- Free fishing
- Fly only
A southwesterly has held for 17 hours, running warmer than the water (16°C air against 14°C water). Expect fish at the north-eastern end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.
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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Conditions are away from Blackton Reservoir's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Blackton Reservoir, Baldersdale, County Durham Terrain map
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
- Reservoirs of this kind fish hard at this time of year.
- Trout 1 April → 30 September
Blackton Reservoir

A southwesterly has held for 17 hours, running warmer than the water (16°C air against 14°C water). Expect fish at the north-eastern end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Conditions are away from Blackton Reservoir's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Blackton Reservoir, Baldersdale, County Durham Terrain map
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
- Reservoirs of this kind fish hard at this time of year.
- Trout 1 April → 30 September