Stillwater · Mixed · East Midlands / Northamptonshire

Pitsford Water

Pitsford Reservoir in winter with the dam embankment and open water extending across the frame.
Fair · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Fairlive now
Evening session looks promising at Pitsford Water
Water temperature is the limiting factor today, not the wave. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
54% confidence

Peak season here starts around September — worth planning ahead.

What moved it
  • WindS 14 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
MD
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
S 14 km/h
N
S
from the south
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp34°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Buzzers dawn through late morning April through June — Pitsford is a buzzer water through and through. Sedges into September; back-end lures through October.
Where
The north shore is the classic bank fishery; boat anglers drift the open water and the southern bays. Buzzer fishing is what this place is about.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip with team of three through summer; sweeping line and boobies for the back-end.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

Plan B

Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

See the full sub-surface read with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
64%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 6
  1. Pitsford Reservoir in winter with the dam embankment and open water extending across the frame.
    Pitsford Reservoir
  2. Open water view of Pitsford Water reservoir near Moulton showing the broad lake surface.
    Pitsford Water
  3. Boats on Pitsford Reservoir with open water and the Brixworth shore in the background.
    Northampton Sailing Club on Pitsford Reservoir
  4. The Victorian draw-off tower standing in Pitsford Reservoir with open water and surrounding woodland.
    Pitsford Reservoir and tower
  5. The Brixworth Road causeway crossing Pitsford Reservoir with water on both sides.
    Pitsford Reservoir Causeway
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
  • High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
  • Daddy longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts