Reflections from Russell Owen on the Airflo Open Final at Rutland Water

By Russell Owen Fishing News Airflo, Russ Owen, Rutland Water, The Fly Shop

Apologies for the delay in sharing my thoughts on our recent experience at the Airflo Open Final at Rutland Water. With the dust finally settled, I wanted to reflect on the competition and the strategies we employed.

As usual, we prioritized extra practice, crucial since we don’t fish Rutland frequently. We closely monitored reports leading up to the finals, particularly noting insights from the English National held the week before. This year, those reports indicated challenging conditions, with fish hard to find, especially in the upper arms and the basin. Consequently, we focused on the middle sections, particularly the south arm, where fish were reportedly more active.

Practice Makes Perfect

During our practice days, we quickly realized that traditional attractor flies like boobies and blobs weren’t effective. Instead, more subdued patterns—hares ear, brown daddies, crunchers and shrimps —proved to be the better choice. Utilizing slow-tip or floating lines helped us adapt to the varied weather conditions, which as we know significantly influences fish behaviour.

We had a final team meeting the night before the competition, compiling information to refine our strategy. Most teams seemed to target the lodge frontage to East Creek, so we decided to start there, but with a flexible plan in place.

Day 1: Tough Conditions

The first day presented challenging conditions: strong north-westerly winds and relentless rain. The initial hours showed few fish being caught, and we had to dig deep to secure our bags. While some teammates focused on East Creek, I, along with others, worked Berrybutts, where we struggled in the coloured water. However, by day’s end, we managed a total of 41 fish, putting us in a solid position, especially against teams like the Menteith Ospreys, who were trailing.

Day 2: Holding Steady

With a decent lead for Day 2, we aimed for consistency, knowing other teams would need significant catches to overtake us. Our strategy was to split up, allowing us to cover more water effectively.

The second day was again challenging, though without the rain. I felt like I spent too much time moving around and struggled to keep up with my teammates. However, we regrouped and worked the shore effectively, with Gus leading the charge again. As we headed back to the lodge, the nervous anticipation of whether our total of 27 fish would be enough was palpable.

Results and Reflections

Finally, at the dinner that evening, the results were announced. We had held our lead and secured the silver salver for the fourth time, with Gus achieving the top rod award for his impressive catch over both days.

Thanks to all our boat partners, the staff at Anglian Water, and Wayne and Laura at The Flyshop. This event reinforced the importance of teamwork and adaptability in fishing, and I’m already looking forward to our next challenge!