Stillwater · Mixed · South East / Essex

Hanningfield Reservoir

Hanningfield Reservoir on a summer day showing the open water surface and surrounding landscape.
Good · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Goodlive now
Good summer conditions for Hanningfield Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
69% confidence

Peak season here starts around September — worth planning ahead.

What moved it
  • WindNW 11 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
NW 11 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp22°C
CloudClear
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Head to
Wind shiftWind shift
Middlemead BayMain DamGoldfish Bowl

The wind has shifted to an NW today, but 2 days of an E wind has loaded food into Middlemead Bay, Main Dam and Goldfish Bowl. Fish haven't had time to redistribute — start there before following the new direction.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Hanningfield Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Early morning is often the most productive window in summer — make the most of it.
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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

Silverhorn should come on through the afternoon as the water warms.

Either bank or boat

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

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 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
66%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Chigboro Fisheries
17 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Chigborough Farm & Fisheries
17 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Norton Fishery
25 km
Rainbow trout
Thornwood Springs Trout Fishery
29 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Walthamstow Reservoirs
39 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gallery · 5
  1. Hanningfield Reservoir on a summer day showing the open water surface and surrounding landscape.
    Hanningfield Reservoir in August
  2. Open water of Hanningfield Reservoir whipped into waves on a windy autumn day, flat Essex landscape beyond.
    Hanningfield Reservoir
  3. Hanningfield Reservoir viewed from the Hawkswood Road Dam showing open water and the wooded shoreline.
    Hanningfield Reservoir from the Hawkswood Road Dam
  4. The jetty and harbour area at Hanningfield Reservoir with open water beyond.
    Hanningfield Reservoir harbour
  5. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Buzzers are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations