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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Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
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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.
Upland Baldersdale reservoir managed by Northumbrian Water/Waterside Parks as a fly-only wild brown trout fishery; the trout are 100% native descendants of the original moorland streams, no stocking. Bank fishing only, consistently high water level.
Upland Baldersdale reservoir managed by Northumbrian Water/Waterside Parks as a fly-only wild brown trout fishery; the trout are 100% native descendants of the original moorland streams, no stocking.
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.
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.
Upland Baldersdale reservoir managed by Northumbrian Water/Waterside Parks as a fly-only wild brown trout fishery; the trout are 100% native descendants of the original moorland streams, no stocking. Bank fishing only, consistently high water level.
