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
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Pitsford Water
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
61% confidence

This is peak season for Pitsford Water, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.

What moved it
  • WindSW 20 km/hModerate breeze · Gusts to 37 km/h
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6–10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze · Gusts to 37 km/h
SW 20 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp11.4°C
Air temp13°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1024 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Stone Barn

A SW wind today is pushing food and drift lanes toward Stone Barn. Fish stack progressively at the windward bank — work the exposed shore toward the sheltered end.

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. 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

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.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
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.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
In this water’s box: Black Buzzer
#10
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

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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
74%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A good match for Pitsford Water — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Hollowell Reservoir
9.0 km
Pike · Carp · Perch
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
10 km
Pike · Perch · Carp
Elinor Trout Fishery
26 km
Rainbow trout
Eyebrook Reservoir
27 km
Brown trout · Pike · Perch
Draycote Water
32 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Pike
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.
  • 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 28 February → 31 January
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts