Mucky weather brings change. Following some pretty heavy and consistent rain, sleet and snow, change is afoot in the lakes. The colour is returning to the water and as usual, Ross Lake is the most affected followed by Dunnydeer. All the fresh water coming in is great for the medium term, but it has given the fish a bit of a change to adapt to, and as a result fishing has been much slower overall. No surprise. It will improve very quickly.
Steve McMaughan was top rod for a week in which we had far fewer anglers due to the weather. Steve landed 12 fish on lures for a superb session.
We also had the third and final heat of the Eddie Brown Winter Series and once again the going was very tough. Congratulations to all 8 qualifiers who move through to the final on 7th December. Some outstanding angling by all participants and good luck in December. It is looking like a top class field.
1 Conner Metcalfe
2 Max Anderson
3 Ian Fairgrieve
4 Lee Wilkinson
5 Dean Appleby
6 Josh Shuttleworth
7 Barry Nicholson
8 Darren Jacques
While there is a definite shift towards lures in the returns, nymphs, buzzers and perhaps surprisingly, dry flies are worth a cast. John Pringle used a Griffiths Gnat to success, and Simon Sharpe had all his 6 on buzzers and nymphs. Indicator has possibly been the best method on balance, but it is not significantly far ahead and anything could work on its day. Hopefully the fish will have started to settle by the time you read this and we’ll be in for a good weeks fishing.
Slow things down a touch if the water is coloured and maybe edge towards darker patterns with movement in them. Snakes and Apps Worms are a good starting point. Fish could be at any depth, so start at the surface and work down a foot or two with each cast. When snow and rain mixes into the lakes, hotspots can be very localised, so keep on the move, and cast at every different angle when you are fishing one spot. You could spend all day chucking to the horizon when there are 20 fish under your feet. Never forget the deep water close in at Chatton.
Forecast
Tomorrow and Friday look breezy and after that things settle into a pretty good fishing forecast, with the weekend especially looking promising. Winds will be from the W/SW/S all week and will generally be light to medium strength with plenty of cloud cover. Perfect. Temperatures look standard for the time of year and there doesn’t appear to be any really bad weather in the schedule. Mostly cloudy with bits of light rain all week by the looks.
Closing time – 4.00pm every day.
Fishing starts – 8.30am.
Predicted Fly Box
Apps Worms, Blobs, Mini Snakes, Black Bunny Leach, Diawl Bachs, Buzzers, FABs, Cormorants. Maybe try darker patterns this week.
See you all soon.
David, Gemma and Owen
———> NOTICEBOARD <——–
Fly Fishing Lessons
Suitable for anyone wanting to improve their casting, understand better fly selection for Chatton or simply start fly fishing from scratch with a taster session. All tackle provided. Permit included. Ideal Christmas or birthday present. 7 days a week. Booking essential.
Enquire by email: stuart@cadencefishing.co.uk or via website www.siff.uk
Chatton Caravan Park
Closed for winter. Re-opening Spring 2026.
Eddie Brown Winter Series – COMPETITION
Could day ticket anglers please note that Ross and Dunnydeer Lakes will be closed on each of these dates. Chatton Lake will remain open for day tickets.
Heat 1 – 26th October (complete)
Heat 2 – 9th November (complete)
Heat 3 – 23rd November (complete)
Final – 7th December
Please keep an eye out in the Events section of our facebook page and future reports.