. Fishing from a boat down the western arm opposite Harvey's Farm, both fish were commons weighing in at 6 lb.

Some good bags of roach have been caught both at the A12 end of the reservoir and also at Harvey's Farm bank.

Match secretaries should note that any matches booked for May and June are at a special rate of just £2 per peg. Please book on 01206 230642.

The biggest fish of the season so far gave visiting angler Aaron Rout from Colchester his personal best carp when he banked a tremendous 26lb 15oz mirror during a one night session. Aaron tempted the monstor fishing Active-8 boilies on a 2 bait stringer, casting just off the lily pads.

Anglian Water warden, Simon Wrigglesworth, had a sleepless night session this week, landing 20 tench to 6½lb in the first six hours. This takes Simon’s tench tally to 123 since March. Plenty of other fish are being caught despite lower temperatures and fish have been seen moving in all areas.

Continue to produce quality bream from No2 and good sized roach bags from No1. Carp have finished spawning on No3 with many very large fish seen cruising to the margins. With warmer weather forecast the prospects of a 40 pounder from this lake are looking good.