Stillwater · Mixed · East Midlands

Carsington Water

Photo of Carsington Water

Carsington is a big Severn Trent reservoir set in the Derbyshire hills, and it fishes like proper reservoir water — open, wind-shaped, demanding that you read the day rather than just turn up and cast.

Marginal · Rainbow
Pheasant Tail Nymph · 14-16
A patient day, if you fancy it
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.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindS 15 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Pheasant Tail Nymph14-16
Upstream, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
S 15 km/h
N
S
from the south
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp30°C
CloudClear
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Carsington Water. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Very warm conditions — trout have a narrower safe zone of cool, oxygen-rich water. Fish only at first light or last light, use barbless hooks, keep fish in the water during release, and stop if fish struggle to recover.
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

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.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 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
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

Spider-heavy and practical. Strong tradition of North Country soft hackles, useful nymphing, and simple dry flies when fish rise properly.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
41%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp25%

Conditions are away from Carsington Water's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Other water nearby · 5
River Dove
10 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Derbyshire Wye
15 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Grayling
Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark)
15 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Yeaveley Trout Fishery (Yeaveley Estate)
16 km
Rainbow trout
Press Manor Fishing Lakes
17 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout · Brook trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of Carsington Water
    Carsington Water
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Carsington is a big Severn Trent reservoir set in the Derbyshire hills, and it fishes like proper reservoir water — open, wind-shaped, demanding that you read the day rather than just turn up and cast. The rainbows cruise in pods, following the food and the wind lanes, and the browns keep their own counsel near the deeper features. Wind, which beginners curse, is the friend here: it stacks the buzzers along the windward shore and puts a ripple on the surface that gives a fish the confidence to come up. On a flat-calm bright afternoon the place can feel empty. Wait for cloud and a chop and it transforms. Best read by wind, light and water temperature.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
  • Damsel Nymph is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations