With damp, warm south-westerly winds, Eyebrook fish are pushed to the willows or beyond. But by following wind lanes that develop over the main basin, a few fish find their way up into the relative shelter of Lodge Corner. Here the boat frontage extends along to the clump of willows at the corner end of the dam. Fishing is prohibited along this area. With sturdy boots, fishing the dam wall at Lodge Corner can be very productive. A competent angler can make a cast towards the boats moored on the landing stage where huge shoals of fry, including roach and perch, abound. For the fish that have travelled across the reservoir to this area, the rewards in the way of a food source are immense. Fry frequent this area year-round. Lures fished on an intermediate line tend to account for most fish taken. Never discount floating fry patterns as these can prove deadly, not only at the end of the season when we anticipate fry-feeders gorging themselves. But on any occasion when fish are busying themselves in this relatively unfished hotspot.

Best methods: Fry patterns, especially floating fry.
Best times: When wind lanes develop out from the corner of the dam.
Wading: Not permitted.

Bank anglers arriving at the ticket office opt for the Rutland bank, dam wall or the Bell. In their haste to reach the latter, they drive straight past Dogwood Bay. Named due to the dogwood shrub which borders the southern corner, the bay has a thriving corixa population in its shallow margins. Due to earlier excavations, including clay for brickmaking, this bay conceals some very dramatic contours including two particularly deep holes, which act as refuges for quality fish. During early summer, Canadian pondweed can be seen reaching up from the depths of Dogwood Bay and we have found now for a number of seasons that a Golden Olive Tadpole fished on a sinking line during hot periods can work with these better fish.

Top tip: A Montana can prove deadly on early spring days.
Best times :Good in westerly breeze, especially September, or after good north-easterly blow.

Long gravel spits help anglers gain distance fur fishing the Island, or the Point as some anglers
refer to it. Access is gained from the lane bordering the Leicester bank, where cars areparked, with a short walk over the stile to the island. Beware of nesting swans which become very protective of their particular breeding zones. Although the margins around the island are shallow, a good cast will put you in 8ft of water. Later in the season, a short cast from the bank with a small Ethafoam Fry will target big fish which move in from the surrounding deep water. A good tip here is to attach a dropper a short distance (say 18 ins) from the Fry and tie on a Corixa imitation, Use at least 8ib fluorocarbon as smash takes are common. Bloodworm, Diawl Bach and Hare's Ears also score as well as dries.

Best methods: Try a B&P Spider tied bulky to imitate snails/rape beetles.
Best times: Good in most winds. except an easterly,
Wading: Fish the shallow margins first.

Look for the chestnut tree with its trunk protected from cattle by a metal fence. A good tip here is to always fan your casts to cover as much water as possible. When you find one fish, it's a fair bet you will take a few from the same swim. Fishing into 8ft of water, especially in a westerly wind, a team of Buzzers works well. Or maybe try a red holographic Diawl Bach as this area plays host to numbers of red water mites. Damsel nymphs also abound here so fish one on the point with Buzzer or Hare's Ear Nymphs on the droppers. Try a Rooting Fry in the margins at the back end. I once took two superb three-pounders using this stealth approach.

Best methods: Nymphs in spring and summer. Rotating Fry in autumn.
Best times: All season, but especially in autumn,
Wading: Generally shallow so wading is essential except at the back end when fry feeders charge into a foot or less of water.

Skirted by the old road. which is generally submerged except at low-water levels, Mucky Bay is a gradually shelving bay but a good cast will put the angler over five to six feet of water. This season in particular has seen some prolific sport to Buzzers. particularly bright green, and Bloodworm patterns. Early morning and late evenings are best in this area when mid to late summer sees some wonderful sport to sedge imitations, Try an amber Sedge Pupa early evening. switching to a G&H or a stimulator as the light begins to fade. Good grown-on, or even over-wintered fish are regularly caught here. For the roving rod. this is a wonderful area to explore. A small wooden hut can give shelter from summer showers.

Best methods: When lake olives appear, try a size 12 McCleod's Olive on the dropper with a Pale Watery nymph on the point.
Best times: Good most winds. Best in damp conditions with a westerly.
Wading: Try to keep out of the water to avoid spooking the fish.

This is a superb early-season spot with a gradually deepening bank and an unusual dropoff lip at about 10 metres, which fish love to feed up against Black and Green Tadpoles and Montana Nymphs can prove deadly here early to mid season. Come summer when sedges abound, try a Silver Invicta or Wingless Wickham's. The main problem here for bank anglers are the willow trees, which are close to the water and an obstacle for back casts. So position yourself sensibly. Another deadly method here is a single Hopper on a long leader, black or ginger being my first choice. Other good patterns are a Fiery Brown or a CDC Emerger. The bung or indicator has proved to be a killing method here with leader lengths from eight feet to as long as 22ft and flies from epoxy Buzzers to suspended Minkies.

Best times: Best early season, but mid season can be good too.
Best methods: Tadpoles to Damsels to lures as the season progresses.
Wading: Wading is OK but sometimes unnecessary.

Harrison's Corner is a useful fishing spot in a strong northerly due to the relative shelter from the wooded bank behind. Fish from tile platform or between the willows and watch for rising fish.
Bob's Bits. Shipman's Buzzers or Hoppers will all score here. Regulars who fish the dam know the
hotspots but you can find some of the deeper water by studying the concrete slabs. The most deadly method has got to be a Booby on a fastsink line. leader length can be the deciding factor. Start at five feet and then go longer. Remember, dull day means dull fly. So if the weather is overcast, start with a black and green Booby. Don't be afraid to use dries.

Best methods: The fast-sinking line and Booby will take fish all season.
Best times: Rushes best in most winds, except very strong north westerlies.
Wading: Keep out of the water. Wear walking boots with a grip sole.

One of Eyebrook's most famous fishing spots. Robbo's cabin was originally a brick-built structure complete with wood burner which anglers used in bad weather to dry out their clothes or cook lunch. Sadly it was lost in an arson attack some years ago and replaced with a wooden hut. A good cast from Robbo's will put the fly in about 15ft of water. The bank here was reinforced with stone several years ago to prevent errosion. An intermediate line is probably the best bet here as you can compensate for line drift and takes tend to be more direct. The cat's Whisker is the number one choice along this bank, but the fish will still accept Buzzers or dries on a floater.

Best methods: Try Hi-D line and Black & Green, White & Green and Orange Boobies on
brighter days. A longer leader will give you the edge.
Best times: Great in a westerly. To the left of Robbo's cabin is a bank spot called Robbo's
Point, a gem of a hotspot. Arrive early to get this one.
Wading: Not necessary as the fish venture right into the bank.

Open the five-bar gate and walk directly down to the water's edge. You will notice once again you are on the hard standing, the old road. Originally it crossed the reservoir here to Stoke Dry village. Casting from the road, an angler can put his fan into 10 feet of water. Season after season, this Hotspot produces some wonderful sport and superb quality fish. Fishing in this area has been second to none this season. Try a Cruncher or a Hopper. Fish this bank north past the old corrugated cow shed and round to a small dump of willows, Between these two points, the contours drop away quite dramatically. Fry feeders abound in this area.

Best methods: Intermediates with lures and traditionals.
Best times: All season, but especially early on.
Wading: Not necessary when water levels are high.

We're onto the Rutland bank now. Below the village of Stoke Dry is an exceptional spot when the wind is east or south-east. Between the weed beds or along the fringes, fry feeders abound and shoals of small roach fry scatter in panic as marauding trout stun them with lashing tails. The barbed wire fence that runs out into the water has caused many a trout to escape. With the plantation behind, terrestrial insects abound, including alderflies. Soldier beetles, hawthorn flies and flying ants. On the water are lake olives, damselflies and even some mayfly. As at most waters, observation is the key. Watch for insects being blown onto the water and whether or not they are being taken.

Best methods: Dry fly or fry patterns.
Best times: Fishable most of the season except when weed is prolific.
Wading: Wading advisable but no deeper than knee height.

Wading really is a must in this relatively shallow area. At 20ft out, the angler will only be in two feet of water. Backcasting here is not a problem as the car park is directly behind you. All you will need here is a floating line, with a Damsel Nymph or GRHE. During high summer when male blue damsels are chasing the duller green females, sport can be cracking on a dry Blue Damsel. Dries such as Black Gnat, dry Wickham's or Red Sedge catch a lot of the resident brown trout. The wild variety are to be found here as too are shoals of dace that patrol the margins. A small dyke runs into the reservoir and shoals of fry are drawn into its mouth.

Best methods: You will only need a floating line.
Best times: Late summer.
Wading: Have to get in the water here.

This is the spot most Eyebrook regulars head for, so get up early to avoid disappointment. Car parking is easy and the high bank off the Bell means that wading is not necessary. There is also a handy disabled platform. At high water level the slope is gentle at first but 15 feet of water is within easy casting distance. Damsel nymphs can be devastating here as can a small dry fly such as Bob’s Bits or a Hopper. Some fantastic sport can be had here on Floating Fry patterns as early as June with Size 1/0 and 2/0 resin fry patterns taking some heavyweight fish. Bloodworm patterns can also prove deadly at the Bell, fished deep on a floating line and inched back slowly. Watch out for savage takes. Walk along to the left to Bell Bay and you’ll find prime shallows. Small dries work well here.

Top tips: You won’t go wrong with a Damsel nymph.
Best times: Good all season in anything but a strong easterly blow.
Wading: Not necessary.

Generally a more-gradually shelving bank, the only obstacle being the hawthorns themselves on your backcast. Floating line with Buzzers or Hare’s Ear Nymphs account for a lot of fish, but a small dry will give you the edge over a nymph fisher. Cast to the edge of the ripple with possibly a Buzzer on the dropper. Takes will be positive with fish often taking the angler down to the backing and beyond, but with plenty of open water in front of you and very few snags, fish can be played quite happily. In September when crane flies appear, an artificial drifted out on the westerly breezes can be quickly taken. To the angler’s right is a pipe sticking up out of the water. Fish here with small nymphs or dries.

Top tips: Try the “washing line” with Buzzers held up by a G&H Sedge.
Best times: Fishes well in most winds except strong easterlies, and is a good spot throughout the season.
Wading: Avoid wading too deep. Knee depth is fine.

Named after a local angler called Sam Ellis, a small dyke runs into the reservoir and is bordered by several willow trees. On occasions, large brown trout frequent this areas where oxygenated water offers them the opportunity to spawn. The graduallyshelving bay plays host to corixa, hoglouse, damsel and snail populations and remains sheltered even in a northerly blow. Two wire fences run into Sam’s a relatively long way. Many a boat’s anchor and fish have been snagged on these. To the east lies Wal’s Bay between the bank and the island, named after an angler called Wally who regularly takes superb grown-on fish on Hare’s Ear imitations tied with silver holographic tinsel to represent the corixa’s air bubble.

Top tips: Try a team of size 12/14 Buzzers, GRHE Nymph coupled with a green holo Diawl Bach, or a Fraser Nymph slowly tickled back on a floater.
Best times: All season, but especially early on.
Wading: Don’t wade to your chest. Fish will forage in less than 12 inches.

Rounding the comer from the dam to where the stone's bank starts, three conifer trees stand on the waterside. The angler should stand to the right of the trees so as not to hamper the backcast. In a westerly blow fish will follow the flies right into the bank, so take care when lifting off If needs be, drop the fly back into the water and the fish will take again. This area has produced good numbers of blue trout, which have a liking for the fry that shoal off this bank. As is the case along most of the wooded banks, access is very easy. Simply park your car just off the track and walk to the lake's edge. Indicators with epoxy Buzzers work here. For boat fishing this is a prime spot with water 25 feet deep. Sunk line tactics work well with Sparklers and two orange Fritz Blobs fished at least l0ft apart.

Best methods: Lures or Buzzers all work well in the deeper water.
Best times: Good all season, but especially early on.
Wading: Not necessary.