Stillwater · Limestone · South West / Somerset, GB-ENG

Blagdon Lake

Aerial photograph of the western half of Blagdon Lake including the dam, Somerset.

Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water.

Fair · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Fairlive now
Reasonable summer fishing likely at Blagdon Lake
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
57% confidence

Peak season here starts around September — worth planning ahead.

What moved it
  • WindN 19 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
N 19 km/h
N
N
from the north
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp
Air temp16°C
CloudClear
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Head to
Wind shiftWind shift
Top EndButcombe Spillway corner

The wind has shifted to an N today, but 1 day of a W wind has loaded food into Top End and Butcombe Spillway corner. Fish haven't had time to redistribute — start there before following the new direction.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Buzzers from April; sedges and damsels through summer evenings; back-end blob and booby work October before close. Blagdon is more intimate than Chew — pace yourself.
Where
Lugg Bay and the open boat marks on the western end. Drift lines through the middle hold fish in spring and summer.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip and team of three through summer. Drift broadside; the lake is small enough to read each lane carefully.
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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Midday in warm weather — switch to a fast-sink or Di-7 and fish boobies or blobs along the bottom. 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

Welshman's Button 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.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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
65%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 6
  1. Aerial photograph of the western half of Blagdon Lake including the dam, Somerset.
    Blagdon Lake
  2. Broad daylight view across Blagdon Lake reservoir from the northern shore.
    Blagdon Lake
  3. Fly-fishing boats spread across the open water of Blagdon Lake on a busy fishing day.
    Finding some space on Blagdon Lake
  4. Wide landscape view across Blagdon Lake and the surrounding Mendip valley from elevated ground.
    Blagdon Lake
  5. The Victorian pumping station on the shore of Blagdon Lake with open reservoir water behind it.
    Pumping station on Blagdon Lake
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water. This smaller reservoir responds faster than larger ones — fishing patterns shift noticeably within thirty-six hours of major weather changes. A contrarian lake: the textbook lee-shore rule is wrong here. Onshore wind colours the shallow water and pushes fish out into cleaner reaches, so the productive drift is parallel to the bank, not into it. Easterly opens up the whole North Shore and Rugmoor for right-handers. Polish Water rises first in the morning, fed by a spring pipe that keeps it cool when surface temperatures climb. In July heat, Cheddar Water's aerators are where the rainbows bunch. Rugmoor Point fishes reliably in almost any wind — the single honest banker on the whole lake.

  • Reservoir
  • Limestone
Why this score
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts