TROUT & SALMON

The voice of game-fishing since 1955 

THE DEATH OF ONE OF THE UK’S MOST influential and admired fishery managers has rocked stillwater trout fishing. Ifor Jones, who controlled Draycote, Eyebrook and Thornton reservoirs, died on January 16 after a short battle with cancer. I didn’t know Ifor well, but I respected him hugely. He was the leading light in the world of stillwater trout fishery management, giving anglers fantastic and consistent fishing for a fair price. His generous stocking policies were widely lauded, even attracting anglers from overseas. Ifor was a people’s man, always putting customers first and instilling trust. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

On a happier note, I thought I would tell you about my last visit to Rutland Water. It was December 17, a final cast before my family descended at Christmas. Rutland is quiet in December, so what better place to be in a westerly wind than Carrot Creek, near the end of Hambleton peninsula. I drove past the fishermen’s car park to see if my usual spot was vacant but was stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A big deer —maybe a fallow buck —was standing in broad daylight, right next to the water.

I looked around to see if other anglers had spotted it, but there was no one about. I quietly reversed my 4x4 back to the car park, hoping the beast wouldn’t be disturbed. I pulled on my wellies, quietly closed the tailgate and returned to my vantage point. It was still there.

Despite being a few hundred yards away, I was upwind so I crouched and quietly made my way along a hedgerow, soon realising that, if I conti