Vying for victory were Empingham brothers Richard and Tom Cooper on a remarkable evening which saw 15 anglers land an amazing 58 fish between them.

Richard proved himself top rod but only just as he edged out Tom by just over a pound. Richard, who took eight fish weighing 19lb 6oz, now leads the table after seven weeks with Tom second.

Hilary Tomlinson took third place in the latest match. She had just come fresh from fishing for England Ladies at the Lake of Mentieth in Scotland, where she won both team silver and second individual overall with 18 fish.

Week seven result: 1 Richard Cooper, eight fish for 19lb 6oz; 2 Tom Cooper, 8 fish for 18lb ¼oz; 3 Hilary Tomlinson, 6 fish for 14lb 3oz.
League table: 1 Richard Cooper 30 points; 2 Tom Cooper 28; 3 Keith Jones 25; 4 Chris Evans 24; 5 Gary Cooper 21; 6 Paul Wild & Leon Smith 15.

Variable weather conditions have influenced sport at the reservoir this week with light winds on Monday and fish rising in most areas in the evening giving way to strong south west/ westerlies throughout the rest of the week. The rod average was 2.28.

Boat anglers fared best out in front of the fishing lodge right down towards the dam. Rudder anglers enjoyed the best sport on Wednesday and Thursday while Saturday saw loch-styling with broadside drifting boats having some great sport with traditional wet flies and mini lures.

Season ticket holders John Batter, from Hemingford Grey, and Gordon Alleyne, of Wansford, had 19 fish on catch and release using these tactics, with lots of action in the main basin.

The best fishing for bank anglers was along the Normanton bank with some quality rainbows up to 4½lb being taken on dry fly and the washing line method (dry fly boobies, and nymph combinations). Fish are feeding well on pin fry, sedge and caenis with some of this year's fry already 1¼ inches long.

Rather than fishing the bottom of both arms, boat anglers are having the best sport in the main basin with plenty of fish coming to varied methods.

Baz Reece had the best bag with eight fish for 21lb 3¾oz. John Mees, Anglian Water's senior warden at Grafham Water, took the best rainbow at 4lb 3¼oz.

n Result of the AMFC 3 match on Sunday at Rutland Water: 1 Invicta A, 76lb ½oz; 2 RM/Navy, 67lb 2½oz; 3 Army, 39lb 4oz; 4 Crawley, 30lb 8oz; 5 Invicta B, 26lb 7oz.

n Anglers are reminded that catch and release is not permitted at Rutland during July to August 22.