Stillwater · Mixed · East Midlands / Northamptonshire, GB-ENG

Pitsford Water

Pitsford Reservoir in winter with the dam embankment and open water extending across the frame.
Fair · Rainbow
Minkie · 6-10
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
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.
46% confidence
limited data

Seasonally this is the right time to be here, but today's conditions are not doing Pitsford Water many favours. It can still fish, but temper expectations.

What moved it
  • WindW 14 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6-10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze
W 14 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp17.1°C
Air temp21°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind shiftWind shift
Stone Barn

The wind has shifted to a westerly today, but 2 days of a southwesterly have loaded food into Stone Barn. The fish haven't had time to move on — start there before following the new wind direction.

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 Minkie (6-10) — 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

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.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

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

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
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
Fly box · Rainbow
Pitsford Water Fishing Map
Click to expand

Pitsford Water Map

Tap to view full map

Angler’s map · Anglian Water (Feb 2025)

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
49%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp25%

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

Cooler water nearby · 1
Water here around 17°C — probably warm enough to stress Rainbow . These are likely cooler.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
10 km
~14°C
Pike · Perch · Carp
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
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish hard at this time of year.
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